Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, emphasized India’s leadership in the global renewable energy sector during the Regional Review Meeting on Renewable Energy held in Jaipur. He highlighted India’s strong position to meet and even surpass the target of 500 GW by 2030. The meeting focused on the renewable energy progress in the northern states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The minister pointed out that renewable energy must play a greater role in India’s energy mix, especially with power demand expected to double by 2032.
Joshi discussed the importance of renewable energy in India’s transition towards a sustainable energy future, referencing the government’s commitment to the Panchamrit initiative from COP26. He also mentioned the country’s green hydrogen initiative, which is gaining global attention, and the recent ₹32 lakh crore investments in the sector as proof of the long-term dedication to sustainability and energy security.
The minister also announced that Rajasthan would receive an additional 5,000 MW under the PM Kusum Scheme as requested by the state government. He praised Rajasthan’s role in India’s renewable energy development, especially after the inauguration of four solar power projects in Jaisalmer, totaling 1,200 MW. This development highlights the importance of collaboration between the central government and state governments to drive collective progress.
The review meeting also addressed various issues concerning the renewable energy sector, with Union Minister Joshi noting that state-level reviews have been held in several regions, including Gandhinagar, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Future meetings are scheduled in Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, and Guwahati to continue strengthening the sector.
As part of the meeting, incentives were provided to Discoms to promote rooftop solar installations. Rajasthan’s Jodhpur and Ajmer Discoms received Rs. 39.43 crore and Rs. 17.59 crore, respectively, for financial years 21-24. Other states, including Dakshin Haryana, Uttar Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, also received incentives to support their efforts in expanding rooftop solar power.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, along with various ministers from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana, participated in the meeting. They shared their insights on renewable energy progress in their respective states, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts to meet national goals.
Ms. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), noted that India had already surpassed 200 GW in renewable energy capacity, with solar power leading at 97 GW. She also mentioned that challenges remain in scaling up renewable energy, and best practices from emerging regions need to be adopted. Shri Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary, MNRE, emphasized India’s commitment to achieving 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, with an eventual goal of 1,800 GW by 2047.
The regional review also focused on renewable energy development in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Shri Satish Mishra, Minister for Science & Technology in Jammu & Kashmir, highlighted the state’s achievements, including the installation of over 35 MW of solar power and 3,000 solar pumps. He called for a regional workshop to address the state’s unique energy challenges.
In Himachal Pradesh, Shri Rajesh Dharmani, Minister for Town and Country Planning, discussed the state’s green energy initiatives, which include a 1 MW green hydrogen plant and a target of 100% non-fossil fuel energy by 2026. Rajasthan’s Minister of Energy, Shri Heeralal Nagar, emphasized the state’s progress in solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems, aiming for 125 GW of renewable energy by 2030. Haryana’s Minister of Energy, Shri Anil Vij, also discussed the state’s growing investments in renewable energy.
The meeting concluded with a focus on collaboration and scaling sustainable solutions like green hydrogen, battery storage, and distributed energy technologies, ensuring India’s continued leadership in the global renewable energy space.
