Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the future of energy security lies in clean energy, warning that continued dependence on fossil fuels can create disruptions for the global economy.
Speaking at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo (BRESE) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Modi said recent global events, from the pandemic to tensions in West Asia, have shown how closely energy security is linked with economic stability.
He added that India’s investments and policy measures over the past decade helped the country reduce the impact of global energy shocks and avoid more serious disruptions to the domestic economy.
“This global crisis has given a clear message to every country that energy security is directly connected to economic security. And we all know that the future of energy security lies in clean energy,” PM Modi said.
“If we continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels, then the global economy will continue to be disrupted. Because the stockpile of fossil fuels is limited in some regions, but the potential of renewable energy is unlimited. And every region, every country can take advantage of it,” he added.
Detailing national achievements, Modi stated that India achieved its Paris pledge commitment of establishing half of its installed power capacity from non-fossil sources in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
India expands clean energy capacity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said non-fossil fuel sources now account for more than 50 per cent of India’s total installed power capacity, with the country reaching nearly 300 gigawatts as it moves towards the COP26 target of 500 gigawatts by 2030.
He added that India plans to add another 500 gigawatts of non-fossil capacity over the next 10 to 11 years.
Highlighting progress in rooftop and rural solar projects, Modi said the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024 with a target of covering 1 crore households, has connected more than 65 lakh homes in the past two years. He said the scheme has helped reduce power bills by around 76 per cent.
Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, solar installations are benefiting more than 30 lakh farmers, with estimated annual savings of about Rs 1 lakh per farmer. Solar systems installed across more than 44,000 government buildings are also generating annual savings of around Rs 700 crore.
Modi said India’s clean energy push goes beyond hydro, solar, wind and nuclear power. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the country aims to produce 50 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen by the end of the decade.
Renewable investment and manufacturing push
The Prime Minister said India’s single-frequency national grid is being supported by dedicated green energy corridors to improve renewable power distribution. He added that the government has recently approved investment of Rs 2 lakh crore for this effort.
India has also sharply increased its domestic solar manufacturing capacity. Solar module production capacity has risen from about 2 gigawatts a decade ago to more than 200 gigawatts, while solar cell manufacturing capacity has reached around 40 gigawatts.
Modi said the renewable energy sector has attracted more than Rs 15 lakh crore, or about USD 164 billion, in investment over the past decade. Since the ReInvest summit in 2024, investments of around Rs 6 lakh crore, or over USD 63 billion, have been recorded in just two years.
He added that the sector could see investment opportunities worth more than Rs 20 lakh crore, or around USD 220 billion, by the end of the decade.
The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 was held alongside the 9th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and the 4th International Green Hydrogen Conference. Modi also reiterated India’s proposal for a USD 200 million Africa Solar Facility aimed at supporting technology and finance for developing economies.