Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi today delivered India’s national statement at the 16th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, reaffirming India’s unwavering commitment to a just, equitable, affordable and sustainable global energy transition.
Addressing the plenary session, the Union Minister said that India’s energy transition is guided by the timeless principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—One Earth, One Family, One Future—and is underpinned by a long-term vision rooted in equity, inclusivity and policy stability. He reiterated India’s commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel installed power capacity by 2030 and Net Zero emissions by 2070.
Highlighting a significant achievement,Joshi noted that India has already reached 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in 2025—five years ahead of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target under the Paris Agreement. India’s renewable energy capacity has now surpassed 266 GW, positioning the country among global leaders in renewable energy deployment.
Emphasising India’s status as one of the world’s fastest-growing major energy markets, the Minister said the country is strengthening reliable and resilient power systems through rapid deployment of energy storage, grid modernisation, Green Energy Corridors and innovative bidding mechanisms such as hybrid and round-the-clock renewable energy projects. He also highlighted India’s focused efforts to expand domestic manufacturing across solar, wind, batteries and electrolysers, thereby enhancing national self-reliance while contributing to diversified global supply chains.
Underscoring the people-centric nature of India’s energy transition, Joshi drew attention to flagship programmes empowering households and farmers. Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, nearly 2.5 million households have benefitted from rooftop solar installations in less than two years, with a target of covering 10 million households by March 2027. Through the PM-KUSUM scheme, around 2.17 million farmers have benefitted via replacement of diesel pumps and solarisation of agricultural feeders.
The Union Minister observed that the global energy transition will require unprecedented levels of investment and cooperation. India alone is expected to need nearly USD 300 billion by 2030, opening vast opportunities in renewable generation, storage, green hydrogen, grids and manufacturing. He emphasised that stable policies and transparent markets continue to make India one of the most attractive destinations for clean energy investment.
Calling for stronger multilateral cooperation, Joshi stressed the importance of technology transfer, access to affordable finance, capacity building and harmonisation of standards, particularly to enable developing countries to scale up renewable energy without constraining their development aspirations.
Reaffirming India’s strong support for IRENA, the Union Minister said that India stands ready to share its experience, institutions and technical expertise, and to work closely with all member countries—especially Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States—to accelerate the global renewable energy transition. He emphasised that India’s energy transition is not merely about capacity addition, but about people, opportunity and a shared sustainable future.
Earlier, Joshi also participated in a High-Level Dialogue on “Reimagining Energy Futures: Bold Visions for Shared Prosperity” held on the sidelines of the Assembly. He reiterated that the energy transition must evolve into a mass movement driven by equity and inclusion, noting that India added nearly 50 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2025 alone.
The Union Minister congratulated the Dominican Republic on assuming the Presidency of IRENA and extended best wishes to the Vice Presidents—Kenya, Solomon Islands, Spain, and Antigua and Barbuda—expressing confidence that their leadership would further strengthen multilateral cooperation and advance a sustainable and inclusive global energy transition.
During his visit, Joshi also met Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates, to further deepen India–UAE cooperation on climate action, clean energy and food security. The discussions reviewed the expanding partnership in renewable energy, investment and innovation, anchored in multiple Memoranda of Understanding signed between 2014 and 2024 and aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goal. Both sides explored enhanced collaboration in renewables, decentralised energy solutions, manufacturing, energy storage, technology cooperation and blended finance, with a focus on people-centric and scalable initiatives to strengthen energy security and long-term sustainability.
The 16th Session of the IRENA Assembly is being held in Abu Dhabi from 10 to 12 January 2026 under the theme “Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity”, bringing together global leaders and energy decision-makers to accelerate renewable energy deployment worldwide in support of economic inclusion, equity and human wellbeing.
