India Achieves 4,000% Solar Capacity Growth; Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, emphasised India’s impressive advancements in clean energy during his speech at the 11th India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025 in New Delhi. He observed a 4,000% rise in India's solar capacity installed over the last ten years, with renewable energy capacity now totalling 22,227 gigawatts (GW). India is probably the first G20 country to have met its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as outlined in the Paris Agreement. Mentioning Palli village in Jammu and Kashmir as the nation's pioneering carbon-neutral panchayat, he emphasised the administration's dedication to sustainable development. Mr. Piyush Goyal highlighted effective initiatives such as the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, aimed at installing rooftop solar systems in one crore homes, and the PM Kusum Yojana, which facilitates the installation of solar pumps in the agricultural sector. India’s manufacturing capabilities for solar photovoltaic modules and cells have increased almost 38 times and 21 times, respectively, aided by the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) program. He suggested a four-fold approach to achieve energy independence for India: promoting innovation, enhancing infrastructure, developing supply chain resilience, and broadening the clean energy value chain. He emphasised the Rs. The Cabinet has approved a Research, Development, and Innovation Fund of ₹1,00,000 crore (US$ 11.67 billion), which may match the amount of Rs. 6,00,000-7,00,000 crore (US$ 7-81 billion) investments in research and development (R&D) in developed nations. Highlighting the importance of storage technologies such as batteries, pumped hydro, and solid-state systems, Mr. Piyush Goyal encouraged industry leaders to invest in advanced solutions, battery swapping infrastructure, and recycling initiatives.