Pralhad Joshi Announces 1.5 Lakh Rooftop Solar Plan as India Hits Record RE Growth

Shri Joshi noted that the world took nearly 70 years to build its first terawatt (TW) of renewable energy capacity in 2022.

Highlighting India’s remarkable clean energy acceleration, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi announced that the country has recorded its highest-ever addition of non-fossil fuel capacity in a single financial year—31.25 GW, including a massive 24.28 GW of solar power. The Minister was speaking at the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025 held in Puri, Odisha.

India Becomes a Global Engine of Renewable Energy Growth

Shri Joshi noted that the world took nearly 70 years to build its first terawatt (TW) of renewable energy capacity in 2022. Yet, astonishingly, the global RE capacity doubled to 2 TW by 2024, adding the second terawatt in just two years. India played a pivotal role in this transformation.

Key achievements highlighted include:

• Solar capacity rose from 2.8 GW in 2014 to ~130 GW in 2025 — a staggering 4,500% growth.

• Between 2022 and 2024, India added 46 GW of solar alone.

• India has emerged as the third-largest contributor to global solar expansion.

Despite being the world’s second-largest coal consumer and holding the fifth-largest coal reserves, India is carefully balancing coal use with an aggressive transition to clean energy. Shri Joshi said that global policy shifts and industrial competitiveness now make renewable energy adoption not only environmentally essential but strategically vital for economic leadership.

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Odisha to Roll Out 1.5 Lakh Rooftop Solar Systems

Announcing a major initiative for Odisha, Shri Joshi unveiled a Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.

Key features of the Odisha Rooftop Solar Plan

• 1.5 lakh rooftop solar units, each of 1 kW capacity

• Designed as a consumer-owned, utility-managed model

• Expected to benefit 7–8 lakh people, especially from economically weaker sections

• Brings down electricity bills and boosts long-term energy independence at the household level

The initiative is expected to position Odisha as a flagship State for solar adoption under the Surya Ghar Yojana.

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Odisha’s Strong Progress in Renewable Energy

Odisha is already emerging as a clean energy leader:

• 3.1+ GW installed renewable energy capacity

• Clean energy now forms 34% of Odisha’s total installed power capacity

• Under PM Surya Ghar Yojana:

  • 1.6 lakh household applications

  • 23,000+ rooftop solar systems installed

  • 19,200+ families received subsidies exceeding ₹147 crore directly into bank accounts

The Minister said this momentum showcases robust Centre–State partnership, investor-friendly policies, ease of doing business reforms and rising public awareness.

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A New Phase of Energy Transformation for Odisha

Shri Joshi expressed confidence that the coming years will mark a breakthrough period for Odisha in renewable energy, innovation and green technology. He praised the leadership of:

• Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi,

• Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, and

• The people of Odisha

for driving large-scale adoption of clean energy and contributing to India’s net-zero vision.

He added that India’s renewable energy revolution is the result of the unified national ecosystem created under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, supported by strong policies, investor confidence, infrastructure growth and demand-driven schemes.