India Becomes Clean Energy Frontrunner, Guides Global South
NEW YORK, NY -India has positioned itself at the forefront of the global clean energy movement, achieving its 2030 renewable energy targets five years ahead of schedule, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi wrote in a Newsweek article.
In 2025, India became the only G20 nation to fully meet its Nationally Determined Contributions, with non-fossil fuels now accounting for 50 per cent of its total installed power capacity of 484 GW. This milestone marks a dramatic shift in the global energy landscape, with India setting a precedent for rapid, large-scale decarbonization.
“India’s success in renewable energy reflects a strong political will to create an ecosystem of policy and regulatory support, integrated planning of the power system, transmission strengthening to absorb variable renewable energy, institutional mechanisms like Solar Energy Corporation of India for derisking, strengthening private sector capacity and enabling capital markets for local currency financing,” wrote Joshi, also the current President of the International Solar Alliance Assembly.
India witnessed record growth, adding 44.5 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity in 2025, nearly doubling the previous year’s figures – a pace unmatched by any other G20 nation, he wrote.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, has called this achievement a reflection of “India’s deepening commitment towards a green and sustainable future”.
While solar power capacity soared to 135 GW, wind power reached nearly 54 GW, cementing India’s role as a renewable powerhouse.
The transition saved India over $46 billion in pollution-related costs, avoided 410.9 million tons of CO₂ emissions, and delivered $31.7 billion in health benefits, underscoring the economic case for clean energy, the minister stated.
Additionally, initiatives which provide rooftop solar access to over 18 lakh houses, and empowering farmers to solarize their energy needs with plans for 4 million such pumps, are democratizing access to clean energy and ensuring benefits reach rural and urban communities alike.
Meanwhile, the National Green Hydrogen Mission is facilitating the development of a green hydrogen ecosystem with India’s production prices being among the lowest globally, Joshi mentioned in the Newsweek article.
As ISA President, India is sharing its blueprint with 125 member countries, particularly in Africa and Small Island Developing States, positioning itself as a mentor for the Global South, Joshi stated.
He mentioned that auctions and reverse-auction mechanisms, along with technological advancements, have led to a reduction of almost 80 per cent in solar project tariffs over the last decade.
India’s clean energy leap is being hailed as a model for the Global South. Unlike many developed nations, India’s approach emphasizes affordability, resilience and inclusivity, ensuring that clean energy is accessible to households, farmers and small businesses.
This will offer not only a blueprint for affordable, reliable and resilient renewable energy but also the potential for digital leapfrogging in the Global South, ensuring that developing countries are not left behind in adopting the rapidly evolving digital and AI transformation of the energy sector, which would lead to the optimal utilization of renewables. (IANS)
