Atmanirbhar Bharat in Renewable Energy: Government’s Push Towards Self-Reliance

Clean or green energy emerged as one of the strongest pillars of India’s sustainable development in the first quarter of the 21st century. This transition in the renewable energy sector has been possible due to the collaborative efforts of government, industry players, and research institutions. These strategic and well-planned initiatives have significantly lowered carbon footprints and could put a tab on climate change. Consequently, renewable energies such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal are quickly making waves as demand for greener alternatives increases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India is fully committed to building a cleaner, greener planet. We were the first among G20 nations to meet our Paris Agreement commitments on green energy well ahead of schedule. While we continue strengthening existing solutions, we also focus on embracing new and innovative approaches.”

In India, the transition to the renewable energy sector has become an urgent necessity in the wake of environmental protection. However, in this fast-evolving scenario, adopting clean energy doesn't simply involve curbing emissions, but on a larger scale, this massive transformation could completely reshape the country’s entire approach to energy production and consumption through innovations, favourable policies, public-private partnerships, and sustainable consumption practices.

Discover Clean Energy Sources

Renewable energy cannot be understood and optimised without exploring the fundamental principles of renewable energy technologies. The very principle of clean energy implies the sources with minimal environmental impacts, and they replenish over time naturally. Evidently, solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy are the most relevant examples of clean or renewable energy.

With the pervading use of green energy technologies, human dependency on fossil fuels has been decreased to a great extent and opened new vistas for energy security and sustainability. Since efforts garner results, India has installed a total renewable energy (RE) capacity of 203.18 GW by October 2024, where 92.11 GW capacity solar emerges as the most potent propeller in this dynamic change. Wind power with 47.71 GW, biomass with 10.72 GW, and hydropower with 5.07 GW capacities, were the major contributors in this powerful shift. This remarkable development validates India’s comprehensive policies and initiatives to promote clean energy.

Solar Energy: The Front Runner

Solar sector is the ultimate fuel of India’s green energy transformation with 58.58% of the country's total renewable energy capacity. Both large-scale and small-scale projects are responsible for this rapid expansion. Amongst the big projects, the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan is one of the largest parks with 2.25 GW capacity in the world. Ranked at 11th, Bhadla Solar Park vividly demonstrates India's commitment to green energy transition. Rooftop solar installations are also worth-mentioning here, contributing approximately 7 GW of installed capacity and significantly boosting the country’s decentralised energy generation.

Government has also played a path-breaking role in this direction with various successful flagship programmes such as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, that was introduced a year ago, with the purpose to equip one crore households with rooftop solar systems and providing up to 300 units of free electricity each month.

The Union Budget 2025-26 has reinforced this momentum by increasing solar sector allocations by 220%, with a strong focus on the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. In line with its goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power by 2030, the government has allocated Rs 20,000 crore to drive solar energy expansion. Removal of customs duties on key materials such as cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery scrap, lead, zinc, and 12 other critical minerals have further supported domestic manufacturing of solar equipment in India at a reduced cost. Experts believe that these favourable custom policies will help lower input costs for domestic industry players and allow them to easily secure raw materials. Moreover, the overall developments will also result in enhanced employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

Innovations Fuelling Clean Energy Technology

Innovations in clean energy technology are revolutionizing how renewable resources are utilized; advancements in energy storage - such as advanced batteries and pumped hydro - are helping manage solar and wind power's intermittent nature. Digital technologies like smart grids and AI-driven energy management systems optimise energy distribution and consumption while effective policy frameworks accelerate clean energy transitions with government incentives like tax credits, grants and feed-in tariffs being key factors in accelerating adoption.

Towards a Sustainable Future

India's commitment to clean energy is evidenced by its ambitious goals and proactive measures, such as domestic manufacturing support, strategic investments in grid infrastructure, and ongoing innovation. The country has everything it takes to become an independent renewable energy powerhouse.

As India reaches its 500 GW target by 2030, success will inspire other nations in search of sustainable energy solutions. India will lead the way with technological innovations, policy support, and global partnerships, which will revolutionize renewable energy as we know it, making significant contributions towards international climate action efforts.

(The author is the CEO of Gautam Solar Pvt Ltd.)

(The opinions presented above belong solely to the author.)