THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 3, 2026

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening international solar cooperation and ensuring equitable access to clean energy, saying the country would focus on mobilising investments, accelerating solar deployment and translating global commitments into tangible outcomes.

Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 here, Joshi said India had been elected President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the third consecutive term, reflecting the confidence of member nations in its leadership and efforts to advance global renewable energy cooperation.

He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India remained committed to the vision of 'Power to Empower' and the principle of 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' to accelerate the global clean energy transition.

Recalling the establishment of the ISA by India and France in 2015, Joshi said the alliance had grown into a significant international platform with 130 signatory and member countries, particularly strengthening cooperation among nations of the Global South.

Highlighting the transformative potential of solar energy in agriculture, the minister said around three million farmers had been empowered through solar energy initiatives and Agri-PV, with India's PM-KUSUM scheme demonstrating how solar-powered agriculture could reduce irrigation costs and create additional income opportunities for farmers.

Through the ISA, efforts were being made to adapt India's successful model across member countries, particularly in Africa, placing farmers at the centre of the global energy transition, he said.

On financing solar projects, Joshi highlighted the USD 200 million Africa Solar Facility as an important initiative to unlock investments in the continent's distributed renewable energy sector. India's commitment of around Rs 225 crore (USD 25 million), he said, reinforced its resolve to make affordable solar energy accessible to underserved communities.

He also cited the USD 300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund as a model for expanding renewable energy investments across the African continent.

Joshi said ISA-supported initiatives in Fiji, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles were demonstrating how solar energy could transform livelihoods and strengthen climate resilience by powering healthcare facilities and schools, providing clean drinking water and supporting agricultural cold storage.

The alliance was also advancing aggregated solar and energy storage opportunities, beginning with Mauritius, to develop scalable solutions for Small Island Developing States, he added.

Emphasising institutional capacity-building, the minister said 17 Solar Technology Application Resource Centres had been established, alongside the Global Capability Centre-SHINE (Strategic Hub for Innovation and Execution) and an AI-enabled ISA Academy to strengthen institutional capabilities, develop skills and accelerate solar deployment.

He observed that as artificial intelligence continued to reshape economies, access to affordable, reliable and clean electricity would become an increasingly important strategic imperative.

Joshi said the future of solar energy would depend on shared responsibility, sustained investment and collective action, adding that India's renewed ISA presidency would prioritise converting international commitments into meaningful outcomes.

He also congratulated France and its minister on being re-elected as Co-President of the alliance and thanked all member countries for reposing their trust in India for a third consecutive term.

The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 2, will conclude on November 5. Joshi said the deliberations during the four-day event would reinforce the need to move from solar commitments to investments, partnerships to projects and ambition to impact.

Those present at the press conference included MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi, ISA Director General Ashish Khanna, France's Minister Delegate for Ecological Transition Mathieu Lefèvre, Denmark's Minister for Business and Competitiveness Martin Lidegaard and senior representatives from Suriname, Seychelles and Sri Lanka.