Odisha to get 1.5 lakh rooftop solar units for benefit of residents: Govt

New Delhi: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi has stated that India has achieved its highest-ever annual non-fossil energy capacity addition, reaching 31.25 GW so far in FY 2025–26. Of this, 24.28 GW came from solar power alone. The Minister has attended the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025 in Puri, Odisha.

According to the Minister, India is now a major driver of global renewable growth, contributing significantly to the world’s rapid clean energy expansion. While the world took around 70 years to build its first terawatt of renewable capacity, it reached the second terawatt in just two years, driven largely by countries like India. India’s solar capacity has grown from 2.8 GW to nearly 130 GW in the last 11 years, and between 2022 and 2024 the country added 46 GW of solar power, becoming the third-largest contributor to global solar additions.

 

He noted that although India possesses the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves and remains the second-largest consumer of coal, the country is balancing its fossil fuel needs with a strong push toward renewable energy. He said this transition has become strategically important as global climate-linked mechanisms increasingly influence industrial competitiveness.

During the event, the minister announced a major new initiative for Odisha, approval of a utility-led aggregation model to install 1.5 lakh consumer-owned rooftop solar units of 1 kW each. The move is expected to benefit 7–8 lakh residents, particularly from economically weaker sections.

The Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025, being held in Puri from December 5 to 7, brings together global energy leaders, policymakers and innovators. The event aims to build a collaborative platform focused on accelerating India’s clean energy transition.