MC EXCLUSIVE Cheap clean energy to power India as leading renewable, green hydrogen player, says Pralhad Joshi

Union minister for new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi.

India’s green energy rollout is poised for a sharp acceleration, with new and renewable energy minister Pralhad Joshi telling Moneycontrol in an interview that the government is targeting 50–55 lakh rooftop solar installations under the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana by 2026, marking the scheme’s fastest nationwide expansion.

With renewable energy capacity expansion already happening at a rapid pace, the government’s focus for FY27 will be on setting up transmission infrastructure to optimally utilise India’s electricity assets, the minister said.

Joshi, who also oversees the consumer affairs and food & public distribution department, said the ministry is strengthening procurement and distribution systems while tightening oversight on e-commerce platforms, misleading ads and dark patterns. Edited excerpts of the interview:

India achieved major clean energy milestones in 2025. It emerged as the world’s third-largest solar power market and the fourth largest in renewable energy capacity. What are the key challenges India must address to achieve the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power generation capacity by 2030?

Our 2030 targets were set several years ago and my priority now is to ensure they are implemented rigorously. We have already achieved 50 percent of the target five years ahead of schedule. The bottlenecks that remain — whether related to land availability or evacuation, meaning the transmission infrastructure needed to carry renewable power from project sites to the grid — and other state-level issues, I want to address (them) at priority. This is a commitment the Prime Minister has made to the world and we will work very hard to fulfil it.

But the real challenge seems to be achieving the 1,800 GW non-fossil fuel power target by 2047.

The real challenge in achieving the 1,800 GW target by 2047 will be smooth execution on the ground. India has already grown from 2.4 GW in 2014 to over 250 GW today. Affordable clean energy will drive India’s rise as a leading renewable and green hydrogen player. With strong planning, policy support and continued investment, I am confident we will meet the target and emerge as a global leader in renewable energy manufacturing and deployment.

Not only do we have the lowest solar power prices globally, but our recent price discovery for green ammonia under the National Green Hydrogen Mission has also set a world record, with a weighted average of Rs 53.27 per kg.

Ahead of the Union Budget, what are your key expectations for the renewable and new energy sectors?

As far as the FY27 Union Budget is concerned, there is no constraint at all. Whatever support the ministry of new and renewable energy needs is being given top priority by the finance ministry because this is the Prime Minister’s vision.

Broadly, I can say that PM Surya Ghar, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, an upcoming small hydro policy and strengthening evacuation for renewable power will be among the top priorities.

But there have been some gaps in the rollout of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

PM Surya Ghar faced delays initially because after framing the rules and getting Cabinet approval the election code of conduct kicked in. So, in practical terms, the rollout really began only in June 2024. Since then, we have resolved many of the early issues. Installations have now crossed around 23 lakh, which is a big jump compared to the negligible progress before June.

With the latest utility-led model, distribution companies can now aggregate demand from households and focus on target areas such as high-consumption urban neighbourhoods, clusters of households, rural areas, regions with high solar potential and government or institutional buildings. This approach makes rooftop solar installations faster, easier and more efficient. Using this model, our aim is to scale up to 50–55 lakh installations by 2026 alone.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission is progressing well and our target of producing 5 million tonnes per annum by 2030 remains on track. While there have been some slippages, work is ongoing and we are building global partnerships, though the domestic carbon market may take more time to mature.

As consumer affairs minister, how is the ministry addressing issues like misleading advertisements and dark patterns on e-commerce platforms?

Our mandate is to ensure that consumers have access to the best quality products in a competitive market without being misled. Dark patterns are constantly evolving and there cannot be a single fixed rulebook to regulate them that’s why we are monitoring these practices closely. So far, 26 major e-commerce companies have conducted internal audits and submitted reports, which helps us track and address these issues effectively.

The government had plans to explore both geothermal energy and offshore wind. How have the plans progressed?

On geothermal energy, the government has rolled out its first National Geothermal Energy Policy, aiming to commission the first commercial projects before 2030. Pilot and demonstration projects are being prioritised in high-potential regions such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, while collaborations with global and domestic R&D institutions are underway to develop cost-effective drilling, mapping, and power conversion technologies. The initial focus will be on direct-use applications like district heating, industrial process heat and greenhouses, followed by scalable power generation.

Regarding offshore wind, these projects are capital-intensive and require port, logistics, and grid infrastructure. A Viability Gap Funding scheme of Rs 7,453 crore has been released, including Rs 7,685 crore for 1 GW offshore capacity and Rs 760 crore to upgrade two ports. SECI issued a tender for the first offshore project off Gujarat but industry feedback indicates wind speeds are not yet ideal for large-scale generation.

These initiatives are part of our long-term strategy to diversify India’s clean-energy portfolio.