Global Investors Commit $400 Billion at Bharat Renewable Energy Summit, Says Pralhad Joshi

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced on Wednesday that a CEO roundtable at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 in New Delhi witnessed preliminary investment commitments totaling $400 billion in the clean energy sector.

Speaking to reporters, Joshi clarified that the figures are preliminary and that the Ministry is yet to work out the exact details concerning individual investors, specific sectors, and proposed allocations. Fund managers have submitted their details, and the government will examine the proposals before releasing a comprehensive account of commitments made by individual companies and fund funds.

Investment discussions during the roundtable spanned across renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy storage, and transmission infrastructure, drawing participation from both domestic and international investors. Addressing potential concerns regarding global capital diversion due to the West Asia conflict, Joshi maintained that international investors continue to regard India as an attractive investment destination.

In a separate update, the Minister stated that the government will conduct consultations over the next 10 to 15 days to decide whether to further extend the relaxation granted to solar projects under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework for solar cells. India's current domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity stands at approximately 47 GW, with projections indicating capacity could scale up to 70 GW by December 31. The government had previously extended the relaxation deadline following industry concerns over insufficient domestic manufacturing capacity.

Joshi also highlighted the Cabinet's approval of ₹14,500 crore in viability gap funding designated for grid-scale energy storage. This financial backing is intended to support pumped hydro and battery storage projects designed to manage fluctuations inherent in renewable power generation. Pointing to a recent round-the-clock renewable power tender priced at ₹5.25 per unit, he noted that competitive bidding paired with robust storage infrastructure will help maintain economical electricity pricing for consumers.

Regarding rooftop solar and net metering, the Minister noted that several State governments are currently evaluating decentralized battery storage solutions for individual households to better manage peak-hour demand, clarifying that these remain state-level proposals rather than a centralized government scheme. Furthermore, Joshi expressed confidence that the PM Surya Ghar programme remains on track to meet its target of one crore households by March, adding that any future target expansions will necessitate additional stakeholder consultations.

"A preliminary investment commitment of $400 billion highlights strong long-term investor confidence in India's clean energy infrastructure and green transition roadmap. As the Ministry finalizes individual allocations across green hydrogen, solar, and storage sectors, founders and enterprises operating in the renewable energy supply chain should prepare for substantial capital deployment. However, regulatory clarity regarding domestic manufacturing frameworks like ALMM and grid-scale storage execution will be critical for translating these broad commitments into operational projects." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes