Union Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, and New and Renewable Energy, Bhagwanth Khuba, attended and addressed the first anniversary of the National Portal for Rooftop Solar and the Foundation Day of the All India Renewable Energy Associations (AIREA).
The event, named the Renewable Energy Festival of India, emphasized India's commitment to achieving energy security and sustainability. Also present at the celebrations were Dr. Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister of Goa, and Sudin Dhavalikar, the Minister of Power.
Minister Bhagwanth Khuba highlighted the government's strong commitment to ensuring energy and food security for all citizens during his address. He proudly stated that India had surpassed its goal of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy (fossil fuel) by 2022, declared at the COP 2015 conference, ahead of schedule, receiving global recognition. At the COP 26 conference, the Prime Minister announced a new ambitious target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, with the ultimate aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2070. Minister Khuba acknowledged India as the only country to achieve the COP-15 target but acknowledged the need for significant efforts to reach the net zero objective.
The Minister highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent successful visits to the United States and France, showcasing India's unwavering dedication to achieving ambitious goals across all sectors. He explained the Government of India's significant step of introducing Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for renewable energy, aiming to promote self-reliance and domestic production in the energy sector. The government has initiated a PLI of Rs. 1500 crore, enabling the installation of 65 GW capacity through an investment of Rs. 19500 crore. India's ultimate target is to achieve a total of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, with 280 GW of it coming from solar energy.
The Indian government is actively implementing a PLI scheme worth Rs. 17,500 crores for the National Hydrogen Mission, aligning with its commitment to clean energy. Regulations are being developed to further support the hydrogen initiative, driving rapid progress in the energy sector.
Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, highlighted the state government's endeavors in green and clean energy and expressed confidence in Goa's role in achieving the Net Zero target. On 30th July 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Portal for Rooftop Solar.
