Bhubaneshwar , November 14 : Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, inaugurated the two-day 'Chintan Shivir' event in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Thursday, focusing on strategies to reach India’s ambitious renewable energy target of 500 Gigawatts by 2030.
During the event, Joshi highlighted India's advancements in renewable energy, noting a dramatic reduction in fossil fuel dependence and significant growth in solar capacity, which has surged 130-fold in the last decade. The minister emphasized that an investment of ₹42 crore has been allocated to support this vision, with the ‘Chintan Shivir’ aimed at developing actionable strategies for achieving this target.
Joshi also shared recent milestones, including India's achievement of 90 gigawatts in solar capacity, with continued efforts towards the ultimate goal of 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. The country also aims to produce 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by this time. He mentioned that India has approved 50 solar parks with a combined capacity of nearly 37.5 gigawatts and is identifying offshore wind sites to add another 30 gigawatts.
A focal point of Joshi's address was the International Solar Alliance's “1000 Strategy,” which aims to mobilize $1 trillion in investments, provide energy access to one billion people, and reach a solar capacity of 1,000 gigawatts by 2030, all while mitigating one billion metric tons of carbon emissions annually. Joshi praised India’s solar rooftop initiatives as a global benchmark for community-driven renewable energy efforts.
In closing, Joshi emphasized the universal cultural importance of solar energy and called for continued cooperation among governments, organizations, and private sectors to drive the “solar revolution.” He reiterated that these commitments align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for sustainable growth, positioning India as a global leader in renewable energy innovation.
