SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) | Ministry of Power
On January 25, 2026, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi concluded a series of high-level engagements at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, reaffirming India’s role as a central pillar of the global energy transition. The Minister highlighted India’s milestone achievement of 267 GW of non-fossil fuel installed capacity, accounting for over 52% of the country’s total capacity, five years ahead of the 2030 Paris Agreement target. To reach the goal of 500 GW by 2030, the Minister projected a requirement of USD 300–350 billion in financing, inviting global investors to tap into India’s predictable, reform-led growth model.
Technological Integration and Manufacturing Leadership A core theme of the engagements was the shift from pilot-based initiatives to platform-based deployment through Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Energy.
AI in Energy: The Minister underscored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in improving forecasting, reducing grid losses, and strengthening reliability.
Domestic Manufacturing: India showcased its robust manufacturing base, with 144 GW of solar module capacity and plans to expand cell manufacturing to 50 GW, alongside emerging production in wafers and ingots.
Decentralized Solutions: Flagship schemes like PM-Surya Ghar (rooftop solar for 10 million households) and PM-KUSUM (solarized agriculture) were presented as replicable models for the Global South to achieve energy security while lowering tariffs.
Bilateral Diplomacy and Institutional Outreach The sidelines of Davos 2026 facilitated strategic dialogues to mobilize long-term “patient” capital:
Strategic Partnerships: Meetings with leaders from Oman, Belgium, Kuwait, and Panama focused on joint collaboration in green hydrogen, offshore wind, and port-based export infrastructure.
Investor Engagement: Discussions with global funds like La Caisse and industry giants like IKEA (Ingka Group) centered on scaling climate-aligned investments through blended finance models and dedicated credit rating frameworks for renewables.
What is the “Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Energy” mentioned at WEF 2026? DPI for Energy refers to a secure, open-standard digital framework designed to enable the large-scale adoption of AI-driven solutions in the power sector. It facilitates real-time data exchange across the energy value chain—from decentralized rooftop solar to the national grid—improving the reliability of renewable integration, optimizing demand response, and lowering operational costs through advanced forecasting and automated grid management.
Policy Relevance
India’s WEF 2026 engagements solidify its position as a “trusted and future-ready” destination for global green capital.
Industrial Growth Driver: By designing the energy transition as a tool for industrialization, India is successfully linking decarbonization with job creation and global competitiveness in manufacturing.
Economic Resilience: Replacing high-cost fossil fuel subsidies with low-cost renewable power is fundamentally restructuring the fiscal health of distribution companies (DISCOMs), leading to lower tariffs for domestic industry.
Strategic Autonomy: Strengthening domestic manufacturing and green hydrogen exports positions India as a resilient hub for clean energy supply chains, reducing vulnerability to global fossil fuel volatility.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India further refine its credit rating and ESG assessment frameworks to attract the USD 350 billion in “patient capital” required to bridge the energy funding gap by 2030?
Follow the full news here: World Economic Forum 2026 Engagements