Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, addressed the inaugural Mumbai Climate Week today, underscoring that India’s climate ambition is now translating into decisive climate action on the ground. The Minister said under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India has set a new global benchmark in green hydrogen pricing, with discovered prices falling to ₹279 per kg. He further noted the discovery of globally competitive green ammonia pricing, reinforcing India’s leadership in emerging clean fuel markets.
At the national level, he informed that India is set to cross the milestone of 30 lakh beneficiary households under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana this week, marking a major step in scaling distributed rooftop solar across the country.
The Union Minister highlighted that India’s non-fossil fuel capacity has reached 272 GW, reflecting rapid expansion over the past decade. Solar capacity stands at 141 GW and wind capacity at 55 GW, reinforcing India’s position as one of the world’s leading renewable energy nations. He reiterated that India has already achieved over 52 per cent non-fossil capacity in its installed power mix ahead of schedule.
He stated that under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has transformed the global climate narrative by positioning sustainability as a powerful engine of growth. The country’s renewable manufacturing ecosystem has expanded rapidly, supported by policy stability, financial allocation and institutional coordination.
The Union Minister stated that Maharashtra, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, is demonstrating how economic growth and environmental progress can advance together. He highlighted that through flagship schemes such as PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, farmers and households are becoming active participants in the clean energy transition, transforming from consumers to energy producers.
Shri Joshi noted that Maharashtra is targeting nearly 16 GW of solar capacity by the end of the year, with significant monthly additions strengthening the State’s renewable footprint. He emphasised that solarisation of agricultural feeders under PM-KUSUM has substantially reduced the cost of power supply to farmers, lowering subsidy burdens while enhancing sustainability.
The Union Minister emphasised that Mumbai Climate Week should mark not merely a platform for dialogue, but a defining step towards cleaner cities, competitive industries and a resilient, sustainable future. He called for stronger partnerships, scalable innovation, integration of advanced technologies including artificial intelligence in renewable energy systems, and accelerated deployment of storage and green hydrogen solutions.
