New Delhi: The Bharat Renewable Energy (BRE) Summit and Expo 2026 has concluded with participation from more than 75,000 visitors and representatives of 135 countries, reinforcing India’s growing role in the global clean-energy transition.
Addressing the media after the four-day event, which was held at Bharat Mandapam from November 2 to 5, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said the summit had strengthened India’s position as a major renewable energy power, an investment destination and a partner in global sustainable development.
The event brought together policymakers, investors, technology providers, industry leaders, researchers and international institutions. It also hosted the Fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen and the Ninth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly, bringing three major renewable energy platforms together.
BRE Summit 2026: Participation from 135 Countries
The summit witnessed extensive participation from domestic and international stakeholders. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, its key participation figures included:
- 75,000-plus visitors over the four-day event.
- 400-plus exhibitors showcasing renewable energy technologies and solutions.
- 627-plus speakers across 113 sessions.
- 135 countries represented, with around 800 international delegates.
- 32 international ministers, along with six Chief Ministers and 10 State Energy Ministers.
- More than 100 business-to-business meetings held on the sidelines.
The summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 2. In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted how India’s sustained investment in renewable energy has strengthened its resilience against global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the West Asia crisis.
He also called upon startups, IITs, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop clean-energy solutions and business models that can help households meet a growing share of their energy requirements through renewable sources.
India Seeks $220 Billion Investment to Achieve 500 GW Target
One of the major themes emerging from the summit was the investment required to achieve India’s target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity.
The government estimates that approximately $220 billion in investment will be required to achieve this target. Discussions at the summit indicated strong interest from domestic and international investors, including pension funds, institutional investors and providers of long-term capital.
The deliberations also identified several areas requiring attention to make renewable energy projects more attractive and financially viable:
- Bankable power purchase agreements (PPAs).
- Predictable power offtake arrangements.
- Clearer allocation of project risks.
- Deeper bond markets to mobilise long-term finance.
- Greater use of Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs).
- Blended finance to support investment at scale.
A CEO-level clean energy investment roundtable, attended by Chief Ministers, State Energy Ministers, senior government officials and industry representatives, also discussed ways to translate investment interest into project implementation.
The discussions stressed the need to coordinate renewable energy generation with transmission infrastructure, storage facilities, land availability and project approvals.
Energy Storage and Grid Flexibility Emerge as Priorities
The summit highlighted a shift in India’s renewable energy strategy from simply expanding installed capacity to developing a reliable and integrated power system.
With electricity demand rising across industries, cooling, electric mobility and data centres, the next phase of the energy transition will require greater investment in storage and grid infrastructure.
Key areas discussed included:
- Battery and long-duration energy storage.
- Expansion of transmission infrastructure.
- Grid flexibility and ancillary services.
- Better forecasting of solar and wind generation.
- Demand-response systems and green open access.
- Artificial intelligence-based systems for power-grid management.
The discussions also covered Round-the-Clock Renewable Energy and Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) contracts. A rate of ₹5.25 per unit, discovered in a recent Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) tender, attracted interest from international delegates and policymakers.
Green Hydrogen Push: SECI and Power2X Sign MoU
The Fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen provided a platform to discuss India’s ambitions in the emerging green hydrogen economy.
Deliberations focused on developing reliable domestic demand, securing long-term offtake arrangements, exploring export markets and establishing standards, certification and safety frameworks.
A key commercial development was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Rotterdam-based Power2X.
The agreement aims to advance the supply and offtake of green molecules from India to international markets. Its first tranche indicated a potential volume of 3 lakh tonnes per annum of green methanol.
The development points to opportunities for India to expand its role in emerging international markets for green fuels and other low-carbon energy products.
ISA Announces Proposed $200 Million Africa Solar Facility
The Ninth Session of the International Solar Alliance Assembly was another major component of the summit, with discussions focusing on expanding solar deployment and improving access to financing across developing countries.
A major announcement was the proposed $200 million Africa Solar Facility, aimed at facilitating access to finance and accelerating solar energy deployment across African countries.
The deliberations identified several financing mechanisms to support projects, including:
- Project aggregation to make smaller projects more attractive to investors.
- Blended finance and patient capital.
- Local-currency financing.
- Measures to reduce payment-related risks.
- Greater participation from regional and international financing institutions.
The assembly also discussed the Africa50 Distributed Renewable Energy Fund and the Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund as financing models for expanding access to electricity.
Other international initiatives highlighted at the summit included:
- One million solar pumps: The ISA advanced its ambition to deploy one million solar-powered agricultural pumps globally, drawing on India’s experience in solarising farm pumps.
- 500 MW for island nations: The ISA Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Platform aims to facilitate up to 500 MW of solar capacity across small island developing states by 2030.
- SUNRISE network: The photovoltaic and battery circularity network has expanded to 35 countries.
- Africa-focused initiatives: The Francophone and Sahel Energy Resilience Initiative highlighted solar-plus-storage solutions for critical infrastructure, public facilities and agricultural livelihoods.
The assembly also considered the ISA Director General’s 2026 report, its 2027 workplan and budget, audited accounts for 2025 and proposals concerning Partner Organisation status for several institutions.
Domestic Manufacturing and Renewable Energy Innovation in Focus
The summit placed considerable emphasis on strengthening India’s domestic clean-energy manufacturing ecosystem and moving beyond assembly towards the production of materials, components, equipment and advanced technologies.
Discussions covered next-generation solar technologies, perovskite cells, recyclable wind turbine materials, long-duration energy storage, electrolysers, fuel cells and floating solar.
Participants also identified the need for shared laboratories, pilot manufacturing lines, demonstration facilities and testing and certification infrastructure to accelerate domestic technology development.
The innovation programme saw participation from more than 300 startups across early-stage and growth-stage categories in the Renewable Energy Hackathon.
Other highlights included:
- 70 startup pods showcasing emerging technologies and business models.
- 40 academic posters presenting research and innovation.
- 10 research papers highlighting developments in renewable energy.
- Participation from students and young innovators through the RE GEN Challenge.
The summit also underscored the importance of connecting research institutions with industry to take Indian technologies from laboratory development to commercial deployment.
ISA Academy, SHINE and 37 Knowledge Resources Launched
The summit also saw the launch of the ISA Academy and the Global Capability Centre – SHINE, aimed at strengthening capacity building, digital learning and cooperation in grid-related areas.
A total of 10 MoUs and Framework Agreements were signed during the event, covering technology, research, capacity building, manufacturing and project implementation.
Framework Agreements were signed by the International Solar Alliance with:
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
- India Energy & Climate Center at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Schneider Electric Foundation.
MoUs were also signed with Shakti Pumps (India) Limited and Railway Energy Management Company Limited, among other partnerships.
In addition, 37 reports, assessments, guidebooks and digital platforms were released to strengthen the renewable energy sector’s knowledge base.
Some of the key publications included:
- Ease of Doing Solar: Intended to help identify policy and procedural barriers affecting solar deployment.
- Renewable Energy State Assessment Framework (RE-SAF): Provides a common framework for assessing and comparing state-level renewable energy progress.
- National Hydrogen Survey: Adds to the evidence base for India’s green hydrogen sector.
- Skilling Blueprint for the Top 100 Renewable Energy Districts: Links workforce development with the sector’s deployment requirements.
Other studies covered solar manufacturing, wind energy indigenisation and battery electrolytes, highlighting areas where domestic manufacturing capacity and supply chains can be strengthened.
India’s Renewable Energy Strategy Moves Beyond Capacity Addition
Concluding the summit, Pralhad Joshi said India’s renewable energy journey was increasingly being defined by its ability to attract long-term investment, develop integrated power systems, strengthen domestic manufacturing and share clean-energy solutions internationally.
The Ministry also highlighted that more than a quarter of India’s annual electricity consumption came from renewable energy sources in the previous financial year.
The summit’s discussions reflected the growing importance of energy storage, green hydrogen, grid modernisation and technology innovation alongside conventional renewable energy capacity expansion.
With participation from 135 countries and a series of international partnerships and financing initiatives, BRE Summit 2026 provided a platform for India to strengthen its engagement with global clean-energy markets, particularly in the Global South.
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