Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi has recently returned from the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, where a series of high-level engagements have helped strengthen global confidence in India as a leading destination for long-term clean energy investments.
The Minister said that the visit provided “invaluable insights, strengthened strategic partnerships, and restored international confidence in India’s transition to renewable energy.” The Minister further said that the interactions at WEF 2026 “reaffirmed India’s commitment to fast-track its transition to clean energy through stable policies, international cooperation, and long-term investments, making India a force in the global energy transition.”
India’s Clean Energy Growth and Investor Confidence
At Davos, the Union Minister showcased India’s long-term investment story, anchored in:
- Policy stability and predictable regulations
- Strong execution capabilities
- Active engagement with stakeholders at both Central and State levels
Global stakeholders expressed strong interest in India’s investible renewable energy pipeline, acknowledging the successful implementation of flagship schemes such as:
- PM-Surya Ghar
- PM-KUSUM
The Indian efforts to enhance local manufacturing in the solar PV value chain were well received, solidifying the country’s position as a robust and competitive clean energy manufacturing nation. The export potential of green hydrogen derivatives was identified as an important facilitator for supporting the energy transition of partner nations.
India’s Vision for the Energy Transition
Addressing global leaders, the Minister highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in the energy sector, noting its ability to:
- Improve forecasting
- Reduce losses
- Lower costs
- Strengthen grid reliability
He outlined India’s shift from pilot-based initiatives to platform-based deployment through Digital Public Infrastructure for Energy, enabling large-scale adoption of AI-driven solutions.
India also showcased key milestones, including:
- 267 GW of non-fossil fuel based installed power capacity
- Achievement of 50% non-fossil capacity, five years ahead of the 2030 Paris Agreement target
The Minister underlined the requirement of USD 300–350 billion (around ₹30 lakh crore) to reach 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, inviting global investors to partner in this journey.
High-Level Bilateral and Institutional Engagements
On the sidelines of WEF 2026, the Union Minister held bilateral meetings with Ministers, global CEOs, institutional investors and multilateral organisations to mobilise long-term capital for India’s clean energy transition.
Key engagements included:
- Oman: Discussions with Dr. Said Mohammed Ahmed Al Saqri on solar, wind, green hydrogen and storage solutions for arid regions under CEPA, ISA and OSOWOG
- Belgium: Talks with Deputy PM Maxime Prévot on R&D, offshore wind, solar energy and green taxonomy
- Kuwait: Meeting with Minister Subaih Abdul Aziz Al-Mukhaizeem on potential investments, including interest from the Kuwait Investment Authority
- Paraguay: Interaction with President Santiago Peña on technology partnerships and capacity-building
- Zimbabwe: Discussions with Minister Amon Murwira on renewable energy cooperation and ISA support for the STAR-C Centre
- Jordan: Engagements with investment and planning ministers to explore future partnerships
The Minister also met Dr. Fatih Birol (IEA) and Rafael Mariano Grossi (IAEA) to strengthen cooperation with multilateral agencies for advancing clean energy technologies.
Industry Partnerships and Innovation
The Minister held meetings with global industry leaders to expand collaboration across renewable energy, hydrogen, storage and climate finance:
- Mercuria Group: Discussions with Group CFO Guillaume Vermersch on renewables, carbon markets, green hydrogen and storage, with Mercuria reaffirming its plan to invest nearly 50% in green energy
- TotalEnergies: Talks with CEO Patrick Pouyanné on solar, storage, green hydrogen and climate finance
- La Caisse: Engagement with CEO Charles Emond and COO Sarah Bouchard on scaling climate investments aligned with La Caisse’s USD 400 billion climate plan by 2030
- Ingka Group: Interest in solar, wind and hybrid projects, citing India’s investor-friendly policy ecosystem
Meetings were also held with senior leaders from ENGIE, EDF, EDF Power Solutions and Acciona, inviting further long-term investments in India’s renewable sector.
Advancing Green Hydrogen and Digital Energy
Discussions under the National Green Hydrogen Mission included:
- Topsoe: Deployment of next-generation electrolyser technologies
- Bloom Energy: Distributed power and fuel cell solutions for industrial clusters and data centres
An interaction with S&P Global President Dave Ernsberger focused on strengthening frameworks for credit assessment, ESG standards and price discovery in renewable energy markets.
Global Momentum for India
The engagements at WEF Davos 2026 reaffirmed that India will remain a central focus for global clean energy investments, driven by scale, policy certainty, strong execution and a people-centric approach to sustainable growth. Global companies increasingly expressed interest in partnering with Indian firms to expand their presence through greenfield and brownfield investments.
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