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BK Jha
Empowering three million farmers through solar energy and expanding the adoption of agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) have emerged as key priorities in India’s strategy to make the global energy transition more inclusive, sustainable and livelihood-oriented. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Education and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prahlad Joshi, underpinned that solar power must go beyond electricity generation to become an instrument of farmers’ prosperity, rural development and economic transformation.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, Joshi said India’s experience with solar-powered agriculture, particularly through the PM-KUSUM initiative, offered a scalable model for other developing countries. Through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), India is working to adapt this approach across member nations, especially in Africa, placing farmers at the centre of the global energy transition.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has consistently championed international solar cooperation, guided by the vision of Power to Empower and the principle of One Sun, One World, One Grid. The country’s election as President of the International Solar Alliance for an unprecedented third consecutive term reflects growing international confidence in its leadership, Joshi said.
Established jointly by India and France in 2015, the ISA has evolved into a major platform for international renewable energy cooperation, particularly for the Global South. It now has 130 signatory and member countries, providing a framework to mobilise investments, share technology and accelerate solar deployment.
Financing remains central to expanding solar infrastructure in developing economies. Joshi highlighted the USD 200 million Africa Solar Facility as an important mechanism to unlock investments in Africa’s distributed renewable energy sector. India’s commitment of approximately Rs 225 crore (USD 25 million) will support efforts to make affordable solar energy accessible to underserved communities. The USD 300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, he added, offers another model for scaling decentralised energy investments.
Beyond financing, the ISA is demonstrating how solar power can directly improve lives. Projects in Fiji, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles are supporting healthcare facilities, schools, clean drinking water systems and agricultural cold storage. These interventions are strengthening local livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience. The Alliance is also developing aggregated solar and energy-storage opportunities, beginning with Mauritius, to create replicable models for Small Island Developing States.
Joshi also highlighted the importance of building institutional and technological capabilities. The establishment of 17 Solar Technology Application Resource Centres, the Global Capability Centre–SHINE (Strategic Hub for Innovation and Execution), and an AI-enabled ISA Academy are aimed at strengthening skills, innovation and implementation capacity across member countries.
Pointing to the growing electricity requirements of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, he said affordable, reliable and clean electricity would become an increasingly important strategic resource for economies worldwide.
As India begins its third consecutive term at the helm of the ISA, Joshi said the focus would be on mobilising capital, accelerating project implementation and converting collective commitments into tangible benefits for communities. The larger ambition is to make solar cooperation a practical instrument of development, with farmers and underserved populations among its principal beneficiaries.
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