AP Sets National Benchmark in Rooftop Solar, Says Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

Andhra Pradesh is setting a national benchmark in renewable energy, particularly in rooftop solar implementation, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said on Friday at the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.

Addressing a plenary session titled ‘Building Resilience for a Sustainable Future – Energy Resilience, Clean Technologies and Global Partnerships’, Joshi praised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar for connecting 7.86 lakh households to rooftop solar power in record time, exceeding his initial target of five lakh homes. He also commended the state's Energy Department for restoring cyclone-hit electricity supply within just 24 hours.

Highlighting India's renewable energy progress, Joshi said the country's solar power capacity had increased from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 175 GW. The PM Surya Ghar scheme had benefited approximately 66 lakh households nationwide.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh secured 17 memoranda of understanding worth ₹43,871 crore with energy companies, along with government orders for three additional projects. The investments are expected to generate around 4,700 direct jobs. Major commitments include ₹15,500 crore from Saras Infrastructure, ₹10,759 crore from Texol CGS Green Ammonia, ₹6,550 crore from SunShore Energy, ₹5,000 crore from BLE Renewables and ₹3,300 crore from Acaya Energy. Other investors include Clean Renewable Energy Hybrid, FPEL Rayala Power and Clean Edge India.

Special Chief Secretary for Energy K. Vijayanand said the state was targeting 160 GW of green energy under its Integrated Clean Energy Policy, with approvals already granted for 114.25 GW of projects. He also confirmed the Centre's in-principle approval for a Green Hydrogen Valley in Amaravati.

Fiji Prime Minister's Office Assistant Minister Shaleen Kumar sought India's technological support to help small island nations tackle climate-related energy challenges. CII Vice-President Shashwat Goenka stressed the need for greater private investment in modern power grids, battery storage and clean technologies.

Representatives from ReNew, UNEP India, Arup Group, Reunion BNP, Dynasert and JFE Steel also participated.