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INDIA’S BRICS CHAIRSHIP seeks to place the Global South at the centre of a secure, resilient, equitable, and sustainable global energy future.
The global energy landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. Nations are striving to balance economic growth, energy security and sustainability, while building resilience against geopolitical uncertainties and climate-related disruptions. For developing economies, this challenge is particularly acute, making cooperation and innovation more important than ever. It is precisely in this context that BRICS assume greater significance, providing an opportunity for emerging economies to work together, share solutions, and shape a more resilient and sustainable energy future.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Few sectors embody this theme more completely than energy. Energy is the foundation upon which every other national aspiration rests — be it economic growth, job creation, education, agriculture or the digital economy. As energy ministers and delegates representing nearly half of humanity gathered in Delhi, it is an appropriate moment to reflect on the deliberations of the Summit and India’s role in shaping the energy systems of the future.
The contours of this energy system were laid by the Prime Minister of India when he announced India’s resolve to become net zero by 2070 at COP26. “Energy for All” is the framework which reflects the common priorities of BRICS nations. The core pillars identified in this framework are:
• Energy access & equity
• Energy security & sustainability
• Technology and innovation
• Energy access
India has championed universal electricity access with a record 286 million houses electrified under the flagship Saubhagya Scheme. This expansion of access to every household has increased electricity consumption per capita to 1,450 units, a 52% increase from 2013–14 levels. India’s per capita electricity consumption is projected to rise to nearly 2,000 units by 2030 and around 4,000 units by 2047, reflecting rising prosperity and improved living standards.
India has already more than doubled its installed power generation capacity to over 540 GW during the last 12 years. This rapid growth has helped us meet the highest-ever peak demand of 270.8 GW during the current summer season.
Importantly, India has already crossed 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, more than five years ahead of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitment. This reflects India’s ability to simultaneously meet rising energy needs while remaining firmly on track to achieve its climate goals.
Building on this strong foundation, India is now preparing for the next phase of its energy transformation. Peak electricity demand is projected to reach around 459 GW by 2035–36, requiring an installed capacity of nearly 1,121 GW. This expansion will be driven largely by renewable energy, particularly solar and wind.
Distribution companies will now be required to plan and procure long-term capacity according to their coincident peak obligations. This marks an important evolution in India’s power sector, reflecting the growing maturity, sophistication and resilience of our electricity system.
Energy security has gained importance like never before in the wake of current geopolitics. India is aiming for a well-diversified energy basket focused on electricity.
Having good coal reserves, we have already reduced imported coal blending in thermal plants and are exploring blending domestic coal in imported coal-based plants. Coal gasification is another priority area to reduce import dependence while meeting growing industrial requirements. This has led to a National Coal Gasification Mission with a target of 100 million tonnes by 2030.
Green hydrogen and its derivatives are also emerging as alternative fuels, not only for domestic needs but also as a major export commodity. The government is scaling up adoption of electric vehicles to reduce oil import dependence.
Solar is the mainstay of our renewable energy transition. Our solar capacity, currently at 157 GW, has increased 54 times compared to 2014–15 and is projected to cross 500 GW over the next decade. India ranks third in the world in solar capacity.
The unsung hero of this massive renewable energy expansion is the transmission sector. Over the past decade, the transmission network has grown into one of the world’s largest synchronized grids, delivering the scale and flexibility needed for a low-carbon transition.
Tech and innovation
Digital innovation is increasingly shaping the future power system. Smart meter installation has already gathered pace, with 60 million smart meters installed, making the grid smarter and enabling time-of-day/use tariffs.
Intelligent and connected systems of tomorrow will create as much value as physical infrastructure does today. Every consumer now has the opportunity to become a producer.
PM Surya Ghar Yojana is already making inroads with four million household installations and will open the door to peer-to-peer energy transactions.
India Energy Stack is creating India’s digital public infrastructure to facilitate this transformation. The UPI moment for the power sector is approaching.
Decentralisation is the next phase of this shift towards a consumer-centric energy system. The distribution sector is already showing signs of revival, with AT&C losses reduced to 15% and utilities becoming PAT positive for the first time.
India has always believed that resilient energy systems are built not only through strong domestic policies but also through stronger international partnerships.
The true strength of BRICS lies in its complementarity. No single BRICS country possesses every solution, but together we possess almost every ingredient required for building secure, resilient and sustainable energy systems.
As India continues to lead BRICS this year, our endeavour is to translate this shared vision into tangible outcomes, shaping a sustainable world.