India’s renewable energy sector has expanded steadily over the past decade, supported by policy measures, manufacturing incentives and programmes aimed at increasing clean energy adoption, according to officials at a panel discussion on energy security in New Delhi.

The discussion was held as part of the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) Conversation Series and focused on the role of renewable energy in meeting the country’s growing energy needs.

Addressing the session, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), said a series of policy interventions had helped create conditions for renewable energy growth. These include Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs), Renewable Consumption Obligations (RCOs), competitive bidding mechanisms for renewable power projects and provisions allowing up to 100 per cent foreign direct investment through the automatic route.

He also referred to efforts aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing through initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).

The discussion comes as India continues to add renewable energy capacity while managing rising electricity demand. Alongside generation projects, areas such as transmission infrastructure, energy storage and manufacturing capacity are receiving increasing attention.

Officials highlighted schemes including PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM, which seek to expand the use of solar energy among households and farmers.

Sarangi said emerging technologies and project models, including floating solar installations and Agri-PV systems, could contribute to future renewable energy deployment. Agri-PV projects allow solar power generation and farming activities to take place on the same land.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was another area of discussion. According to the ministry, the initiative is intended to support the development of a domestic green hydrogen industry and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Sarangi said challenges linked to renewable energy expansion remain, particularly in areas such as grid modernisation, power forecasting, climate finance and the management of end-of-life clean energy equipment.

Speaking during the session, German Ambassador to India and Bhutan Dr Philipp Ackermann said energy security remains a shared concern for countries navigating changing global energy markets. He noted that cooperation between India and Germany could support knowledge sharing and technology collaboration.

The panel also examined the challenges of maintaining reliable power supplies while increasing the share of renewable energy in the country's electricity system.

The event brought together government officials, industry representatives, researchers and policy experts to discuss issues related to energy security and the ongoing transition towards cleaner sources of power.