India’s DRE market is valued at USD 53 billion, with the potential to create 35 million green jobs by 2047, as leaders push for increased investments at SAFDE 2025

At the South Asia Forum for Distributed Energy (SAFDE) 2025 in New Delhi, clean energy leaders called for a significant increase in private sector investments to drive growth in India’s distributed renewable energy (DRE) sector. Over 300 delegates gathered to discuss how DRE can enhance clean energy access and climate resilience.

Ashish Khanna, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), emphasized that private sector solutions in DRE need to triple investments to boost technology and innovation, while the government focuses on supportive policies and financing frameworks. He highlighted that the DRE sector has the potential to create millions of jobs and improve energy access, particularly for underserved communities.

GOGLA revealed that India’s DRE market is valued at USD 53 billion, with the potential to generate 35 million green jobs by 2047. In 2023, over 768,000 off-grid solar products were sold across South Asia, and 80,000 plus jobs were created in India’s DRE sector between 2019 and 2021. The sector is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 0.2 million tons by 2030.

Sarah Malm, Executive Director of GOGLA, highlighted the transformative power of DRE, emphasizing that integrating AI and digital platforms can optimize efficiency and expand access to clean energy.

A key focus of the event was the pre-launch of a study by GOGLA exploring how off-grid technologies can improve grid-based systems, benefiting both private sector players and utility companies (DISCOMs).

SAFDE 2025 showcased India’s leadership in the global transition to decentralized renewable energy, urging collaborative efforts to unlock the full potential of DRE solutions.