Discuss the role of decentralised renewable energy, such as rooftop and floating solar, in achieving both energy access and energy security in India.

Decentralised renewable energy (DRE) is power generated close to where it is used. Examples are rooftop panels, floating solar on reservoirs and solar pumps. Non-fossil sources already make up 55% (308 GW) of installed capacity [1]. DRE carries this shift to homes and farms and serves both energy access and energy security.

Role in energy access

• Households as producers: PM-Surya Ghar (₹75,021 crore) aims to cover 1 crore homes with up to 300 free units a month. By December 2025, about 23.9 lakh homes had installed ~7 GW [2].
• Affordability: the subsidy goes directly to households, and some now pay zero electricity bills [1].
• Last-mile reach: PM-KUSUM installed over 9 lakh standalone solar pumps in areas with limited grid access [2]. This gives farmers reliable daytime irrigation.

Role in energy security

• Less fossil dependence: local generation replaces diesel pumps and reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels [1].
• Capacity without using land: PM-Surya Sarovar Yojana (₹5,070 crore) will add 5,000 MW of floating solar with 10,000 MWh of storage by FY 2030–31 [1].
• Secure supply chains: the solar PV PLI scheme (₹24,000 crore) ties its incentives to local content [2].
• Grid relief: power used where it is made puts less load on long transmission lines.

Constraints

• Slow pace: grid-connected rooftop solar stood at ~22 GW in 2025 [2], against an earlier target of 40,000 MW for 2022 [4].
• DISCOMs lack incentive: rooftop power reduces DISCOM sales, so net-metering approvals lag.
• Equity gap: tenants, flat-dwellers and slum households often have no usable roof.
• Storage shortfall: only ~5.5 GW of storage supports 243 GW of renewables [3]. PM-SSY's two-hour storage covers only the early evening peak [1].
• Capacity is not generation: solar runs only part of the day, so installed GW overstates the clean power actually delivered.

Way forward

• State electricity regulators (SERCs) should set deadlines for DISCOMs to connect rooftop systems.
• Community and shared solar for households without their own roof.
• Longer-duration storage in later PM-SSY rounds, in line with the Standing Committee's finding that storage is inadequate [3].

DRE turns citizens into energy producers while reducing India's exposure to fossil fuels. With faster DISCOM processes, inclusive design and enough storage, it can deliver SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and India's Panchamrit commitments together.