Private Sector-led DRE Solutions Need To Triple Investments: ISA

Private Sector-led DRE Solutions Need To Triple Investments: ISA

Ashish Khanna, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), on Wednesday called for tripling private-sector investments in distributed renewable energy (DRE) solutions, saying such efforts are vital to scale up innovation and access.

Speaking at the South Asia Forum for Distributed Energy (SAFDE) 2025 in New Delhi, Khanna said the private sector must lead in technology and innovation, while governments should focus on enabling policy frameworks and results-based financing mechanisms.

“We need to enable private sector investments in driving technology and innovation for DRE, while the government focuses on developing the policy and regulatory framework and results-based financing to make these solutions affordable for the poor,” he said.

The forum was organised by GOGLA with support from Good Energies and the IKEA Foundation.

$53 billion market potential, 35 million green jobs by 2047

GOGLA presented new data on the sector’s potential, estimating a $53 billion market opportunity in India alone. If fully realised, the DRE sector could generate up to 35 million green jobs by 2047, the group said. Key applications include solar-powered irrigation, cooling systems, and clean mobility solutions.

In 2023, GOGLA affiliates sold over 768,000 off-grid solar products across South Asia. In India, more than 80,000 jobs were created through the DRE sector between 2019 and 2021. DRE adoption is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 200,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.

“Distributed renewable energy is transforming the energy landscape today – powering local economies, enhancing climate resilience and driving sustainable solutions,” said Sarah Malm, Executive Director of GOGLA. “By integrating AI and digital platforms, we can optimise efficiency, expand access and position ourselves as global leaders in clean energy innovation.”

GOGLA also previewed a new study during the event, which explores how off-grid technologies can complement and enhance grid-based systems. The study promotes a hybrid model that benefits both private companies and distribution companies (DISCOMs), enabling faster, cheaper, and more innovative energy access.

Other key speakers included Harish Hande, Chief Executive of the SELCO Foundation, and Ronald Mekata, Managing Director of the Energy Authority of Papua New Guinea, who shared cross-border perspectives on DRE innovation and implementation.