Distributed renewable energy brings the energy transition closest to the citizen. Instead of generating electricity only at large, distant power plants, DRE systems produce energy near the point of use through rooftop solar, solar pumps, mini-grids, off-grid systems, small bioenergy units and renewable-powered productive applications. This decentralised model can reduce transmission losses, improve resilience and expand access in locations where conventional grid extension is costly or unreliable. More importantly, it enables households, farmers, enterprises and communities to become active participants in the clean energy economy.
India’s programmes demonstrate the breadth of this opportunity. PM-KUSUM is solarising agricultural pumps and supporting decentralised solar plants, reducing farmers’ dependence on diesel and creating opportunities to generate additional income. PM Surya Ghar is turning residential consumers into prosumers by enabling households to produce electricity on their rooftops and reduce their power bills. The MNRE research compendium records more than 33 lakh rooftop installations benefiting over 40 lakh households by May 2026. Under PM JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, off-grid solar systems are extending electricity to remote tribal and particularly vulnerable communities where grid connectivity is not techno-economically feasible.
The value of DRE extends beyond electricity access. Reliable local energy can power irrigation, cold chains, food processing, healthcare, schools, telecommunications, micro-enterprises and digital services. It can create local jobs in installation, operations, maintenance, financing and energy-service delivery. To scale these benefits, the sector requires affordable consumer finance, aggregation of small projects, strong vendor standards, digital monitoring, local service networks and business models that support long-term maintenance. RESCO, pay-as-you-go, community ownership and cooperative models can widen access by matching payment structures with the cash flows of different users. Distribution companies must be integrated into the transition through transparent interconnection, metering, settlement and grid-support frameworks.
DRE policy must also remain inclusive. Systems should be designed around the productive needs of communities, with particular attention to women, small farmers, micro-enterprises and underserved regions. Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo can connect policymakers, financial institutions, technology providers, DISCOMs, development organisations and local entrepreneurs to build replicable models. India’s renewable energy progress is measured in gigawatts, but its deepest impact is visible in farms, homes, workshops and villages. Distributed renewable energy ensures that the transition is not only national in scale, but personal in benefit and local in ownership.