Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 5 June positioned Gujarat as the cornerstone of India's ongoing energy transition, telling a gathering in Surat on World Environment Day that the state already contributes 50 gigawatts — one-fifth — of the country's total 250 GW renewable energy capacity. He projected the state's role expanding further into green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green steel.

Gujarat's Renewable Energy Footprint

Modi underscored Gujarat's outsized contribution to national clean-power targets, noting that the state had been an early mover in the sector. He pointed to the country's first major solar park at Charanka in Patan district as a landmark moment, and noted that Gujarat had established a dedicated Climate Change Department more than two decades ago — well before such institutional focus became mainstream in Indian policymaking.

'Today, India's renewable energy capacity is 250 gigawatts. Out of this, Gujarat alone contributes 50 gigawatts. In other words, one-fifth of the country's green energy is produced by Gujarat,' Modi said.

India's Solar Leap in a Decade

The Prime Minister drew a sharp contrast between India's current standing and its position roughly a decade ago, when domestic solar generation was negligible. 'Twelve years ago, solar energy production in India was negligible. Today, we are among the top five countries in the world,' he said. This trajectory reflects a compounding of policy incentives, falling module costs, and large-scale land allocation for utility projects.

Modi also cited a range of complementary initiatives that have reinforced India's energy pivot — including railway electrification, ethanol blending, nuclear energy development, transmission network upgrades, and gas pipeline expansion — framing them as parts of a coherent diversification strategy rather than isolated programmes.

Global Disruptions as a Catalyst

Referencing recent global shocks, Modi argued that the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and energy market instability had validated India's push for domestic energy self-reliance. 'Petrol prices have been fluctuating continuously. Gas supply chains are collapsing,' he said, adding that India had responded by simultaneously diversifying energy imports and scaling renewable infrastructure.

This comes amid a broader global reckoning with fossil-fuel dependency, with several major economies accelerating clean-energy timelines in the wake of the 2022 European energy crisis and persistent oil price volatility.

Hazira and Surat as Decarbonisation Hubs

Looking ahead, Modi identified Surat and the Hazira industrial corridor as pivotal to the next phase of India's industrial decarbonisation. 'In the coming years, the Hazira industrial area will also be known for the production of green steel. This means that green energy will be used in steel production,' he said.

He also highlighted Surat's wastewater recycling model and electric mobility initiatives as urban-scale examples of balancing environmental responsibility with economic growth — a template he described as 'development alongside nature.'

What Comes Next

The speech signals that Gujarat will remain central to India's clean-energy industrial policy, particularly as the Centre pushes green hydrogen and green ammonia as export commodities under its National Green Hydrogen Mission. Whether the Hazira green steel ambition translates into firm investment commitments and timelines will be closely watched by industry and climate observers alike.