Let the sun shine on the roadmap to peace

Discussions at the Energy Summit 2026 organised on 24 and 25 September 2026 in Faridabad, India, revolved around the theme ‘Solar for Peace and Sustainability: Powering the Future.’ It brought together diverse perspectives on the possibilities of solar energy from solar circularity and energy storage to green hydrogen, bioenergy and emerging clean technologies.

However, moving beyond the technicalities, a shared vision emerged — a solar roadmap to peace.

According to a social release by the organisers, Manav Rachna Centre for Peace and Sustainability and the Manav Rachna School of Business, the Peace Declaration adopted at the Summit articulated this vision through two interconnected dimensions: (1) Solar for Peace through Distributed Responsibility — advancing equitable responsibility for meeting energy demand and ensuring the supply of energy for life, livelihoods, dignity, equity and wellbeing and (2) Solar for Peace through Global Legitimacy — building a self-dependent solar age that strengthens peace at global, national and local levels, creating the foundations for a more stable and peaceful world amid the growing climate crisis.

Together, these ideas invite to look beyond energy generation and consider the deeper relationship between energy access, human dignity, resilience and peace. From powering possibilities to advancing peace, the Energy Summit 2026 opened a dialogue on reimagining energy as a force for a more equitable, resilient and sustainable world. The Solar Peace Declaration with its two dimensions declared an action plan to achieve Peace by 2047 while India aims to attain Viksit Bharat post the 2026 Indian BRICS Presidency Declaration.

The Summit was organised in collaboration with the POP Movement, the Netzero Energy Transition Association, and the Solar Energy Society of India. As its website details, it brought together experts and stakeholders committed to accelerating the clean energy transition. Designed as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, the summit convened policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and students to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and explore practical solutions for advancing renewable energy (RE) and sustainable development. The two-day programme featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, policy dialogues, startup showcases, technical paper and poster presentations, and networking opportunities focused on emerging trends and technologies in the RE sector.

The key focus areas included (1) Solar as a Catalyst: examining how solar energy transitions from basic power generation to a broader driver of global peace, community resilience, and sustainable development; (2) India’s Energy Targets: aligning institutional and grassroots dialogues with India’s broader national goals of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity and Net Zero emissions and (3) Collaborative Action: bringing together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and students for keynote speeches, startup showcases, and technical paper presentations on smart storage and grid integration.

Another Global Clean Energy Movement will be held in India later this year — the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026. It is expected to attract more than 75 countries, have over 50 sessions, around 400 exhibitors and an expected participation exceeding 50,000 delegates. It will bring together global leaders, industry experts, and innovators to shape the future of sustainable energy. This premier event will take place from 2–5 November 2026 in New Delhi, India.

As its website highlights, the event is presented by India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy as its flagship international platform dedicated to advancing investment, innovation and collaboration across the global renewable energy ecosystem. It builds upon the strong foundation established by RE-INVEST, India’s flagship renewable energy investment platform, which helped position the country as one of the world’s leading renewable energy destinations. Over successive editions, RE-INVEST brought together governments, industry leaders, investors and technology innovators to catalyse investment, strengthen international partnerships and accelerate India’s clean energy transition. This Summit expands this legacy beyond investment to create a comprehensive international platform for policy dialogue, manufacturing, innovation, technology collaboration, capacity building and global partnerships that will shape the next phase of the global energy transition.

Featuring the Ninth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly and the fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH), this summit represents a unique convergence of solar diplomacy, green hydrogen innovation, and renewable energy investment opportunities. The event will facilitate meaningful dialogue on RE investment, RE policy, RE manufacturing, RE technologies, and RE supply chain development across the sector.