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Ashish Khanna, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), at the AI Impact Summit 2026, highlighted the urgent need for digital infrastructure to support the rapid expansion of decentralized renewable energy, especially solar energy, in India and other developing countries.
“Of the 1,000 gigawatts, or $1 trillion, of solar energy invested in the last two years, only 40% is decentralized, meaning on the roof or with people. In India, that figure is only 15%, which means that India wants to generate a lot more solar energy because it’s cheaper, more affordable, there will be a lot more decentralized renewable energy,” he said.
According to Khanna, decentralized renewable energy requires distribution companies to upgrade their digital capabilities to manage increasing complexity on the grid.
“But as decentralized renewable energy advances, local distribution companies need to have the basic digital elements to understand what’s actually happening in the system, where more energy needs to come, how efficiency can happen and not have negative financial consequences. So that’s a fundamental element,” he explained.
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