India, Singapore Discuss Cross-Border Power Link at SIEW 2026

India’s installed electricity capacity reached 558.9 GW as of September 30, 2026, with non-fossil sources accounting for about 308 GW, or 55 percent, of the total, Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik said at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2026.

Naik led the Indian delegation to the event, held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore from October 26 to 28. He delivered a keynote address on the first day and opening remarks on the second day.

The minister said that India had achieved 50 percent non-fossil installed electricity capacity in June 2025, five years ahead of its 2030 nationally determined contribution target. The country is now working towards 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.

Highlighting progress in decentralised renewable energy, Naik said that around 53 lakh rooftop solar systems had been installed under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, benefiting approximately 63 lakh households.

Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, nearly 12 lakh standalone solar pumps had been installed, while more than 17 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps had been solarised. These installations have added about 16.7 GW of decentralised renewable energy capacity and benefited around 30 lakh farmers, according to the Ministry of Power.

On the sidelines of SIEW 2026, Naik met Singapore Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Energy and Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang to discuss cooperation under the India-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The discussions included a proposed cross-border electricity interconnection between the two countries. Naik also invited long-term Singaporean investment in India's transmission infrastructure, pumped-storage projects, battery energy storage and renewable energy sector.

The two sides discussed cooperation in green hydrogen and ammonia, energy efficiency, and partnerships between Indian power equipment manufacturers and Singaporean utilities.

Naik also met Bhutan's Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Lyonpo Sonam Tashi, to review bilateral cooperation in hydropower and electricity transmission.

The discussions covered progress on the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, where dam construction resumed in April 2026, and the operational performance of the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II project.

The ministers also reviewed other hydropower projects being discussed with Indian entities and cross-border transmission planning extending to 2040.

During his meeting with International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Director-General Francesco La Camera, Naik discussed expanding cooperation under the strategic partnership agreement signed between India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and IRENA in January 2022.

The discussions covered affordable renewable energy financing for developing economies, long-term energy planning, green hydrogen and capacity building, including in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.

Naik also met International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol and welcomed the forthcoming launch of the IEA's India Renewable Energy Market Report 2026 at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit. The IEA's India Critical Minerals Report is scheduled for launch at India Mining Week

As part of his visit, Naik toured Sembcorp's 326 MWh battery energy storage system on Jurong Island. The facility comprises 800 large-scale lithium iron phosphate batteries and is described in the ministry's release as the largest utility-scale battery energy storage system in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

He also visited Keppel's 800-tonne-per-day, 22 MW waste-to-energy plant in Singapore's Tuas region. The visit provided an opportunity for India to present its progress in the power and renewable energy sectors and advance energy cooperation with Singapore, Bhutan and international energy agencies.