REconnect North-East 2026: Experts Call for Faster Adoption of Rooftop Solar, DRE and Storage
Against the backdrop of Assam’s ambitious clean energy targets and growing investor interest in the Northeast, Energetica India hosted the inaugural REconnect North-East Summit in Guwahati, bringing together policymakers, utilities, developers, and manufacturers to discuss opportunities and challenges across the region’s renewable energy value chain.
June 25, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey
Backed by incentives for renewable energy developers and clean energy manufacturers, as well as proposed Japanese investments in semiconductor manufacturing, the state is positioning itself as a key destination for clean energy investments and sustainable industrial growth.
Against this backdrop, Energetica India convened the inaugural North-East edition of the REconnect Summit at Vivanta by Taj, Guwahati, Assam. The day-long event brought together policymakers, utilities, EPC players, manufacturers, technology providers and financiers.
During his welcome address, Hemant Arora, Director of Energetica India, emphasised Northeast India’s growing role in shaping India’s clean energy future. “With abundant natural resources, growing energy demand, supportive government policies, and increasing investor interest, the Northeast is well-positioned to become an important hub for renewable energy development,” he said.
Arora further highlighted Assam’s progress in solar capacity addition, supportive policies, and increasing focus on storage and decentralised renewable energy solutions. He emphasised the role of REconnect Summit in facilitating dialogues and fostering partnerships between governments, industry, financial institutions, technology providers, and consumers.
Dr. Arup Kumar Misra, Chairman, Assam Pollution Control Board, was the Chief Guest. During his address, he highlighted Assam’s early achievements in rooftop solar deployment, recalling that during his tenure at the Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA), the state was able to install rooftop solar systems across 294 households as well as key institutions, including medical colleges, universities and schools, within the first year despite limited resources. He noted that while larger states such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu may have achieved greater scale, Assam’s progress in expanding clean energy access and laying the groundwork for future renewable energy growth has been significant and encouraging.
Dr. Jaideep Baruah, Director, Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) and Director, Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA), who was the Guest of Honour, highlighted AEDA’s role in accelerating renewable energy projects development in the state. He talked about policy and regulations clarity in fostering renewable energy projects development by boosting investors’ confidence and helping RE and BESS expansion in the state.
PM Surya Ghar: Accelerating Rooftop Solar Adoption in Northeast India
The first panel discussion of the day highlighted the potential and the current state of the rooftop solar segment in Northeast India, with a special focus on residential projects under PM Surya Ghar Yojana.
The session was moderated by Masfique Hazarika, Program Manager - Energy, WRI India. The other panellists were Karan Raj Baruah, Director, Kings Green Pack; Rashaad Saleh, Program Associate, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST); Nayanjyoti Deka, Director, NJD Technologies; Rajan Agarwal, Partner, Urjja One Powertech; Manas Das, President, North East Region Renewable Energy Developers Association (NERREDA) and Managing Director, Green Shade Consultants; and Bhaskarjyoti Das, Deputy Manager - New & Renewable Energy Wing, Assam Power Distribution Company (APDCL).
The discussion centred on identifying key barriers to scaling residential rooftop solar, with stakeholders examining whether challenges stem from policy gaps, financing constraints, execution inefficiencies, or lack of consumer trust, and what ecosystem interventions are required to unlock growth.
Panellists noted that Assam has made significant progress in rooftop solar deployment, with the state achieving around 644 MW of renewable energy capacity, including approximately 415 MW from rooftop solar installations. They emphasised that while urban areas have driven much of the adoption so far, expanding rooftop solar in rural regions will require stronger participation from local bodies, self-help groups (SHGs) and community institutions.
The discussion highlighted the need for greater convergence between government schemes and local economic support mechanisms to make solar energy more accessible. Panellists also underlined the critical role played by vendors in accelerating installations under the PM Surya Ghar scheme and stressed that increasing consumer awareness and household-level outreach would be essential to sustaining momentum and achieving higher adoption rates across the Northeast.
Solar Manufacturing and Supply Chain: Building a Self-Reliant Renewable Ecosystem
The second panel discussion was on ‘Solar Manufacturing and Supply Chain: Building a Self-Reliant Renewable Ecosystem’ – which was moderated by Hemant Arora, Director, Energetica India. Other panellists included Nikhil Gupta, VP - Sales, Joint Solar; Sunil Kumar Singh, COO (Solar Division), Urja Global; Shashank Walia, AGM – Key Accounts (Sales & Marketing), Cosmic PV Power; Jayesh Jivani, Business Development Manager, Anand E-Beam Cables India; and Manas Das, President, NERREDA and MD, Green Shade Consultants.
Panellists noted that India has built a solar manufacturing capacity of around 240 GW, supported by policy measures such as the DCR mandate and ALMM framework. They highlighted that the government's focus on strengthening domestic cell and module production is helping build a self-reliant renewable energy ecosystem, while emphasising the importance of maintaining high-quality manufacturing standards as capacity expands.
Panellists also highlighted that Assam, under its Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2025, offers financial incentives for manufacturers of solar panels, batteries, wind equipment and electrolysers, while green hydrogen developers are eligible for 100 percent SGST reimbursement and capital subsidies on electrolysers. For investors, a key feature is the single-window clearance mechanism, with APDCL serving as the nodal agency to facilitate faster approvals and improve ease of doing business.
Energy Storage and BESS: Enabling Reliable Renewable Power in Northeast India
The third panel discussion was on ‘Energy Storage and BESS: Enabling Reliable Renewable Power in Northeast India’. The panellists were Himanshu Tyagi, Senior Research Specialist, Energy Program, WRI India (who was the moderator); Bhaskar Kakoty, Director, Free Power Technology; Tattaiyya Bhattacharjee, Program Associate, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST); Rocktim Das, State Power Lead (Sr. Manager), Reliance Industries; Rohit Agarwal, Partner, Urjja One Powertech; and Aminul Islam (PhD), Institute Post-Doctoral Researcher, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati.
Panellists highlighted the importance of innovation, capacity-building and technology development in accelerating energy storage adoption in Northeast India. They noted that alongside the deployment of battery energy storage systems, there is a growing need for training programmes, knowledge-sharing initiatives and collaborative industry-academia efforts to build local expertise. The discussion also explored emerging storage technologies and alternative solutions that could complement conventional battery systems over the next decade, with participants emphasising the need for continuous innovation and region-specific approaches to support a reliable and resilient renewable energy ecosystem.
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