BRICS leaders at the New Delhi Summit adopted a photovoltaic industry action plan and broader clean-tech agenda, linking solar manufacturing, hydrogen, smart grids and energy storage with industrial development. The Delhi Declaration also called for greater cooperation on smart grids, energy storage and critical minerals.
The declaration stresses value addition in critical minerals, resilient supply chains, climate finance, and a just energy transition that balances rising clean energy deployment with continued fossil fuel use in emerging economies.
BRICS members will establish national knowledge portals and support a BRICS Solar Photovoltaic Cooperation Roadmap covering technology, finance and skills.
Amid disruptions to global energy supplies, BRICS leaders have called for uninterrupted flows of energy from diverse sources and stronger protection of critical energy infrastructure, including cross-border infrastructure, while stressing the continuing role of fossil fuels in the global energy mix. They also called for greater cooperation on smart grids and energy storage.
Key Features
The framework combines industrial coordination with practical measures for building a more capable and connected photovoltaic ecosystem.
- National knowledge portals: Members are encouraged to create portals that share solar policies, manufacturing developments, project experience and replicable practices across participating economies.
- Technology cooperation: The members can pursue research partnerships, manufacturing innovation, quality testing and technical exchanges across different stages of the solar value chain.
- Financing support: Cooperation can help identify bankable projects, reduce investment barriers and connect manufacturers with development institutions and suitable financial instruments.
- Capacity building: Training programmes can strengthen expertise among engineers, technicians, regulators, laboratories and enterprises working with photovoltaic equipment and production processes.
- PartNIR mechanism: The BRICS Photovoltaic Industry Working Group provides a specialised channel under the Partnership on New Industrial Revolution, established in 2018 to advance cooperation in industrialisation, digitalisation, innovation, inclusiveness and investment.
Challenges
The Photovoltaic Action Plan must address structural differences among members before broad commitments can produce durable industrial outcomes.
- Unequal industrial capabilities: Members possess different manufacturing strengths, domestic demand profiles and technology levels, which may complicate the selection of balanced joint projects.
- Upstream import dependence: Expanding module assembly does not automatically secure supplies of polysilicon, ingots, wafers, specialised machinery or other essential production inputs.
- Standards and intellectual property: Different certification systems, quality requirements and commercial protections may restrict technology exchange or mutual recognition of products.
- Financing constraints: High capital requirements, currency risks and uncertain demand can raise borrowing costs, particularly for smaller manufacturers and emerging technologies.
- Environmental safeguards: Policymakers must address mining impacts, industrial energy use, hazardous materials and growing volumes of end-of-life solar equipment through circular-economy systems.
Trade restrictions and competing national incentives may also limit cross-border integration. India must balance international collaboration with domestic value addition and reliable access to critical inputs.
Way Forward
BRICS members should convert broad priorities into transparent, project-based cooperation with measurable timelines. Joint research centres, shared training programmes and recognised testing procedures can lower duplication without weakening national quality requirements. Development banks can support viable projects while applying sound financial, environmental and social safeguards.
For India, the Photovoltaic Action Plan should complement stable domestic policies for upstream manufacturing, research, skills and recycling. The country can use cooperation to strengthen wafer and cell capabilities while retaining competition and supply diversity. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy can align instruments such as the PLI scheme and ALMM framework with quality, innovation and long-term energy security.