SAFDE 2025 opens with an urgent call for investment and policy support to scale up solar energy in South Asia
The South Asia Forum for Distributed Energy (SAFDE) 2025 opened today in New Delhi with a strong message from clean energy leaders to accelerate investments and partnerships in distributed renewable energy (DRE). The event, organised by GOGLA, with the support of the IKEA Foundation and Good Energies Foundation, brought together over 300 delegates, including high-level policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, industry leaders, and exhibitors from South Asia.
We need to enable private sector investments in driving technology and innovation for DRE, while the government focuses on developing the policy and regulatory framework and results-based financing to make these solutions affordable for the poor.Ashish Khanna, General Director, International Solar Alliance
GOGLA emphasized the sector’s potential to create a $53 billion market opportunity in India alone, generating 35 million green jobs and improving lives through productive use technologies such as solar irrigation, cooling systems, and clean mobility. Between 2019 and 2021, more than 80,000 jobs were created in India’s DRE sector showing growing momentum, and GOGLA affiliates sold over 768,000 off-grid solar products across South Asia in 2023 alone.
During the event, GOGLA pre-launched a study that explores how off-grid technologies can significantly enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of grid-based energy systems, creating a win-win model for both private sector players and DISCOMs.
Distributed renewable energy is bringing change and transforming the energy landscape today, powering local economies, enhancing climate resilience and driving sustainable solutions. By integrating AI and digital platforms, we can optimise efficiency, expand access and positive ourselves as global leaders in the energy innovation industry.Sarah Malm, Executive Director, GOGLA
Key speakers at the event included Harish Hande, Chief Executive of SELCO Foundation, and Ronald Mekata, Managing Director of the Energy Authority of Papua New Guinea, who shared cross-border insights on DRE implementation and innovation.
At Good Energies we are excited about how distributed renewable energy is already providing high-quality, affordable, and clean energy to communities across South Asia. The 4th edition of SAFDE is an excellent opportunity for experts from across the field to share their experience and plan for the future.Stephanie Jones, Clean Energy Challenge Lead, Good Energies Foundation
As countries seek community-first, climate-smart solutions, SAFDE 2025 reaffirmed the DRE sector’s growing momentum globally and India’s key role in shaping the global discourse on decentralized renewable energy. Reaching the full DRE opportunity will require many crucial steps like public-private partnerships, inclusion of grassroots entrepreneurs, and targeted finance mechanisms to build a resilient, low-carbon future for South Asia.
The South Asia Forum for Distributed Energy (SAFDE) is a regional convening of the DRE ecosystem, providing a platform for dialogue, innovation, and partnerships. The 2025 edition focused on grid integration, productive energy use in agriculture and MSMEs, and climate adaptation through decentralized energy systems.
GOGLA is the global association for the off-grid solar energy industry, representing over 200 members working to transform lives through clean, affordable, and high-quality solar products and services.
More than 560 million climate-vulnerable people already benefit from off-grid solar to power their homes, farms, enterprises and public infrastructure. With the right support, our industry is poised to scale rapidly, aiming to improve the lives of 1 billion people by 2030.
GOGLA drives this progress by serving as a central hub for the sector, offering vital market data, advocating for supportive policies and increased investment, and providing value-added services to our members.
Learn more at gogla.org.
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