India successfully hosted the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram under its BRICS Chairship 2026, bringing together energy leaders from member nations to strengthen cooperation on energy security, sustainability, innovation and energy access. A major outcome of the meeting was the launch of the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage and the adoption of the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Joint Communiqué.
Key Highlights
✅ India hosted the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram under BRICS Chairship 2026.
✅ BRICS nations adopted the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Joint Communiqué.
✅ India launched the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage.
✅ Discussions focused on energy security, energy access, clean energy technologies and innovation.
New Delhi, June 25: India strengthened its leadership in global energy cooperation by successfully hosting the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram, Haryana, under its BRICS Chairship 2026. Held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, the meeting brought together Energy Ministers, Vice Ministers and senior officials from BRICS member countries to discuss key global energy challenges and opportunities.
The deliberations were guided by the Energy Track theme “सर्वेषां ऊर्जम् (Energy for All)”, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring secure, affordable, sustainable and inclusive energy access for all.
The meeting witnessed participation from leading international organizations, including the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) and the New Development Bank (NDB), highlighting the growing importance of multilateral cooperation in advancing global energy transition goals.
A major achievement of India’s BRICS Presidency was the launch of the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, established under the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform (ERCP). The Centre is expected to serve as a collaborative platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building, policy exchange and pilot projects among BRICS countries in the field of smart grids, energy storage and digital energy systems.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Joint Communiqué, which reflects the collective vision of BRICS nations on strengthening cooperation in energy security, sustainability, innovation, infrastructure resilience and capacity building.
Three Strategic Energy Priorities
The discussions focused on three major priority areas:
Energy Security and Sustainability – covering resilient energy systems, diversified energy sources, critical minerals, supply chain resilience, grid modernization, energy storage and affordable energy access.
Energy Access and Equity – emphasizing universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, clean cooking solutions, affordable financing, capacity building and support for emerging economies.
Technology and Innovation – focusing on smart grids, hydrogen value chains, artificial intelligence, energy storage, biofuels, digitalization, carbon capture technologies and research collaboration.
The BRICS Energy Ministers reaffirmed the importance of respecting national circumstances, development priorities and energy transition pathways, recognizing that countries must be allowed flexibility in achieving sustainable development goals.
India Showcases Its Energy Transformation
Addressing the ministerial meeting, Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, highlighted India’s remarkable energy transformation over the past decade.
He stated that India has emerged as the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of electricity, with installed power generation capacity reaching nearly 540 GW. Notably, more than 50 percent of the country’s installed capacity now comes from non-fossil fuel sources, underscoring India’s commitment to clean energy expansion.
The Minister highlighted the rapid growth of India’s solar sector, with installed solar capacity increasing from approximately 3 GW in 2014 to over 154 GW in 2026. He also emphasized the success of flagship initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which is accelerating rooftop solar adoption and citizen participation in the clean energy transition.
India’s future energy ambitions were also outlined, including plans to achieve over 400 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2032 and 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. The Minister also noted India’s achievement of 20 percent ethanol blending ahead of schedule and its leadership role in global initiatives such as the Global Biofuels Alliance and the International Solar Alliance.
Key Outcomes of India’s BRICS Chairship
In addition to launching the Digital Centre of Excellence, BRICS countries adopted the BRICS Guiding Principles on Smart Grids and Energy Storage, recognizing the importance of modern and digitally enabled electricity networks for integrating renewable energy and ensuring reliable power supply.
The Ministers also welcomed progress in finalizing the BRICS Joint Report on Hydrogen Value Chains 2026, which aims to strengthen cooperation on hydrogen technologies, standards, industrial applications and future hydrogen ecosystems.
Another significant outcome was the endorsement of updated Terms of Reference for the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform (ERCP), which will strengthen research collaboration, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange among member countries.
As part of India’s Chairship activities, side events were organized on Clean Coal Technologies and Raising Electrical Appliance Standards, providing a platform for policymakers, industry experts and energy stakeholders to exchange best practices and innovative solutions.
Joint Communiqué Emphasizes Shared Energy Goals
The Joint Communiqué reaffirmed that energy security remains a cornerstone of BRICS cooperation and stressed the importance of diversified, resilient and transparent energy systems and supply chains.
The Ministers highlighted that access to secure, affordable and sustainable energy is essential for economic development, industrialization, employment generation and improving quality of life.
The Communiqué also emphasized cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, biofuels, hydrogen, critical minerals, carbon capture technologies, energy efficiency, digitalization and advanced fossil fuel technologies, while recognizing the importance of affordable financing for energy transitions.
Recognizing the importance of youth engagement and innovation, the Ministers supported the organization of the BRICS Youth Energy Summit and reiterated their commitment to strengthening collaboration through the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform.
The participating countries appreciated India’s leadership during its BRICS Presidency and expressed their commitment to continuing cooperation under the Chairship of China in 2027.
Conclusion
The 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram marked a major milestone in international energy cooperation under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026. With the launch of the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence, adoption of the Joint Communiqué and strengthened cooperation in smart grids, hydrogen, energy storage and clean technologies, India has reinforced its position as a global leader in the transition towards secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems.
