APAC Gaia Talk India’s Renewable Energy Journey: Policy Perspectives

SPE APAC Gaia Talk – India’s Renewable Energy Journey: Policy Perspectives

This is an online  SPE Gaia Talk:  The link to register for free is here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_10PLxZACQEel-Unr8D6klA

The Talk

India has made remarkable progress in renewable energy (RE) development, emerging as a global leader. The country now ranks fourth worldwide in overall installed renewable capacity, third in solar, and fourth in wind power.

The rapid expansion of RE capacity began around 2014, marking a major shift in India’s energy landscape. Since then, the nation has tripled its installed renewable capacity, driven by ambitious targets, policy reforms, and strong private sector participation. Early growth was supported by direct subsidies, but subsequent progress has relied on market-enabling measures such as demand aggregation, payment security mechanisms, and waivers of inter-state transmission charges. These initiatives reduced risks, improved project bankability, and attracted large-scale domestic and foreign investment.

India’s long-term vision is clear: to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030, in line with its commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. With about 236 GW of non-fossil capacity already in place, India has made significant strides. Yet, doubling this capacity within the next few years presents major challenges—particularly in land acquisition, environmental sustainability, and transmission infrastructure. Developing modern grids, energy storage, and flexible generation will be critical to integrating variable renewable energy while maintaining system reliability.

Attention is now turning to new frontiers of clean energy. The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to position India as a global hub for producing and exporting green hydrogen, helping decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel and fertilisers. Similarly, offshore wind is being prioritized, with Gujarat and Tamil Nadu identified as key development zones. These emerging technologies are expected to complement solar and onshore wind, deepening India’s low-carbon transition.

This Gaia talk will review India’s renewable energy journey, highlighting the policy frameworks that enabled its growth and the strategies needed for the next phase. It will explore lessons from India’s experience and outline policy priorities—including innovation, investment, and coordination—to ensure continued progress toward a clean, resilient, and inclusive energy future

The Presenter

Mr Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi was a civil servant in India for more than thirty-five years before his retirement in October 2022. During his lengthy career he held positions in a diverse range of areas. His work in the erstwhile Planning Commission from 2004 to 2008, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) from 2008 to 2014, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at Washington DC from 2014 to 2017 inter-alia pertained to design and implementation of economic policies.