India has set the year 2070 as its Net Zero goalpost, instead of 2050 like more industrialised nations (that have correspondingly caused more global warming), but this country has a much closer target of reaching 500 GW in renewable energy by 2030.
Some of the sessions at India Energy Week 2025 over the past two days discussed the pathways to reach the renewable energy goal, the optimisation of city gas distribution to promote cleaner fuel, and the wider adoption of electric vehicles to cut emissions. Each aspect is crucial, as energy transition cannot happen in separate silos; rather, it is an ecosystem.
Industry leaders gathered at India Energy Week 2025 in New Delhi — the session was titled “Scaling Renewables and the Advanced Energy Solutions Landscape” — to discuss scaling up domestic production and contributing to the international adoption of renewable energy.
The discussion on February 12 explored India’s global position in harnessing renewable energy and the challenges in on-ground implementation.
To put things in perspective, as per an International Energy Agency report: “Global annual renewable capacity additions increased by almost 50 per cent to nearly 510 gigawatts (GW) in 2023, the fastest growth rate in the past two decades. This is the 22nd year in a row that renewable capacity additions set a new record.”
Advanced energy, while not the same as renewable energy (e.g. solar and wind power), is a key part of the country’s energy transition strategy. Biofuels (e.g. ethanol) play a vital role in decarbonising transport and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
At the India Energy Week 2025 session on renewable energy and advanced energy, key speakers included Gurdeep Singh, Chairman & MD, NTPC; Sushil Purohit, CEO, Gentari; Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Karnataka; Rahul Munjal, Chairman and Managing Director at Hero Future Energies; and Amit Singh, CEO, Adani Green Energy.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to energy transition, targeting 500 GW in renewable energy by 2030, Gurdeep Singh highlighted NTPC’s diversification beyond thermal power, with major investments in solar energy and nuclear energy as viable alternatives, aligned with government policies and meeting the energy demands of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Sushil Purohit emphasised that India is setting an example for Asia-Pacific nations in renewable energy deployment, particularly in solar and wind energy, given the region’s vast potential.
Amit Singh highlighted Adani’s 20 GW solar and wind project in Gujarat, stressing upon the need for an indigenous supply chain to reduce import reliance. He advocated industry-wide collaboration, talent development, and localised supply chains to enhance efficiency and accelerate renewable energy deployment.
Providing an international perspective, Rahul Munjal underscored India’s global ranking — third in solar and fourth in wind energy — demonstrating its immense renewable potential. He acknowledged that rising energy demand necessitates a balanced approach, integrating renewables with conventional sources to ensure energy security.
On the future of green hydrogen, Gurdeep Singh stated, “At NTPC, we are clear that hydrogen is the fuel of the future, if not in its pure form, then as its by-products.”
Addressing on-ground implementation challenges, Gaurav Gupta identified land acquisition and connectivity as the biggest hurdles in scaling renewable energy.
A universal concern discussed was grid integration. Gurdeep Singh called for grid upgrades to accommodate the fluctuating supply of renewable energy, which should be compatible with wind and solar energy.
He also noted that NTPC is investing in large-scale transmission infrastructure, benefiting states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
Regarding the commercial viability of green hydrogen, Gaurav Gupta pointed out that technological advancements are required to reduce costs and make it feasible for large-scale adoption.
Amit Singh added that AI-driven data centres will be set up in regions with low-cost renewable energy, ensuring sustainable power for emerging technologies.
On a concluding note, emphasising that the transition to renewable energy is inevitable, Gurdeep Singh urged the younger generation to actively drive innovation, adoption, and policy advocacy to accelerate the change they want to see.
Unlocking full potential of city gas distribution
City gas distribution (CGD), one of the largest energy infrastructure systems in India, is at the forefront of the country’s energy transition journey.
Explaining the intent behind CGD, a 2021 post on the Bharat Petroleum website said: “India has embarked on a massive expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) to develop large-scale nation-wide infrastructure for making Piped Natural Gas (PNG) available to domestic, commercial, industrial consumers, CNG vehicle owners and automobile manufacturers.”
At India Energy Week 2025, stakeholders from India’s CGD sector gathered for a panel discussion on “Optimising India’s Transformative City Gas Distribution Model to Deliver the Benefits of a Robust and Secure Gas-Based Economy”.
Experts at this session highlighted the need for policy coordination, investment in digital solutions, and innovative financial models to drive efficiency and long-term growth for the CGD sector.
The February 13 discussion brought together key industry experts, including Goutom Chakraborty, CEO, GAIL Gas Limited; Rajesh Mediratta, MD & CEO, Indian Gas Exchange Limited; Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, MD, Indraprastha Gas Limited; Akhil Mehrotra, MD, Pipeline Infrastructure Limited; and N. Senthil Kumar, Director-Pipelines, Indian Oil Corporation.
Goutom Chakraborty highlighted that despite its slow start, the sector has witnessed 10 per cent growth over the past five to six years. He attributed the lag to long gestation periods and a lack of prioritisation by infrastructure companies. However, increasing foreign investments, mergers, and acquisitions signal promising prospects for future expansion.
Kamal Kishore Chatiwal echoed the sentiment by citing the CGD sector’s evolution into a full-fledged industry, with the number of gas stations growing from 66 to 307 in the past decade.
N. Senthil Kumar added that while hydrogen and EV adoption are still in their early stages, urbanisation is driving the growth of piped natural gas (PNG), reinforcing CGD’s relevance. He further addressed supply security concerns, noting the need to double storage capacity and strengthen the gas grid to ensure stable availability.
Another speaker, Saurabh Singh, said that the CGD sector, the second largest consumer of gas, is poised to become the number one consumer of gas energy by overcoming supply-demand gap challenges.
Akhil Mehrotra emphasised upon the critical infrastructure challenges, particularly the inability to lay pipelines due to a lack of municipal clearances and coordination between state and central authorities.
Inadequate land availability for CNG plant installations further hampers progress, with Delhi being the only city to successfully implement large-scale infrastructure.
Rajesh Mediratta highlighted the importance of robust market infrastructure, transparency, and payment security, which have positively impacted CGD through better gas exchanges.
The role of digital analytics emerged as a key theme in driving efficiency and consumer experience. Goutom Chakraborty advocated for prepaid meters to help CGD companies understand consumption patterns and protect revenues.
Mediratta and Mehrotra echoed the benefits of smart metering, with Artificial Intelligence-driven demand-supply management improving efficiency.
Chatiwal said that AI can streamline queue management at CNG stations while also enhancing safety compliance. N. Senthil Kumar concluded by underscoring the role of data analytics in reducing supply dry-outs and ensuring a more reliable CGD network.
Accelerating EV adoption through private investment
Vehicular pollution caused by fossil fuel use is one of the top causes of global warming. Electric vehicles (EVs) are the solution to this worldwide problem; however, challenges still remain in the uptake of EVs, not the least being the lack of adequate infrastructure.
On the third day of India Energy Week 2025, industry leaders convened for a discussion on “Establishing Transformative, Integrated E-Mobility Ecosystems in Emerging Economies”.
Experts highlighted that scaling up e-mobility demands strong policy support, strategic public-private partnerships, and a skilled workforce.
The panel featured Sarthak Behuria, Chairman and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Reliance BP Mobility Ltd; Dr. Shailendra Shukla, MD – Mobility Group, India, Eaton; Vignesh Nandakumar, CEO Asia, Enfinity Global; Min Yih Tan, SVP, mobility Asia, Shell segment; and Vishal Kapoor, CEO, EESL. The session was moderated by Suvojoy Sengupta, CEO, AECOM India.
Vishal Kapoor addressed key challenges in transitioning from direct fossil fuel-based systems to electricity-based mobility. “One major hurdle is the installation of distribution transformers and capacity augmentation. Currently, with a limited number of EVs, this is manageable, but as the ecosystem grows, large-scale private sector investment — amounting to several lakh crores — will be needed,” he said.
Shailendra Shukla pointed out that different vehicle categories have unique energy requirements, necessitating standardisation. “Public-private partnerships will be instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition. We must prioritise research and development, as the biggest expense in energy transition will come from innovation,” he remarked.
He also noted that LNG and hydrogen-powered vehicles were prominently featured at the India Energy Week exhibition, signifying their role in the future of mobility.
Vignesh Nandakumar emphasised that India has moved past the initial hurdles of e-mobility transition but must now focus on integrating technology, data, and AI-driven models to predict energy needs effectively. “India’s strong Internet penetration can enhance efficiency, but affordability remains a key factor in driving widespread adoption,” he added.
Sarthak Behuria highlighted the evolving landscape of energy security in India. “Fifty years ago, our dependence on fossil fuel imports was below 50 per cent. Today, it has significantly increased. While we have built a robust infrastructure to ensure petroleum accessibility, our challenge extends beyond energy security to energy transition,” he stated. He further noted that while fossil fuels will remain mainstream due to growing consumption, a shift from CNG to biogas and other alternatives is essential.
Min Yih Tan outlined three critical factors for e-mobility success: availability, reliability, and investment viability. “Scaling up demand and consumption will make supply a critical factor in ensuring a successful mobility transition. We also need to focus on capability-building and developing skilled human resources,” he noted.
