Affordable clean energy key to India's accelerated energy transition

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New Delhi:  Ensuring the affordability of clean energy remains the cornerstone of India’s rapid energy transition, industry and finance leaders emphasised at a key panel discussion during last week concluded India Energy Week 2025.

The experts highlighted that access to reasonably priced capital and a robust investment ecosystem will be critical in achieving the country’s ambitious renewable energy targets.

At the panel titled “Bridging the Energy Transition’s Investment Gaps,” held on the second day of the summit, leaders from the energy and financial sectors discussed the challenges and opportunities in financing India’s clean energy transition.

Panellists included Hitesh Vaid, CFO, Cairn Oil and Gas; Katan Hirachand, Chief Executive and Chief Country Officer, Societe Generale Bank; Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE); and Roberto Bocca, Head, Centre for Energy and Materials, World Economic Forum.

Hitesh Vaid underscored the necessity of public-private collaboration, emphasising that private investments will only flow if they offer compelling returns. “Investment flows where efficiency and opportunity align,” he noted, pointing to the importance of segmenting markets to meet both urban and rural energy needs effectively.

Katan Hirachand stressed the importance of elevating project standards to attract both domestic and foreign investment. “India has access to capital, but affordability hinges on structured financing and risk mitigation,” he said. He further highlighted the ‘energy trilemma’—balancing security, sustainability, and affordability—as a key consideration for future energy policies.

Bhupinder Singh Bhalla reaffirmed that consumer-centric policies remain central to India’s clean energy drive. He outlined India’s ambitious goal of producing five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, backed by a dedicated Rs 20,000 crore budget through the National Green Hydrogen Mission. “India is walking the talk on clean energy transition,” he said, pointing to the country’s strong policy frameworks designed to foster competition and transparency.

Roberto Bocca commended India’s ability to rapidly execute large-scale energy projects with minimal bureaucratic delays. “Public-private partnerships have been highly effective worldwide, but solutions must align with each nation’s unique challenges,” he said. Bocca also highlighted how emerging technologies in energy efficiency could significantly drive sustainability while generating employment opportunities.

With India Energy Week 2025 serving as a vital forum for global energy discourse, experts at the event agreed that a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors will be necessary to ensure long-term sustainability and economic viability in the energy transition.

 

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