Think Change Forum conducted a full day seminar on "New Energy: From Evaluation to Adoption," focused on accelerating India's transition from clean-energy capacity creation to large-scale adoption and integration.
While India has made remarkable progress in expanding its non-fossil-fuel capacity, the seminar highlighted that the next phase of the energy transition must focus on reliable grid integration, energy storage, financing, transmission infrastructure and commercially viable adoption pathways. Experts stressed that achieving India's clean energy ambitions will require stronger collaboration among policymakers, industry, utilities, financiers, technology providers and institutional buyers.
Key Topics Explored:
- Transitioning from clean-energy capacity creation to adoption and productive utilisation at scale
- Strengthening grid infrastructure, transmission networks and energy storage to support renewable integration
- Building bankable business models, procurement pathways and financing mechanisms for emerging clean-energy technologies
- Accelerating collaboration among government, industry, academia, startups and financial institutions to drive commercial deployment
Key Speakers and Panelists:
- Dr. Ajay Mathur – Former Director General, International Solar Alliance; Former Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency
- Shri Upendra Tripathy – Retd. IAS; Advisor (Climate Change) to Hon'ble CM of Karnataka; Climate Ambassador of Karnataka; Former Secretary, MNRE
- Shri A.K. Saxena – Senior Director, TERI
- Shri Jiwesh Nandan – Retd. IAS; Distinguished Fellow, TERI; Founding CEO, EESL
- Dr. Vishal Choudhary – Scientist F, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
- Shri J.S. Chandok – CEO, ONGPL
- Dr. Rahul Walawalkar – Founder & President, India Energy Storage Alliance / Net Zero Energy Transition Association
- Shri Raj Singh Niranjan – Managing Partner, Trans India Law Associates
- Ms. Disha Agarwal – Fellow, CEEW
- Mr. Sandeep Kanda – Consultant, World Bank
- Ms. Rupal Jain – Technology Policy, Reliance Industries Ltd.
- Shri Vishwas Surange – CEO & Executive Director, Powerlinks Transmission Ltd.
- Dr. Srikanta K. Panigrahi – Director General, Indian Institute of Sustainable Development
- Dr. Pankaj Lal – Associate Professor, University of St. Thomas, USA
- Dr. Deepti Mahajan – Sustainability Researcher
- Mr. Arindam Ghosh – Partner & Head – Energy Consulting, Nangia Andersen LLP
- Ms. Shilpi Samantray – Energy and Climate Policy Expert