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This research paper proposes that India can develop a cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry using power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) technology, leveraging low-cost green hydrogen and agricultural residue to reduce crude oil imports and aviation emissions.

This policy brief argues that India is uniquely positioned to lead in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production by utilizing its low-cost solar power and abundant agricultural residue. The authors propose the power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) pathway as a cost-competitive alternative to fossil jet fuel and other SAF technologies, offering benefits for energy security, air quality, and climate targets.

This policy brief by RMI evaluates the techno-economic potential of hydrogen trucking in India, comparing fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) and hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks against diesel, battery electric (BET), and LNG alternatives. The analysis finds that while FCETs are projected to be more cost-competitive than diesel for long-haul, heavy-duty applications by 2040, they currently face high total cost of ownership (TCO) due to expensive hydrogen fuel, infrastructure, and taxation. The document recommends a coordinated roadmap involving policy incentives, strategic infrastructure planning, and tailored financial solutions to enable hydrogen to complement electrification in decarbonizing India's freight sector.

The report 'Mapping India’s Energy Policy 2026' analyzes the fiscal impact of energy subsidies in India, highlighting a significant imbalance where fossil fuel subsidies were three times higher than clean energy subsidies in FY 25. It examines how electricity subsidies burden state budgets and utilities, the fiscal vulnerability caused by LPG import dependence during geopolitical crises, and the impact of fuel excise duty cuts on government revenue and EV adoption.

The Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) 2026 report evaluates 21 Indian states across three dimensions: decarbonisation, power ecosystem readiness and performance, and market enablers. It finds that progress is fragmented, with no single state demonstrating consistently strong performance across all three areas, highlighting the need for coordinated, dimension-specific interventions to achieve a system-wide transition.

This report by the Power Foundation of India (PFI) and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) evaluates the potential of Agriphotovoltaics (Agri-PV)—the co-location of solar power and agriculture—to address land-use conflicts and enhance rural incomes in India. It provides economic modelling for Feed-in Tariffs, identifies regulatory barriers, and offers a comprehensive set of policy recommendations to scale the technology.

This report outlines strategies to align electric vehicle (EV) charging in India with renewable energy generation to prevent grid burden and support energy flexibility. It evaluates the effectiveness of time-of-day (ToD) tariffs, green tariffs, rooftop solar, and open access procurement, noting that while these mechanisms exist, barriers such as high upfront costs, price sensitivity, and limited public charging infrastructure hinder their full potential.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines India's exposure to transboundary climate risks (TCRs), which occur when climate impacts or mitigation/adaptation actions in one jurisdiction create threats for another. The document synthesizes current knowledge through data analysis, literature reviews, and a 2023 science-policy dialogue in Delhi to advocate for urgent research and stronger adaptation planning to protect India's economy and vulnerable populations.

This briefing by RMI explores how distributed solar, particularly rooftop solar (RTS) and decentralized renewable energy (DRE), can alleviate the financial distress of India's electricity distribution companies (Discoms) while helping the country meet its 2030 renewable energy targets and modernize its grid.

The 2024 Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) report, published by IEEFA and Ember, assesses the progress of 21 Indian states across three dimensions: Decarbonisation, Readiness and Performance of the Power Ecosystem, and Market Enablers. The report identifies Gujarat and Karnataka as consistent top performers, while highlighting structural challenges in states like Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. It recommends strengthening state-level regulatory frameworks and developing specific state-level transition plans to accelerate the shift toward clean electricity.

This research paper argues that traditional cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) for transport infrastructure are typically gender-blind and fail to account for the different ways genders use and experience transportation. Using a case study of a Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) plan in Coimbatore, India, the author demonstrates how integrating gender-disaggregated data and qualitative systems mapping can reveal specific benefits—such as reducing women's time poverty and increasing access to education—that are otherwise overlooked in standard economic assessments.

This briefing by RMI argues for a strategic, science-based approach to urban forestry in Delhi to mitigate extreme heat and the urban heat island effect, emphasizing the use of native species and site-specific planning over emergency responses.

This briefing by RMI describes the impact of the Delhi government's August 2020 EV policy and the 'Deliver Electric Delhi' pilot program. It highlights the environmental and economic benefits of electrifying final-mile delivery vehicles and outlines the policy mechanisms, such as fiscal incentives and technology-agnostic charging infrastructure, that led to a tripling of EV sales in the city.

This report details the Deliver Electric Delhi pilot, a collaboration between the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC), RMI, and RMI India involving 35 industry players to support the Delhi government's EV policy for final-mile delivery vehicles.

The Delhi-based Ant Studio developed the 'Beehive', a passive, modular façade cooling system that uses terracotta cones and recycled water to reduce indoor temperatures without electricity or harmful gases.

This fact sheet from the Stockholm Environment Institute explains the role of citizen participation in creating sustainable cities, detailing its importance for reducing inequalities, the various levels of engagement, and specific methods such as participatory budgeting and citizen panels.

This briefing by RMI examines the financial barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption in India, identifying risk as the primary driver of higher interest rates and down payments. It estimates the cumulative capital investment needed for India's EV transition and proposes a toolkit of financial instruments to lower the cost of capital and increase accessibility.

This policy brief examines the critical role of peri-urban ecosystems in India, highlighting how rapid urbanisation and ambiguous administrative boundaries lead to the neglect of these areas. It argues that preserving peri-urban ecosystems is essential for city resilience, food security, and climate adaptation, and recommends integrated, participatory planning to bridge the rural-urban divide.

This report analyzes electricity subsidies in India from FY 2016 to FY 2019, evaluating the impact of the Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme. It finds that direct tariff subsidies increased by 32% during this period, reaching INR 110,391 crore in FY 2019, while most electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) failed to meet financial performance targets regarding revenue recovery and loss reduction.

This research paper by Aditya Nigam analyzes the Indian government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that the state used the health crisis to further a Hindu supremacist agenda, suppress political dissent, and benefit corporate interests while neglecting the welfare of millions of migrant workers.