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133 results
Investor Perspectives on Accelerating Growth in the Indian EV Ecosystem
The report examines India's transition to electric mobility, highlighting the success of demand-side incentives like FAME II for two- and three-wheelers. It identifies critical investment gaps in charging infrastructure and battery manufacturing, while discussing the potential of battery swapping and the risks posed by global supply chain dependencies on China and other mineral-rich nations. The analysis emphasizes the need for binding targets, improved consumer financing, and workforce retraining to ensure a competitive and just transition.
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Document type: Report
Winds of Change: Learnings for the Indian Offshore Wind Energy Sector
The document analyzes India's offshore wind potential, primarily off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, noting that while the country has a target of 30 GW by 2030, no projects are currently operational. It identifies critical barriers including high capital costs, lack of specialized port infrastructure, and regulatory uncertainties. By comparing India to existing markets like the UK and Denmark and emerging markets like Taiwan and South Korea, the paper recommends updating the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy 2015, implementing competitive procurement mechanisms such as Contracts for Difference, and developing a government-led 'plug-and-play' power evacuation model to reduce investor risk. It also emphasizes the need for detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and the integration of offshore wind with green hydrogen or hybrid RTC (round-the-clock) renewable projects to enhance economic viability.
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Document type: Research paper
India’s Race to 175 GW
As of March 2022, India had installed 110 GW of renewable energy (RE) capacity, representing 63% of its 175 GW target for December 2022. Progress is highly uneven across states; while Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Andaman and Nicobar have surpassed their targets, 27 states and union territories have achieved less than 50% of their goals. Five states—Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu—account for two-thirds of the national shortfall. Recent growth has been heavily concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat, which together provided 73% of new RE capacity between October 2021 and March 2022. To meet the 2030 target of 450 GW RE, India requires an average annual addition of 42.5 GW.
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Document type: Report
Gender Assessment for E-Mobility Financing Program
The report assesses the gender landscape in India's urban transport and e-mobility sectors to identify barriers for women, such as safety concerns and limited workforce participation. It proposes a Gender Action Plan for a financing platform, focusing on increasing female employment, improving safety infrastructure (like lighting and CCTV), and collecting sex-disaggregated data to mitigate gender-blindness in project design.
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Document type: Report
Cooling for health services
The report highlights the critical link between sustainable cooling and the achievement of SDG3 (good health and well-being), emphasizing that vaccine efficacy and patient care depend on reliable cold chains and temperature-controlled environments. It identifies significant gaps in cold chain equipment and electricity access in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Gavi-eligible nations. The document advocates for a combination of passive design, nature-based solutions, and energy-efficient appliances, such as super-efficient refrigerators and solar direct drive technology, to ensure health service resilience in a warming world.
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Document type: Report
Uttar Pradesh: A State Critical for India’s Energy Transition
Uttar Pradesh is lagging behind other high-demand Indian states in renewable energy adoption, with only 30% of its 2022 capacity target achieved by October 2021. The state remains heavily dependent on coal, which accounts for approximately 90% of in-state generation, leaving it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and high costs. IEEFA modelling suggests that if the state meets its 2030 target of 23.5GW of solar, solar power could meet the majority of future electricity demand growth. However, progress is hindered by the financial instability of state-owned distribution companies (Discoms), characterized by high AT&C losses and expensive long-term thermal power purchase agreements. The report recommends retiring old coal plants, expanding distributed solar, and utilizing open market platforms to improve the financial viability of the electricity sector.
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Document type: Report
Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably
The document outlines a framework for the sustainable deployment of solar irrigation in India, focusing on the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. It provides detailed guidance across five key areas: inter-departmental coordination, financing and affordability, beneficiary targeting, infrastructure support, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The guide emphasizes the need to protect groundwater resources, support small and marginal farmers, and transition away from high-subsidy models through innovative financing and ownership structures.
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Document type: Guide
Supporting Marine Fishing Sustainably: A review of central and state government support for marine fisheries in India
The report identifies a 43% increase in government support for Indian marine fisheries between FY 2016 and FY 2019, reaching at least INR 2,225 crore (USD 316 million). It highlights that fuel subsidies are the most significant support measure, growing 142% in the same period. The analysis emphasizes that while income support is vital for the high percentage of fishers living below the poverty line, input-based subsidies for fuel and vessel modernization risk encouraging overcapacity and overfishing. The report recommends a comprehensive evaluation of these high-risk measures and improved data transparency to align support with the National Fisheries Policy 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 14.
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Document type: Report
Mapping India’s Energy Subsidies 2021
The report finds that fossil fuel subsidies in India increased relative to clean energy in FY 2020, with electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) remaining the largest subsidy category. While electric vehicle (EV) subsidies grew, renewable energy support stagnated. The authors argue that India's energy PSUs remain heavily skewed toward fossil fuel investments and lack clear decarbonization roadmaps. The report recommends a 'second generation' of clean energy support focusing on storage, green hydrogen, and offshore wind, alongside reforms to DISCOM finances and a strategic shift in PSU capital expenditure.
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Document type: Report
Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably
The document examines the implementation of solar irrigation in three Indian states, focusing on the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. It analyzes the effectiveness of standalone and grid-connected solar pumps, the role of the PM-KUSUM scheme, and the challenges of financing, coordination, and groundwater management. Key findings highlight the success of combining solar pumps with micro-irrigation in Rajasthan, the innovative cooperative and IoT monitoring models in Gujarat, and the use of BLDC pumps and grid-scale solar planning in Andhra Pradesh.
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Document type: Guide
Unpacking India’s Electricity Subsidies
The report finds that electricity subsidies in India are the largest form of energy support, with direct tariff subsidies totaling INR 110,391 crore in FY 2019. Despite the UDAY bailout scheme, DISCOM finances have generally worsened, characterized by increasing average costs of supply (ACoS) and persistent revenue gaps. The analysis reveals significant transparency issues, with discrepancies between Power Finance Corporation (PFC) reports and state regulatory orders. Subsidies are heavily skewed toward agricultural (75%) and domestic (20%) consumers, often without clear consumption limits, leading to regressive distribution where higher-income households capture a disproportionate share of benefits. The report recommends improving data standardization, exploring targeted subsidies via Direct Benefit Transfer for Power (DBT-P), and prioritizing billing and collection efficiency to reduce aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses.
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Document type: Report
Talking Trash: The corporate playbook of false solutions to the plastic crisis
The report argues that the plastic industry in India employs lobbying and distraction tactics to protect profits and maintain the production of single-use plastics. It highlights how key legislation, such as the Plastic Waste Management Rules, has been watered down through industry influence, specifically regarding the phase-out of multi-layered plastics. The document also criticizes voluntary corporate pledges from companies like Nestlé, Unilever, and PepsiCo, characterizing them as lacking transparency and relying on 'downcycling' rather than true circularity.
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Document type: Report
Landscape of Green Finance in India Report
The report finds that tracked green finance in India averaged INR 124 thousand crores (USD 19 billion) per year for FY 2017-2018, representing only about 10% of the estimated annual requirement for climate action. Domestic private finance was the largest contributor, with the vast majority of funds flowing into renewable energy, specifically solar and wind power. While public finance increased due to government initiatives and the role of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the report highlights significant data gaps and the need for a standardized green finance taxonomy and a national measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system to scale investments.
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Document type: Report
India's environmental laws and COVID-19
The paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in India's environmental governance, noting that while lockdowns temporarily improved air and water quality, the period also saw a rise in industrial disasters and the dilution of environmental impact assessment rules. It highlights the intersection of environmental degradation—such as deforestation and pollution—with increased vulnerability to pandemics and climate-driven extreme weather events. The author concludes that India's economic recovery packages lack long-term environmental vision and calls for the stringent implementation of environmental laws to build socio-ecological resilience.
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Document type: Research paper
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR: HOW CAN STATES MAKE THE MOST OF THE STIMULUS ON OFFER?
The document details the financial distress caused by COVID-19 in India's electricity sector, specifically the revenue losses of DISCOMs and the payment delays affecting power producers. It outlines a stimulus package of INR 90,000 crore for DISCOMs and lists specific loan terms from PFC-REC, including a 10-year loan period and requirements for digital payment and smart meter installation. The briefing also highlights best practices in billing and collection adopted by states like Odisha, Gujarat, Bihar, and Rajasthan to mitigate losses.
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Document type: Briefing
Ahmedabad issues municipal bonds to implement green projects
In January 2019, Ahmedabad raised approximately $26.2 million through municipal bonds to fund green projects, including waste management, water supply, and the cleaning of the Sabarmati River. The case study highlights that green municipal bonds are effective for climate-resilient infrastructure due to their long tenors (10-20 years) and suitability for large-scale projects. Success factors for such issuances include a city's strong financial risk profile, good credit ratings, operational performance, and governance. Additionally, the document notes the role of the Indian government's Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in incentivising market-based financing and easing issuance rules to allow foreign portfolio investment.
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Document type: Case study
Ahmedabad issues municipal bonds to implement green projects
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) successfully raised 200 crore Indian rupees (INR) through municipal bonds in January 2019 to fund green projects, including waste management, water supply, and the cleaning of the Sabarmati River. The bonds were oversubscribed 5.42 times, receiving INR 1,085 crore in subscriptions from 19 institutions. This success is attributed to AMC's AA+ credit rating from CRISIL and India Ratings, reflecting strong financial health and operational efficiency. The document highlights the role of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in incentivising and easing the rules for municipal bond issuance to support climate-resilient infrastructure.
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Document type: Case study
Scaling-up solar PV in water supply services in Rajkot, India
The Rajkot Municipal Corporation, with support from the CapaCITIES project, installed a 145 kWp grid-connected solar PV system at the Aji water treatment plant. The installation, costing INR 8.5 million, was co-financed by the municipality and CapaCITIES. Between July 2018 and August 2019, the system generated 224,150 kWp of electricity and mitigated 184 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, providing nearly one-fifth of the plant's power needs. The project used online software for real-time monitoring of power generation and monetary savings, which helped build a business case for scaling the solution. Following this success, the municipality proposed a 250 kWp system at the Rajyadhar wastewater treatment plant and commissioned a feasibility study for other plants in the city.
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Document type: Case study
Innovative rainwater harvesting empowers women in Gujarat, India
The document examines the use of Bhungroo, an innovative rainwater harvesting system, to support underprivileged female farmers in Gujarat, India. By providing women with ownership of the technology and the technical skills to manage it, the initiative has improved agricultural productivity, reduced groundwater salinity, and increased women's decision-making power and social status. The project has reached over 20,000 marginal farmers and contributed to the reverse migration of approximately 6,100 farmers back to rural areas.
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Document type: Case study
Solar pump cooperative supports climate-smart agriculture in Gujarat
The case study examines the Solar Pump Irrigators’ Cooperatives Enterprise (SPICE) in Dhundi, Gujarat, which uses solar pumps to provide irrigation and sell excess electricity to the grid. This model has increased farmer incomes, reduced water costs for buyers, and lowered carbon emissions by replacing diesel pumps. Key success factors include a 25-year power purchase agreement with the local utility, MGVCL, and a financial structure combining farmer contributions with research grants. The project demonstrates that solar power can act as a 'cash crop' for farmers, provided incentives exist to prevent groundwater over-exploitation.
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Document type: Case study