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CHEAP SOLAR AND CROP RESIDUE COULD MAKE INDIA A SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL LEADER
India is uniquely positioned to produce cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using a power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) pathway. By combining low-cost green hydrogen—enabled by plummeting solar and battery costs—with abundant agricultural residue, India can produce SAF that is more cost-effective and has lower carbon intensity than competing technologies like HEFA, ATJ, BtL, and PtL. Analysis indicates that a 2030 PBtL project could produce SAF at costs 40% lower than recent fossil jet fuel prices, with parity potentially reached in the 2030s. Beyond decarbonization, this approach reduces dependence on crude oil imports (currently 90% of supply) and mitigates severe air pollution caused by open-field residue burning, which is linked to 44,000 to 98,000 premature deaths annually. The brief recommends government support through first-of-a-kind demonstration projects near Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai airports, the use of trade policies to access EU and UK markets, and the implementation of incentives based on the social cost of carbon and avoided health costs from air pollution.
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Document type: Policy brief
INDIA’S AVIATION OPPORTUNITY: TURNING AGRICULTURAL RESIDUE AND LOW-COST SOLAR INTO COMPETITIVE SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL WITH POWER-AND-BIOMASS-TO-LIQUIDS
The report argues that India is uniquely positioned to lead in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production via the power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) pathway. By combining world-leading low-cost green hydrogen (driven by cheap solar power) with an abundance of surplus agricultural residue, India can produce SAF at costs significantly lower than global benchmarks. The analysis shows that PBtL is more resource-efficient and has a lower carbon intensity than other pathways like HEFA, ATJ, and BtL. The report projects that PBtL SAF could reach price parity with fossil aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in the 2030s, providing a hedge against crude oil price volatility and reducing air pollution from crop residue burning. It identifies regions around Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai airports as ideal for first-of-a-kind demonstration projects.
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Document type: Report
Scaling Rural Distributed Renewable Energy in India
The report argues that India's rural electrification must shift from simple access to improving reliability and quality through distributed renewable energy (DRE). While centralized projects are essential for national targets, DRE can address last-mile constraints. The authors develop a 'Model DRE Village Framework' that uses load typologies—such as agriculture-dominant versus residential-dominant—to determine system sizing, storage needs, and grid integration. Through techno-economic modelling in Hiware Bazar (Maharashtra) and Bamun Sualkuchi (Assam), the study demonstrates that solarization is generally cost-competitive compared to average power purchase costs (APPC), though battery energy storage systems (BESS) require careful sizing to remain affordable. The framework emphasizes a co-implementation model where distribution companies (DISCOMs) lead technical planning and ownership, while Gram Panchayats manage community governance and onboarding.
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Document type: Report
Assessing Climate Risks to India’s Power Sector: A District-Level and Asset-Level Methodology for Climate-Resilient Power Systems
The paper introduces the Climate Risk Assessment Framework (CRAF), a structured approach to quantify physical climate risks for India's power infrastructure. It addresses gaps in existing literature by moving from qualitative risk ratings to energy-denominated impact estimates, specifically Expected Annual Loss (EAL) and Energy Not Served (ENS). The methodology distinguishes between chronic stressors (causing performance derating) and acute events (causing sudden failure), providing a pathway for cost-benefit analysis of resilience investments to avoid stranded assets and unplanned retrofitting costs.
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Document type: Research paper
Scaling Solar Power for Irrigation in India
The report evaluates the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme, specifically Components A (decentralized solar plants) and C-FLS (feeder-level solarization). While these components offer significant benefits—including reliable daytime power for farmers, reduced agricultural subsidies for DISCOMs, and rural employment—they have seen low uptake, with only 7% and 34% achievement against targets respectively as of December 2025. Key barriers include a mismatch between regulatory tariffs and market costs, inadequate rural grid infrastructure, complex land acquisition and leasing laws, and poor institutional coordination between state agencies and distribution companies (DISCOMs). The report recommends shifting toward competitive bidding, implementing GIS-based land identification, adopting virtual feeder segregation via IoT, and enhancing the leadership role of DISCOMs in project implementation.
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Document type: Report
Mapping India’s Energy Policy 2026
The document is a reference list for a digital story on India's energy policy in 2026, citing sources related to power subsidies, clean energy, LPG pricing, and the financial performance of electricity distribution companies.
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Document type: Report
States in the Driver’s Seat
The report analyzes the role of Indian state governments in localizing the EV and battery supply chain, arguing that while central policies provide strategic direction, states control critical levers like land, power, and regulatory clearances. It finds that net localization for high-cost components like batteries and motors remains below 20%. The study categorizes 14 states into 'leading', 'aspirational', 'emerging', and 'differentiated' based on their policy strength and manufacturing competitiveness. Key recommendations include shifting toward indirect equity investment models to de-risk upstream battery production, establishing a design-linked incentive for R&D, and introducing phased zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates to create demand certainty.
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Document type: Report
Mapping India’s Energy Policy 2026
The report analyzes India's energy subsidy landscape in FY 2025 and FY 2026, highlighting a significant imbalance where fossil fuel subsidies are three times higher than clean energy subsidies. It details the fiscal strain on state governments due to rising electricity subsidies and the vulnerability of the national budget to global LPG and crude oil price volatility caused by conflict in the Gulf. The analysis argues for a strategic shift from recurring fossil fuel subsidies to one-time capital investments in renewable energy, electric cooking, and electric mobility to enhance energy security and fiscal sustainability.
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Document type: Report
An Introduction to Corporate Transition Assessments in India
The document introduces the Corporate Transition Assessment (CTA) framework, designed for financial institutions in India to move beyond surface-level disclosures and evaluate a company's transition readiness across strategy, feasibility, and accountability. It specifically applies this framework to a case study of a leading Indian primary steel producer ('Company X'), detailing the process of mapping transition vulnerability, assessing decarbonisation strategies, and evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of levers such as green hydrogen, scrap utilisation, and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS). The guide also provides a broader analysis of the Indian steel sector's decarbonisation landscape, including the role of government policies and the potential of various technology pathways to reach net-zero targets.
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Document type: Guide
Unlocking Finance for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Indian Cities
The report analyzes the challenges and opportunities for financing nature-based solutions (NbS) in Indian cities, noting a heavy reliance on public funds and a lack of bankable project pipelines. It maps a wide array of financial and business mechanisms—ranging from green bonds and CSR funds to land value capture—and provides early recommendations to improve the enabling environment, project bankability, and the diversification of funding sources to enhance urban climate resilience.
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Document type: Report
Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) 2026
The SET 2026 report assesses 21 Indian states on their electricity transition, finding that progress is fragmented and that leadership in one area, such as decarbonisation, does not automatically ensure system-wide readiness. While states like Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh lead in decarbonisation, and Delhi and Haryana excel in power ecosystem readiness, most states face structural gaps in areas like smart metering, energy storage, and DISCOM financial health. The report emphasizes the need for coordinated state-level interventions to align capacity additions with grid readiness and market-enabling policies.
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Document type: Report
Near-term actions for Indian companies to scale clean solutions
The document outlines a framework for Indian businesses to transition to clean energy solutions over a two-to-five-year horizon. It emphasizes three core principles: prioritizing the reduction of energy demand, acting immediately while improving performance over time, and continuously improving data quality. The guide provides detailed action plans for measuring annual energy consumption through audits and benchmarking, optimizing logistics via supply chain redesign and modal shifts, and transitioning vehicle fleets to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) through baseline assessments and pilot projects. It also details various central and state-level government incentives available to support these transitions.
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Document type: Guide
Tapping the Potential of Agriphotovoltaics in India
The report examines agriphotovoltaics (AgriPV) as a solution to land-use conflicts between solar energy and agriculture in India. It identifies significant technical potential, ranging from 3,156 GW to 13,803 GW, but notes that adoption is hindered by high capital costs, rigid land-use laws, and a lack of a formal regulatory definition. The study models feed-in tariffs between INR 3.67/kWh and INR 5.49/kWh, concluding that AgriPV is economically viable and offers lower levelized tariffs than non-DRE grid-connected projects. Key recommendations include mandating AgriPV under Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO), defining it as a distinct renewable energy source, and adopting cost-plus tariff frameworks that account for elevated structures and farmer lease payments.
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Document type: Report
Roadmap for an Automotive Component Technology Upgradation Financing Facility
India's transition to electric mobility requires significant technology upgrades for automotive component MSMEs, who face structural barriers to affordable capital. CPI estimates that these MSMEs need INR 55,000 crore (USD 6.6 billion) in investment between FY2026 and FY2035 to maintain their industry share. To bridge this gap, the report proposes AC-TUFF, a blended-finance special purpose vehicle utilizing a tiered capital stack (first-loss, concessional, and commercial capital) and an integrated technical assistance wing. The facility aims to mobilize a total corpus of INR 5,000 crore to support the localization of EV components, which has a projected annual market potential of INR 3.86 lakh crore by FY2035.
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Document type: Report
Maharashtra’s Pathway to Become a Green Hydrogen Hub
Maharashtra aims to produce 500 kilotons of green hydrogen annually by 2030. While green hydrogen is not yet cost-competitive with grey hydrogen, the report finds that state capital expenditure subsidies could reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen by 21–25 percent, from $4.5 per kg to under $3.5 per kg. On-site projects currently offer the lowest cost at approximately $4/kg, though they are limited by land constraints. The report identifies Raigarh and Ratnagiri as potential early-mover hubs and proposes a Green Hydrogen Readiness Plan focusing on seven impact areas across the value chain.
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Document type: Executive summary
Electric and cleaner
The report examines how India can transition to cleaner EV charging by utilizing time-of-day (ToD) tariffs, green tariffs, rooftop solar, and open access. While states like Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh use ToD tariffs to encourage charging during solar hours (10 AM to 4 PM), the prevalence of nighttime home charging and limited public charging infrastructure (approximately 26,367 stations) hinder effectiveness. Green tariffs are currently restricted to consumers with loads over 100 kW, and while rooftop solar is gaining traction in Delhi and Bengaluru, high deployment costs remain a barrier. Open access for renewable energy is available for operators with a 100 kW load, but high upfront and third-party charges limit its adoption.
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Document type: Report
India’s transition to electric mobility
India's electric vehicle (EV) market grew elevenfold between FY2020 and FY2025, driven by central and state government subsidies. The transport sector, particularly road transport, is a critical focus for India's goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. Key policy mechanisms include the FAME-I, FAME-II, and PM E-DRIVE schemes, alongside state-level policies in over 25 states.
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Document type: Report
Clean electricity supply must keep pace
The report argues that while India's shift to electric vehicles can reduce emissions by 33%-55% compared to internal combustion engines, full decarbonisation depends on increasing the share of clean electricity in the grid. It estimates that meeting the charging needs of the projected 2030 EV stock would require approximately 14 GW of dedicated wind and solar capacity. The analysis highlights significant regional disparities in the cleanliness of EV charging across 10 Indian states, with Karnataka leading in clean energy share and Uttar Pradesh, the largest market by volume, providing only 18.3% of charging electricity from clean resources.
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Document type: Report
Green Hydrogen Production Pathways for India
The report analyzes green hydrogen production in India, finding that state-level transmission waivers and capital subsidies are critical for cost competitiveness. It compares on-site, ISTS-connected, and STU-connected project models, highlighting that while on-site projects avoid transmission costs, they face land and demand constraints. The study identifies Odisha as a leader in cost competitiveness due to aggressive incentive packages and emphasizes that off-site projects require at least a 50% cost reduction to compete with grey hydrogen.
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Document type: Report
Gateway to Green
The report examines how six Indian ports can transition into green hydrogen hubs by integrating hydrogen into their value chains and leveraging Common User Infrastructure (CUI). It identifies key challenges such as high production costs and land acquisition, while emphasizing the role of storage infrastructure and the repurposing of natural gas pipelines and LNG terminals to reduce capital expenditures.
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Document type: Report