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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.

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.

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.

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.

India's heavy industries—steel, cement, and aluminium—have a 20 GW profitable opportunity to integrate solar power today through green energy open access, potentially reducing annual emissions by 29 million tonnes. While sourcing 50% renewable energy (RE) is currently cost-effective without storage, achieving 24/7 RE is prohibitively expensive, costing up to 3.5 times the price of standard RE generation due to the massive battery storage and capacity oversizing required. The report highlights that steel offers the most immediate cost-saving potential, whereas aluminium remains heavily reliant on captive coal power, requiring stronger regulatory mandates to transition.

India's plans to increase coal production to over 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030, including tripling underground mining, could more than double coal mine methane emissions to over 1.67 million tonnes per year by 2029. Ember proposes a gradual mitigation roadmap to reduce emissions by 35% by 2030, which could save over 1,600 kt of methane and potentially offset $980 million USD in imported gas costs between 2025 and 2030.

Hamara Grid is implementing a PPPP model in Mon district, Nagaland, to deploy solar mini-grids (30 kWp to 45 kWp) as a solution to the poor reliability of the national grid. The project integrates energy access with livelihoods, health, and education, utilizing a blended finance structure of grants, debt, and equity. As of August 2023, six mini-grids are operational, with a target of 50 villages by June 2025. Key findings highlight the importance of incubating energy-based livelihoods to accelerate energy utilization and the strategic prioritization of larger villages to reach commercial viability faster.

The document analyzes the current state of electricity markets in India, noting that while power exchanges (PX) are growing, they only account for 7% of total demand. It identifies key barriers to market adoption, including the dominance of inflexible long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), unpredictable market clearing prices, and inaccurate supply-demand forecasting. The paper highlights that states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu could achieve significant fuel cost savings by shifting from PPAs to day-ahead markets (DAMs). It recommends redesigning PPA structures, introducing contracts for differences (CFDs), strengthening institutional market monitoring, and developing state-level resource adequacy frameworks to better integrate variable renewable energy.

The 2024 Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) report identifies Gujarat and Karnataka as consistent top performers in decarbonising their power sectors and preparing their market ecosystems. While some states like Delhi and Odisha show high readiness or strong market enablers, they struggle with actual decarbonisation. Conversely, states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh exhibit structural challenges and slow progress across all dimensions. The report recommends strengthening state-level regulatory frameworks and developing specific subnational transition plans to address these uneven disparities.

The report estimates that an immediate low-carbon transition would result in a cumulative annual economic impact of INR 725.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion) for stakeholders in Jharkhand. The most significant losses are concentrated in the solid fossil fuel mining sector, which would see an annual impact of INR 608.3 billion, compared to INR 117.6 billion for the power generation sector. Key fiscal risks include a potential 5% decline in state revenue receipts and an erosion of 7% of the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) due to livelihood losses. The analysis highlights the vulnerability of indirect and contractual workers who lack the severance benefits available to direct employees. To mitigate these effects, the report recommends that state-owned enterprises diversify into green hydrogen, energy storage, and solar energy, while the state government develops a comprehensive Just Transition plan focusing on reskilling and social safety nets.

The briefing identifies Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand as the most vulnerable Indian states to the energy transition due to their heavy reliance on coal production and power generation. The assessment uses a multi-dimensional framework—covering fiscal losses, climate risks, socioeconomic impacts, diversification potential, and political economy—to rank states. Odisha is ranked as the most vulnerable, primarily due to high physical climate risks and high CSR dependency, while West Bengal is the least vulnerable due to a more diversified economy, despite having the highest fiscal deficit among the group.

This executive summary describes the States’ Electricity Transition (SET) Scoring system developed by Ember to evaluate the electricity transition across 16 Indian states, which represent 90% of India's annual power requirement. The analysis focuses on four dimensions: decarbonisation, power system performance, power ecosystem readiness, and policies and political commitments. While some states like Karnataka show strong performance across all metrics, others, particularly Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, require significant improvements in decarbonisation and system performance to meet national targets.

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.

The report analyzes urban green finance in Hyderabad and Kolkata, finding that both cities are heavily dependent on state and central government funding. While Hyderabad has made significant progress in renewable energy and electric mobility, and Kolkata has excelled in e-bus adoption and wetland conservation, both face governance challenges due to overlapping mandates and limited financial autonomy. The study recommends harmonized climate budgeting, increased devolution of funds to urban local bodies, and the exploration of innovative financing mechanisms like green bonds and resilience bonds to bridge investment gaps.

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.

The report argues that India's post-pandemic recovery should prioritize 'building back better' by investing in natural capital and nature-based solutions (NbS). It examines the role of public and private finance, the need for a green finance taxonomy, and the importance of integrating biodiversity values into agriculture, infrastructure, and sub-national climate action plans. Key focus areas include land restoration targets, the conservation of wetlands within the Central Asian Flyway, and the mitigation of illegal wildlife trade.

The document details updates to six specific energy subsidies in India, covering electric buses, energy conservation, regional fuel support, natural gas infrastructure, and hydrocarbon research. It provides financial data from FY 2014 to FY 2020, highlighting a significant increase in the cost of concessional GST for electric buses and substantial spending on the Phulpur Dhamra Haldia Pipeline Project and the National Seismic Programme.

The author contends that the Indian government's response to Covid-19 was characterized by a lack of preparedness, the scapegoating of the Muslim community, and a sudden lockdown that stranded millions of migrant workers. The text asserts that the state leveraged the crisis to arrest activists, create a non-transparent relief fund (PM-CARES), and weaken environmental regulations through the Environment Impact Assessment Draft 2020 to favor private capital.

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.

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.