Renewable energy is emerging as a key driver of India’s industrial competitiveness, energy security, and long-term economic growth, according to industry leaders who gathered at the conference on “Renewable Energy Transition for Commercial & Industrial Consumers in the Northern Region”, organized by FICCI in partnership with CRISIL and AMPIN Energy Transition in New Delhi.
Addressing the conference, Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), highlighted India’s strong renewable energy growth trajectory, noting that the country has already surpassed 50 GW of annual renewable energy additions and is well-positioned to achieve 60–70 GW additions annually in the coming years.
He emphasized the need for balanced policy frameworks that support both industrial consumers and power distribution companies (discoms). According to Prasad, ensuring affordable access to green power while maintaining the financial sustainability of discoms will be critical for India’s continued growth.
Delivering the keynote address, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), stated that India has moved beyond proving the viability of renewable energy and is now entering a phase focused on large-scale integration across the industrial and power sectors.
He stressed that India’s energy transition must deliver sustainability, affordability, reliability, and energy security simultaneously, adding that the country is uniquely positioned to achieve this balance through strong policy support, a large domestic market, and a rapidly evolving renewable energy ecosystem.
Highlighting state-level initiatives, Basant Garg, Power Department, Government of Punjab, underscored the role of progressive policies in accelerating renewable energy adoption. He pointed to reforms such as simplified rooftop solar approvals, virtual net metering, and enhanced renewable energy limits aimed at encouraging greater participation from consumers and industries.
Sharing the industry perspective, Pinaki Bhattacharyya, Founder, CEO and Managing Director of AMPIN Energy Transition, described renewable energy adoption in India as an irreversible shift driven by economics, policy support, and energy security considerations.
He noted that commercial and industrial consumers are increasingly adopting renewable energy solutions due to significant cost savings, with businesses reportedly reducing energy expenses by 20–40 percent through green power procurement.
Speaking on the regulatory outlook, S. K. Chatterjee, Chief (Regulatory Affairs), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), highlighted that commercial and industrial consumers account for nearly half of India’s electricity consumption and therefore play a decisive role in the country’s clean energy transition.
He emphasized that demand response, energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and virtual power plants will become increasingly important in creating a flexible and resilient power system capable of integrating higher levels of renewable energy.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Ranjan, CEO, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd., stressed that India’s renewable energy journey must remain both consumer-centric and grid-centric. He highlighted the growing importance of energy storage, ancillary services, distributed energy resources, and smart grid planning to maintain system reliability as renewable energy penetration increases.
During a panel discussion focused on aligning energy transition goals with policy implementation, Raj Pratap Singh, Former Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission, emphasized the importance of balancing consumer choice with the financial viability of utilities, calling for a sustainable ecosystem that benefits developers, consumers, and distribution companies alike.
In a video message, Dr. Rohit Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd., highlighted the critical role of commercial and industrial consumers in achieving India’s renewable energy ambitions. He noted that the segment accounts for more than half of the country’s electricity consumption and outlined Rajasthan’s efforts to promote renewable energy adoption through simplified approvals, progressive policies, and storage-linked incentives.
The conference also featured a dedicated session on accelerating renewable energy adoption among commercial and industrial consumers in Northern India. Industry stakeholders discussed strategies for achieving RE100 commitments, integrating sustainability into industrial operations, leveraging innovative procurement models, and adopting emerging clean energy technologies.
Sumitomo Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. partnered the event, while CRISIL served as the Knowledge and Intelligence Partner.
