Energy is a key factor in combating climate change, one of the biggest challenges the world is facing today. India has committed to cutting emissions to net zero by 2070 and set ambitious targets for adopting renewable energy. Achieving these targets requires careful planning and an overhaul of our current energy system.
Our work aims at enabling policies that encourage the adoption of rooftop solar, facilitate the development of technology for energy storage, strengthen the grid and transmission infrastructure, advance hydrogen technologies, and promote green mobility. CSTEP's research looks at the various aspects of mainstreaming renewable energy for a cleaner, greener energy sector.
Punjab Roadmap 2036: Clean Energy Transition
Punjab has a considerable dependence on thermal sources for meeting its energy demand. In financial year (FY) 2025, Punjab’s total installed generation capacity stood at 14,861 megawatts (MW), of which, thermal (including gas) constituted the largest share (56% or 8,370 MW), followed by hydro (23% or 3,398 MW), solar and wind (17.6% or 2,609 MW), other NCEs (1.9% or 287 MW), and nuclear (1.3% or 197 MW).
The commercial catch in rooftop solar-powered EV charging
If electric vehicles (EVs) still rely on a coal-heavy grid for charging, are they really cleaner than internal combustion engine vehicles? What’s more, with EV demand surging in Indian cities like Bengaluru, this could increase CO2 emissions from the sector. As a cleaner and scalable charging solution, rooftop photovoltaic (RTPV)-based EV charging stations (EVCS) are a viable option. So, what is holding back the wider uptake of RTPV-EVCS?
Why India needs a dedicated scheme on distributed-renewables-powered EV charging
India’s clean energy transition is at a pivotal stage, with several initiatives underway to take the nation closer to its goals of installing 500 GW of renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2030 and attaining net-zero emissions by 2070. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced schemes such as the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme to decarbonise the residential and agricultural sectors, respectively, by incentivising large-scale adoption of renewables.
Network strengthening: Realising Rajasthan’s renewable energy potential
Rajasthan, India’s largest state by area, holds the highest renewable energy potential in the country, with 284 GW of wind energy potential and 142 GW of solar energy potential. In December 2024, the total installed electricity generation capacity in Rajasthan stood at approximately 43.5 GW, of which renewables constituted 70 per cent (contributing around 30.5 GW). The state also houses one of the largest solar parks in the world at Bhadla.
Harnessing ocean energy in India
As the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) continues to expand India's renewable energy (RE) portfolio, ocean energy offers a sustainable solution to meet India's growing energy demands while reducing carbon emissions. This article outlines the current state of ocean energy technologies, their potential in India, and the current initiatives undertaken by MNRE to further the development of ocean energy in India.