We are seeking a dynamic, technically strong professional to join the Energy Policy and Regulations team at CSTEP as a Senior Analyst. The role will involve leading and supporting work on electricity demand forecasting, with a strong focus on integrating socio-economic and weather-related drivers of demand. The candidate will also contribute to GHG accounting for DISCOM decarbonisation and city-level net-zero planning. This is a high-impact opportunity to work on policy-relevant research and contribute meaningfully to shaping India’s energy transition.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to research and analytical studies on electricity demand forecasting across national, state, DISCOM integrating socio-economic indicators, tariff structures, and weather parameters to develop robust projections.
• Support the development of DISCOM decarbonisation pathways and GHG accounting frameworks, including emission baseline estimation, scenario analysis, and decarbonisation pathway assessment.
• Track and analyse distribution sector policies, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies; generate strategic insights through data analytics and quantitative modelling to inform evidence-based policy recommendations.
• Collaborate with state and national stakeholders to co-develop and advance actionable recommendations.
• Prepare policy briefs, technical reports, presentations, and journal articles to effectively communicate research findings.
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to travel within India to engage with stakeholders and support project requirements (travel requirements may vary by project).

Qualifications

Master's degree in a relevant field such as energy economics and sustainable energy.

Skill Set

• Proven experience in electricity demand forecasting, incorporating socio-economic, tariff, and weather drivers across national, state, DISCOM, or feeder levels.
• Strong understanding of the Indian power sector, particularly DISCOM operations and regulatory frameworks.
• Proficiency in PLEXOS, GRIDPATH or STELLAR model for energy modelling, with advanced Excel skills.
• Knowledge of GHG accounting and decarbonisation approaches for DISCOMs and city-level net-zero planning.
• Familiarity with emerging energy technologies, including EVs, rooftop solar, distributed energy resources, and energy efficiency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical analysis into clear, policy-relevant insights.
• Ability to support end-to-end project delivery, including proposals, analysis, and reporting.
• Capability to work across technical and policy domains and collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.

We are seeking a Senior Communication Officer to manage day-to-day communication efforts and translate complex research from the Energy and Power sector at CSTEP into clear, engaging, and impactful narratives. The role requires strong storytelling skills, a solid understanding of the policy ecosystem and think tank environment, and the ability to design and execute content and engagement strategies. Acting as a liaison between research and outreach teams (Communication and Policy Engagement), the candidate will ensure effective knowledge dissemination across platforms while contributing to institutional outputs and stakeholder engagement initiatives and events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute creative engagement strategies aligned with the organisation’s and sector’s goals.
• Translate and repurpose technical research into audience-specific content (blogs, social media, website copy, and outreach materials).
• Build, maintain, and actively manage a stakeholder database, and design targeted communication initiatives to drive effective engagement.
• Track policy developments, events, and emerging ecosystem conversations, and leverage these to inform communication and support research visibility.
• Monitor and analyse digital performance metrics using insights to refine and strengthen communication strategies.
• Collaborate closely with editors, designers, and researchers to ensure consistency in messaging, tone, and visual identity across all outputs.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Policy, Environmental Studies, Climate Science, Urban Studies, or a related field
• Prior experience in journalism (preferably sustainability or solutions journalism), think tanks, policy organisations, or other knowledge-driven institutions

Skill Set

• Strong writing and storytelling skills with clarity, accuracy, and audience needs.
• Ability to manage multiple communication streams, coordinate across teams and functions, and operate effectively in a fast-paced research and public policy environment
• Comfortable working with scientific, environmental, and policy content.
• Ability to synthesise complex research, data, and policy insights into clear, accurate public-facing narratives, with strong attention to fact-checking.
• Experience in social media management, content optimisation (SEO), and digital publishing.
• Strong execution and organisational skills, including managing follow-ups, trackers, and workflow processes.
• A critical thinker with a proactive, learning-oriented mindset and the ability to collaborate effectively within teams.

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Intern to support field data collection activities for the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) under the Model Solar Village initiative for the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA). The position is within CSTEP's Renewables team and will involve conducting field surveys, engaging with local stakeholders, collecting and validating project-related data, and assisting technical teams in documentation and analysis. The ideal candidate should be comfortable with fieldwork, willing to travel locally, and capable of coordinating effectively with project teams to ensure timely and high-quality project deliverables.

Interns from the following locations would be preferred: Auraiya, Azamgarh, Balrampur, Banda, Chitrakoot, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Gonda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Kannauj, Kaushambi, Mainpuri, Pratapgarh, Raebareli, Shravasti, Amethi, Badaun, Etah, and Bhadohi

Responsibilities

• Conduct ground surveys in assigned villages and project locations
• Collect field data related to electricity consumption, rooftop suitability, and energy infrastructure
• Interact with households, local businesses, and other stakeholders
• Record survey data in structured MS Excel formats
• Ensure completeness, consistency, and quality of collected data
• Support the project team in DPR preparation through field inputs
• Assist in data cleaning, validation, and documentation
• Support project reporting requirements by compiling and organising field data and related documentation
• Coordinate with UPNEDA and other government officials as and when needed

Qualifications

Diploma/Polytechnic students (Electrical, Electronics, or related branches) and final-year BE / BTech students

Skill Set

• Knowledge of electrical engineering concepts and solar energy systems
• Basic proficiency in MS Excel (data entry, formatting, and basic formulas)
• Working knowledge of MS Word for documentation and reporting
• Good communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder interactions
• Strong attention to detail with a focus on data accuracy and quality
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and adhere to project timelines

Note: Preference will be given to candidates who possess a laptop and a two-wheeler.

Duration

1–6 months

We are seeking an Intern to work with geospatial data to support CSTEP’s research on climate, energy, and sustainability issues.

Responsibilities

• Collect, edit, and manage spatial and tabular data using ArcGIS Pro and/or QGIS.
• Ability to perform core spatial analysis and geoprocessing tasks (e.g., overlay analysis, spatial queries, and zonal statistics) to support research projects.
• Conduct rigorous quality assurance and control (QA/QC) for geospatial data and outputs.
• Develop clear, concise, and publication-quality static maps and figures for reports and briefs.
• Provide geospatial support to a multidisciplinary team of researchers and analysts.
• Document data sources, methodologies, and analysis workflows meticulously.
• Stay updated on emerging trends and technologies in the geospatial field.

Qualifications

Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in geography, geoinformatics, environmental science, geomatics, or a related field. 

Skill Set

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• A genuine interest in applying geospatial skills to climate, energy, and sustainability challenges.
• Familiarity with Google Earth Engine (GEE) for accessing and processing satellite imagery would be an advantage.
• Basic programming skills for automation, preferably in Python (e.g., using Pandas, GeoPandas, and Rasterio), are preferred.
• Understanding of remote sensing concepts, including spectral indices such as NDVI and NDBI, is beneficial.
• A portfolio showcasing academic or personal projects (e.g., a GitHub profile or online map portfolio) would be a strong plus.

Duration

2–3 months

This will be a no-pay internship, and incumbents will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the internship.

We are looking for a dynamic and technically skilled professional to join our Energy Policy and Regulations team as a Senior Analyst and play a leading role in driving CSTEP's project on the solarisation of agricultural demand, working at the intersection of distribution-sector planning, renewable energy policy, including distributed renewable energy (DRE). The role involves shaping project strategy, conducting in-depth technical and financial analysis, engaging with a diverse set of stakeholders, and contributing to actionable policy recommendations that address the barriers to large-scale solarisation of the agriculture sector. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence India's energy transition by bringing together insights from DISCOM operations, regulatory frameworks, RE policies, and on-ground field realities.

Responsibilities

• Lead techno-economic and policy analysis on the solarisation of agricultural demand, including evaluation of deployment models (e.g. feeder-level solarisation, on-grid and off-grid pump solarisation, and KUSUM components) and their suitability across different state contexts.
• Develop and review financial models to assess project economics, including tariff design, Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE), subsidy structures, viability gap funding, and developer returns, to support evidence-based recommendations.
• Track and interpret the evolving RE policy and regulatory landscape at the central and state levels, including DISCOM regulations, agricultural power supply policies, and emerging schemes that influence solarisation pathways.
• Generate strategic insights from data analytics and present them through clear, decision-ready outputs for state and national stakeholders.
• Lead stakeholder mapping and engagement with state DISCOMs, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs), state and central RE agencies (MNRE, SNAs), developers, industry experts, and farmer representatives.
• Coordinate with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Ministry of Power, and state-level departments to align project outputs with policy priorities and ongoing initiatives.
• Undertake field visits to validate ground realities, engage with farmers and developers, and capture implementation insights that inform research outputs.
• Bring forward innovative ideas and solutions to address persistent barriers in agricultural solarisation, spanning regulatory, financial, technical, and behavioural dimensions.
• Prepare and deliver policy briefs, technical reports, presentations, and journal articles to disseminate research findings to diverse audiences ranging from policymakers to farmer-level stakeholders.
• Support project leadership in planning, execution, and timely delivery of project milestones.
• Engage with project partners on technical workstreams and research methodology.
• Willingness to travel within India for stakeholder consultations, field visits, and project engagements as per project requirements. 

Qualifications

Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Energy & Power Systems, Energy Policy, Economics, Public Policy, or a relevant field.

Skill Set 

• Deep understanding of the agricultural power supply ecosystem in India, including tariff structures, subsidy mechanisms, supply hours, feeder segregation, and ongoing schemes such as PM-KUSUM.
• Proficiency in financial modelling and techno-economic assessment, including tariff design, LCOE computation, subsidy and incentive analysis, and project viability assessments.
• Strong data analytical skills, with proficiency in tools such as Excel (advanced), Python/R, and the ability to derive insights from large, multi-source datasets.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse audience—from senior policymakers and ministry officials to developers, industry experts, and farmers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality policy briefs, technical reports, and presentations for senior audiences.
• Working knowledge of GIS tools (QGIS, ArcGIS) and IT/data platforms relevant to energy and distribution analytics is desirable.
• Prior experience interacting with state DISCOMs, SERCs, MNRE, or state RE agencies is desirable.

The Version 1 (V1) (which can be accessed here) of the CSTEP’s Solar Techno-Economic Model for Photovoltaics (CSTEM PV) was built under the US-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R) for the Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS