Environmental think tank iFOREST convened a conference today on balanced renewable energy development across India. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to discuss policies for equitable growth.
India's renewable energy capacity is heavily concentrated in southern and western states, raising concerns about sustainability and equity. iFOREST CEO Dr. Chandra Bhushan stressed the need for inclusive participation from all states to achieve the country's renewable energy goals.
"As India advances towards its ambitious renewable energy goals, it's vital that all states participate equally," said Bhushan. "This requires significant reforms in policies such as ISTS charges waiver."
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla said equitable capacity growth is essential and the scheduled phase-out of the ISTS waiver will support this.
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iFOREST released reports analysing the impact of ISTS charges waivers and the need to strengthen Renewable Energy Development Agencies (REDAs) in states with lower investments.
The conference comes as the central government considers an energy transition policy. Stakeholders emphasised the need for concerted efforts to achieve regional balance, advocating for less land-intensive technologies like floating solar and rooftop solar.
"The strategy for RE scale up has to be developed state specific," said Vikram Kapur, Group President of ReNew Power.
"Proactive policy actions from central and state governments are crucial to catalyse nationwide growth in renewable energy," said Mandvi Singh, Programme Director at iFOREST.
The conference concluded with a call for immediate action and collaboration among stakeholders for a sustainable and equitable energy transition.
