Renewable Energy Transition in C&I Sector Set to Drive India’s Green Growth

Renewable energy is emerging as a strategic economic driver for India’s industrial competitiveness, energy security and long-term growth, according to industry leaders speaking at the conference on 'Renewable Energy Transition for Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Consumers in the Northern Region'  held in New Delhi.

The event was organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in partnership with AMPIN Energy Transition, with CRISIL and Sumitomo Corporation serving as knowledge partners.

Addressing the gathering, Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority, highlighted India’s rapid renewable energy expansion and stressed the need for balanced policy frameworks that support both consumers and power distribution companies. He noted that India has already surpassed the milestone of adding more than 50 GW of renewable energy annually and is positioned to achieve annual additions of 60–70 GW in the coming years. He said the next challenge lies in ensuring predictable connectivity, grid readiness and reliable integration of renewable power while maintaining the financial sustainability of discoms.

Speaking on the regulatory perspective, S. K. Chatterjee, Chief (Regulatory Affairs) at the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, said that commercial and industrial consumers account for nearly half of India’s electricity consumption and therefore play a crucial role in the country’s transition to clean energy. He emphasized that demand response, energy efficiency, distributed energy resources and virtual power plants will be as important as renewable generation in creating a flexible and resilient power system. He added that combining renewable energy with storage solutions and flexible resources will be essential for addressing intermittency while ensuring affordability and grid stability.

Providing the industry perspective, Pinaki Bhattacharyya said that India’s shift toward renewable energy is being driven by economics, supportive policies and energy security considerations. He described the transition as a nation-building exercise, noting that renewable energy offers India a historic opportunity to move from energy dependence to energy leadership. According to him, industrial and commercial consumers are already achieving energy cost savings of 20–40 per cent through the adoption of green power, making renewable energy both sustainable and economically attractive.

Delivering the keynote address, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, former Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said that India has moved beyond demonstrating the viability of renewable energy and is now entering a phase of large-scale integration into the industrial and power ecosystem. He stressed that the country’s energy transition must deliver sustainability, affordability, reliability and energy security simultaneously, adding that India’s strong domestic market, policy support and maturing renewable energy ecosystem position it well to achieve these goals.

Highlighting the role of states in accelerating adoption, Basant Garg from the Power Department of the Government of Punjab said renewable energy is a catalyst for economic growth, industrial competitiveness and energy security. He outlined Punjab’s initiatives, including simplified rooftop solar approvals, virtual net metering and enhanced renewable energy limits, aimed at encouraging wider adoption among consumers and industries.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Ranjan, CEO of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, said that India’s renewable energy journey must remain both consumer-centric and grid-centric. He emphasised the importance of integrating renewable power through innovative technologies, robust policies and sustainable business models while ensuring grid security and reliability. He added that energy storage, ancillary services, distributed energy resources and smart grid planning will become increasingly important as renewable energy penetration rises.

During a panel discussion on balancing energy transition goals with policy implementation, Raj Pratap Singh, former chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission, stressed that renewable energy developers, consumers and distribution companies must all remain financially viable for the transition to succeed.

In a video message, Rohit Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd, said that commercial and industrial consumers account for more than half of India’s electricity consumption, making them a critical driver of renewable energy adoption. He highlighted Rajasthan’s efforts to promote renewable energy through progressive policies, streamlined approvals and storage-linked incentives.

The conference also featured a session on accelerating renewable energy adoption among consumers in northern India, bringing together renewable energy developers and C&I consumers. Discussions focused on achieving RE100 commitments, integrating sustainability into industrial operations, innovative procurement models, policy incentives, emerging technologies and lessons from successful renewable energy projects aimed at advancing India’s clean energy transition.