Que: How would you describe the current state of the renewable energy market in India, particularly in the context of industrial decarbonisation?

Ans: India’s renewable energy market is at a defining inflexion point, with unprecedented opportunities and equally real execution challenges. The commercial and industrial (C&I) sector — responsible for nearly 50 percent of the country’s electricity consumption — is at the heart of this transformation. With a conducive policy framework now in place for many states and CTU-connected entities, large energy-intensive industries have greater freedom than ever to procure renewable power directly from generators, often across state boundaries, at globally competitive prices. This shift hasn’t been driven by heavy subsidies, but by smart, targeted policy measures — the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charge waiver was a prime example. Decarbonisation of industrial operations is no longer aspirational — it’s commercially sound. C&I buyers are locking in round-the-clock renewable solutions that combine solar, wind, storage, and market access to receive a truly dispatchable green solution. If policy clarity and enabling infrastructure keep pace, India’s industrial decarbonisation can set global benchmarks for scale, cost-efficiency, and speed.

Serentica is deeply embedded in this transition, delivering round-the-clock renewable power solutions to large industrial consumers. We are already supplying clean energy to some of the largest smelters in the country, who have ramped down their captive coal consumption from power plants in their backyard to move to grid-connected firm RE supply.

Que: What role do you see corporate PPAs playing in accelerating clean energy adoption among energy-intensive industries?

Ans: Corporate PPAs are becoming the cornerstone of this shift. They allow energy-intensive corporates to secure long-term, cost-effective renewable power — often below conventional grid tariffs — while hedging against market volatility. With interstate transmission now seamless, PPAs enable the aggregation of solar, wind, hydro, and storage from multiple regions into a unified, 24/7 energy supply. From Serentica’s perspective, our focus is on innovation — structuring round-the-clock agreements, hybrid projects, and storage-integrated solutions tailored to ambitious decarbonisation goals. These aren’t just procurement contracts; they’re strategic partnerships built on risk-sharing, transparency, and a shared commitment to net zero. As policy continues to encourage open access and streamline approvals, the scale and sophistication of corporate PPAs will grow. This is one of the fastest, most scalable levers to accelerate decarbonisation.

Que: What are some of the key operational challenges in scaling renewable energy projects at the pace India demands?

Ans: India’s bottleneck today lies both in generation and in transmission. Globally, large RE projects are almost stranded due to the unavailability of transmission connectivity in the grid or long wait periods, derailing the growth of RE deployment. India was able to be ahead in the game by investing in transmission infrastructure in advance; however, the pace of development of transmission lags behind that of RE. This exposes the developers to taking risks in investing capital in the hope that transmission will come up in time.

Today, transmission infrastructure still takes 3.5–5 years due to right-of-way constraints, lengthy approvals, and resource-heavy execution. Without timely connectivity, even completed plants risk lying idle — a major threat if policy-linked commissioning deadlines are missed.

For RE, land acquisition adds another layer of complexity, from securing contiguous parcels to navigating local laws and environmental clearances. On top of this, the supply chain is going to be under pressure with surging demand for domestic modules, turbines, and components to align with the evolving policies around ALMM and ALMM (Wind), impacting the availability of quality turbines and modules from domestic vendors.

At Serentica, we’re mitigating these risks through strong local partnerships and digital project management tools, but a sector-wide solution will require coordinated action to fast-track clearances, invest in enabling infrastructure, and alignment of policies with ground realities.

Que: What role does digital innovation play in optimising operations and asset performance at Serentica?

Ans: : For us, digital innovation is a strategic pillar, not an afterthought. Delivering round-the-clock renewable power across regions demands real-time coordination between generation, storage, and the grid. We deploy advanced forecasting, AI-driven optimisation algorithms, and remote monitoring to ensure efficient, uninterrupted delivery of green power. Digital twins and next-gen SCADA systems allow predictive maintenance, cutting downtime and extending asset life.

Our platforms integrate forecasting, storage, and dispatch management with customer-facing transparency. In short, digitalisation allows us to meet complex PPA requirements with precision, reliability, and trust.

Que: What advice would you offer to women aspiring to leadership roles in the renewable energy sector, and how can the industry better support gender diversity?

Ans: This sector is about far more than just putting Megawatts on the ground; it’s about tackling one of the greatest challenges of our time – Climate change. We must believe in our unique perspective and step forward for the roles we want. The sector is young, innovative, and growing rapidly with unprecedented opportunities to shape the future. Seek mentors and allies, invest in your technical and business skills, and embrace continuous learning. Don’t be afraid to take on ground-level responsibilities early in your career, as they provide invaluable experience and credibility when you move into leadership roles.

The industry, in turn, must do more to attract and retain diverse talent — from embedding robust DEI frameworks to offering clear career pathways and bespoke training opportunities. Gender diversity is not just the right thing to do; it is a strategic driver of innovation, resilience, and long-term success.

Que: Looking ahead, what emerging trends or technologies do you believe will reshape India’s renewable energy landscape over the next 5–10 years?

Ans: The next decade will be defined by three major shifts:

Green Energy as a Service: The next phase of renewable energy growth will move beyond selling electricity to delivering a fully service-based model. Offtakers will receive end-to-end solutions — from last-mile grid connectivity and demand-side integration to the intelligent blending of solar, wind, hydro, and storage into a reliable, 24/7 green power supply. At Serentica, we’ve already pioneered SLA-style contracts that take the complexity out of the equation for industrial consumers, freeing them from worrying about power costs or decarbonisation targets.

Energy Storage at Scale: India is poised to become one of the world’s top three markets for energy storage, with a healthy balance between battery technologies and pumped hydro systems. Large-scale storage will be critical for balancing variable renewable generation, ensuring grid stability, and enabling true round-the-clock supply. Serentica alone has set a target of deploying 24,000 MWh of storage capacity by FY30, underscoring the scale at which the industry must operate.

Grid Modernisation: HVDC lines, flexible AC systems, and smart substations will be vital to integrating higher shares of renewables, with digital tools central to grid and asset management.

Together, these shifts will support India’s 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030 and also enable a cost-effective, resilient, and decarbonised industrial economy.<br />