Que: How do you view India’s current trajectory toward becoming a global clean energy leader?

Ans: India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in clean energy. The country has set ambitious targets to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and net zero by 2070, which demonstrate a strong commitment to decarbonisation. India’s installed non-fossil energy capacity has grown to approximately 266 GW as of October 2025, with solar and wind leading the way.

At the same time, India is planning to add an additional 97 GW of coal capacity by 2035. While this step is intended to address the country’s growing energy demand, it is not ideal from the perspective of a clean energy transition, and the country needs to balance energy security, affordability, and sustainability.

Nevertheless, the government’s proactive policies, investments in grid infrastructure, and support for local manufacturing are driving significant progress in clean energy. India’s young population and robust domestic demand further fuel innovation and adoption of clean technologies, positioning the country at the forefront of the global energy transition.

Que: What role will flexible power generation play in balancing India’s expanding renewable capacity?

Ans: Flexible power generation plays a key role in the integration of an increasing share of renewables into India’s grid. Adding massive amounts of renewables, mainly solar and wind, into the grid increases supply-side intermittency and demand-side volatility. Simply adding more capacity is not sufficient; the type of capacity matters.

As renewables are intermittent in nature, flexible technologies like fast-starting gas engine power plants, battery energy storage systems, and demand response are essential for providing both short-duration and seasonal balancing to maintain grid stability. These assets can ramp up or down within minutes, efficiently responding to fluctuations in renewable output and supporting grid reliability during periods of mismatch between generation and demand. For example, BloombergNEF projects that gas peaker capacity will require 25 GW by 2030 and expand to 111 GW by 2050, serving mainly as backup resources, balancing renewable energy, and meeting peak summer demand.

Wärtsilä’s modelling studies outcome and global experience show that integrating renewables with flexible generation creates a cost-optimal, reliable, and lower-emission power system. Flexible power plants also offer high operational efficiency, rapid start-stop capability, and futureproofing for sustainable fuels, ensuring they remain valuable as India’s energy landscape evolves.

Que: With India investing in port development and the Blue Economy, what are the key technological shifts shaping the marine sector?

Ans: India's Blue economy push is driving technological shifts towards smart, green ports and shipping, as well as deep-sea innovation. This progress emphasises digitalisation, decarbonisation, and deep-sea exploration. A key element in these advancements is lifecycle optimisation. This approach involves operators adopting holistic strategies to improve efficiency and sustainability across a vessel’s entire lifespan.

Decarbonisation is another major trend, with fuel-flexible engines, hybrid propulsion systems, and methane slip mitigation technologies enabling compliance with evolving regulations. Digitalisation and data analytics are also transforming operations by leveraging real-time data for predictive maintenance, fuel and voyage optimisation, and emissions reduction. Additionally, advanced port automation, IoT-enabled infrastructure, and AI-driven logistics are improving efficiency and reducing turnaround times at ports.

Lastly, technology-driven compliance solutions are emerging to navigate the increasingly complex and unpredictable global landscape. Collectively, these shifts signify a move towards smarter, greener, and more resilient shipping practices.

Que: How soon can fuels like green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol become mainstream in India’s energy and marine ecosystems?

Ans: The transition to sustainable fuels will be gradual but inevitable. Biofuels will likely see significant growth in the 2030s, followed by blue fuels such as blue ammonia, which leverage existing oil and gas infrastructure. Truly green synthetic fuels, produced from renewable hydrogen, will scale only from the late 2030s onward.

In marine, no single fuel will dominate; instead, a mix will cater to diverse vessel types and trade routes. To navigate this uncertainty, shipowners must act now – investing in efficiency, fuel-flexible engines, and hybrid solutions to future-proof assets. Collaboration across the entire ecosystem – from ports and energy producers to regulators – is essential to accelerate infrastructure development and build confidence. Waiting is not an option; flexibility and early action will define success in India’s decarbonisation journey.

In energy, hydrogen holds immense promise as a clean fuel for power generation in India. However, the high cost of manufacturing green hydrogen using renewable energy is the biggest barrier to its adoption in India. Renewable electricity accounts for about 65 percent of the entire cost of green hydrogen production. While there are challenges related to cost and infrastructure, technological advancements and economies of scale are expected to make hydrogen more viable in the near future. Wärtsilä is committed to being at the forefront of this transition, providing solutions that can integrate hydrogen into India's energy mix efficiently.

Although hydrogen will be implemented and prioritised in other sectors in India, before reaching power generation, it is essential to ensure that investments in power-generating technologies today do not become stranded assets in the future. With Wärtsilä’s hydrogen-ready engine power plant, natural gas can be used today as a transitional fuel and converted to run on green hydrogen once widely available.

Que: How can India accelerate private sector participation in flexible power, storage, and hybrid energy solutions?

Ans: Accelerating private sector participation requires clear policy frameworks, bankable revenue models, and streamlined regulatory processes. Mechanisms like flexibility-linked capacity payments, resource adequacy mandates, and incentives for low-running-hour balancing plants can attract investment. Public-private partnerships focused on long-term planning and innovation will be key. Wärtsilä advocates for market reforms that incentivise flexibility, support ancillary services, and enable rapid deployment of balancing technologies. Collaboration between government and industry will ensure that India’s grid evolves in step with renewable growth.

Que: If you had to choose one key priority for India’s energy transition over the next decade, what would it be?

Ans: The top priority should be building a flexible, resilient power system that can reliably integrate high shares of renewables. This means investing in grid infrastructure, flexible generation, and energy storage, while preparing for the adoption of sustainable fuels. A holistic, system-level approach – rather than focusing solely on renewables – will ensure cost-effective decarbonisation, grid stability, and energy security for India’s future.