Risks to Rewards: Tale of building an RE company in India | ft. Parag Sharma

What does it take to build companies from the ground in a novel sector in India?

In this conversation, Parag Sharma, Chief Executive Officer at Resolven (formerly Zelestra), reflects on a three-decade journey from growing up in a thermal power plant campus to building gigawatt-scale renewable businesses.

Drawing from his experience across engineering, consulting, and entrepreneurship, he explains how India’s renewable energy market matured into one of the world’s largest investment destinations. The discussion explores the forces shaping the sector today, from global investor confidence and competitive bidding to the evolving balance between solar, wind, and battery storage.

As India races toward ambitious clean energy targets, the conversation also looks ahead: what will define the next generation of renewable companies? From disciplined bidding and smart project development to hybrid energy solutions and emerging opportunities in green hydrogen, data centers, and AI-driven energy demand.

Mr. Sharma is the former Founder and CEO of O2 Power, previously served as COO at ReNew Power, and currently holds leadership roles as President of the Wind Independent Power Producers Association (WIPPA) and Chairperson of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Northern Region.

Full transcript of the episode is available in English.

Presented by 101Reporters

Parag Sharma is on LinkedIn

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