The India Energy Hour Presented by 101Reporters

As India’s energy transition accelerates, much of the real momentum is happening at the state level, where policy meets implementation. From electricity markets and regulatory design to industrial decarbonization and green growth, states sit at the center of how policy translates into action. But what does it take to drive large scale change within these systems?We present a special series exploring the changes shaping state-level transitions. How can incentives be aligned across institutions, political and economic realities managed, and programs designed to be both ambitious and implementable? And as clean energy becomes increasingly cost competitive, what is shaping the choices states make today?For the first part of the series, we spoke with Neelima Jain, Director of Industrial and Trade Policy at the India Energy and Climate Center at UC Berkeley. With experience spanning consulting, government, and global think tanks, she has played a key role in shaping and implementing some of India’s most significant energy efficiency and transition efforts, including scaling up UJALA and advancing international energy cooperation.Full transcript of the episode is available in EnglishPresented by 101ReportersNeelima Jain is on LinkedIn and Twitter.Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

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 101ReportersParag Sharma is on LinkedInFollow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

At a time when wars dominate headlines, climate disasters intensify, and newsrooms themselves face funding cuts and political pressure , who tells the story, and how, matters more than ever.In a conversation that is both personal and structural, we spoke with Ms. Mitali Mukherjee, Director, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, UK. Having led a distinguished career as a business journalist, and now heading one of the world’s leading centres for journalism research and policy engagement, she brings both newsroom experience and a global institutional perspective to the discussion. Drawing from her experience in India’s broadcast media landscape to the structural shifts reshaping academic and research institutions worldwide, she reflects on what it means to report and research in an era defined by disruption.This conversation looks beyond the daily news cycle to understand the structural forces shaping journalism today. From social defunding and the changing business models of media to the difficulty of sustaining consistent, in-depth climate reporting in an increasingly saturated media environment, we discuss what it takes to support independent journalism and research in uncertain times, and why it continues to matter. Further Reading:• Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism's Climate Change and News Audiences Report 2025 • Climate related projects from our journalist fellows• Samuel Thomas and his project on the farmer herder crisis • Niko Efstathiou and his project on wildfires and misinformation • A paper jointly worked on with Dr Anthony Feinstein on the stress and distress faced by climate change journalists • Details about Mitali’s book Crypto Crimes: Inside India's Best-Kept Secret • The Digital News Report Full transcript of the episode is available in English.Presented by 101ReportersMitali Mukherjee is on LinkedIn.Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

The repurposing of coal power plants is an underexplored challenge as many countries, including India, strive to achieve net-zero targets. Some countries in the Global South, such as South Africa, have more experience with coal power plant repurposing than India.To understand what Indian coal-fired power plant owners can learn from the South African experience, we interviewed Dr. Vikesh Rajpaul, General Manager, Just Transitions at Eskom Holdings SOC Limited. With over three decades of experience at Eskom—the largest supplier of electricity in South Africa—Dr. Rajpaul has worked across a wide range of functions, including renewables and research. Full transcript of the episode is available in English.Presented by 101ReportersDr. Vikesh Rajpaul is on LinkedIn.Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Richa Mishra, seasoned energy journalist and author with 20+ years covering India’s energy sector, outlines what 2026 could mean for policy and transition. She discusses geopolitics shaping energy choices. She examines power distribution reforms, federal-state implementation gaps, and shifts in trade and manufacturing strategy. She also weighs politics versus market forces in pricing.

As The India Energy Hour completes five years, the hosts come together for a special recap episode reflecting on how the podcast began and how it has evolved alongside India’s energy transition. From the early motivation behind starting the show to the moments that shaped its direction, this episode revisits key milestones from the last five years.The hosts discuss some of the most impactful episodes and conversations, memorable guests, and how listener engagement has influenced the podcast’s journey. The episode also looks ahead to what listeners can expect in the coming year—from new themes to deeper dives into India’s evolving energy and climate trends.A full transcript of the episode is available in English.Presented by 101ReportersFollow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin 

As climate risks intensify across India, state governments are emerging as critical drivers of climate action, adaptation, and energy transition. In this episode of The India Energy Hour, we explore how states can plan, finance, and implement climate action on the ground. While several state-specific models are in the works, New Delhi–based IPE Global recently unveiled a one-stop Climate Readiness Index for states. This index, which relies on tech-based tools and modelling, aims to provide authoritative guidance to states for building their climate action plans.In this episode, we speak with Abinash Mohanty, Global Sector Head – Climate Change and Sustainability at IPE Global, to understand why such an index is needed, which states face the most urgent risks, and how sub-national plans shape India’s net-zero pathway. Mohanty has nearly two decades of experience working across government, development finance, and policy research.Full transcript of the episode is available in English.Presented by 101ReportersAbinash Mohanty is on LinkedIn and Twitter.Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Having committed to the ambitious target net zero by 2070 and 50 per cent energy from green sources, India would need transition planning across sectors. The most important planning would be in the electricity sector which would need to decarbonise faster than any other sector. This transition would depend on India's ability to produce round-the-clock clean energy, or 24/7 carbon free energy (24/7 CFE), at cost and scale to meet the country’s rapid economic development. But it faces the challenge of grid management and conducive energy planning which would integrate renewable energy across the power systems of the country. To understand one such model of 24/7 CFE, we spoke with Irfan Mohamed, South Asia Analyst at climate analytics nonprofit TransitionZero to delve into the concept of 24/7 CFE and why, according to TransitionZero’s modelling, 24/7 CFE planning and procurement is a ‘no regrets’ option for India’s energy planners, grid operators, and corporates. Irfan is an energy modeller and analyst with multiple years of experience in modelling electricity markets. Before joining TransitionZero, Irfan worked at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero developing decarbonisation policies for the UK.Full transcript of the episode is available in English.Presented by 101ReportersIrfan Mohamed is on LinkedIn.Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Achieving a low-carbon economy will require trillions of dollars in new investments across renewable energy, infrastructure, industry, and climate adaptation. As India races toward its clean energy and net-zero goals, one question looms large — where will the money come from? What roles will domestic and international finance play, and how can innovative instruments such as green bonds and blended finance help bridge the gap?In this episode of The India Energy Hour, we speak with Neha Kumar, Head of South Asia at the Climate Bonds Initiative, to unpack the complex and rapidly evolving world of climate finance. Neha, a globally recognized expert on climate finance, shares insights on how India can mobilize capital for its green transition and unlock opportunities for sustainable growth.Full transcript of the episode is available in English.Presented by 101ReportersNeha Kumar is on LinkedIn.Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

As India deepens its energy transition and the United States recalibrate its global partnerships, the US–India energy relationship stands at a pivotal moment. From energy  technology collaboration, clean energy supply chains to geopolitical strategy, the partnership is evolving into a key pillar of bilateral engagement shaping both nations’ economic and climate futures.In this episode, we speak with Richard Rossow, Senior Adviser and Chair in India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). We discuss the evolution of the US–India energy ties — from the 2005 Civil Nuclear Agreement to today’s cooperation on clean energy and LNG. Richard unpacks how energy fits into the broader US–India strategic relationship, the growing role of private capital, and what milestones to watch over the next decade in building a resilient, low-carbon future.Full transcript of the episode is available in English.Presented by 101ReportersRichard Rossow is on TwitterFollow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin