Written By: Bhuvanya SRIDHAR
Verified By: Krishnan SRINIVASAN
The Envision Conference Chennai 2025, held at IIT-Madras (Research Park) on January 30-31, 2025, convened leading experts, policymakers, and industry pioneers to discuss India's path acchieving net-zero emissions. With the theme "Ground Zero for Net Zero," the event focused on renewable energy, sustainable mobility, climate policy, and decarbonization strategies.
Day 1: Renewable Energy & Sustainable Mobility
India's Renewable Energy Growth
India has made significant strides in renewable energy, aiming for 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. The country added a record 10 GW of solar energy in Q1 2024 and now boasts 46,000 MW of installed wind energy. While government policies support expansion, challenges such as manufacturing gaps, import dependency, and grid infrastructure constraints persist.
Key Challenges in Scaling Renewable Energy:
Manufacturing Gaps - Lack of large scale, high-quality solar and wind component manufacturing in India.
Import Dependency - Reliance on foreign suppliers for solar wafers, wind turbines, and battery storage.
Workforce Shortage - Need for skilled professionals in grid integration, material sciences, and advanced renewable technologies.
Grid Infrastructure - Strengthening transmission networks for seamless renewable energy distribution.
Transforming Mobility: the EV Revolution
India's transportation sector is undergoing a rapid shift, with 5.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) registered across various categories. Government programs such as NEMP and FAME-I & II have accelerated EV adoption.
Challenges & Solutions for EV Expansion:
Freight Electrification - Though trucks and commercial transport make up only 5% of vehicles, the account for 24% of emssions. Barriers include battery weight, long charging times, and inadequate infrastructure.
Charging Infrastructure - Most EV charging still occurs at home, with limited public charging stations.
AI & Digital Mobility - Connected vehicle technology and predictive maintenance can optimize fleet efficiency.
An innovative solution presented at the conference was the Electric, Autonomous Transport Pod System, which operates on an elevated smard grid, offering congestion-free, personalized urban mobility with AI-based real-time routing and zero-carbon infrastructure.
Day 2: Heating, Cooling, and Energy Transition
Tackling Extreme Heat: the Growing Need for Sustainable Cooling
As climate change intensifies, exteme heat events are now recognized as major disasters. Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to classify heat as a state-specific disaster, unlocking disaster management funds for mitigation efforts.
Cooling Solutions for a Resilient Future:
Passive Cooling Strategies - Urban green cover, reflective surfaces, and energy-efficient building designs.
Active Cooling Technologies - District cooling systems and sustainable air conditioning models.
Policy & Regulatory Measures - The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) targets 25-40% reduction in cooling demand and a shift away from harmful refrigerants.
The conference emphasized the vicious cycle of cooling demand - higher temperature lead to increased AC usage, driving up electricity consumption and emissions. Breaking this cycle requires urban planning innovations, supportive policies, and investment in sustainable cooling solutions.
Energy Transition & The Grid of the Future
With a net-zero target by 2070, India's energy transition demands over $130 billion in annual investments beyond 2030. Discussions highlighted green hydrogen, smart grids, nuclear energy, and large-scale storage solutions as key enablers of this transformation.
Building a Resilient Energy Infrastructure:
Interregional Grid Connectivity – Plans to connect India’s grid with Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia could create a global energy network.
Energy Storage Advancements – Deployment of pumped hydro storage, battery networks, and AI-powered grid management.
Grid Expansion Challenges – Addressing high costs of undersea and long-distance transmission with technological innovations and domestic manufacturing support.
Financing India’s Net-Zero Future
India’s transition to a climate-resilient economy requires $100 billion in annual climate financing. The conference explored innovative financing mechanisms, including venture capital, public-private partnerships, and international green bonds.
Key Investment & Funding Strategies:
Venture Capital for Green Innovation – Early-stage funding for climate tech startups.
Public-Private Collaboration – Scaling clean energy infrastructure through corporate-government partnerships.
Green Bonds & Climate Funds – Unlocking global investments for large-scale sustainability projects.
Conclusion: A Roadmap to Net Zero
The Envision Conference Chennai 2025 underscored India's commitment to achieving net zero through policy innovation, cutting-edge technology, and investment strategies. Discussions emphasized the urgency of addressing energy, mobility, and cooling challenges, while showcasing solutions that bridge industry, research, and policy.
With ambitious goals, strong industry collaboration, and policy-driven momentum, India is poised to lead the global energy transition. The insights from Envision 2025 provide a strategic roadmap to accelerate progress toward a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.
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