Advertise on podcast: The India Energy Hour Presented by 101Reporters

If India is to achieve its net-zero target by 2070, many traditional industries, including state-owned fossil fuel companies, will need to rapidly diversify their businesses. This shift will require a significant workforce transition within these companies as they venture into new sectors and build new capabilities. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Vinay Ranjan, former Director–Human Resources at Coal India Limited, about the workforce dimensions of this transition. Drawing on his experience of leading HR in both the public and private sectors, Dr. Ranjan discusses what business diversification means for employees, approaches to reskilling and workforce planning, and how strategies for managing this transition differ across the public and private sectors.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Created by 101Reporters.  Produced by World Energy and Development Society  Vinay Ranjan on LinkedIn  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

India’s energy transition is driving growing demand for critical minerals, from copper and lithium to vanadium and other strategic resources. But securing these minerals requires more than discovering new deposits. India needs to strengthen the critical mineral value chain while building international partnerships for resources and technology.   In Episode 107 of The India Energy Hour, Mr. Sanjiv Kumar Singh, former CMD of Hindustan Copper Limited, joins Dr. Sandeep Pai for a conversation on India’s critical minerals trajectory.   Drawing on his experience at CMPDI, NTPC and Hindustan Copper, Mr. Singh discusses where India’s critical mineral strategy stands today and the gaps that need to be addressed. The conversation also covers deeper exploration, stronger processing and refining, and greater collaboration across India’s critical mineral value chain.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Created by 101Reporters.  Produced by World Energy and Development Society  Sanjiv Kumar Singh on LinkedIn  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

What happens when people stop waiting for the grid to give them reliable and affordable electricity, and build their own energy systems?   Across the developing world, rooftop solar is not just a climate solution or a policy-driven transition anymore. In countries facing high electricity prices, unreliable grids and political or economic instability, off-grid renewable energy is increasingly becoming an economic choice of energy freedom.   From Pakistan and Sri Lanka to South Africa, Bangladesh,  the Philippines, and Indonesia, rooftop solar is expanding rapidly.   In this episode of The India Energy Hour, we are joined by Sudarshan Varadhan, Asia Energy Correspondent at Reuters reporting on these economies, and the trends shaping their energy markets.   We discuss the rise of off-grid solar solutions, the forces driving the global rooftop solar boom and whether there is any template for Indian states to follow and build their green energy futures.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Created by 101Reporters.  Produced by World Energy and Development Society  Sudarshan Varadhan is on LinkedIn  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

What does it take to make a just transition actually work? For a state like Jharkhand, this is not an abstract question. Coal is deeply woven into its economy, livelihoods and the identity of entire communities. But as the energy system changes, what happens to the people, places and economies built around coal? In 2022, the Government of Jharkhand constituted the Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition to help answer that question. Bringing together multiple government departments and stakeholders, the Task Force is working to assess the impacts of transition, identify new opportunities and develop policy pathways for a more sustainable and equitable future. In this episode of India Energy Hour, we speak with Ramapati Kumar, CEO, Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED), about how the Task Force has evolved and what its future role could look like as Jharkhand’s just transition takes shape.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Created by 101Reporters.  Produced by World Energy and Development Society  Ramapati Kumar is on LinkedIn  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

India’s energy transition is entering a new phase. The challenge is no longer simply about adding more renewable energy capacity, but about making the power system flexible enough to absorb and use that energy effectively.   This also means rethinking the role of conventional sources, investing in storage, and understanding how states are shaping their transition through policies and distributed renewable energy.   In this episode of The India Energy Hour, we speak with Ruchita Shah, Energy Analyst with Ember’s Asia team, where she focuses on accelerating the global electricity transition, particularly in Asia, with a focus on India. She delves into why flexibility is becoming central to India’s power system, and how rooftop solar and other distributed renewables are changing the way we plan for electricity. Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Ruchita Shah is on LinkedIn  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube. Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

India's energy transition is unfolding against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, volatile energy markets, and growing electricity demand. How should India navigate these competing pressures? In this episode, we are joined by Bill Spindle, a journalist who spent decades at The Wall Street Journal covering global finance, conflicts in West Asia, and, later, the global energy transition.  We examine how regional conflicts are reshaping India's energy security. We also discuss the evolving role of coal and renewables, and why India's energy choices could determine the success of the global clean energy transition. Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Bill Spindle is on LinkedIn. Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

As India races towards a cleaner energy future, the conversation often revolves around solar and wind. But are we overlooking a reliable, round-the-clock source of clean energy that lies beneath our feet? In this episode of The India Energy Hour, Karthik Ganesan, Fellow and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), joins Dr. Sandeep Pai to discuss the untapped potential of geothermal energy in India. Drawing on CEEW's recent report, The Future of Geothermal in India: Powering Economic Growth and Prosperity with Abundant Domestic Energy, he explains why geothermal deserves a place in India's clean energy mix. The conversation explores India's geothermal potential, its role in providing reliable clean energy, the challenges to scaling the sector, and the policies needed to accelerate its growth. Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Kartik Ganesan is on LinkedIn and Twitter.  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Over the past decade, India has emerged as one of the world's leading renewable energy markets. Clear policy direction, competitive markets, and strong public and private investment have helped drive this transformation. But as the energy transition enters its next phase, new challenges are emerging—from grid modernization and energy storage to affordable finance and regional cooperation. In this episode, we are joined by Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and one of the key architects of India's flagship National Solar Mission. With over three decades of experience in renewable energy policy and international cooperation, she shares insights from India's clean energy journey and discusses what lies ahead for India and the Global South. Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Gauri Singh is on LinkedIn and Twitter.  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Energy transition of India, like any other country in the world is currently marred with wars, energy map reset and new challenges of AI and climate financing. Every nation is back on the drawing board to plan their energy future and climate action in a warming, conflicting world.  As The India Energy Hour enters the century club, informed conversations tracking the transition, especially of the Global South led by India become more important than ever.  To get an overview of how far India has come in its transition journey, the lessons that have been learnt along the way and what lies ahead, we hosted a guest who has seen the inside and outside of policymaking and its real-world implementation.  From working in the IT sector to the corridors of the Parliament, from India’s federal ministry of finance to civil aviation and now in the global climate finance universe, Jayant Sinha has donned several hats. He is currently President, Everstone Group and Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics. He is the former minister of state for finance and civil aviation, Government of India (2014 to 2019) and was also chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Parliament of India (2019 to 2024). Sinha is also a prolific writer and his columns on green finance, transition modelling and AI have appeared in leading mainstream publications and research organisations.  Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Jayant Sinha  is on LinkedIn and Twitter.  Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

India is facing more frequent and intense heatwaves. The challenge is not just rising temperatures. Cities, infrastructure, and public systems must also adapt. In the second part of the Heat Series, we hosted Dr. Indu K. Murthy, Sector Head - Climate, Environment & Sustainability at CSTEP. She explains how extreme heat is reshaping urban life, straining energy systems, and exposing inequalities in access to cooling and resilient infrastructure. She also highlights the need for better urban planning, climate-responsive buildings, localized data, and stronger coordination across energy, water, and public health systems. Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Dr. Indu K Murthy  is on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Extreme heat is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience. It is now the most pervasive and under-recognized risk which can distort India’s growth plans. As temperatures rise, the impacts are being felt across health systems, labour markets, agriculture, and energy demand, yet the issue remains fragmented in how it is understood and addressed.   We present a special two-part series exploring how heat is emerging as a defining climate and development challenge, and explore probable solutions.   For the first part of the series, we are joined by Kartiki Negi and Dr. Vishwas Chitale to understand the science of heat and its growing prominence in India’s climate reality. We discuss the challenge of data collection, under-reporting, and poor understanding of heat in the public discourse, and how it evolves into a living and livelihood crisis.   Negi is Climate Impact Leads at Climate Trends, where she builds compelling narratives on the impact of extreme climate change and extreme weather events across socio-economic sectors. Dr. Chitale is a Fellow and lead-Climate Resilience at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water. His work focuses on assessing risks and building resilience. His latest report on heat data highlights the growing intensity of heat stress across India and the urgent need for better data, stronger heat action plans, and climate-resilient systems   Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Kartiki Negi is on LinkedIn and Twitter. Vishwas Chitale is on LinkedIn and Twitter . Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube. Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

As India’s electricity transition gathers pace, the real story lies in the complexity unfolding across states. What appears straightforward from a distance, adding more renewables and reducing fossil dependence, quickly becomes layered when viewed through states' lens. In the second part of our State Series, we take a data driven view of this transition. We spoke with Saloni Sachdeva Michael , Lead Energy Specialist, India Clean Energy Transition at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Drawing on the recent India State Electricity Transition (SET)Report which she has co-authored, she explains how states are navigating the transition. What seems like a linear shift reveals deeper operational challenges, from rising peak demand to the constraints faced by distribution companies. Tools like smart metering and demand side management are becoming central. This episode explores how India’s transition is a mosaic of state level pathways shaping the sector’s future. Full transcript of the episode is available in English. Presented by 101Reporters Saloni Sachdeva Michael is on LinkedIn and Twitter Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

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 English Presented by 101Reporters Neelima Jain is on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our 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 101Reporters Parag Sharma is on LinkedIn Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our 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 101Reporters Mitali Mukherjee is on LinkedIn. Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin