The India Energy Hour Presented by 101Reporters

India's foray into renewable energy (RE) started with its thermal power giant NTPC Ltd.In the mid-2000s, NTPC, which is also the country's largest power generator, formed a division that would bundle RE with thermal and sell it together. Cut to 20 years later, NTPC has become the first public sector enterprise (PSEs) to publicly list its dedicated RE company.Most of the paradigm shifts in the Indian economy have been invariably led by PSEs, which Nehru called the Temples of Modern India. From coal mining to power generation, mega hydroelectric dams, and now green transition.To understand the history of energy policy making in India and the role of government and government-owned entities, we talked with Mohit Bhargava, former CEO, NTPC Green Energy Ltd.Bhargava, a career NTPC executive, has been involved with key responsibilities in the organisation, the last and most significant being expansion in the RE sector. Bhargava has served in several departments and plant locations of NTPC, earning him rich experience. He is known for his deep insights on policy, corporate strategy, and energy transition.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English   Presented by 101Reporters   Mohit Bhargava is on LinkedInFollow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Climate crisis unfolding in India will first impact our plates! Farms lands, agri commodities, coastal areas are in ten first line of impact from climate change induced extreme weather conditions. Not only does it spike the cost of food, several researchers say it alters its taste and texture too. Close to 60% of India population is dependent on farming as primary employment. Extreme weather is now playing huge role in food inflation in India. To understand what is happening to our food givers and how the Indian economy can cope up, we talked with Sanjeeb Mukherjee, Agriculture Editor, Business Standard. Mukherjee has been a journalist for more than two decades and has been closely covering India's rural, agriculture sector and the food economy. An incisive reporter, Mukherjee regularly travels across the country to understand the changes on the ground, innovations which are making our farmlands better and what the other India outside our cities want.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English   Presented by 101Reporters   Sanjeeb Mukherjee is on Twitter and LinkedInFollow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

The consecutive G20 presidencies of Indonesia (2022), India (2023), Brazil (2024), and South Africa (2025) has resulted in four consecutive G20 presidencies held by emerging economies. This moment is hailed by many as a grand opportunity for Global South countries to make a push on different topics including on energy transition, and climate action. Collectively, in the climate and energy space, these countries have shown leadership on topics like Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Green Development, Climate Finance & LiFE, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development among others. Can they do more? How much more and what are limits of G2O process?  To understand how G20s works, and how best can it be used for advocating for stronger energy and climate policies by Global South countries, we interviewed Dr. Prabhat Upadhyaya, G20 and Multilateral Advisor, African Climate Foundation.  Prabhat is a leading climate and energy expert who has previously worked with G2O secretariat in India and is currently in South Africa leading work on G20 in South Africa.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English  Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeOur hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

With Donald Trump scheduled to take over as the 47th President of the United States of America, there is widespread anxiety on the impact on global climate action. A climate change denier, Trump is a vocal supporter of fossil fuels and in his last tenure made US exit from the Paris Agreement on climate action. It is feared climate financing will take a serious hit. We talked with Anisha Dutta, a New York based investigative journalist focusing on politico-economy to understand the why and how of America electing Trump, the impact it will have on energy transition policies of the US, and the domino effect on climate action and green funding across the globe.  Dutta has been a journalist for over a decade, earlier in New Delhi and now in New York. She has worked with some of the leading newspapers in India - The Hindustan Times as an political and  infra reporter and for The Indian Express as an investigative journalist. Recently she has also reported from war and conflict zones in Northern Iraq. Her recent works have been published in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Columbia Journalism Review, The Hindu Frontline, among others.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English  Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Anisha Dutta is on Twitter and LinkedIn Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Climate change is already impacting many rural areas of India. Farmers in rural areas of India are facing rise in temperatures and changes in rainfall that negatively impacts production as well as monetary returns. There are many ways to adapt to the impacts of climate change.  One way to assist farmers is the District Agro-met Units (DAMUs), a project of Indian Meteorological department. DAMUs provide free-of-cost weather advisory services, and crucial information related to sowing, use of fertilisers, harvesting and storing crops. Instead of expanding the DAMU, Government of India decided to shut them down. To understand the broader impacts of climate change on farmers, the role of DAMU’s and why government decided to shut them down, we interviewed Rishika Pardikar an Indian environmental journalist and PhD scholar Rakesh Nannewar. Both Rishika and Rakesh have been extensively written about the role and importance of DAMU units.   Full transcript of the episode is available in English  Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTubeRishika Pardikar is on Twitter and Rakesh Nannewar is on LinkedIn Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Every year, between May to September, the same images make the rounds. The national capital first sweats and then drowns with even a few millimetres of rain. The city that never sleeps braces water logging every year without fail. The silicon valley of India while facing traffic snarls the whole year dreads the monsoon months which make it worse.  Why is it that India's megacities crumble under the slightest variation in weather? Why are our national, financial capitals and metro cities not built to adapt to extreme weather conditions? Is it myopic city planning or unprecedented events?  As climate change related impacts intensify, cities have to prepare a long term plan to adapt to changing climatic conditions.  To discuss the same, we talked with Jaya Dhindaw, Executive Program Director, Sustainable Cities and Director, WRI India Ross Center. Jaya is an urban development professional and researcher with over two decades of global experience in sustainable development, urban resilience and natural resource management.  Jaya has in the past worked for the Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transport and Urban Planning (CISTUP) at the Indian Institute of Science. She has also worked with the City of Charlotte for over 8 years, first with the transit system and then with the planning department.  Full transcript of the episode is available in English  Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Jaya Dhindaw is on Linkedin

This summer was all about breaking records - from temperature to electricity demand. India clocked the highest ever electricity demand of 260 Gw during the summer months, thanks to sweltering heat in all parts of the country.  But is it just the heat? Has the electricity usage behavior changed in the country? Are ACs shaping our power demand? Are the demand drivers shifting from commercial to domestic segment?  Is the electricity supply landscape prepared for extreme weather events impacting both the infrastructure and the supply planning?  To take a micro look at India's electricity demand supply system, we talked with Rajiv Goyal. Goyal has served in various positions across power distribution companies. He is credited with the successful setting up of the Noida Power Company Ltd. He is considered an expert in power distribution planning, smart metering, and power sector regulations among other things. He is currently CEO and whole time director at EKI Power Trading.  Full transcript of the episode is available in English  Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Rajiv Goyal is on Linkedin Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Energy security remains a top priority for India as it seeks to balance growth with sustainability. A critical question emerges: Can India ensure energy security while also phasing down inefficient and uneconomical coal power plants? This issue involves not only understanding the current landscape of power production but also strategizing the retirement of outdated plants.In this insightful episode, we engage with Dr. Joshua Busby and Deepshikha Arora from the University of Texas at Austin, who explore these complex dynamics in their upcoming paper. They delve into the political economy challenges of retiring coal plants in India, discussing both the local policy frameworks and the international support mechanisms that can aid India's decision-making process.  Full transcript of the episode is available in English  Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

Advocate Shibani Ghosh discusses the implications of a Supreme Court ruling on climate change in India, including the rights of endangered species and citizen-driven climate actions. The episode explores the potential for strong climate laws, the role of the National Green Tribunal, and the impact on India's legal system and future climate legislation.

Nearly 2.8 billion people around the world depend on solid fuels such as firewood and biomass for their cooking needs. Majority of such people reside in African and Asian countries including in India. India has made significant progress in enhancing access to modern fuels through policies that support greater use of LPG cylinders. However, several issues still remain. To understand the Indian clean cooking challenge and the required interventions, we interviewed Abhishek Kar, Senior Programme Lead at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water. Abhishek have led numerous studies on energy access in India and in other countries, and is a known expert in this area.  Full transcript of the episode is available in English  Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Abhishek Kar is on Twitter & Linkedin Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin