The India Energy Hour Presented by 101Reporters

101Reporters

The India Energy Hour podcast features in-depth conversations with leading energy, development & climate experts from academia, civil society, & the government. Through these interviews, we explore Indian energy transitions’ most pressing hurdles & promising opportunities. We look at the role that government, financial markets, social movements, & science plays in transition. Co-hosted by Shreya Jai, a leading energy & climate change reporter and Sandeep Pai, an energy transition researcher & author. Contact us at: theindiaenergyhour@gmail.com

  1. Jul 16

    Beneath the Surface: India's Geothermal Opportunity| ft. Karthik Ganesan

    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

    Beneath the Surface: India's Geothermal Opportunity| ft. Karthik Ganesan

  2. Jul 3

    The Next Leaps of India's Energy Transition| ft. Gauri Singh

    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

    The Next Leaps of India's Energy Transition| ft. Gauri Singh

  3. Jun 11

    India’s Energy Leadership for Global Net Zero | ft. Jayant Sinha

    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’s Energy Leadership for Global Net Zero | ft. Jayant Sinha

  4. May 21

    Heat Series (part 2): Building Livable Cities for a Warming India| ft. Indu K Murthy

    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

    Heat Series (part 2): Building Livable Cities for a Warming India| ft. Indu K Murthy

  5. May 7

    Heat Series: Crisis, Data and Denial| ft. Kartiki Negi and Dr. Vishwas Chitale

    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

    Heat Series: Crisis, Data and Denial| ft. Kartiki Negi and Dr. Vishwas Chitale

  6. Apr 23

    How India’s Energy Transition is a States Story | ft. Saloni Sachdeva Michael

    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

    How India’s Energy Transition is a States Story | ft. Saloni Sachdeva Michael

  7. Apr 2

    Why India’s Energy Transition Is a States Story | ft. Neelima Jain

    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

    Why India’s Energy Transition Is a States Story | ft. Neelima Jain

  8. Mar 18

    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 Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin

    Risks to Rewards: Tale of building an RE company in India | ft. Parag Sharma
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The India Energy Hour podcast features in-depth conversations with leading energy, development & climate experts from academia, civil society, & the government. Through these interviews, we explore Indian energy transitions’ most pressing hurdles & promising opportunities. We look at the role that government, financial markets, social movements, & science plays in transition. Co-hosted by Shreya Jai, a leading energy & climate change reporter and Sandeep Pai, an energy transition researcher & author. Contact us at: theindiaenergyhour@gmail.com

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