Nagpur: India could potentially save a significant 36.9 GW of energy demand by increasing the share of renewables, electrifying end-use sectors, and utilizing biomass-enabled carbon capture, stated Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director of IIT-Jodhpur. Agarwal delivered the keynote address at the ‘Energy Dialogues: Clean. Viable. Inclusive’ workshop, organized by CSIR-Neeri on Tuesday, reported The Times of India.
Agarwal emphasized the critical need for India to enhance its energy efficiency to ensure sustainable growth. He noted that while energy consumption is intrinsically linked to economic growth, India’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions remain low. Referring to India’s Panchamrit goals, he highlighted the ambition to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. However, he also acknowledged India’s high coal consumption (400 million tonnes/year), underscoring the necessity for developing efficient coal technologies, including the exploration of high-ash coal and the transition from blue to green hydrogen for future energy solutions.
Agarwal urged scientists to prioritize the development of green fuels compatible with internal combustion engines to facilitate a more inclusive and sustainable energy transition.
G Sridhar, Director General, SSS-NIBE, Kapurthala, and Thallada Bhaskar, Director, CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal, were the guests of honour at the event.
Neeri Director S Venkata Mohan stressed that energy access is a fundamental right, while Neeri Chief Scientist Nitin Labhsetwar advocated for India to forge its own low-emission growth path rather than simply replicating Western models.
Later, Agarwal chaired a session moderated by Labhsetwar, bringing together leading scientists and innovators focused on homegrown climate change solutions. The central theme of the discussion revolved around Neeri’s strategic initiatives to advance sustainability, with a strong focus on scaling up carbon capture technologies to reduce industrial emissions and developing integrated solar-biomass hybrid energy systems for clean power generation, particularly in rural areas.
The panelists underscored that these projects are not merely academic exercises but are designed for real-world impact, aiming to benefit communities, industries, and policymakers. Amit Bansiwal, Chief Scientist at Neeri, outlined the institute’s roadmap to embed sustainability across every stage of a product’s life cycle. Avneesh Anshul, Principal Scientist at Neeri, highlighted Neeri’s commitment to making clean technologies accessible and practical for India’s diverse population through collaborations with industry partners.
S Venkata Mohan presented plans to bolster grassroots innovation, fostering local solutions aligned with national sustainability goals. The event concluded on an optimistic note, with LITU VC Atul Vaidya calling for a science-driven future that effectively balances innovation with social and environmental needs.
