Renewable Energy and Green Infrastructure: ESG BROADCAST shares key takeaways.
NITI Aayog released a study titled “Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero” on February 10, 2026. This report outlines the critical role of the electricity system in India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. The analysis highlights that achieving the 2070 Net Zero target depends on a total transformation of the power sector. The government think tank projects that electricity will become the primary energy carrier, accounting for up to 60 percent of final energy demand by 2070.
This transformation requires a staggering cumulative investment of USD 14.23 trillion in the power sector alone. These funds will support the massive expansion of solar and wind capacity, energy storage, and transmission networks. Under the most ambitious scenarios, non-fossil fuel-based generation must reach 98 percent of the total power mix by 2070. The report emphasizes that front-loading nearly USD 5 trillion of this investment by 2050 is essential to sustain the momentum of the Net Zero transition.
The roadmap acknowledges that coal will remain a significant component of the energy mix in the medium term. Projections indicate that coal consumption will continue to rise until 2047 to provide reliable baseload power for a growing economy. However, the strategy mandates an aggressive shift thereafter to ensure the country meets its long-term climate commitments. Managing this “calibrated transition” involves improving the flexibility of the existing coal fleet while rapidly scaling up clean firm power sources like nuclear energy and small modular reactors.
To bridge the estimated USD 6.5 trillion financing gap, NITI Aayog recommends establishing a National Green Finance Institution. This body would aggregate and deploy capital specifically for high-impact decarbonization projects. Additionally, the report proposes the creation of a Low Carbon Development Cell under the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. This secretariat would ensure cross-ministerial coordination and align sectoral budgets with India’s nationally determined contributions. Such institutional reforms are designed to de-risk investments and accelerate the adoption of early-stage clean technologies.
The transition also relies heavily on demand-side interventions and circular economy principles. The report advocates for the integration of Mission LiFE to encourage behavioral changes that reduce overall energy intensity. Enhanced appliance efficiency standards and stronger building codes are cited as vital levers to manage the cooling and digitalization loads of the future. By coupling supply-side greening with demand moderation, India aims to decouple its economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions while securing its status as a global leader in the Net Zero economy.
Strategic significance lies in the provision of a clear, investment-grade blueprint that aligns national development with planetary boundaries. For global investors, the roadmap identifies the power sector as the primary destination for long-term sustainable capital. The focus on storage and grid modernization offers significant opportunities for technology providers and infrastructure developers. Ultimately, this framework ensures that India’s path to becoming a developed economy is both inclusive and climate-resilient, setting a template for the Global South to achieve Net Zero without compromising industrial growth.
