India and UK Collaborate on Net-Zero Vision for Odisha’s Sustainable Future

Bhubaneswar: The UK Government, in collaboration with the Energy Department of the Government of Odisha and GRIDCO, organized a pivotal workshop on the theme ‘Net-Zero Vision for Bhubaneswar’ today. The workshop, which was supported by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as the knowledge partner, aimed to foster knowledge exchange, facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration, and outline a comprehensive roadmap for Bhubaneswar’s transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future.

The event brought together key stakeholders including government officials, industry leaders, academia, and experts, to discuss strategies and develop a clear vision for the city’s journey toward Net-Zero emissions. This initiative is in alignment with India’s national commitment to achieve Net-Zero by 2070 and Odisha’s ambitious goal of adding 10.9 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2029-30.

In her welcome remarks, Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, emphasized the importance of collaboration to achieve Odisha’s sustainability goals. “To accelerate progress, we must bridge technology gaps, strengthen policy frameworks, and unlock financing for clean mobility solutions. Electrification of transport, grid modernization, and renewable integration will be key enablers of a net-zero future,” she said. She also highlighted the state’s efforts, including the deployment of Electric Vehicle (EV) buses for the public transportation system and the pilot project for hydrogen buses.

Trilochan Panda, Managing Director of GRIDCO, emphasized Odisha’s commitment to the clean energy transition, outlining the state’s intermediate targets for 2036, marking the centenary of its statehood, and for 2047, marking 100 years of India’s independence. He also stressed the importance of integrating 100% green power into EV charging stations to decarbonize the transportation sector.

Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East & Northeast India, in his keynote address, shared the UK’s experiences in urban sustainability. He praised the efforts of the Odisha Government in adopting renewable energy solutions, despite being a coal-rich state. Drawing comparisons between Bhubaneswar and Coventry, he expressed confidence that Bhubaneswar could achieve a successful energy transition by adopting stricter action plans and corrective measures. “This is the second UK Government workshop on net-zero transition I’ve joined in Bhubaneswar. Once again, I am impressed by the ambition of the stakeholders here. There is real potential for Odisha to become a leader in EV innovation and adoption,” Dr. Fleming said.

The workshop focused on various sectors including energy, transport, and sustainable urban mobility solutions. Participants engaged in discussions about challenges, opportunities, and actionable recommendations for Bhubaneswar’s Net-Zero roadmap. The event also included the sharing of UK best practices in policy frameworks, technology adoption for urban sustainability, innovative financing mechanisms, strategies for industrial decarbonization, green hydrogen promotion, and sustainable transport solutions.

International experts like Shamla Gadgil from Coventry City Council and Jacob Roberts from Cenex presented insights on EV adoption and infrastructure strategies in the UK, further enhancing the depth of discussions.

A significant outcome of the workshop was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Dr. Vibha Dhawan, DG of TERI, and Dr. Debi Dutta Tripathy, FA-cum-Additional Secretary to the Government of Odisha. This MoU represents a major step in strengthening Odisha’s commitment to accelerating its clean energy transition while leveraging expertise in renewable energy, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable urban development.