Public–Private Partnerships Key to India’s Energy Transition: Experts at GELS 2025

Bhubaneswar: The second day of the Global Energy Leaders Summit (GELS) 2025 witnessed an important Public-Private Dialogue themed “Partnership”, underlining the crucial role of collaboration, sustainability, and innovation in accelerating India’s clean energy transition.

The session was attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and moderated by William Morrison, Chairman, MetricsLed. Principal Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev highlighted the urgent need to shift from fossil-fuel-based systems to non-fossil energy sources to ensure a resilient and future-ready energy ecosystem.

Panelists stressed that addressing the challenges of India’s energy transition requires robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, backed by balanced and sustained investment. Odisha’s power distribution reforms were cited as a model of effective energy management, demonstrating how well-structured DISCOM frameworks can deliver efficiency, accountability, and consumer-centric outcomes.

The high-level panel comprised Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO, Tata Power; Debabrata Ghosh, India Head, Aurora Energy; Chandra Bhusan, CEO, iFOREST; Vivek Jaswal, EVP (Green Hydrogen & PMO), ReNew; and Prashant Choubey, President, Avaada Group. Discussions focused on scaling renewable energy, strengthening distribution systems, and unlocking private capital through innovative policy and investment frameworks.

The dialogue concluded with a strong consensus that innovative PPP investments, coupled with a balanced approach to infrastructure development, are vital for building a sustainable, non-fossil-based energy future and ensuring long-term resilience of India’s power sector.