SFC Perspectives Rethinking the configuration of technology, politics and institutions to build a 21st century energy system
India must build a 21st-century energy system while simultaneously grappling with 20th-century problems of energy access, leakages, and financially unviable electricity distribution companies. While a cleaner, greener, and job-creating energy future is possible, the path to it will be disruptive and will require a reconfiguration of current technological, political, and institutional systems.
Our work focuses on explaining the entrenched patterns in the Indian energy sector, identifying key bottlenecks to a clean energy transition, and finding solutions to ease its challenges. We collaborate with governments and the private sector to develop frameworks and plans for states to lead and manage the transition, ensure the viability of discoms and coal-dependent regions, and promote the productive use of electricity in rural communities for their socioeconomic development.
Our publications
This also includes publications by SFC team members in their past capacities.
How India can keep cool as energy demands overheat its power grid
Sarada Prasanna Das, Anna Agarwal, and Shubranshu Suman
Scroll | 24 June 2026
The challenge is not merely to keep pace with rising power demand, but also to build a power system that is reliable, climate-resilient, socially equitable, and capable of supporting the country’s long-term energy transition.
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संतुलित शीतलन, सुदृढ़ ग्रिड: भारत की संकटग्रस्त…
Sarada Prasanna Das, Anna Agarwal, and Shubranshu Suman
Down To Earth Hindi | 19 June 2026
देश के सम्मुख चुनौती अब केवल बढ़ती हुई बिजली मांग के साथ कदमताल मिलाने तक सीमित नहीं है| यह एक ऐसी बिजली प्रणाली का निर्माण करने की है जो पूर्णतः विश्वसनीय, जलवायु-अनुकूल, सामाजिक रूप से न्यायसंगत, और भारत के दीर्घकालिक ऊर्जा संक्रमण के लक्ष्यों को संबल प्रदान करने में पूर्णतः समर्थ हो।
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Free Power Debate
DV Ramana and Sarada Prasanna Das
Orissa Post | 23 May 2026
State of Odisha should take responsibility for maintaining the financial viability of the electricity sector while ensuring social equity.
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Books and book chapters
Energy Transitions
Re-Powering Rural Dignity: Rural Transformation Through Energy Transition
Sarada Prasanna Das and Ashwini K Swain
Springer Nature | 19 May 2026
The chapter explores how renewable energy—particularly solar energy—and reliable electricity access can strengthen rural livelihoods by supporting both farm and non-farm activities. It highlights pathways to promote electric-powered value addition, diversify rural economies, and expand productive uses of energy in ways that are sensitive to intersectional barriers. In doing so, the chapter envisions dignified and inclusive access to modern energy as a foundation for building a more resilient rural India.
Reports
Energy Transitions
Governing India’s Just Energy Transition: The Case of Jharkhand’s Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition
Rashi Agarwal, Sarada Prasanna Das et al.
ETPI | 27 April 2026
By analysing the Jharkhand Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition, this study highlights key institutional gaps and offer lessons for other states to enhance preparedness, improve policy alignment, build capacity, foster coordination, enable participation, and strengthen data systems for a just energy transition.
Reports
Energy Transitions
Energy Transitions Preparedness Initiative: Transport Sector FY 23-24
Aswathy KP, Karthika PS et al.
ETPI | 21 February 2026
The study aims to understand the energy transition preparedness of the transport sector across 10 states in India and identifies key initiatives, progress, and emerging good practices across the states.
Reports
Energy Transitions
Energy Transitions Preparedness Initiative: Buildings Sector FY 23-24
Deepak Tewari, Sumedha Malaviya et al.
ETPI | 18 February 2026
The study aims to understand the energy transition preparedness of the buildings sector across 10 states in India and identifies key initiatives, progress, and emerging good practices across the states.
Blogs
Energy Transitions
Beyond the Hype: Opportunities and Limits of India’s Green Hydrogen Pursuit
Shubhranshu Suman and Ashwini K Swain
17 December 2025
The National Green Hydrogen Mission, targeting 5 MMTPA of green hydrogen production capacity by 2030, aims to position India as a global leader in clean energy. This piece analyses the opportunities for green hydrogen, examines the challenges constraining its scale-up, and explores the risks involved in its pursuit.
Journal articles
Energy Transitions
Cities at the Forefront: Shaping Low-carbon Futures in India
Sarada Prasanna Das
VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities | 20 October 2025
Several cities have been trying to create a noticeable impact on reducing emissions through different energy transition interventions. This paper highlights some of these efforts by Indian cities of different sizes to create different energy transition pathways.
Blogs
Energy Transitions
What do India’s nuclear power ambitions mean for its energy future?
Apoorva U Kumar and Ashwini K Swain
1 September 2025
The Union government’s recent push for nuclear energy is part of its broader goal to meet rising energy demands while reducing carbon emissions. This piece examines the reasons driving this push, the potential role of nuclear power in India’s energy mix, and the challenges that may hinder rapid expansion.
Opinions
Adaptation and Resilience
Climate Policy
Energy Transitions
Now for a green Bharat abhiyaan
Navroz K Dubash
India Today | 7 January 2025
Navroz K Dubash, writing on climate change in India Today’s ‘India @ 2025’ special issue, argues for keeping the pressure on developed countries for emissions reductions and finance but also suggests three key domestic priorities for India: Enhance climate resilience in cities/coasts, and plan for adaptation, e.g, in agriculture and water; Build a low carbon economy that creates jobs; Reform governance structures and the legal framework to address climate governance challenges.
Journal articles
Climate Policy
Energy Transitions
Is net zero net positive? – Opportunities and challenges for pursuing a socio-economically sensitive net-zero transition for India
Easwaran Narassimhan, Tarun Gopalakrishnan et al.
Climate Policy Journal | 26 November 2024
Using a mixed methodology of expert elicitation and system dynamics modelling, this article examines the policy gap that needs to be bridged for India to realize its net zero by 2070 commitment. The study discusses a socio-economically sensitive policy mix that could set India on a trajectory to peak its emissions in a decade and zero out its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by mid-century, leaving about one gigaton of other greenhouse gases to be decarbonized by 2070 to meet India’s net-zero goal.
