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| Tata Trusts' CEO, Mr Siddharth Sharma, addresses the Outlook Sustainable Power Conclave 2025. |
Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Tata Trusts, delivered the keynote address at the Outlook Sustainable Power Conclave 2025, where he emphasised India’s success in balancing climate action with economic growth. He highlighted the country’s progress in renewable energy and noted that India has transformed climate challenges into opportunities, demonstrating that climate action and development can go hand in hand.
Speaking at the event held at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi on March 11, he stated that despite challenges, the government’s ambitious policies and commitment to clean energy have put India on track to meet several renewable energy targets.
“India is at a critical moment. As an emerging economy, we have an incredibly difficult challenge of securing the socioeconomic aspirations of our 1.4 billion population while simultaneously decarbonising our economy to tackle the climate crisis. The dual challenge is a heavy and unfair burden, especially for India, which hasn’t majorly contributed to the global climate crisis.
“The Government of India has shown the world that climate action, development, and ambition can go hand in hand. India is on track to meet several renewable energy targets by 2030 and achieve Net Zero by 2070,” said Mr Sharma.
He also made a strong case for decentralised renewable energy (DRE) as a key driver of India’s green economy and sustainable livelihoods. He went on to highlight the potential of clean energy-powered applications, particularly in rural India.
“These solutions are diverse, expanding from cold storage, sewing machines, looms, rice mills, etc. They can increase access to clean energy and help communities transition away from carbon-intensive business models. They can help green livelihood sectors like agriculture, MSMEs that are sometimes very neglected, and other small businesses. They can modernise equipment and appliances, reduce drudgery, and increase efficiency,” he stated.
He further emphasised the critical role of DRE in climate adaptation and pointed out how the solutions provide continuous and instant access to electricity in remote areas, especially during natural disasters like floods and cyclones, which often disrupt conventional grid connections.
‘Just Transition’
Mr Sharma stated that renewable energy now contributed 47% to India’s energy mix, with increasing reliance on solar, wind, and hydro power. He also acknowledged the significant role of corporate India in advancing the renewable energy sector, supporting the government, and setting Net Zero goals. He went on to stress the necessity of a ‘just transition’ and the need for models that ensure equitable distribution. “Climate progress is not just about economic ambition but an opportunity for socioeconomic transmission,” he stated before quoting Tata Group’s founder Jamsetji Tata: “In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business, but is in fact the very purpose of its existence.”
He reiterated that the Tata Trusts are committed to approaching energy transition with a human lens, ensuring that clean energy solutions uplift communities.
Outlook Sustainable Power Conclave 2025
The event, organised by Outlook News Magazine in collaboration with the Ministry of Power, Government of India, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India self-reliant (atmanirbhar) in the energy sector, paving the way for the nation to become the third-largest economy by 2047.
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| Mr Manohar Lal, Honourable Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Minister of Power (Government of India), and Mr Siddharth Sharma, CEO, Tata Trusts, at the Outlook Sustainable Power Conclave 2025. |
The conclave was a gathering of policymakers, industry pioneers, and energy experts, who shared their insights on the future of sustainable power in India. Shri Manohar Lal, Honourable Union Minister, Ministry of Power, Housing & Urban Affairs (Government of India), attended as the Chief Guest and reinforced the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s renewable energy infrastructure and ensuring a fair energy transition.
The event saw participation from prominent leaders in the energy sector, including ICP Keshari, Additional Director General, Association of Power Producers; Amal Sinha, Director & Group CEO, BSES Delhi; Saurabh Kumar, Vice President, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP); Selesh Gupta, CEO, JSK Industries Ltd & Vice Chairman, IEEMA, among others.
The Outlook Sustainable Power Conclave 2025 concluded with a felicitation ceremony honouring India’s power sector stalwarts. The ceremony highlighted the importance of collaboration between policymakers, businesses, and technology leaders in driving India’s clean energy transition.
