IEW 2025: Clean Cooking Push, Energy Alliances, Major RE Investments Dominate Day 2

The four-day India Energy Week (IEW) 2025 (Feb. 11-14) at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi, entered its second day, reinforcing India's leadership in the global energy transition. Day 2 highlighted major advancements in clean cooking, international partnerships, renewable energy, and natural gas, with key announcements and collaborations driving a sustainable energy future.

The event witnessed India championing universal access to clean cooking solutions, hosting the 'Clean Cooking Ministerial.' Energy ministers from across Africa and Asia convened to discuss global collaboration. India's successful Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which has provided over 10.33 crore families with LPG connections, was highlighted as a transformative model. Participating nations expressed interest in replicating the PMUY program, and India pledged support through knowledge sharing and technology transfer. Discussions also addressed the importance of affordability, infrastructure, and innovative solutions like solar cookers, with a focus on reducing costs through mechanisms like carbon financing.

Along with this, the India-US energy partnership was reinforced at IEW 2025, with both nations reaffirming their commitment to collaboration. Discussions at a high-level roundtable focused on boosting hydrocarbon trade, particularly LNG and crude oil, to enhance energy security. Renewable energy investments, technology exchange in areas like carbon capture and hydrogen, and joint investment in next-generation energy technologies were also prioritised. The partnership aims to drive economic growth and sustainability for both countries.

At the same time, ONGC and Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (TPREL) signed an MoU to collaborate on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) on Day 2 of IEW 2025.This partnership will explore various BESS applications, from utility-scale storage to EV charging infrastructure, supporting India's ambitious renewable energy targets. The collaboration leverages TPREL's expertise in deploying large-scale BESS projects and aligns with India's goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

Day 2 also witnessed the announcement by ONGC NTPC Green Pvt. Ltd. (ONGPL), a joint venture between ONGC Green and NTPC Green Energy, of acquiring 100 percent equity in Ayana Renewable Power for INR 195 billion (USD 2.3 billion). This acquisition significantly expands ONGPL's renewable energy portfolio and reinforces the parent companies' commitment to net-zero targets. Ayana's 4.1 GW of operational and under-construction assets will play a crucial role in achieving India's renewable energy goals.

Furthermore, Indian Gas Exchange Ltd. (IGX) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) signed an MoU on Day 2 of IEW 2025 to boost the natural gas market in India. The partnership will focus on creating a liquid and tradable market at the Chhara delivery point, leveraging HPCL's newly commissioned LNG regasification terminal. This collaboration aims to increase gas consumption and support India's transition to a gas-based economy.

In another major move, AG&P Pratham and THINK Gas announced their merger under the THINK Gas brand at India Energy Week 2025. The merged entity will operate across 10 percent of India's landmass, covering 50 districts in 10 states, serving over 180 million people. Backed by significant FDI, THINK Gas plans to invest USD 1 billion over the next 8 years, expanding its network to 24,000 inch-km of pipelines and over 2,000 CNG stations. The merger aims to create one of India's largest natural gas networks, leveraging operational efficiencies and expanding market reach. PNGRB Chairperson Dr. Anil Kumar Jain unveiled the new brand.

Also, IEW 2025 witnessed India’s Clean Energy Leaders Charting a Path to 500 GW by 2030. The renewable energy leaders outlined strategies for scaling India’s renewable energy production and adoption. The session titled 'Scaling Renewables and the Advanced Energy Solutions Landscape' brought together industry giants, including Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and MD of NTPC; Sushil Purohit, CEO of Gentari; and Amit Singh, CEO of Adani Green Energy.

Gurdeep Singh reaffirmed India’s ambitious goal of reaching 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, emphasising NTPC’s efforts to diversify into solar and nuclear power to meet the nation’s future energy demands. He stressed the importance of sustainable growth through a balanced energy mix, which is essential for energy security in the long run.

Amit Singh highlighted the critical need for an indigenous supply chain to support India’s renewable energy projects. He pointed out that developing local manufacturing capacity for solar panels and other renewable energy technologies would not only reduce dependence on imports but also create significant employment opportunities.

During the discussion, the leaders also addressed pressing challenges such as land acquisition, grid integration, and the viability of green hydrogen. The speakers underscored the need for continued innovation, collaboration, and policy advocacy to overcome these obstacles. The session also reiterated India’s position as a global leader in solar and wind energy, calling for sustained efforts in research and development to further advance renewable technologies.

At the same event, exploration and production leaders from the oil and gas sector gathered to discuss how to balance sector expansion with decarbonisation efforts. The session titled 'Balancing Exploration and Expansion with Decarbonisation' featured key speakers such as Dr. Ranjit Rath from Oil India Ltd., Dr. Rajarshi Gupta from ONGC Videsh Ltd., and Aparna Raman from SLB.

Dr. Ranjit Rath focused on enhancing production from existing fields while adopting cleaner technologies to minimise carbon emissions. He emphasised the importance of improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact in conventional oil and gas exploration activities.

Dr. Rajarshi Gupta spoke about ONGC Videsh’s global expansion strategy, which includes significant acquisitions and investments in cleaner technologies. He highlighted the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2038, with a planned investment of USD 24 billion in sustainability initiatives over the coming years.

Aparna Raman discussed the role of digital technology in the exploration process, stressing the importance of using advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to optimise exploration activities and reduce carbon footprints.

The panellists agreed that collaboration across sectors would be key to achieving India’s energy security goals while reducing its carbon footprint. They called for more offshore exploration, technological innovation, and policy changes to help India meet its energy needs while transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

In another panel titled 'Bridging the Energy Transition’s Investment Gaps,' renewable energy and finance experts discussed the crucial role of affordability in accelerating India’s clean energy transition. The session focused on how affordable renewable energy is directly linked to favourable financial terms and strong returns on investment.

Hitesh Vaid, CFO of Cairn Oil and Gas, stressed the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector to drive investments in renewable energy. He pointed out that investors are looking for a solid value proposition to ensure a favourable return on investment, particularly in the renewable energy sector.

Katan Hirachand, CEO of Societe Generale Bank, highlighted the need to mobilise diverse forms of capital and elevate project standards to attract both local and foreign investment. He emphasised that affordability must be integrated into capital structures to drive the energy transition effectively.

Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, former secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), spoke about India’s green hydrogen goals and the country’s ongoing efforts to create a favourable policy environment for renewable energy growth. He highlighted the government’s focus on consumer interest and its commitment to fostering a sustainable energy transition.

Roberto Bocca from the World Economic Forum concluded the session by emphasising the importance of public-private partnerships. He noted that solutions tailored to national needs will be essential for meeting India’s clean energy goals while ensuring affordability and sustainability.

The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) presented a detailed overview of the 25 blocks available in the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Bid Round X at India Energy Week 2025.

The session, titled 'Exploring New Opportunities in Hydrocarbon Exploration: OALP Round X,' was led by Dr. Kaustav Nag, Additional Director General of DGH, and Vinod Seshan, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. They presented detailed maps of the 25 blocks that will be offered in the upcoming bidding round.

The 25 blocks, spread across 13 sedimentary basins, cover an area of approximately 191,986.21 sq. km., making this the largest OALP bid round in terms of acreage under a single OALP round as part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). These blocks include ultra-deepwater, deepwater, shallow-water, and onland categories, offering diverse opportunities for exploration.

Technical experts from the University of Houston, Beicip-Franlab, and Halliburton presented detailed analyses of the blocks, including Sediment Thickness Maps and Seismo-Geological Sections, to highlight their hydrocarbon potential.

The session also discussed regulatory changes under the Oilfields (Regulation & Development) Act, aimed at making exploration and production more attractive to investors. Additionally, Akash Goyal from DGH introduced NDR 2.0, an upgraded National Data Repository that enhances data accessibility for investors, streamlining decision-making processes.