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Cities Key to India's 500 GW Green Energy Goal: WRI

2025-09-04

Indian cities are increasingly emerging as key enablers of the country’s energy transition, serving as both major energy consumers and innovation hubs, according to a report released by the World Resources Institute (WRI) India at its annual flagship conference, Connect Karo.

Titled “How Cities Can Support India’s Energy Transition”, the report highlights how cities are integrating national policy frameworks with local innovations to accelerate decarbonisation.

Despite efforts such as rooftop solar adoption, LED street lighting, and various local sustainability drives, most urban areas still score poorly on energy efficiency indicators under the ClimateSMART Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0, the report noted.

“There is a massive opportunity—over 200 GW of energy potential from urban solar PV—that cities can harness,” said Madhav Pai, CEO of WRI India. “Cities must lead on demand-side action, not just supply, given their role as significant energy users.”

With Indian cities contributing nearly 60 per cent of national GDP, they are seen as “natural aggregators of demand” and strategic zones for testing scalable clean energy models. These urban centres play a vital role in achieving India’s goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070.

The report urges integrated planning across sectors such as transport, buildings, water, and waste management, positioning cities as central players in both energy efficiency and climate resilience. “Urban action is critical—not just for energy, but for public health, air quality, and equitable growth,” Pai added.

Citizen engagement, especially among low-income and vulnerable communities, is essential for a just energy transition, the report emphasised. Inclusive participation will be key to scaling and sustaining renewable efforts.

Outside the report, several Indian cities have already taken strides in clean energy:

Guntur recently inaugurated a 150 kWp solar plant at its DRM office, aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions and enhance energy sustainability.
In Rajasthan, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) partnered with the state utility to develop a solar power project, extending its green portfolio.
Chhattisgarh has invited international investments to scale renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure, promoting job creation and skill development.

These developments reinforce the message that cities are not just sites of consumption but strategic centres of innovation essential to meeting India’s renewable energy ambitions.

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