On February 20, 2025, EPIC India hosted the second in the series of EPIC India Dialogues, bringing together experts and stakeholders to explore development-led energy transition pathways for India’s net zero future.
The dialogue featured an insightful conversation with Udayan Singh, who shared key takeaways from a study conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. The discussion, moderated by Ashirbad S Raha, Regional Director – Communications at EPIC India, underscored the importance of policy and market dynamics in driving India’s energy transition.
From discussing how technology integration is key to energy transition to how market-based approaches can deliver cost-effective electricity security and decarbonization, the conversation broadly touched upon how India’s energy transition presents vast opportunities but not without its own set of challenges.
One of the central themes of the discussion was the need for a balanced approach, as Singh highlighted: “Policies need to push, and markets need to pull, but future policies must be technology-agnostic.” He emphasized that adaptation must be at the core of India’s transition strategy but requires significant financial support. Singh also stressed the urgency of rerouting fossil fuel subsidies towards sustainable finance mechanisms, such as Green Climate Funds, to catalyze meaningful change.
Beyond policy and finance, the conversation delved into the importance of making research accessible. Singh advocated for simplifying models and findings to ensure broader understanding and impact, reinforcing the role of clear communication in driving action on climate and energy policies.
The session was enriched by engaging discussions with participants from organizations such as Sustainable Futures Collaborative, the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), NITI Aayog, and Pahlé India Foundation (PIF), among others. Their diverse perspectives added depth to the dialogue, fostering a collaborative vision for India’s sustainable energy future.
About the Speaker
Udayan Singh was a Principal Researcher and task lead for the energy-human development linkage analysis for the ESN project carried out by IIM Ahmedabad. He serves as a Scientist-at-Large at the UChicago Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering and as an Energy Systems Analyst at Argonne National Laboratory.
Udayan has contributed extensively to climate research and outreach, including as a Contributing Author to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and an author of the ongoing 6th U.S. National Climate Assessment. He earned his PhD from the University of Virginia and completed his postdoctoral training at Northwestern University.