The Elets Net Zero Summit 2025, held in Lucknow on 11th September, emerged as a timely platform bringing together government leaders, industry pioneers, academia, and innovators to deliberate on India’s clean energy roadmap and Uttar Pradesh’s growing leadership in renewable energy adoption.

Organised by Elets Technomedia in collaboration with UPNEDA, Invest UP, and UPREV, the summit brought together distinguished voices from across the energy ecosystem to chart pathways towards India’s ambitious Net Zero 2070 target. Held under the theme “Accelerating Uttar Pradesh’s Transition to Net Zero,” the event featured high-level addresses, engaging panel discussions, industry showcases, and the launch of a special edition of Elets Net Zero Magazine titled “Uttar Pradesh Powers India’s Green Future.”

The Elets Net Zero Summit 2025, held in Lucknow on 11 September, brought together some of the country’s foremost policymakers, industry leaders, financial institutions, and technology experts to chart Uttar Pradesh’s journey towards becoming a clean energy leader and a trillion-dollar economy. Against the backdrop of India’s commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070, the summit emerged as a timely platform for dialogue on renewable adoption, industrial investment, sustainable infrastructure, and innovative financing models for a green economy.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Ravi Gupta, Founder & CEO of Elets Technomedia and Editor-in-Chief of Net Zero magazine, who highlighted the transformative progress made by Uttar Pradesh in recent years. He noted that the state has positioned itself among the frontrunners in renewable adoption, competing with states like Maharashtra and Gujarat.

“Our goal has always been to create platforms where government, administrators, industry, and academia can come together to share best practices, address challenges, and design innovative solutions,” Dr. Gupta remarked, emphasizing Elets’ role in creating awareness and building momentum for the clean energy transition through its series of conferences and publications across the country—from Kerala to Gujarat and Maharashtra to Punjab.

Chief Guest Address: A Vision for Net Zero Uttar Pradesh

The highlight of the inaugural session was the Chief Guest Address by Shri Arvind Kumar Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of Energy and Additional Sources of Energy, Government of Uttar Pradesh. In a stirring keynote, the Minister laid out the state’s bold vision for clean energy adoption and sustainable growth. He noted that India, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has emerged as a global frontrunner in energy transition, with remarkable achievements in solar, wind, and electric mobility. Uttar Pradesh, he said, has mirrored this transformation by witnessing an unprecedented rise in energy demand, with peak consumption touching 32,000 MW, the highest in the country. The per capita consumption in the state has risen from 400 units in 2017 to 650 units at present, reflecting both industrial progress and improved living standards.

Shri Sharma underlined that while Uttar Pradesh is making rapid progress in renewables, equal focus is being given to thermal capacity to ensure energy security. He pointed out that Hon’ble Prime Minister recently inaugurated new thermal power plants in Kanpur, raising the state’s installed capacity from 5,100 MW to nearly 10,000 MW in just three years. He stressed that the government is working simultaneously on renewable expansion and conventional power augmentation to secure the state’s growing energy needs. This balanced approach, he added, will not only guarantee reliable supply but also create jobs, attract investment, and set the foundation for Uttar Pradesh’s green economy.

Key Insights 

In his special address, Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Planning Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Nodal Officer for the One Trillion Dollar Economy vision, reflected on the state’s transformation over the last 7–8 years. He spoke of visible improvements across education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and particularly energy. He attributed this progress to the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the dedication of administrators on the ground. He emphasised that Uttar Pradesh is now firmly on track to achieve the ambitious $1 trillion economy goal within the next 4–5 years and called for strong industry partnerships to make this vision a reality.

Vijay Kiran Anand, Chief Executive Officer of Invest UP, highlighted the unprecedented improvement in the state’s investment climate. He detailed the development of world-class infrastructure including seven operational expressways with six more under development, an expanding railway network, and one of the largest land banks in the country. He drew attention to UPNEDA’s pool of nearly 7,000 acres of land earmarked for solar projects, ready to host investors with customised options along major expressways. Anand pointed to the record-setting establishment of 130 CBG plants and India’s largest bioplastic facility under the state’s Biofuel Policy as evidence of Uttar Pradesh’s strong policy environment and progressive governance. He extended a strong invitation to global and domestic investors to take advantage of “Advantage UP.”

Inderjit Singh, Special Secretary, Department of Additional Sources of Energy and Director, UPNEDA, shared the state’s impressive progress in solar energy. He noted that under the PM Surya Ghar initiative, Uttar Pradesh has already achieved 750 MW of installed capacity, with over two lakh homes installing rooftop solar panels, making the state the third-highest performer in the country. With 12.5 lakh applications already received and a target to double this to 25 lakh within the year, Singh underscored the vast investment opportunities available to solar manufacturers and energy developers. He highlighted that with peak demand already at 32,000 MW and set to nearly double in coming years, and with the Central Government’s mandate requiring 29 per cent of consumption to come from renewable sources, Uttar Pradesh offers a dynamic market for investors in renewables.

Industries Perspectives

Industry voices also underscored the momentum in the state. Om Yadav of Waaree shared that the company’s Noida facility is scaling from 1.3 GW to 2.6 GW within six months, complementing its broader 13.33 GW national capacity. Waaree is also integrating its 5.54 GW BCRCEL plan, strengthening its alignment with Uttar Pradesh’s renewable ambitions. Ravinder Rana of IB Vogt GmbH emphasised that the company has established nearly 400 MW of capacity in the state and is among the first developers moving forward under the new Park Policy. He observed that Uttar Pradesh’s target of 24 GW by 2027, with 4 GW already installed, showcases a progressive, investor-friendly ecosystem.

The role of lighting in clean energy transition was underscored by Shivendra Kumar of Signify (Philips Lighting), who noted that energy-efficient lighting is inseparable from renewable growth. He highlighted Philips’ R&D labs in Noida and its manufacturing facilities in Ghaziabad, producing solar lighting components locally. This localisation, he said, not only reduces dependence on imports but also strengthens the domestic value chain for solar adoption.

The financial sector’s role was highlighted in an industry presentation by Sandeep Prakash, Deputy General Manager, SME, State Bank of India. He reiterated SBI’s commitment to advancing India’s renewable future by providing green financing under schemes such as PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM. Prakash noted that while India’s Net Zero target is set for 2070, SBI has adopted an even more ambitious internal deadline, reflecting its proactive role in catalysing sustainable energy solutions. The bank, he said, is committed to making finance accessible, inclusive, and aligned with the green transition.

Key Discussion Points

The summit also featured extensive technical sessions that delved into sector-specific challenges and opportunities. Discussions on industrial investment in solar manufacturing highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s strategic positioning as a renewable hub, while sessions on scaling solar, wind, bioenergy, and storage reflected the pressing need to diversify the energy mix. Panelists exploring the theme of “Making Cities Net Zero Ready” stressed the importance of urban sustainability and EV infrastructure to reduce emissions at the city level. Another key discussion, “Financing Net Zero and Green Jobs,” emphasised the twin imperatives of mobilising investment and skilling India’s workforce for a green economy.

Launch of a special edition of Elets Net Zero  magazine

The event also witnessed the launch of a special edition of Elets Net Zero magazine titled “Uttar Pradesh Powers India’s Green Future.” The publication captures the transformative work undertaken by the state in renewable energy, offering insights into how Uttar Pradesh is not only meeting its own energy needs but also setting an example for the nation.

Outcome

Throughout the day, the summit underscored that Uttar Pradesh is positioning itself as a leader in India’s clean energy transition. By combining visionary leadership, robust policy frameworks, investor-friendly infrastructure, and innovative industry participation, the state is building a strong foundation for sustainable growth.

The presence and participation of stakeholders from government, industry, finance, and academia at the Elets Net Zero Summit 2025 in Lucknow demonstrated the collective resolve to move beyond dialogue and into action. As India charts its path to Net Zero, Uttar Pradesh’s strides in renewables, energy efficiency, and sustainable urbanisation stand as a blueprint for other states to follow.

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