ET India Net Zero Forum 2025 : From railways to refineries; how India plans to hit the net zero target

Time of India

7 hours ago

New Delhi: India's transition to a net-zero economy by 2070 is witnessing multisectoral traction with renewed targets, investments, and policy alignment across transport, energy, fertilisers, and infrastructure sectors, as highlighted at the
ET India Net Zero Forum 2025
.
Public sector oil major ONGC has set a net zero target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2038. 'We've created a 100 per cent subsidiary to drive low-carbon initiatives, aiming for 10 GW capacity by 2030. We plan to invest ₹1 lakh crore by 2030 and ₹2 lakh crore by 2035, with solar as our key focus,' said Harsh Nupur Joshi, Chief Operating Officer, ONGC Green.
Joshi added that green hydrogen is a game changer but challenges around viability and offtakers remain. 'There is a need for offtakers and viability gap funding,' he said. He further noted that India's national target is achievable with the right support, while highlighting land availability and connectivity as challenges.
On the fertiliser front, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Managing Director S P Mohanty flagged concerns around transitioning to green ammonia. 'Hydrogen is gaining attention, but shifting to green ammonia—mainly for fertilisers—is complex. With prices tied to farmers and subsidies untouched for decades, any cost rise from green transition must be carefully managed to avoid burdening the sector,' Mohanty said.
Transport sector reforms also formed a key focus. 'The encouraging shift in mobility is that states are now aligned with the national net zero goal for 2070. They're framing bold strategies with sustainability at the core,' said Sudhendu J Sinha, Programme Director (Infra Connectivity & Electric Mobility), NITI Aayog. He added that multiple ministries are working in coordination, recognising transport as part of a larger ecosystem. 'From battery waste to EV infrastructure, each is charting roadmaps and milestones,' he said.
On the freight and logistics side, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd's Director (Operations) MP Singh noted that Indian Railways is set to achieve 100 per cent electrification in FY26. 'With the shift from coal-based power to renewables, coal transport—which makes up about 70 per cent of India's rail freight—is set to decline,' Singh said. 'Railways is preparing policies to offset this by attracting other traffic like container cargo, vehicle transport, and direct freight from production centres.' He also said that Indian Railways is exploring small modular nuclear reactors as an additional energy source.
From the R&D perspective, IndianOil's Executive Director (R&D) Umish Srivastva stressed the importance of localising technologies. 'While solutions exist, we need to adopt and indigenise them. Whether it's electric mobility or green hydrogen, we must reduce import dependence. Even today, components for electrolyzers largely come from abroad,' he said. 'To truly reach net zero, we need focused R&D and self-reliant tech ecosystems.'
Commenting on the role of the power sector, Laxit Awla, CEO of SAEL Industries, said, 'The power sector is key to India's net zero journey. To meet our growing consumption needs, we need a more resilient system—by cutting inefficiencies, strengthening grid connectivity, and addressing challenges like land and transmission access.'
UG Sujatha, Vice President at Invest India, highlighted investor interest in green infrastructure. 'Renewables lead foreign investment, driven by strong policies and local industry growth. EVs follow, with investments tripling year-on-year. Green hydrogen is rising with global support, and green data centres are set to grow 70–80 per cent by 2027, drawing $100 billion in investments.'
The panel discussion titled India's Net Zero by 2070 Ambition: A Status Check on Policy, Funding and Tech Innovation saw participation from government, industry, and financial leaders, and underlined the complexity and opportunities in India's decarbonisation efforts.