Earth Day: Leaders flag water recycling, circular economy, and battery storage as climate priorities
New Delhi: As India marked World
Earth Day
on Monday, industry leaders and sustainability-focused organisations highlighted key developments in solar power, water conservation, and
circular economy
, while calling for structural interventions across sectors to meet environmental targets.
India's
solar energy
capacity is expected to reach 293 GW by 2030, comprising around 58 per cent of the renewable mix, according to Ayush Patodia, Associate Vice President, Avalon Consulting. He said nearly 64 per cent of India's total installed power capacity will come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, led by solar, wind, and large hydro.
'India's solar module manufacturing capacity has already crossed 100 GW, yet much of it remains assembly-driven, with domestic solar cell production still below 10 GW,' Patodia said. 'With ~200 GW of solar projects announced or under implementation, domestic manufacturing is projected to support 60–70 per cent of future capacity additions — signaling a shift towards a more self-reliant and sustainable energy ecosystem,' he added.
Patodia said battery energy storage systems (BESS) are expected to grow from 0.11 GW currently to 3.9 GW by 2030, creating opportunities for Indian manufacturers in chemicals, materials, and technology.
Hospitality group ITC Hotels reported that ITC Mughal, Agra, was the first hotel globally to receive the LEED® Zero Water certification. ITC Rajputana in Jaipur became the third hotel in the world to be awarded the same by the U.S. Green Building Council. ITC Maurya in New Delhi also continues planet-positive initiatives, according to Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) & General Manager, ITC Maurya.
'As we commemorate Earth Day, continuous efforts in the areas of water conservation and efficiency have put ITC Hotels in a league of its own,' Kidwai said. 'As an inspiration to build and continue sustainable practices at ITC Maurya, New Delhi with planet positive initiatives and LEED® Zero Water certification, we are striving towards a greener future,' he added.
He said ITC Mughal meets water requirements by capturing rainwater and treating it for appropriate consumption. 'Further strengthening ITC Hotels' commitment to sustainable practices, SunyaAqua — which processes and bottles international-quality drinking water across our hotels, including ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram — significantly reduces carbon footprint by eliminating the need for transportation and by replacing Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items with eco-friendly alternatives,' Kidwai added.
He said the LEED Platinum-certified hotels follow global standards in eco-friendly design and operations. 'By adopting a stage-by-stage approach for all our business processes, we have not only made sustainable living accessible for the guests, but also the norm,' he said.
Abhishek Agashe, Co-founder & CEO of circular economy platform elima, said India generates over 3.5 million tonnes of waste per day, but only 25–30 per cent is effectively recycled.
'This World Earth Day, as India accelerates toward the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, it is crucial to place circularity at the heart of our economic and environmental agenda,' Agashe said. 'We're not short of waste, but we are short of systems that can turn that waste into value,' he said.
Agashe proposed a Recycling-Linked Incentive (RLI) scheme to boost private investment in recycling, similar to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) model. 'Mandating the use of secondary raw materials — such as recycled plastics, metals, and glass — within mainstream supply chains can create assured demand, lower emissions, and reduce dependency on virgin extraction,' he said.
'One of the most powerful levers to close this gap is a robust Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework,' Agashe said. 'When implemented effectively, EPR can incentivize sustainable product design, enable traceability of materials, and fund end-of-life recovery systems.'
Divya Prakash Choraria, CEO and Co-founder, Wattpower, said, '
Renewable energy
, particularly solar power, offers a clear and powerful path toward a more sustainable and resilient world. By adopting smart, scalable clean energy solutions, we can accelerate the global shift away from fossil fuels.'
Dr. Sangeeta Srivastava, Executive Director, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd, said, 'The environment grows more fragile with each passing day, and it's essential that we all take action. Every organization — and every single person, like you and me — can make a meaningful difference, whether by conserving energy, reducing waste, or improving everyday practices.'
Powercon Group CEO Praveen Kakulte said 80 per cent of global energy still comes from fossil fuels. 'Renewable energy is central to this transition, but adopting it at scale is only part of the solution. We must also focus on improving efficiency, storage, and accessibility,' Kakulte said.
'Governments must take decisive action through forward-thinking policies, targeted incentives, and robust infrastructure investments to create an enabling environment for sustainable growth,' he said. 'This year's theme, 'Our Power, Our Planet', reinforces that sustainable change requires a shared commitment.'
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