1. India’s Renewable and Nuclear Energy Landscape: 2023–2025

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India significantly advanced its low-carbon energy agenda between 2023 and 2025, positioning itself as one of the largest and fastest-growing renewable energy markets globally, while also reinforcing its long-term nuclear power roadmap.

Key developments during this period:

• Renewable energy capacity surpassed 180 GW, led by solar and wind installations across multiple states.

• Solar parks, hybrid systems (solar + wind), and battery energy storage projects scaled up rapidly.

• India commissioned new nuclear reactors while accelerating construction of indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).

• Grid integration, energy storage, and transmission modernization emerged as core national priorities to manage the growing share of renewables.

• Green hydrogen production pilots and solar manufacturing initiatives gained traction under national missions.

These initiatives are aligned with India’s commitment to reach 500 GW of non-fossil capacity and net-zero emissions by 2070.

 

2. Key Challenges and Systemic Shifts

• Integration of variable renewable energy (VRE) into the grid posed challenges in balancing, forecasting, and storage.

• Land acquisition, permitting delays, and regulatory hurdles continued to affect large-scale projects.

• Investments in battery energy storage, pumped hydro, and grid flexibility remained below required levels, though growing steadily.

• Nuclear power faced long development timelines and high capital intensity but remained central to India’s base-load clean power strategy.

• Policy momentum strengthened around rooftop solar, decentralized renewable systems, and interstate power corridors.

India’s energy transition is now not only about capacity addition, but also about deep system transformation.

 

3. France–India Energy Collaboration

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France and India share a strategic partnership in clean energy, with strong cooperation across renewables, civil nuclear energy, and energy efficiency:

• French companies contribute to solar PV, grid modernization, microgrids, and offshore wind feasibility in India.

• France supports India's nuclear energy program through design collaboration, safety systems, and technology transfer.

• The two countries work together in energy storage solutions, green hydrogen development, and solar R&D under various bilateral frameworks.

• Capacity-building programs focus on grid engineering, nuclear training, and policy design for clean energy financing.

This partnership contributes to long-term energy security and climate goals through innovation and joint deployment.

 

4. Outlook Beyond 2025

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India is expected to maintain its global leadership in clean energy capacity addition, with increasing focus on:

• Scaling up battery storage, pumped hydro, and green hydrogen to support renewable energy integration.

• Accelerating domestic manufacturing of solar modules, inverters, and electrolyzers to reduce import dependence.

• Expanding nuclear capacity with new generation reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs).

• Deepening digitalization of power systems, from generation forecasting to demand-side optimization.

• Strengthening international cooperation in cross-border green energy trade, joint R&D, and financing mechanisms.

India's energy future is being shaped by a twin strategy: mass deployment of renewables and long-term stable investment in nuclear power.

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Strategic Relevance for FIBC

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• Highlights the role of French expertise in India's clean energy transition—from design and engineering to safety and systems integration.

• Enables members to engage in sectors such as solar deployment, grid intelligence, storage, nuclear instrumentation, and hydrogen technologies.

• Facilitates partnerships in joint R&D, policy dialogue, and co-investment in scalable, sustainable energy infrastructure.

• Strengthens the visibility of French innovation and industrial capabilities in India’s decarbonization pathway.