Adani University Conference Highlights India’s Path To Green Energy Leadership

India’s ambitious energy transition and sustainable infrastructure development were the focus of the second edition of the International Conference on Infrastructure Development and Sustainability (ICIDS), hosted by Adani University on December 11 and 12. Notably, experts underscored India’s potential to become a net exporter of green energy by 2047 while eliminating energy imports and addressing climate challenges.

Professor Ravi P. Singh, Provost of Adani University, inaugurated the conference, emphasizing India’s strides in energy and infrastructure. “India stands at 450 GW of energy capacity, with nearly 50% coming from non-fossil fuels. Moreover, we aim to reach 500 GW by 2030, but given our rapid development, we may need to accelerate this timeline,” he stated. He highlighted India’s progress toward “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and stressed three focus areas: infrastructure development, energy transition, and climate change.

Sustainable Infrastructure and Green Energy Transition

Professor Arun Sharma, Vice President of Adani University and recipient of The Royal Order of Australia, pointed out India’s dual challenge of building infrastructure and transitioning to green energy. Furthermore, he noted, “India spends over $200 billion on energy imports. Achieving the 2047 goal could make us a green energy exporter.” He emphasized the role of green hydrogen, circular economy practices, and electrification in reducing fossil fuel dependency.

Keynote speaker Professor Bharat Dahiya from Thailand’s Thammasat University emphasized the need for long-term planning and the adoption of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for urban infrastructure. In addition, he called for policy reforms and local community involvement to ensure sustainable development.

Expert Panels Discuss Urbanization and Energy Goals

The conference featured four panel discussions on urban transportation, sustainable infrastructure, urban transformation, and revitalizing public-private partnerships (PPPs).

For instance, Ajit Pai from the Delhi Urban Art Commission stressed embedding carbon footprints into city planning during the urban transportation panel. Similarly, Arvind Rajput from GIFT City shared innovative practices like utility tunnels and zero-discharge water management systems to address urban challenges.

Meanwhile, Raj Kumar Jain of Adani New Industries spoke on energy transitions, focusing on green energy adoption and overcoming challenges like evacuating renewable power from remote areas. On the other hand, Professor G. Raghuram of Gujarat Maritime University explored innovative PPP models for infrastructure development.

Finally, the event concluded with over 50 research paper presentations and the release of the compendium Infrastructure Development: Theory, Practice and Policy, showcasing findings from the previous conference.

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