Urban Powerhouses Leading India’s Green Revolution

India’s cities are rapidly transforming into powerful catalysts for the nation’s clean energy transition, positioning themselves as critical drivers in achieving the country’s ambitious climate goals. According to a comprehensive new report by World Resources Institute (WRI) India, urban centers are combining national policies with local innovations to accelerate decarbonization across multiple sectors.

The report, titled “How Cities Can Support India’s Energy Transition,” analyzed ten major urban centers—Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCT, Indore, Kochi, Nagpur, Pune, Rajkot, Surat, and Shimla—highlighting their pivotal role in supporting India’s commitment to achieve 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070.

Massive Urban Energy Potential

Cities across India are uniquely positioned as “natural aggregators of demand” with substantial untapped energy potential. WRI India estimates that urban areas could potentially harness upwards of 200 GW of energy from urban solar photovoltaic (PV) installations alone. This massive potential becomes even more significant considering that cities already contribute up to 60% of India’s GDP and serve as testing grounds for innovative clean energy solutions.

Urban Energy Growth Projections:

• By 2040, India’s cities are expected to absorb 270 million additional people
• Residential electricity demand, which grew from 4% of national consumption in 1997 to 24% in 2019, is projected to account for 50% of total consumption by 2040
• Rapid growth in household appliance use and expanding transportation demand will place enormous strain on energy systems unless cities shift toward cleaner, more efficient energy use

Leading City Initiatives and Innovations

Rooftop Solar Revolution

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar scheme, has launched the City Accelerator Program to drive faster adoption of rooftop solar across Indian cities. The program is being implemented in its first phase across 30 cities in 10 states, with plans to expand to 100 cities based on initial insights.

Key Solar Achievements:

• Pune had more rooftop solar capacity (130 MW) than any other Indian city by end of 2019
• Delhi revised its solar policy in 2019, introducing virtual net metering to allow residents and businesses to invest in solar energy systems
• Solar PV installations on government and educational buildings in Delhi totaled around 105 MW in 2019, with another 5 MW on residential buildings

Smart Cities Mission Impact

The Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, has created significant momentum for renewable energy adoption in urban areas. Smart Cities were mandated to reduce their dependence on non-renewable energy sources and source a minimum of 10% of their energy requirement from solar power.

Notable Smart City Achievements:

• Diu Smart City became India’s first city to operate on 100% renewable electricity in 2018
• Cities like Kochi and Pune are pushing ahead with electrified public transport
• Surat is using digital monitoring systems to improve energy efficiency in municipal services

Innovative Local Solutions

Several cities have developed unique approaches to clean energy transition:

Indore’s Carbon Market Leadership: Indore has become a national example by creating a carbon market consultancy service through its Smart City Special-Purpose Vehicle, assisting other government agencies—an approach not found elsewhere in the country.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Multiple cities including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Pune increased their electric bus fleets through procurement programs launched in 2019 and 2020. By 2019, 800 electric buses were in circulation across the country.

Metro System Green Power: Delhi and Nagpur have started installing their own distributed renewable power capacity or purchasing renewable energy to cover the electricity demand of their metros and trains.

Policy Framework and Government Support

National Renewable Energy Progress

India has achieved remarkable progress in renewable energy capacity:

• By June 2025, India installed 242.8 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity, including 233.99 GW of renewable energy and 8.8 GW of nuclear power
• This represents 50.07% of the country’s total power capacity of 484.82 GW
• Renewable energy has grown almost three times from 76.37 GW in 2014 to 233.99 GW in 2025
• India added a record 29.52 GW of renewable energy in FY 2024-25

Urban-Specific Policy Initiatives

Solar City Program: The MNRE’s Solar City program assists Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in preparing master plans to reduce projected energy demand from fossil fuel sources by a minimum of 10% over five years through renewable energy adoption and efficiency measures.

Building Integration Requirements: Cities are implementing solar mandates for new constructions:

• Rajkot has a mandate requiring solar PV rooftop systems on new buildings
• Karimnagar passed regulations in 2019 making rooftop solar PV mandatory for new buildings exceeding 2,700 square feet
• Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) started denying grid access to households not equipped with solar water heaters since 2009

Economic Impact and Investment Opportunities

Market Growth and Investment

India’s solar energy sector has attracted significant investment and demonstrates strong economic potential:

• ₹7,327 crore allocated to the solar power sector in the 2023-24 Union Budget, a 48% increase from the previous ₹4,979 crore
• ₹6,250 crore allocation for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana residential rooftop solar scheme for 2024-25
• India ranks 4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, 4th in Wind Power, and 3rd in Solar Power capacity

Employment Generation and Economic Benefits

Clean energy initiatives in cities are creating substantial economic opportunities:

• Uttar Pradesh’s solar city initiative is converting all 17 municipal corporations into solar cities, boosting job creation and economic growth
• Large solar parks now provide low-cost electricity while wind farms meet evening power needs
• Bioenergy projects are boosting rural incomes through job creation

Challenges and Solutions

Implementation Barriers

Despite significant progress, cities face several challenges in scaling clean energy initiatives:

• Technical Expertise Gaps: Many cities lack adequate technical expertise and institutional capacity
• Financing Mechanisms: Limited access to appropriate financing for large-scale projects
• Uneven Progress: Development varies significantly across different cities and regions

Collaborative Approach Solutions

WRI India emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach involving:

• Local governments strengthening institutional capacity
• State utilities providing technical support
• Private sector partnerships for project implementation
• Civil society engagement in planning and monitoring

Future Outlook and Targets

2030 Renewable Energy Goals

India’s ambitious renewable energy targets position cities as crucial contributors:

• Target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030
• 280 GW solar capacity target by 2030 from current levels of approximately 97 GW
• Cities expected to contribute significantly through rooftop solar, energy efficiency, and electrified transport

Technology Integration Opportunities

Cities are exploring advanced clean energy technologies:

• Energy Storage Systems: Integration with solar installations for grid balancing
• Smart Grid Technologies: Digital monitoring and efficiency improvements
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Solar-powered charging stations and transport electrification
• Green Hydrogen: Future applications in urban transportation and industrial processes

International Recognition and Benchmarking

India’s urban clean energy initiatives are gaining international attention:

• 13 cities in India had renewable energy targets and policies in 2020, covering 67.6 million people or 18% of the urban population
• Three Indian cities—Kolkata, Chennai, and Delhi—have set net-zero targets for 2050
• India’s cities are being recognized as models for sustainable urban development in emerging economies

Conclusion

Indian cities are transforming from energy consumers to energy producers and innovators, playing an increasingly vital role in the nation’s clean energy transition. Through initiatives ranging from rooftop solar installations to electrified public transport systems, urban centers are demonstrating that sustainable development and economic growth can go hand in hand.

Indian Cities Emerging as Engines of Clean Energy Transition

I’ve created a comprehensive current affairs article on how Indian cities are leading the clean energy transition. Here’s what the article covers:

Key Highlights from the Article:

Urban Energy Potential: Cities could potentially harness upwards of 200 GW from urban solar PV installations alone, with urban areas already contributing 60% of India’s GDP.

Major City Initiatives:

• Pune leads with 130 MW rooftop solar capacity
• Diu became India’s first 100% renewable electricity city
• Indore created innovative carbon market consultancy services
• Delhi introduced virtual net metering for solar investments

Government Programs:

• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana – world’s largest domestic rooftop solar scheme
• City Accelerator Program launched in 30 cities across 10 states
• Smart Cities Mission mandating 10% renewable energy sourcing

Economic Impact:

• ₹7,327 crore allocated to solar sector in 2023-24 Budget
• India ranks 4th globally in renewable energy capacity, 3rd in solar power
• 50.07% of total power capacity now from non-fossil sources

Future Targets:

• 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030
• 280 GW solar capacity target by 2030
• Net-zero emissions by 2070