If there is one common issue that all electricity reforms face in India it is the state of power distribution segment. State owned power distribution companies (discoms) while being marred with financial and operational inefficiencies also plague the rest of the electricity supply chain. Multiple bailout packages and reform schemes have moved the needle of improvement only so much.So what will it take to revive the discoms and fix the forever leaking pipe?To understand this and the transformation that the distribution sector is undergoing, we talked with Alok Kumar. Kumar was former secretary, union ministry of power. An IAS officer, Kumar has held notable positions at state level and in the central government. He is currently director general, All India Discoms Association (AIDA), a newly formed body to further better policies for power distribution sector.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRKe9w9mOnl9Epk_vznB_p3xoJgBs98EiJvaIzzUlqWSuuMk9aQeTQgLG7FXktV2LQjoKjIDJzXIeIj/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>.Girish Sethi is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/alok-kumar-09769585/'>LinkedIn</a>.Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>.Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>.

He is an award-winning journalist and researcher and author of a book “Total Transition: The Human Side of the Renewable Energy Revolution.”

Sandeep Pai

Shreya Jai is India's leading writer on the energy sector. A journalist for over 15 years, she is currently Energy Lead at Climate Trends.

Shreya Jai

The leaking pipe: Fixing India's Discoms | ft. Alok Kumar

As India moves to reduce its coal dependence and reach its climate goals, the spotlight is turning to hard-to-abate sectors that are both energy-intensive and vital to economic growth. What would a realistic transition look like for these industries? And how can finance, policy, and innovation come together to drive change?In this episode, we speak with Girish Sethi, Senior Director of the Energy Program at The Energy and Resources Institute or TERI to unpack one of the toughest challenges in India's clean energy journey — decarbonizing the steel and cement sectors.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSQiAhHd1fp7_FyZ2WG_pnI2CDHfMOlErlqUnBVTntD2njYjKRjPV52AHi4gQp2Um1a1GLuN38g5d--/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>.Girish Sethi is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/girish-sethi-6ba9b941/'>LinkedIn</a>.Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>.Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>.

Hard to Abate, Harder to Ignore: Decarbonizing India’s Heavy Industry | ft. Girish Sethi

The evolution of India’s electricity grid reflects the ever-changing dynamics of the country’s economic and infrastructure growth. Built as a backbone to coal-based power, the grid is now upgrading itself to handle green electricity, give space to energy storage and be flexible to fluctuating demand-supply scenarios.The India Energy Hour brings a special series on the progress of the grid in India, how far it has come in last the 78 years and what the future looks like as we aim to be a net carbon zero economy in the next two decades. From policy to technology, the series scans all aspects of the country’s electricity grid.In the second part, we spoke with tech-entrepreneur Vishal Pandya, co-founder, REConnect Energy, a Bengaluru based digital energy platform. REConnect builds AI and grid automation software products for energy utilities, and provides tech solutions for electricity market products and renewable energy management.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQBvwZ1llf2XxpSpOLZbiwZu85sLqD8u1y4JoCcn_2rm_MZFNhfVEUd4Fm3m0y4qvZzPuvdm2WJz8DH/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Vishal Pandya is on <a href='https://x.com/vishalhpandya'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetvishalpandya/'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Transformation of India’s Power Grid. Part 2: A New Era beckons | ft. Vishal Pandya

The evolution of India’s electricity grid reflects the ever-changing dynamics of the country’s economic and infrastructure growth. Built as a backbone to coal-based power, the grid is now upgrading itself to handle green electricity, give space to energy storage and be flexible to fluctuating demand-supply scenarios.The India Energy Hour brings a special series on the progress of the grid in India, how far it has come in last the 78 years and what the future looks like as we aim to be a net carbon zero economy in the next two decades. From policy to technology, the series scans all aspects of the country’s electricity grid.In the first part, we spoke with a man synonymous with the grid’s evolution – S K Soonee – first CEO of the Power System Operation Corporation (now Grid India), country’s central power grid operator. Soonee was at the helm of creation of Grid India, key development milestones and policy-altering incidents.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vT1vbtvBXc1vkou4CTAYeWmgtgUISw_jRsXeWagE2OXiYQM_i8C5-G3yNMtV-pIYPKycHJk14TGoho8/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>S K Soonee is on <a href='https://x.com/sksoonee'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/soonee/?originalSubdomain=in'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Transformation of India’s Power Grid.Part 1: The Building Blocks | ft. S K Soonee

The oil and gas sector in India has been a story of evolution from once private entities turning into nationalised companies and then again the entry of private sector in 1990s. Initially, the upstream oil exploration sector witnessed a lot of private investment but then it slowed down. The downstream oil sector simultaneously saw a variety of social schemes, billions of government funds, and private investment from marquee names. The natural gas sector, on the other hand, is a story where import dependence has only increased over the years, making the supply to key sectors, like power generation difficult, since imported gas price cannot match the cost advantage of coal. At the same time, India is aspiring to be a gas-based economy. Mega scale city gas distribution and piped gas network expansion is also under works. In the middle of this, ethanol blending programme for petrol has taken off well. Simultaneously, a pilot project on green hydrogen blending with natural gas has also started in Madhya Pradesh.To unwrap the past, present and what could be the future policies and plans for India’s oil and gas sector, we talked with Jyoti Mukul, a seasoned energy infrastructure writer. Ms Mukul was a journalist for nearly three decades and has followed milestone developments of the country’s energy security and transition efforts. She is a well-known policy analyst for energy and infrastructure sectors and her first book ‘The Great Shutdown: A story of two Indian Summers’, highlighting the infrastructure challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, came out in 2022.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSKh9YtohNaXZsWsQAkHLgjTR2yRSDEC3sSKqNu1ERDUEthUxwGvY_H_UsV-FFZ9IK-ospr9NGV9edp/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Jyoti Mukul is on <a href='https://x.com/mukuljyoti?lang=en'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyoti-mukul-08483743/?originalSubdomain=in'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Slips and Hits of India’s Oil & Gas Story | ft. Jyoti Mukul

As the impacts of climate change intensify and clean energy deployment becomes crucial, energy and climate diplomacy have emerged as powerful tools to drive international cooperation and unlock finance, technology, and ambition. From global summits like COP, G7, and G20, to bilateral and multilateral partnerships, countries are negotiating entire frameworks for energy access, green industrial growth, and just transitions.But how does climate diplomacy actually work? What are the real levers for influencing outcomes in a fragmented, multipolar world? And once big declarations are made, how do we ensure follow-through and accountability on the ground?To unpack these questions, we speak with Madhura Joshi, Programme Lead - Asia Hub at E3G. Madhura is an expert in international energy and climate negotiations.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRAarUv4-yBIHlt3y04_bYVR2cmMWYP_fwdBwBkGAFMtj_JgxRtzbqDN09DowMzpDHdEFf0rGMmXdah/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Madhura Joshi is on <a href='https://x.com/MadhuraJoshi23'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhura-joshi-b1b9a622/'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

From Declarations to Delivery: How Climate Diplomacy Works | ft.  Madhura Joshi

Like other peers, India has increasingly started focusing on securing critical minerals for its energy and industrial sectors. From lithium and cobalt to rare earth elements, these minerals are essential for clean technologies like batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. As the world races to secure these resources, India is looking to position itself strategically. But, how big is India’s mining sector today, and how much could it grow in response to rising global demand? Can India realistically find its space when China and the West are in a geopolitical race for critical minerals? What does India’s evolving critical minerals policy look like, and who are the major players – especially state-owned enterprises?.To help us unpack these questions, we speak with Abhinav Sengupta, energy and mining expert who brings deep insights into India’s policy and industrial strategy around critical minerals.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRz9FA6Ebl7M_xBZZnb4khlWW8eBIreMRPt1CQ6zzkUzxfw-akeWdVZTtFDwyhmZI-Cs1z7Ci3OHrVG/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Abhinav Sengupta is on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavsengupta85/'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

From Mines to Markets: Unpacking India’s Critical Mineral Strategy | ft. Abhinav Sengupta

Methane is often overlooked in the climate change discourse, as against carbon. Methane is over 80 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period. Released from sources like livestock, landfills, and leaky oil and gas infrastructure, methane is a tricky problem to solve.In this episode we understand what methane emissions are and how to plug them. Cutting methane emissions can be one the fastest ways to slow global warming.For this relevant issue, we talked with Hisham Mundol, Chief Advisor in India to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Mundol is a seasoned development sector executive with experience in both government and private entities.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRfeyq_pD1TgMgt_QRCPs9MZMH-o5WSUZ4qG1fdDI8wwkDMnj4kuQE7yODfr0JH1tb0bAvaxhm7FJTd/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Hisham Mundol is on <a href='https://x.com/mundol'>Twitter</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/hisham-mundol/'>LinkedIn</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

From cow burps to garbage mounds: The Methane Fix | ft. Hisham Mundol

Hydrogen is gaining significant traction as a key element in the global and Indian transition to clean energy. However, with different types of hydrogen production—green, grey, and blue—there’s much to unpack. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, is widely regarded as the most sustainable option but is very expensive to produce. India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, with a target of 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030, is a bold move in the country’s energy transition. But is this target too ambitious? What does the policy landscape around hydrogen in India look like, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead?To understand the role of hydrogen, especially green hydrogen, in India’s energy transition, we interviewed Vijay Shekhawat, Vice President (Public Affairs), Thyssenkrupp Nucera. Vijay is regarded as an energy expert with a deep understanding of India’s energy landscape.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQH5MfGAseUErw2xsYS2Whpf97htsYK6vHW45RTOqPJlKSdCIhUY7js3RPte0rp2ycVpAPQorLvUUxD/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Can Green Hydrogen Drive India’s Clean Energy Future? | ft. Vijay Shekhawat

As India eyes its net zero targets, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is becoming central to decarbonizing core industries like steel, cement, and petrochemicals. While the technology holds immense promise, its adoption in India remains limited—hindered by cost concerns and lack of policy clarity.To understand the road ahead, we spoke with Mr. Atanu Mukherjee, CEO of Dastur Energy. From shaping early internet technologies to leading CCUS innovation in India, Mr. Atanu Mukherjee shares a compelling perspective on the need for supportive policies, financing models, and industry-wide collaboration to scale CCUS in India’s energy transition.Full transcript of the episode is available in <a href='https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQa5b6ybXW3q-Iumg1EQg0sC5AoREWq122FbHhaRopRmAhpddHROTHtc9E86xzaJE5u4ingpmFSotGr/pub'>English</a> language.Presented by <a href='https://101reporters.com/'>101Reporters</a>Atanu Mukherjee is on <a href='https://x.com/atanu_energy'>Twitter</a>Follow TIEH podcast on <a href='https://twitter.com/tieh_podcast'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-india-energy-hour/'>Linkedin</a> and <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDfhIAJFwoWJW3Z-0tjKmQ/videos'>YouTube</a>Our host, Shreya Jai on <a href='https://twitter.com/shreya_jai'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-jai-28712a34/'>Linkedin</a> & Dr. Sandeep Pai on <a href='https://twitter.com/Sandeeppaii'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/'>Linkedin</a>

Catching the Carbon: India's baby steps in CCUS | ft. Atanu Mukherjee

G7 nations or group of world's most advanced economies of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States are reportedly planning to ban all fossil fuel finance globally. In fact, G7 has already declared its intention to stop international funding for coal projects. This fossil fuel finance ban could have an adverse impact on countries in the Global South who are trying to balance their growing energy needs while taking action on climate change. To understand this decision of G7 and its far-reaching repercussions, we spoke with Vijaya Ramachandran, Director for Energy and Development at the Breakthrough Institute in the US. Vijaya is a renowned economist with over three decades of experience working in public policy and academia. She has served on the faculty of Duke University and Georgetown University as well as worked at the World Bank, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the Center for Global Development. Suggested readings: 1. <a href='https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01020-z' target='_blank'>https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01020-z</a> 2. <a href='https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/541554-economic-growth-in-africa-will-not-be-achieved-by-a' target='_blank'>https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/541554-economic-growth-in-africa-will-not-be-achieved-by-a</a>

G7 Fossil Finance Ban: Bold Climate Action or Hypocrisy?

A multimedia journalist with 101Reporters and producer of THE INDIA ENERGY HOUR podcast.

Tejas Dayananda Sagar

Manas Mishra, is a multimedia expert and sound engineer with 101Reporters.