The Sustainability and Energy Practitioners Association (SEPA) has launched a student cell and plans to enrol 10,000 students in a year.
According to its president Raguram Arjunan, the association has industry and academic councils. It is looking at securing ₹1,000 crore in funding for various initiatives in five years. So far, the association has formed consortiums with industries and institutes and plans to take up research projects worth ₹83 crore. It will now form student cells and will support them in research activities.
Speaking at a programme on Sustainable Bharat, organised as a part of Elektrotec by the SEPC, Mohammad Rihan, Director-General of National Institute of Solar Energy, underlined how reliable power supply spurs development. Energy production has increased in India, but as the country develops, power requirement also rises. Meeting this through conventional sources is a challenge. There can be no compromise on supplying power. “But, we can make it environment-friendly. So, we transition to green sources.”
Solar energy allows modular system development, even for gigawatt-scale plants, and electricity can be supplied anywhere with this. Now-a-days, data access is also important, and that can be ensured only through electricity access.
India currently has over 300 GW of non-fossil fuel power generation capacity, including substantial solar energy systems. “To meet net zero target, we need over 5,000 GW of installed solar energy in the country,” he added.
Published – August 22, 2026 12:19 am IST
