A conference was organized on the theme "Distributed Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development" at The Ashok, New Delhi, on 27th February 2024. The Conference was organized in collaboration with Climate Policy Initiative. The Conference brought together key stakeholders from the Government, Private and Public sectors, and policy think tanks. Notable participants included Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, MNRE; Shri S C L Das, Secretary, MSME; Shri Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC and Dr. Tripta Thakur, Director General, National Power Training Institute (NPTI).

The conference emphasized the importance of decentralized, community-driven, and localized solutions, particularly Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) projects. The conference underscored the critical role of DRE in India's decarbonization efforts, identifying impediments and advocating policy actions for broader adoption. The conference was divided into four technical sessions namely: Role of DRE in India’s Sustainable Development, Empowering Communities – The Role of Distributed Renewable Energy in Sustainable Development, Uptake of DRE solutions for the MSME sector, and Business Models including Financing DRE.

The event attracted a large audience, who actively participated in the Q&A sessions during the panel discussions.

The 14^th Clean Energy Ministerial and 8^th Mission Innovation meeting (CEM14/MI-8) was held in Goa on the theme 'Advancing Clean Energy Together.' Within the event, Power Foundation of India organised a panel discussion on the theme 'Decarbonizing Development: Business-driven Solutions to Empower Rural India' to highlight the importance of decentralized renewable energy in remote and rural areas. Former Power Secretary, Shri Alok Kumar, delivered the opening remarks and spoke about the importance of providing 24x7 power to individual households. The panel discussion saw participation from distinguished experts, and was moderated by Director General, Power Foundation of India, Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai. The panel deliberated on the role of decentralized distributed generation initiatives in empowering women with greater access to education and economic opportunities, as well as their impact on local communities.

The event also had participation by two women employees of DESI Power, an NGO operating in Araria, Bihar. They shared their journey of achieving economic independence by working in the NGO, where they operate a biomass plant. Additionally, a father-daughter duo from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, attended the event, where they shared their experience of running a small flour mill, and how access to electricity through Tata Power’s renewable microgrid positively impacted their lives.

The event attracted a large audience, who actively participated in the Q&A sessions, specifically directing their queries to the NGO.

A one-day conference was organised on the theme 'Energy Security for Atmanirbhar Bharat' in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Tripta Thakur, Director General, National Power Training Institute. During her welcome address, she addressed two major challenges the world is facing today – energy security and environmental degradation – emphasising the need to escalate the use of renewable energy and implement effective lifestyle changes to mitigate climate change.

The other prominent speakers at the event included Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Director General, Power Foundation of India; Prof. Dr. Ramesh Srikonda, Director, School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada; Dr. Justice B. Siva Sankara Rao, Former Judge of the Telangana High Court; and Dr. N. Sivaraman, Professor, Atomic Energy Institute, Kalpakkam.

A panel discussion was held on the role of energy security in India’s progress and self-reliance. The panel was chaired by Professor V.K. Paul, Head of the Department, School of Planning and Architecture. The distinguished panel of experts spoke on various sources of energy, including atomic, solar, and wind. They emphasised the importance of nuclear energy in India's long-term energy security and addressed major concerns related to it, including nuclear safety and public perception. The conference witnessed enthusiastic participation from students affiliated with diverse professional institutions in Vijayawada.

A one-day conference was organised on the theme of 'Energy Conservation through Urban Planning and Mobility.' The conference was inaugurated by five dignitaries Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Director General, Power Foundation of India; Dr. Tripta Thakur, Director General, National Power Training Institute; Professor PSN Rao, Director, SPA Delhi; Professor VK Vijay, National Coordinator, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, and Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi.

Shri Suresh Prabhu, Member of Parliament, was the chief guest of the event. In his message, he emphasised the need to reduce the distance between workplaces and residences to mitigate air pollution. He stressed that better urban planning and mobility are the solutions to energy conservation. Professor Rangan Banerjee delivered the welcome address, highlighting the importance of planning urban infrastructure and providing systemic solutions to reduce the demand for travel. He also emphasised the need to redesign buildings in a way that they can generate their own energy, enabling a sustained energy future.

Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai unveiled the conference theme and objectives, emphasising the need to plan cities that are sustainable and safe. He underscored the importance of making roads safe and better designed to encourage a switch to sustainable forms of mobility. Additionally, he addressed the issue of space cooling, recognising it as one of the biggest consumers of energy in the years to come.

Shri Manu Srivastava, Principal Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, chaired a panel discussion on ‘Urban Planning and Sustainable Habitat.’ He emphasised the need to meet the requirements of modern life in an environmentally sustainable manner. The conference saw attendance by several experts from the fields of energy, town planning, and urban development. The audience largely comprised students who actively engaged in the discussions. An exhibition highlighting traditional construction practices across India was also held.

A one-day conference on 'Sustainable Consumption' was organised in Guwahati. The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Hon'ble Governor of Assam. During his inaugural address, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi highlighted how, in our pursuit of economic progress, we often overlook the wisdom of our ancestors. He pointed out that our culture, beliefs, values and principles are often set aside to achieve limitless growth and stressed that conserving nature and our culture is the responsibility of each and every citizen.

Prof. (Dr.) T. G. Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati delivered the welcome address, where he spoke about the diverse ethnic groups residing in harmony in the northeast for centuries. He also discussed the development of alternative energy sources and harnessing renewable energy for future power conservation. Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Director General, Power Foundation of India while speaking at the inaugural session of the conference, highlighted the link between public policy and personal behavior.

The conference was attended by various dignitaries, including Shri Ajay Tewari, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, and Aroop Kumar Mishra, Chairman of Pollution Control Board. Shri Manu Srivastava, Principal Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, also participated in a panel discussion on 'Energy Conservation for Sustainable Development,' chaired by Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai.

The conference covered a wide variety of topics, including how sustainable and responsible consumption of natural resources can help save the environment. It saw interesting interactions on the subject with active participation from students of IIT Guwahati and various schools. The event not only provided an opportunity to share learnings with enthusiastic young minds but also showcased their perspectives.

A two-day conference on the theme of 'Energy and Environment' was organised in Bhopal. It was inaugurated by Shri Mangubhai C Patel, Hon'ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh. During the inaugural address, he highlighted the shared responsibility of both the government and the public in maintaining ecological balance. He spoke about the importance of starting at an individual level, especially in our homes for the sake of our children.

Shri Om Prakash Saklecha, Hon'ble Minister for the MSME Sector and Minister of Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh, also graced the conference. He spoke about the significance of transitioning to alternative green energy sources, keeping the future in mind.

Engaging activities like Nukkad Natak were conducted to disseminate the message of energy conservation. Additionally, a workshop was held where school children were taught to make solar lamps.

A one-day conference on the theme of 'Sustainability and Culture' was organised in Leh. The conference was inaugurated by Shri R.K. Mathur, the then Lt. Governor of Ladakh. During his inaugural address, he stressed the need to discuss a sustainable future rooted in our culture. He emphasised that the administration would endeavour to provide decentralized renewable power across the Union Territory, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a carbon-neutral Ladakh.

Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Director General, Power Foundation of India delivered the welcome address, during which he spoke about the fragile ecosystem of Leh, emphasising that any disruption to the balance would be disastrous.

Shri Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Member of Parliament, Ladakh was one of the key speakers at the event, along with Shri Tsering Angchuk, Deputy Chairman, Department of Education, and Shri Ravinder Kumar, Secretary, Power Development Department, Ladakh. Shri Jamyang Tsering Namgyal spoke about the need to rethink developmental strategies and realise the importance of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - ‘The world is one.’ He stressed that the world needs to learn from Indian culture, and that India will be the torchbearer, a vishwa guru, in promoting sustainability.

Shri Tsering Angchuk addressed the topic of sustainability, highlighting how the Himalayan region is fragile and faces water scarcity. He also spoke about their administration’s efforts to use solar energy to run schools during the harsh winters.

The conference included discussions on energy access to mountainous regions, passive solar heating of buildings, the impact of social behavior on electricity demand, sustainability through vernacular architecture, and energy dynamics through plant diversity. The conference saw active attendance and participation from school students.

Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of 'LiFE-Lifestyle for the Environment' during the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. This concept was propagated by way of an initiative called Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment), to promote a healthy and sustainable way of living based on ‘mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption’ to protect and preserve the environment.

A one-day conference was held on Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment), highlighting the importance of responsible consumption for a sustainable living. The event was inaugurated by Shri R.K. Singh, Hon'ble Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy.

While addressing the event, the Hon'ble Minister delved into pressing issues such as the climate crisis and its relationship and the bane of development at the cost of indiscriminate use of natural resources. He highlighted that exploiting resources is not native to our culture and that we are rooted in simplicity.

Shri Alok Kumar, the then Secretary, Power also attended the event and spoke about how conservation is an integral part of our daily lives. He also highlighted the need for energy transition and responsible energy consumption.

Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Director General, Power Foundation of India, while delivering the welcome address, focused on building awareness on the concept of responsible consumption as the key driving force for sustaining life and the economy.

The event saw an enthralling cultural program, which included a dance performance by a troupe of Padma Shri Madhavi Mudgal, a renowned Odissi dancer. A Delhi-based choir Manzil Mystics, that helps develop singing talent of street children, also participated in the event.

The event was graced by several eminent dignitaries, and was widely attended by professionals from the power sector.