Bhubaneswar’s Net-Zero Transition: The UK Government, in-collaboration with the Energy Department, Government of Odisha and GRIDCO organized a high-level workshop on ‘Net-Zero Vision for Bhubaneswar’. The workshop aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, and outline a strategic roadmap for Bhubaneswar’s transition towards a low-carbon, sustainable future. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) was the knowledge partner for this significant event.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, academia and experts, to develop a comprehensive roadmap for Bhubaneswar’s journey towards Net-Zero. This initiative aligns with India’s national commitment to achieve Net-Zero by 2070 and Odisha’s ambitious target of adding 10.9 GW Renewable Energy capacity by 2029-30.
In her welcome remarks, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach in achieving Odisha’s sustainability goals. “To accelerate progress, we must bridge technology gaps, strengthen policy frameworks, and unlock financing for clean mobility solutions. Electrification of transport, grid modernization, and renewable integration will be key enablers of a net-zero future.” said Dr. Dhawan. She also expressed her satisfaction about the deployment of EV Buses for Public Transportation System & State Govt.’s plan for rolling out of Hydrogen Buses on Pilot basis.
Trilochan Panda, Managing Director, GRIDCO, in his special address highlighted the State\’s commitment to clean energy transition. He remarked, “In line with the Country’s Net-Zero commitment, Odisha has set its own intermediary targets for Energy Transition by 2036 (centenary year of statehood of Odisha) and by 2047 (100 years of India’s independence)”. He further emphasized that, in addition to innovative solutions for energy transition, for decarbonisation of the Transportation Sector, the EV Charging Stations need to be supplied with 100% Green Power.”
In his keynote address, Dr Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East & Northeast India, shared insights on UK’s experiences in urban sustainability. Reaffirming UK’s commitment to supporting India’s green transition, he appreciated Govt. of Odisha’s actions for RE adoption, despite of being a Coal-rich State. Drawing parlance to certain cities in UK, like, Coventry with that of Bhubaneswar, he expressed his confidence on Bhubaneswar achieving the Energy Transition in a timely manner following some stricter action plans and timely corrective measures.
“This is the second UK Government workshop on net-zero transition I’ve joined in Bhubaneshwar & once again, I am impressed with the knowledge and ambition of stakeholders. There is real potential for Odisha to emerge as a leader in EV innovation and adoption & I hope the state will support some of their brightest minds in this space to visit Coventry in UK from where we have brought an expert today,” said Dr Fleming.
The workshop focused on key sectors such as Energy and Transport, with special emphasis on sustainable urban mobility solutions for Bhubaneswar. Participants engaged in productive discussions on challenges, opportunities, and actionable recommendations for developing a city-level Net-Zero roadmap tailored to Bhubaneswar’s context.
Key highlights of the workshop included sharing of UK’s best practices in policy frameworks & technology adoption for urban sustainability, discussion on innovative financing mechanisms to support Bhubaneswar’s Net-Zero transition, strategies for industrial decarbonization and green hydrogen promotion, deliberation on enhancing energy efficiency in key sectors and strengthening climate resilience, and focus on sustainable transport solutions to reduce carbon emissions in the city.
Ms. Shamla Gadgil, from Coventry City Council and Mr. Jacob Roberts from Cenex were amongst the international experts from the UK, who made presentation on the perspectives on EV adoption, EV Infrastructure strategies in the UK.
The workshop marks a significant milestone in Bhubaneswar’s journey toward sustainable urban development. By fostering strategic partnerships and leveraging global expertise, it sets a strong foundation for a cleaner, more resilient future – reinforcing Odisha’s leadership in India’s Net-Zero transition.
During this event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between Dr Vibha Dhawan, DG, TERI and Dr. Debi Dutta Tripathy, FA-cum-Additional Secretary to the Government of Odisha. This MoU marks a significant step in strengthening Odisha’s commitment to accelerating its clean energy transition while leveraging expertise in Renewable Energy, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable urban development. It reinforces collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange to drive Odisha\’s climate goals forward.
