Professional Doctorate Thesis

Study on Impact of Renewable Energy Policies in Building Renewable Energy Infrastructure in India

by Dr. Sreedhara Babu Korukonda

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Research Overview

This dissertation, titled “Study on Impact of Renewable Energy Policies in Building Renewable Energy Infrastructure in India,” examines how government policies influence the growth and development of renewable energy infrastructure in India. It highlights that renewable energy has become central to achieving energy security, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and supporting sustainable economic growth. The study emphasizes that India’s ambitious target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 requires strong policy support, significant investments, and collaboration between public and private sectors.

The research adopts a qualitative approach, combining policy analysis, secondary data, and expert insights to evaluate the effectiveness of key renewable energy initiatives. It explores major policy instruments such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Green Energy Corridor, Open Access reforms, PM-KUSUM scheme, Energy Storage Policy, and Carbon Credit Trading Scheme. These policies are shown to play a critical role in expanding renewable capacity, improving grid infrastructure, enabling decentralized energy access, and attracting investment. For instance, the Green Energy Corridor strengthens transmission networks, while Open Access reforms and PM-KUSUM promote decentralized and consumer-driven energy systems.

The findings reveal that while India has developed a strong and forward-looking policy framework, significant challenges remain in implementation. Issues such as fragmented governance, delays in project execution, lack of coordination among agencies, financial stress on DISCOMs, and limited awareness among stakeholders hinder policy effectiveness. The discussion section highlights that the gap between policy intent and on-ground execution is a major barrier, particularly in integrating emerging technologies like green hydrogen, energy storage, and smart grids into existing systems.

The study concludes that renewable energy policies have substantially contributed to the growth of infrastructure and investment in India, but their success depends on improved execution, institutional coordination, and system-level integration. It recommends strengthening data monitoring systems, supporting emerging technologies through incentives, enhancing open access frameworks, building capacity at the state level, and improving the financial health of DISCOMs. Overall, the dissertation positions policy-driven renewable energy development as a key pathway for India’s transition toward a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future.