The future of energy is not only about expansion, but about impact, says Ms Avantika Gupta.

India was ranked the world's third-largest generator of electricity from wind and solar power in 2024, surpassing Germany, according to the sixth edition of Ember's Global Electricity Review. In a nation where each incremental megawatt illuminates homes, powers industries and secures livelihoods, energy has as much of a role to play as infrastructure. It is about dignity, opportunity and survival. Energy is an invisible thread that binds social equity, public health, climate stability and national ambition. Yet, this very energy, if produced without care, can threaten the soil it stands upon and the air it consumes. The transition to a net-zero economy requires a fundamental change in production, distribution and consumption of energy. The question is how quickly and responsibly we are ready to synchronise economic growth and environmental care.

On Earth Day we celebrate all that we receive from our mother which is essential for our survival. It’s a day which calls upon us to understand that our choices leave a mark on our planet.

Growth without guilt

India’s appetite for energy is rising at a pace the world is watching closely. Every sector, from manufacturing to healthcare, rides on the back of uninterrupted power.  However, the danger lies in treating growth as a reason to loosen environmental responsibility. If we build prosperity by harming the ground beneath us, we risk creating a future too fragile to survive the very growth we celebrate.

The smart path is not one of compromise but of redesign. Instead of placing economic need and environmental care on opposite sides, the need is to recognise them as inseparable.

Rethinking thermal, not rejecting it

It is easy to frame the debate as thermal versus renewable, but such rational oversimplifies a far more layered reality. Solar and wind have made important progress, yet they cannot fully shoulder the demands of a large, growing nation around the clock. Storage systems are improving but remain expensive and limited in scale. Therefore, thermal power plays a key role in stabilising the grid and supporting industries that cannot afford inconsistency.

As of March 2025, thermal power accounts for approximately 74.5% of India’s electricity generation, standing as the backbone of the nation’s energy security. While projections by the CEA suggest a gradual shift in this share with growing renewable integration, thermal power remains indispensable offering round-the-clock reliability, grid stability and scale. Its transformation is already underway through the adoption of supercritical technologies that enhance efficiency and reduce emissions. Far from being a legacy asset, thermal is evolving into a cleaner, smarter and more accountable source of power, reinforcing its place as a critical pillar in India’s balanced and sustainable energy future.

Private sector: Beyond profit, towards purpose

Energy production is no longer the government’s problem alone. Private power producers hold a crucial part of the puzzle and with it, a responsibility greater than profit. The flexibility, speed and innovation that private players bring must now be matched with clear environmental goals.

Investment in cleaner technology should be a business standard, not a corporate favor. Business decisions should transcend compliance with regulations to actively minimise emissions, water conservation and adopt local ecosystems. It is no longer acceptable to speak about sustainability as an aspiration, as it needs to be integrated into operational, financial and strategic choices.

Energy as a social contract

Thermal power today stands at critical crossroads. No longer just a source of dependable baseload energy, it is undergoing a fundamental transformation, adopting modernised tech to improve efficiency and align with India’s climate goals. As the nation rapidly scales renewable capacity, thermal power continues to provide grid stability, system reliability and energy availability, especially during peak and off-peak transitions.

This transformation reflects a deeper responsibility. The future of energy is not only about expansion, but about impact. Through innovation, transparency and operational excellence, the thermal sector is committed to doing more with less, lowering emissions, optimising fuel use, and reducing its environmental footprint. This is the new social contract: Power that is not only reliable, but responsible, driven by modernisation, delivered with accountability and mindful of the world we leave behind.

Ms Avantika Gupta, CEO, OPG Power Generation Private Limited, is a Barrister-at-law, England and Wales from Grays Inn, London. She completed her LLB, Bachelor of Laws from University College London and Bar Vocational Course from Inns of Court School of Law.

Ms Gupta is a visionary thought leader and an energetic self-starter with a progressive mindset. She joined the Company in 2010 and headed the Legal function, driving the Group’s litigations, commercial arbitrations and regulatory compliances. During this period, she was also jointly responsible for the development and commissioning of the Group’s thermal and solar power projects in India. After transitioning to the role of Chief Operating Officer of OPG in 2018, she was instrumental in formulating the company’s new sustainability strategy and implementing these measures across all locations.

Ms Gupta has vast experience in a spectrum of disciplines relevant to the Energy and Power sector. She is committed to building OPG and its world-class team, as a leader in the energy transition space in India. Continuous stakeholder engagement and strategic collaborations are her core philosophy. She firmly believes that sustainable growth will be achieved by leveraging new age technology. She is a creative problem solver by nature who envisages out-of-the-box solutions to manage risks. She drives the company’s endeavor at meeting and exceeding the performance metrics of top global companies in this sector by prioritising an objective capital allocation process.

Currently, Ms Gupta serves as the Group’s Chief Executive Officer with effect from April 2022. She is a member of the ESG Committee since June 2021.