Despite momentum in EVs, solar and recycling, clean tech leaders call for focus on equity, circularity and real-world impact

As the world observes Earth Day 2025, India is once again at the centre of the conversation on clean energy and climate resilience. With its vast population and rising emissions, the country holds enormous potential to shape the global energy transition—but also faces steep hurdles, from infrastructure gaps to policy inertia.

Statements from Indian cleantech leaders are marked by optimism, investments and innovation. Yet, behind these declarations lie deeper questions: Are we moving fast enough? Is the shift inclusive? And most critically—are we holding our systems accountable?

Electrification Gains Momentum, But What About Equity?

India’s electric vehicle (EV) sector is growing exponentially, as in the financial year 2024-25, a total of 11,49,334 electric two-wheelers (e-2W) were sold, reflecting a 21 per cent increase compared to 9,48,561 units sold in FY 2023-24. Similarly, the sales of electric three-wheelers e-3W (L5) reached 1,59,235 units in FY 2024-25, marking a 57 per cent growth over the 1,01,581 units sold in the previous fiscal, according to Vaahan portal. 

But Akshay Shekhar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kazam, offers a sober perspective saying, “Earth Day is not our moment, it’s our everyday. Because emissions don’t wait for a hashtag. And EV adoption doesn’t scale on speeches—it scales on uptime, user trust and access.”

Shekhar’s point cuts through the hype. India’s charging infrastructure remains underdeveloped, and rural and lower-income urban areas are still underserved. Without equitable access to charging and affordability, EVs risk becoming an elite solution in a country where the majority still depend on public transport or used vehicles.

Meanwhile, Nikhil Anand Khurana, Managing Director, Folks Motor, argues for a more resource-efficient model. He says, “Sustainable change doesn’t need to start from scratch; it can begin with what we already have.”

Solar Growth Accelerates, But Supply Chain Gaps Remain
As of 31 January 2025, India’s total installed solar capacity stands at 100.33 GW, with 84.10 GW under implementation and an additional 47.49 GW under tendering.  

Meanwhile, V & Y, a solar energy firm, reports its growth from 40 MW to 70 MW in just one year. According to Ishan Chaturvedi, the V & Y’s co-founder, “We are showing solar can work across contexts—from luxury hotels to agricultural land.”

Yet the bigger picture tells a more complex story. According to Avalon Consulting’s Ayush Patodia, much of India’s solar module manufacturing is still focused on assembly rather than upstream production. Solar cell manufacturing capacity remains under 10 GW, while declared projects amount to over 200 GW. This means India’s so-called solar independence is still highly dependent on imported technology and materials—especially from China.

Moreover, the push for solar often sidesteps community-level issues such as land use conflicts, displacement, and questions about how benefits are distributed, particularly in large utility-scale projects.

Battery Supply Chains And The Need For Circularity
Battery manufacturing—a cornerstone of both EV and renewable storage ecosystems—is another area ripe for scrutiny. Samrath Singh Kochar, CEO, Trontek, acknowledges, “Battery manufacturing must go beyond performance metrics and prioritise environmental integrity, from responsible sourcing to end-of-life management.”

Circular economy models are being discussed more frequently, but implementation remains slow. India lacks robust mechanisms for battery recycling, while ethical sourcing of raw materials like lithium and cobalt continues to be a blind spot in the supply chain. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has projected a 40-fold increase in lithium demand by 2040. Without strong environmental and labor safeguards, the race to secure materials could mirror the extractive industries of the past.

Battery recycling is not optional – it is a present necessity. To build a resilient, circular supply chain for critical metals like copper, lithium, etc; Shubham Vishvakarma, Founder and Chief of Process Engineering at Metastable Materials, believes that India must innovate across the value chain; from decentralised logistics, to developing energy efficient, high yield recycling processes.

“We can leapfrog legacy systems in this emerging industry and design an efficient, sustainable recycling ecosystem with innovations in tech and implement policy frameworks to support it before the volumes overwhelm infrastructure,” he adds.

Not Just A Corporate Story
While industry voices dominate Earth Day commentary, experts warn against over-reliance on private capital or techno-solutionism. “It’s not about doing everything, but about doing something—mindfully and intentionally,” says Sangeeta Srivastava of Godavari Biorefineries.

Her words serve as a reminder that sustainability is not only about innovations or megaprojects. Public behaviour, local governance and community resilience are just as important and often overlooked in the national narrative.

India’s National Electricity Plan 2023 forecasts that 64 per cent of its installed power capacity could come from non-fossil sources by 2030, led by solar and wind. But these projections assume strong regulatory enforcement, financial support for state distribution companies and rapid scaling of storage—none of which are guaranteed.