India's renewable energy shift: from cost play to strategic economic imperative for industry

India's push toward its 2070 net-zero target is no longer just about environmental goals. The article argues that renewable energy has become a strategic economic necessity for Indian industry, driven by global carbon pricing mechanisms like CBAM, supply chain pressure on Scope 3 emissions, and growing risks from air pollution and heat stress on workforce productivity. It outlines how technologies like battery storage, AI-driven demand management, and shared infrastructure models such as 'Battery Hotels' are reshaping industrial energy use. The piece also highlights new financing models like Energy-as-a-Service and Virtual PPAs that lower barriers for smaller manufacturers. The author envisions India becoming a 'green refinery' that exports green hydrogen, green steel, and green chemicals, not just goods. The article stresses that scaling renewables must follow a 'Do No Significant Harm' principle to avoid negative impacts on biodiversity and water resources.