By Tapaswini Sahoo<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puri\/ Odisha, Sec 6 : Global Energy Leaders\u2019 Summit (GELS) 2025 at was today inaugurated at Puri. GELS is India\u2019s first platform dedicated to long-term energy cooperation between states and has been modelled along the lines of global platform COP, held in Brazil in recent past. The Summit positions Odishaat the forefront of the nation\u2019s clean, resilient, and innovation-driven energy transition. GELS is designed as a permanent mechanism for structured dialogue between States and national institutions. It brings together leaders from the Union Government, States, global agencies, industry, and top research institutions. The themefor this year, \u201cPowering India: Sufficiency, Balance, Innovation,\u201d reflects India\u2019s strategic priorities for energy sufficiency, ecological harmony, and technology-led innovations across the energy sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GELS was inaugurated by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister, Odishaalong with Shri. Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, who delivered the Keynote Address.Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Hon\u2019ble Deputy Chief Minister Odisha, outlined the Summit\u2019s vision. Power Ministers of Delhi, and Rajasthan participated at GELS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the ceremony, leaders spoke about the choice of Puri for the launch of this national platform. Shri Mohan Charan Majhi stressed on the need for uninterrupted power particularly for rural and poorer masses. Citing Odisha\u2019s high percentage of more than six percent of the state\u2019s gross domestic product allocated to capital expenditure, he said that the state was investing in future generations and electricity was a top priority and critical infrastructure. He also stated that like Odisha, every state had its strengths and priorities. GELS 2025 will be the first pan-India initiative bringing together the Union, states, industry, researchers, institutions and global leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ShriPralhad Joshithanked the Government of Odisha for the initiativeand announced the approval of one and half lakh Surya Ghar (rooftop solar installations), that will benefit seven to eight lakh people in the state. India\u2019s solar capacity increased from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 130 GW under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He acknowledged Odisha\u2019s significant contribution in strengthening India\u2019s transition to clean energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Tony Blair, addressed virtually, congratulating Odisha. Conveying his optimism about GELS he noted \u201cEnergy transitions succeed not when one government acts, but when many governments over time pull in the same direction\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, thanked the delegates who have travelled to attend the Summit despite the flight disruptions. He said, \u201cThe Konark Sun Temple reminds us that India\u2019s relationship with energyhas been part of our civilization for centuries, and Puri showcases the meaning of collective strength each year with the annual Rath Yatra. Sharing Odisha\u2019s vision in this direction, he said, \u201cBy 2030, we aim for a strong shift to renewable energy across industry and agriculture, by 2036, when Odisha turns 100, we want to be the leading centre for clean energy, manufacturing, and green hydrogen. By 2047, we hope to anchor the Net Zero industrial ecosystem based on clean fuel, circular systems and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across their remarks, leaders converged on a shared objective: to institutionalise collaboration well beyond the three-day summit. Shri Ashish Sood, Minister of Power, Delhi, noted that future challenges cannot be solved by States working in isolation, calling GELS a unifying platform for grid reform, renewable expansion, and institutional strengthening.He said, \u201cThe next decade of India\u2019s energy journey will depend on how effectively we modernise, stabilise, digitalise and secure our grids, while addressing rising demands.\u201dShri Heera Lal Nagar, Hon\u2019ble Minister of Energy, Rajasthan, congratulated and thanked the Odisha government for creating a platform like GELS that will enable collaboration and knowledge-sharing among states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GELS 2025 is being attended by a distinguished lineup of global and national figures shaping energy transitions worldwide. Participants include Ms. Lena Backer, Former Chairwoman of the India-EU Trade Council; Dr. Andrew Fleming, Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom; Ms. Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General of IRENA; Mr. Pierre No\u00ebl, Senior Energy Adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change; Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO of Tata Power; Prof. Anoop Singh, Head of the Centre for Energy Regulation and Energy Analytics Lab at IIT Kanpur; and Prof. Srinivasan Madhavi, Executive Director of the Energy Research Institute at NTU Singapore. They are joined by technical and sectoral specialists such as Mr. William Morrison of MetricsLed (UK), Dr. Dhruba Purkayastha of ORF, Prof. Raghu Murtugudde of the University of Maryland, Senior Advocate Sanjay Sen, and Prof. SubranshuSamantaray of IIT Bhubaneswar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Summit adopts a structured format that follows COP and is grounded in a community-of-practice approach. Over two days, leaders, experts, and industry titans will engage in thematic panel discussions, interactive dialogues with global experts, deep-dive sessions on frontier issues such as AI-enabled grid security, carbon markets, climate risk, nuclear innovation, and advanced financing, and closed-door deliberations between CEOs and ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GELS 2025 is organised in partnership with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK). Both institutions bring deep expertise in energy policy, institutional strengthening, and innovation ecosystems. The platform draws inspiration from global initiatives such as communities of practice for Education Ministers in Latin America and regional coordination mechanisms across the African energy sector. TBI\u2019s Mr. Pierre No\u00ebl commended the Government of Odisha for establishing \u201ca structured forum for long-term cooperation at a moment when India must lead not only domestically but globally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aligned with the vision of Hon\u2019ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to achieve Net Zero by 2070, GELS 2025 seeks to build a sustained mechanism for inter-state coordination, strengthen institutions, promote innovation in areas ranging from renewable energy and storage to nuclear technologies and AI-driven grid systems, and develop shared frameworks to support investment-friendly and equitable clean-energy growth.Through the discussions, working groups, and forthcoming declarations, the Summit is expected to significantly shape India\u2019s long-term energy roadmap and cement the country\u2019s leadership in the global transition towards clean, reliable, competitive, and inclusive power systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability is an integral component of GELS 2025 and is organised with a low carbon footprint using eco-friendly materials. This is perhaps the first such event in Odisha. The carbon-footprint of the event will be measured, and neutralised through appropriate steps such as recycling and plantations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Tapaswini Sahoo Puri\/ Odisha, Sec 6 : Global Energy Leaders\u2019 Summit (GELS) 2025 at was today inaugurated at Puri. GELS is India\u2019s first platform dedicated to long-term energy cooperation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[66,143],"class_list":["post-146162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories","tag-odisha","tag-puri"],"yoast_head":"\n