Clean energy is today’s responsibility, not tomorrow’s dream: Ashish Sood

Minister for Education and Power, Government of Delhi, Ashish Sood, today inaugurated the Yogi Goswami Clean Energy Laboratory at Delhi Technological University (DTU), terming it a milestone in India’s clean energy journey and a symbol of the country’s Atmanirbharta vision.

He said that India has achieved its 2030 target of 50 percent clean energy share by 2025, five years ahead of schedule. In June, clean sources contributed 31 percent of national electricity while coal dependency dropped by 3 percent. India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity now stands at 224.8 GW, including 117 GW solar and 51.7 GW wind energy. The implementation of solar power has grown by 4000 percent in the last decade, with 83 percent of power sector investments in 2024 directed towards clean energy.

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Addressing the gathering, the Minister emphasised that laboratories like DTU’s Clean Energy Lab will not only help students excel academically but also inspire startups, research, and innovations that can power Delhi and beyond. He also highlighted that the Delhi Legislative Assembly is the first in the country to run entirely on solar power (500 kW plant).

“Rooftop solar subsidies have been raised to Rs 10,000 per kW in addition to central government support, making installations more affordable. Delhi is piloting zero-waste campuses in schools, particularly in CM Schools, to teach sustainability from an early age. The government has also established a Centre for Excellence in Energy Transition at DTU, focusing on e-mobility, energy storage, grid interface, and conservation,” Sood added.

The cabinet minister said that the laboratory being inaugurated is not just about research, it is about shaping India’s energy independence. “Clean energy is not tomorrow’s dream, it is today’s responsibility,” he said. He highlighted that with DTU’s innovation, we will ensure Delhi becomes a national benchmark for sustainable, responsible and future-ready governance.

This laboratory has been established as a part of the Nodal Centre of Excellence in Energy Transition (NCEET), DTU with a generous contribution by Prof. Yogi Goswami, an alumnus of DTU from the Class of 1969.