Economic Case for Green Steel Production in India
India is the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, with output of 149 million tonnes in 2024, approximately 8% of global production.
India’s Green Steel Turning Point
India’s steel sector remains heavily dependent on imported coking coal. India’s next phase
of steel expansion would lock the country into more than US$1 trillion in coking coal
imports over the life of these assets, with material implications for energy security, foreign-exchange exposure, and export competitiveness.
The Economic Case for Green Steel Production in India
India’s steel sector remains heavily dependent on imported coking coal. Planned expansion of blast-furnace capacity to approximately 180–195 MTPA by 2030–31 would lock in over $1 trillion in coal imports over a 40-year asset life, deepening India’s energy import dependence, foreign-exchange exposure, and vulnerability to carbon border measures in export markets.
OPINION: Ultra-cheap solar and storage can save Indian industry from the Iran war’s chokehold
New research shows electrified industry powered by low-cost clean energy can cut costs, slash pollution, and save lives.
OPINION: Record-low green hydrogen prices offer a way out
India’s steel expansion risks locking in coking coal imports and losing competitiveness under carbon rules. Record low green hydrogen costs enable green steel at the same cost as coal-based steel, avoiding both risks.
Electrifying Industrial Heat in India | Technologies and Policies to Transform Indian Manufacturing
India’s industrial sector is an economic powerhouse, providing 19.5 million jobs and 17 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector is rapidly becoming the backbone of the modern Indian economy, manufacturing everything from the steel and cement that propel industrialization to the cars and electronics that can lift millions out of poverty.
OPINION: India’s gas crunch and air pollution demand an electric heat strategy
India’s latest gas shortages, triggered by the current Middle East conflict, highlight how vulnerable its industrial energy system remains.
Crossroads 10
Over the last 15 years, India has seen ten of the fifteen warmest years on record. In February 2026, several cities saw temperatures 3–5°C above normal, signaling early arrival of summer heat. As cities, states and the central government get into the annual rhythm of heat preparedness and response, technology-backed assessments and solutions will be key for long-term adaptation and heat mitigation.
IECC signs MoU with the Government of Tamil Nadu
India Energy & Climate Center, University of California, Berkeley signed an MoU with the Energy Department, Government of Tamil Nadu to bolster state’s efforts in securing clean, reliable and affordable energy for the State while advancing its commitment to climate resilience.
Clean Energy as Economic Statecraft: Ten Strategies for Powering Viksit Bharat 2047
India has crossed a structural threshold: clean energy is no longer a climate choice; it is now economic statecraft. Handled strategically, it can halve economy-wide energy costs and halve fossil-fuel imports by mid-century, converting over US$200 billion per year currently spent on fuel imports into domestic capital formation and infrastructure investment. This would deliver a decisive boost to industrial competitiveness, energy security, and trade stability. Managed poorly, however, it risks remaining a fragmented sectoral transition, leaving India exposed to import volatility, fuel-price shocks, and stranded capital.