India’s next phase of steel expansion could lock the country into more than US$1 trillion in coking coal imports, increasing energy import dependence, foreign-exchange exposure, and vulnerability to carbon border measures in export markets. Our analysis finds that green steel, produced through hydrogen-based direct reduced iron with electric arc furnaces (H2-DRI/EAF), can become cheaper than new blast-furnace steel by 2030.

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.

India’s clean-energy transition continues to accelerate. The country has crossed a major milestone—over 50% of installed power capacity now comes from non-fossil sources, five years ahead of schedule. Renewable additions remain strong: India installed 30 GW of new RE capacity in 2024 and has already added 28 GW in 2025 through October.

Data centers may be a significant source of electricity demand in the coming years, with some estimates as high as 40 TWh/yr by 2030. Most cloud players are demanding clean energy, and several Indian states are offering incentives for green-powered data centers.

The IECC team is collaborating with India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on accurate extreme heat warnings for outdoor workers, and science-based solutions to protect them during heatwaves. We’ve also demonstrated that enhanced AC efficiency standards could avoid a third of projected additional load due to ACs.