Policy Development for Clean Energy Technology

Amrita Vishwa Vishwa Vidyapeetham plays a crucial role in informing and supporting governments at global, national, regional, and local levels in developing clean energy and energy-efficient technology policies. Under the guidance of Amrita’s Chancellor, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the university hosted the C20 India 2023 Working Group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities – Climate, Environment and Net Zero Targets, which submitted comprehensive policy recommendations to G20 leadership.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

Government officials and professionals meeting at Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for signing of MoU, indicative of policy collaboration setting.

The Civil 20 India Working Group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities, hosted by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, engaged with over 4,000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across the globe to develop evidence-based policy recommendations for G20 leadership on clean energy and sustainable development.

Global Consultation Network:

The working group consulted with international organizations from diverse regions:

Region	Key Organizations
Asia-Pacific	WWF Australia, Greenpeace Japan, CarbonCare InnoLab (China), CeroED LTD (Singapore), Indonesian organizations including HFI, PREDIK, PRAKARSA
Africa	Team Environment Kenya, Global Green Environmental Network (Ghana), Green Carbon Ghana, Climate Action Network-Uganda, African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (Nigeria)
Americas	One Tree Planted (USA), Smart Energy Services LLC (USA), Landesa (USA), Gallinas Watershed Council (USA)
Europe	ActionAid International (Belgium), Green Cross International (Switzerland), Italian Climate Network (Luxembourg), University of Lincoln (UK)
Global	Climate Action Network (Worldwide), Syu Design (International)

This global collaboration ensured that policy recommendations reflected diverse perspectives from multiple continents and represented voices from civil society organizations across 50+ countries.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

Key International Dialogues Conducted by Amrita (February – June 2023):

Event	Date	Focus
C20 Dialogues – Technology Integration, Finance and Adoption Strategies for Addressing Net Zero Emissions Management	08/02/2023	Technology policy integration and financing mechanisms
Online Webinar – Net Zero Emission Targets – Energy Storage Systems in Battery Electric Vehicles	25/02/2023	Energy storage policy for transportation sector
International Symposium on R&D of Autonomous Mobility and Electric Vehicle Technology	10-11/03/2023	Vehicle technology policy development
C20 Policy Dialogues – Transitioning to Renewable Electricity and Renewable-Integrated Grids	17/03/2023	Grid modernization and renewable energy policy
C20 Policy Dialogues – Decarbonising Infrastructure towards Net Zero Emissions	23/03/2023	Infrastructure decarbonization policy
Decoding Results Based Climate Finance (RBCF): Strategies for Success	07/04/2023	Climate finance policy mechanisms
C20 Policy Round Table on Green Finance	June 2023	Green financing policy frameworks
Financing a Just Energy Transition Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform	20/06/2023	Energy transition financing and subsidy reform

These consultations directly informed policy recommendations submitted to G20 leadership, ensuring that clean energy and energy-efficient technology policies are grounded in global best practices and expert recommendations.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

The C20 Working Group engaged in comprehensive consultations at the national level, bringing together insights from over 98 Indian civil society organizations to inform energy and environmental policy development.

Key National Organizations Engaged (2023):

Strategic Organizations:

• Vasudha Foundation (Sustainable energy and climate policy)
• Energy Swaraj Foundation (Solar energy and decentralized systems)
• Agrani Bharat Abhiyan Foundation Trust (Renewable energy projects)
• Alternative Futures (Sustainable development)
• World Vision India (Development initiatives)
• Oxfam India (Sustainable livelihood)
• The Bharat Scouts and Guides (Youth engagement)

Government and Academic Institutions:

• DST’s Centre for Policy Research (CPR) at IISc, Bangalore
• North-Eastern Hill University
• Acharya Nagarjuna University
• Vellore Institute of Technology
• State Disaster Management Authorities from multiple states

These national consultations ensured that policy recommendations address India-specific challenges, opportunities, and institutional contexts in clean energy and energy-efficient technology adoption.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham collaborates with regional stakeholders through dialogue with industry and government, contributing to policy development in clean energy technology at the regional level.

Regional Policy Engagement Topics:

• Clean energy technology adoption strategies
• Regional energy efficiency standards
• Technology transfer and innovation policies
• Renewable energy implementation frameworks
• Sustainable industrial practices

These regional-level engagements bridge global best practices with local implementation challenges, ensuring policies are contextually relevant and practically achievable.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

Grassroots Consultations Through Compassion-Driven Chaupals (2023)

To bring the voices and challenges from grassroots communities to national and international policy forums, Amrita’s C20 Working Group conducted compassion-driven chaupals (traditional village gatherings) across rural India from February to June 2023.

Geographic Coverage: 11 Indian States:

• Rajasthan
• Haryana
• Uttarakhand
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Andhra Pradesh
• Sikkim
• Kerala
• West Bengal
• Maharashtra
• (Additional states covered)

Chaupals Format and Objectives:

These traditional village gatherings were designed to:

• Resonate with local culture and provide relatable platforms for policy discussions
• Educate villagers on efficient energy usage, alternative energy sources, and sustainable practices
• Address energy sustainability from a rural Indian standpoint
• Emphasize cost-effective and locally implementable solutions such as:
  • Solar-powered lighting
  • Energy-efficient cooking methods
  • Reducing dependency on traditional fuels

Community Engagement Approach:

• Panchayat Members Involvement: Direct participation of local government leaders
• Village Elders: Ensured sessions were rooted in community’s social fabric, fostering trust
• Active Participation: Empowered villagers to take steps toward energy sustainability and self-reliance
• Documentation: Community-specific recommendations were documented and shared with local authorities

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

Alapad Panchayat Engagement (September 20, 2023):

Amrita held meetings with Alapad Panchayat members focused on promoting renewable energy in the community. The outcomes, including challenges and community-specific suggestions, were documented and presented to the panchayat president for policy implementation.

Village-Level Consultations:

Discussions with village heads and local residents on the use of solar energy for farming in rural India resulted in documentation of community-specific recommendations shared with village elders for localized policy development.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

University-Wide Policy Integration

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham integrates policy and governance into its academic curriculum, ensuring the next generation of leaders understands clean energy and energy-efficient technology policies.

Sustainability in Curriculum (2024):

• 4,568 courses across all programs integrate sustainability elements
• 400,000+ sustainability champions graduated from the university
• Sustainability aligned with at least one level of Bloom’s Taxonomy in all courses
• Integration across disciplines ensuring holistic understanding of energy policy

Specialized Course on Energy Policy:

The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Technology course covers:

• International agreements/conventions on Energy and Sustainability:
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
• Policies on clean energy technology
• Renewable energy standards and regulations
• Energy efficiency frameworks and standards
• Government incentives and subsidy mechanisms

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/course/sustainable-renewable-energy-technology/ (Published: October 8, 2025)

Energy Sustainability Thrust Area Group (TAG) Research Portfolio

The Energy Sustainability Thrust Area Group at Amrita’s School for Sustainable Futures conducts research that directly informs policy development at multiple levels:

Research Focus Areas:

• Smart grids and renewable energy systems
• Energy storage technologies
• Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)
• Green hydrogen development
• Waste-to-energy solutions
• Biofuels and sustainable feedstocks
• Water-energy nexus

Research Infrastructure:

• Portfolio: INR 3.8 crore (~$165,000 USD) in project funding
• 337 Scopus publications in energy-related research
• 4 national patents awarded for energy innovations
• Partnerships with global institutions for collaborative policy-relevant research

This extensive research portfolio provides evidence-based findings that inform government policymaking on clean energy and energy-efficient technology adoption.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/school/sustainable-futures/afforadable-and-clean-energy/ (Published: February 18, 2025)

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham representatives participating in the 1st FICCI Higher Education Committee Meeting 2025 to discuss education policy.

Amrita holds the UNESCO Chair on “Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development,” renewed in 2024, enabling the university to develop frameworks for academic engagement in policy development and sustainable community building.

International Network for Sustainable Innovation (SustIN)

Under the UNESCO Chair, Amrita established SustIN (International Network for Sustainable Innovation and Resilient Futures) to:

• Enhance institutional capacities in clean energy policy development
• Foster regional collaborations on sustainable development
• Accelerate collective efforts to achieve clean energy goals
• Promote knowledge-sharing on renewable energy policy implementation

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg-25/sdg17/education-for-sdgs-commitment-to-meaningful-education/ (Published: December 25, 2024)

For Government Policy Collaboration:

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham welcomes government engagement on clean energy and energy-efficient technology policy development through:

• UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development
• Energy Sustainability Thrust Area Group at School for Sustainable Futures
• Amrita Technology Enabling Center for technology transfer and policy support
• Faculty expertise across engineering, research, and public policy

Through comprehensive engagement at global, national, regional, and local levels, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham demonstrates institutional commitment to informing and supporting government policy development on clean energy and energy-efficient technology adoption. The university’s evidence-based research, academic programs, international consultations, and grassroots community engagement ensure that policies developed are both globally informed and locally relevant, contributing to sustainable energy transitions that benefit governments, industries, and communities worldwide.

Link: https://www.amrita.edu/unsdg/sdg7/policy-development-for-clean-energy-tech/ (Published: December 22, 2024)

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