India’s clean energy and sustainability sector is witnessing rapid growth, driven by record investments in renewable energy, battery storage, electric mobility, and advanced grid technologies. As the country accelerates its transition toward a greener economy, industry leaders believe India is well-positioned to emerge as a global clean technology powerhouse. However, they stress that achieving this vision will require significant investments in workforce development, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and advanced engineering skills.
According to industry estimates, India’s clean energy sector is expected to generate approximately 7.29 million jobs by FY2028, with 1.2 to 1.5 million new roles likely to be created in FY2027 alone. The rapid convergence of AI and sustainability is also reshaping workforce requirements, with nearly 70 per cent of emerging green jobs expected to require digital and technology-based skills.
Marking World Youth Skills Day, industry experts speaking at the recently concluded India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2026 urged policymakers, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders to prioritise targeted skilling initiatives focused on AI, clean technologies, battery manufacturing, energy storage, and advanced engineering.
They emphasised that strengthening India’s talent pipeline through future-ready training and upskilling programmes will be critical to sustaining the country’s clean energy momentum. Equipping young professionals with the right technological and engineering capabilities will not only help meet the growing demand for skilled talent but also enable India to lead innovation in the rapidly evolving global sustainability and clean energy landscape.
Maddisetty Venugopal Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, Pace Digitek Limited, said, “The government’s forward-thinking policies in clean energy and digital infrastructure have set a strong foundation for India’s energy transition. As we invest in AI, battery storage, and smart grid technologies, it’s inspiring to see the government prioritising skill development for our youth. To build on this momentum, I strongly recommend further scaling up specialised training programmes in AI and advanced engineering, and deepening collaboration between industry and academic institutions. By doing so, we will ensure that India’s workforce remains globally competitive and well-equipped to lead the clean tech revolution and achieve our ambitious sustainability goals.”
India’s ambitious manufacturing goals and expanding renewable infrastructure demand a workforce that is both skilled and adaptable. Business models are evolving quickly, and policies must keep pace with these changes.
Bharat S. Chhittarka, Managing Director, Trex Energy, noted, “When we talk about leveraging AI in clean energy, we have to remember that AI systems are only as smart as the experts who train them. Right now, there’s a clear lack of young electrical engineers in India, especially those specialising in AC power conversion and system integration. The government needs to act by promoting electrical engineering as a viable and attractive career, especially at top institutes like IITs, and investing in hands-on training for the next generation. Without this renewed focus, both the clean-tech and traditional power sectors will continue to struggle with a lack of qualified talent.”
As automation and digitalisation accelerate, industry players emphasise that creative and hands-on skills are irreplaceable.
Apoorv Shalugram, Co-founder & CEO, e-TRNL Energy, said, “AI is transforming the way we work, but there are certain roles it simply cannot replace, especially those that require great technical skill or creative problem-solving. In cell manufacturing and materials development, for instance, hands-on expertise, critical observation, and iterative prototyping are essential. India has plenty of raw talent, but we need more focused, high-quality training to turn that potential into industry-ready professionals. I recommend that the government support the establishment of specialised training centres and targeted educational tracks that address real gaps in clean-tech and battery manufacturing.”
Anirudh Saraswat, Founder and CBO, TrueRE Oriana Power, said, “With renewable energy and energy storage deployments accelerating across India, our ability to develop a future-ready workforce will be a defining factor in achieving our energy transition goals. The government can play a pivotal role by strengthening industry-academia partnerships, expanding vocational programmes in solar, energy storage, grid technologies and AI, and creating incentives for continuous workforce upskilling. AI has the potential to transform the sector by enabling predictive maintenance, accurate generation forecasting, grid optimisation and intelligent energy trading. However, building a globally competitive and resilient clean energy ecosystem will require robust digital infrastructure, high-quality data ecosystems and a workforce equipped with both energy and AI capabilities.”
The clean-tech sector requires highly skilled professionals capable of innovation and problem-solving.
Gaurav Dolwani, CEO, Lico Materials, said, “To unlock the full value of batteries and enable second-life applications, India must harness AI for advanced data analytics and invest in developing more electrochemical engineers with both electrical and chemical expertise. Battery technology should become a core subject in education, allowing students to specialise early and close this crucial skills gap. Government support for practical and theoretical training in battery science is essential for realising India’s clean energy ambitions.”
These recommendations took centre stage at India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2026, where more than 10,000 visitors, 1,000 delegates, and 200+ exhibitors gathered to shape the next phase of India’s clean energy revolution.
