Clean Energy RD&D: Rs 1,443 Crore Mapped
Why in News?
- A report released in October 2026 by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative and the Climate Policy Lab at The Fletcher School, Tufts University, mapped India's public clean energy research funding. Down To Earth reported it on 16 October 2026.
- India spent about Rs 1,443 crore on 1,359 publicly funded clean energy research, development and demonstration projects from 2019 to 2024, across more than 90 institutions.
- The report finds funding is strong in early-stage lab work but weaker for pilots, demonstration and manufacturing.
Key Terminologies
- RD&D
- Research, development and demonstration. It covers lab research, building prototypes and testing technology at pilot scale before commercial use.
- Valley of Death
- The gap between a promising lab result and a commercial product, where projects often fail for lack of funding for pilots and demonstration.
- Solar PV
- Solar photovoltaic technology, which converts sunlight directly into electricity using cells made of materials such as polysilicon.
- Gigawatt Hour
- A unit for battery capacity. The report says a battery manufacturing scheme aimed at 50 gigawatt hours of cell capacity.
Key Issues
- Concentrated Funding: Renewables received 421 projects and Rs 580 crore, and other power and storage 333 projects and Rs 492 crore. Together these absorbed about three-quarters of declared funding, according to the report.
- Solar Dominance: Solar photovoltaic research alone had 234 projects and Rs 401 crore of the Rs 1,443 crore total.
- Lab Strength, Pilot Weakness: The portfolio is strongest in early-stage lab research, materials and component work. Prototype, pilot and demonstration activity is less visible, creating a valley of death.
- Import Dependence: India remains heavily dependent on imports of polysilicon, wafers and equipment for solar, and domestic dependence for battery cells is close to 100 per cent.
- Manufacturing Lag: A battery manufacturing scheme targeting 50 gigawatt hours of domestic cell capacity had commissioned only 1.4 gigawatt hours, or 2.8 per cent, with no incentives disbursed.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- Large Public Base: 1,359 projects across more than 90 institutions show a broad research network.
- Clear Diagnosis: The report pinpoints where funds are spent and where gaps lie, which helps policy design.
- Strong Early Research: Lab and materials work provides the knowledge base that later industrial policy can use.
- Data Transparency: Budget data was available for about 85 per cent of the portfolio, which allows analysis.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Narrow Technology Spread: Heavy focus on solar and power concentrates risk in a few technologies.
- Weak Scale-Up: Gaps in pilot and demonstration funding mean lab successes may not reach factories.
- Slow Manufacturing Uptake: Only 2.8 per cent of the battery cell target had been commissioned, with zero incentives paid.
- Data Limits: The database covers only public information and excludes much private research, so it is a large sample and not a full count.
Key Initiatives
- Department of Science and Technology: It was the largest funder, with Rs 401 crore across 705 projects, or 52 per cent of projects by count, in 2019 to 2024.
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research: It accounted for Rs 170 crore of clean energy research funding in the period.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: It funded Rs 66 crore, mostly for batteries.
- Battery Manufacturing Scheme: The scheme targets 50 gigawatt hours of domestic cell capacity. The report says 1.4 gigawatt hours had been commissioned and no incentives disbursed.
Public research funding for clean energy flows mainly through the Department of Science and Technology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The report recommends choosing priority technologies, using funding instruments suited to each stage, and linking research to manufacturing and deployment. The report reviewed does not give figures from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Create a dedicated pilot and demonstration fund for clean energy, so that lab results can be tested at scale.
- Pick a few priority technologies, such as batteries and solar manufacturing equipment, and fund them for longer periods.
- Link research grants to industry partners, so that institutions and manufacturers work from the start.
- Fix delays in manufacturing incentive disbursal, because slow payment can stall factories that are ready to start.
The report shows India is good at starting clean energy research and weaker at finishing it. A research network of over 90 institutions is an asset, but the valley of death and near-total dependence on imported battery cells limit its value. In a Mains answer, credit the breadth of research funding, then conclude that pilots, manufacturing and timely incentives must be strengthened to turn research into jobs and energy security.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the clean energy research and development report find?
The report by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative and The Fletcher School found India spent about Rs 1,443 crore on 1,359 publicly funded clean energy projects from 2019 to 2024. Funding is strong in early lab research but weak in pilots, demonstration and manufacturing.
Which agency funded the most clean energy research projects in India?
The Department of Science and Technology was the largest funder, with Rs 401 crore across 705 projects, which is 52 per cent of projects by count in 2019 to 2024. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research funded Rs 170 crore and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Rs 66 crore.
What is the valley of death in innovation?
The valley of death is the gap between a promising lab result and a commercial product, where projects fail for lack of funding for pilots and demonstration. The report says India's clean energy portfolio is weak at this stage, which affects manufacturing and deployment.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The valley of death in innovation refers to the funding gap between lab research and commercial deployment.
It is most severe at pilot and demonstration stages.
2 According to the report, India's dependence on imported battery cells is low.
The report says domestic dependence on imported battery cells is close to 100 per cent.
3 The Department of Science and Technology was the largest funder of publicly funded clean energy research projects in the report.
It funded Rs 401 crore across 705 projects.