An overview of the work done by Ratul Puri in the field of renewable energy

Uttar Pradesh is steadily increasing its solar power capacity as the state looks to make better use of its considerable renewable energy potential. The opportunity is significant. According to Invest UP, the state has a solar potential of 23 GW, with 2,632 MW of solar capacity already installed. Its broader solar plans include utility-scale projects, rooftop systems and distributed generation. The growth is visible across different segments of the market. In the second quarter of 2026, Uttar Pradesh ranked among the three leading states in India for rooftop solar additions, accounting for 18% of installations during the quarter. According to Mercom India, the state also recorded 23% year-on-year growth in rooftop solar capacity between Q2 2025 and Q2 2026. Against this backdrop, Hindustan Power's 435 MWp/300 MW solar project in Lalitpur has reached an important financing milestone. Awarded to the company through competitive bidding in 2025, the project has now achieved financial c...

India’s energy transition is usually discussed in terms of renewable power, electric vehicles, battery storage and green hydrogen. However, there is another important part of this shift that deserves attention: the raw materials required to develop these technologies. As countries compete for access to critical minerals, strengthening domestic resources is becoming an important part of India’s long-term energy and economic plans. The Padhar Platinum Group Elements (PGE) block in Madhya Pradesh is relevant in this context. A group company of Hindustan Power has been awarded a Letter of Intent for the block, which covers around 200 square kilometres. The area is prospective for platinum group elements and also contains zinc deposits, making it an important area for further exploration. The importance of the project extends beyond the minerals themselves. Platinum group elements are used in several technologies associated with the energy transition, including hydrogen production, fuel ce...