Driving a Just Energy Transition in India

Summary

In 2025, Mahindra Group committed to accelerating the just energy transition in India by scaling its clean mobility, sustainable logistics, and renewable energy programs by 2030. Through three initiatives, it will address climate change, energy security, and economic inclusion in an equitable and inclusive manner. EcoVikas Corridor Project by Mahindra Logistics will develop a sustainable logistics model along the Delhi-Mumbai national highway integrating zero-emission transportation with renewable energy-powered charging stations and sustainably designed warehouses. RE and Project Surya Shakti by Mahindra Susten will complete the development of a renewable energy portfolio of seven GW by 2030, integrating solar, wind, and hybrid technologies to support India’s energy transition. Project Women Empowerment Hunnar by Mahindra Last Mile Mobility will equip individuals with skills in electric vehicle driving, repair, and customer care, fostering financial independence and promoting gender inclusion.

Approach

The Mahindra Group commits to a just energy transition through scaling its clean mobility, sustainable logistics, and renewable energy, to address India’s pressing challenges of climate change, energy security, and economic inclusion, in an equitable and inclusive manner through three efforts.

Project 1: EcoVikas Corridor Project, by Mahindra Logistics (MLL) This will focus on developing a sustainable logistics model along the Delhi-Mumbai national highway. The project integrates zero-emission transportation with renewable energy-powered charging stations and sustainably designed warehouses using recycled materials and water circularity systems. It aims to reduce emissions, enhance efficiency, and promote resilience. The initiative also emphasizes workforce inclusion by providing skilling programs for green jobs and creating accessible workspaces through a Community Centre of Excellence, ensuring ease of replicability for the global logistics industry.

Project 2: RE and Project Surya Shakti, by Mahindra Susten This aims to complete the development of a renewable energy portfolio of 7 GWp by 2030, integrating solar, wind, and hybrid technologies to support India’s energy transition. Susten’s Centre of Excellence in Karjat will train thousands of individuals, including women, in renewable energy skills. Its Project Surya Shakti will equip women with hands-on expertise in solar panel installation, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) monitoring, project management, and safety standards.

Project 3: Project Women Empowerment (WE) Hunnar, by Mahindra Last Mile Mobility (LMM) The project will equip individuals with skills in Electric Vehicle (EV) driving, repair, and customer care, fostering financial independence and promoting gender inclusion. The project supports the energy transition by building a skilled workforce for the clean mobility sector, accelerating the adoption and maintenance of EVs, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate Mahindra Group’s integrated approach to energy transition, leveraging partnerships and innovative solutions to deliver measurable environmental, social, and economic outcomes.

Action Plan

Project 1: Develop the sustainable corridor targeting mobility deployment, infrastructure readiness, urban greenery, job creation, health, and safety.
2025-2026: Identify warehouse sites, conduct feasibility studies, form partnerships, and procure 20 EVs. Install three solar-integrated charging stations and finalize design standards for gender-inclusive facilities.
2027-2028: Scale deployment with additional EVs, three more charging stations, and construct a carbon-neutral warehouse using recycled materials and water circularity systems. Skill development for youth will continue, and female employment in warehousing roles will begin.
2028-30: Expand EV fleets, charging infrastructure, and warehouses. Institutionalize reverse logistics, energy audits, and zero-waste practices. Establish a Community Centre of Excellence to share global insights, with annual evaluations documenting environmental and social impact.

Project 2: Complete the remaining 5.5 GWP of its 7 GWp renewable energy portfolio target by 2030, ensuring all projects are water-positive by design.
2025–2026: Achieve 2 GWp by scaling projects, securing approvals, and partnering with financial institutions and technology providers. Train 2,000 individuals annually, prioritizing women and underserved communities.
2027–2028: Expand to achieve 2 GWp with hybrid technologies and commissioned projects. Refine training programs to address emerging technologies.
2029–2030: Complete the remaining 1.4 GWp. Meet cumulative skilling targets and conduct impact assessments to share insights globally.

Project 3: Scale vocational training programs focused on EV driving, repair, and customer care.
2025–2026: Expand training programs to new regions, targeting women and underprivileged youth for vocational skills in EV driving, repair, and customer care. Facilitate licensing and financial consultation to support livelihoods.
2027–2028: Scale enrolment capacity, integrate advanced EV technologies into the curriculum, and strengthen placement partnerships to ensure employment outcomes.
2029–2030: Broaden reach to semi-urban and rural areas, track long-term impact, and align trained individuals with clean mobility projects, fostering workforce inclusion and supporting India’s energy transition goals.

Background

The Indian logistics sector faces critical challenges, including high Scope 3 emissions and a reliance on fossil fuels, which account for 90% of transportation-related COâ‚‚ emissions (Source: IEA, 2023) . Slow adoption of cleaner technologies, infrastructure gaps, and low technology readiness hinder progress toward sustainability.

Socially, the sector depends heavily on low-skilled, underpaid gig workers, with limited access to skilling, safe work conditions, or long-term security. Women constitute only 7% of the workforce in National Stock Exchange-listed logistics companies, highlighting diversity gaps (Source: CII-UDAYTI Report, 2024) . Operational fragmentation, slim margins, and geopolitical vulnerabilities further complicate efforts to implement standardized sustainability practices.

The fragmented nature of logistics operations, along with inefficiencies in supply chains and poor electrification of freight corridors, contributes to higher carbon footprints and operational costs. Smaller logistics players face difficulties aligning with global Environmental Social Governance (ESG) expectations due to a lack of standardization in sustainability practices.
India’s reliance on fossil fuel imports, with a significant share of crude oil and natural gas being imported, coupled with rising energy demand and vulnerability to climate risks, underscores the urgent need for renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure. India’s dependence on fossil fuels also increases its exposure to global price volatility. Rising energy demand adds urgency to scaling renewable energy solutions to meet both economic and environmental goals.
Women and underprivileged youth face barriers to employment in the clean mobility sector. Without targeted support, these groups risk economic marginalization, even as the sector grows. The high upfront cost of Electric Vehicles (EVs) , limited EV infrastructure, and lack of robust skilling programs for EV manufacturing and maintenance prevent marginalized groups from accessing opportunities in this growing sector. A just transition would ensure that no one is adversely affected by the shift to clean energy and that vulnerable groups are included as active participants.

Progress Update

Partnership Opportunities

The Mahindra Group is open to exploring relevant and meaningful collaborations that align with its energy transition initiatives across renewable energy, logistics, and clean mobility. They welcome opportunities to work with organizations that bring expertise in areas such as green infrastructure, data analytics, workforce development, and technology deployment. Additionally, they are open to knowledge-sharing partnerships with academic and research institutions to support impact assessments, ESG integration, and continuous improvement frameworks. Collaborations focused on enabling sustainable solutions, fostering inclusion, and advancing shared climate and energy goals are areas of interest for the Mahindra Group.,The Mahindra Group is willing to collaborate with partners by sharing its expertise, scalable frameworks, and operational insights across renewable energy, sustainable logistics, and clean mobility. They offer opportunities for co-developing solutions in areas such as ESG integration, technology adoption, and workforce development. Additionally, they are open to facilitating knowledge exchange, joint research initiatives, and pilot programs that drive sustainable outcomes and address shared climate and energy challenges.