How Ratul Puri Outsmarted India’s Energy System and Took It Global

Ratul Puri is used to shaking things up. As Chairman of Hindustan Power, he’s worked for years countering the traditional ways of doing business in India’s power grid. But his latest move—to globalize India’s clean energy capabilities—is certainly the most and most daring thus far. Amidst an industry too often crippled by bureaucracy, old systems, and erratic policy environments, Puri has successfully mapped out a global trajectory for India’s renewables potential in complete silence.

This is the tale of how Ratul Puri outsmarted old energy infrastructure and made India’s green tech a worldwide power play.

The Problem with India’s Conventional Energy System

India’s energy system, while changing fast, continues to suffer from an array of systemic issues:

• Excessive reliance on thermal power and coal
• Efficiency and loss of power in the grid
• Delays in policy execution and regulatory delays
• Restricted global integration in clean tech partnerships

Rather than trying to work strictly within the system, Ratul Puri set out to find ways to work around it—and then beyond it. His playbook: build world-class capabilities within India and then sell them to global partners clamoring for cheaper, scalable, and sustainable energy solutions.

Step One: Constructing a Green Scalable Framework in India

First, the home game needed to be won. To establish the domestic playbook, Puri worked through Hindustan Powerprojects:

• commissioned 1,000+ MW in Indian solar installations
• Installed solar park clusters in high-radiation areas
• Emphasized cost minimization through in-house EPC and O&M
• Collaborated with state discoms (distribution companies) for long-term PPAs

This infrastructure was the proof-of-concept for what was to follow—a model that could be scaled and exported.

“If India can innovate at scale, why can’t we lead global clean energy exports?” – Ratul Puri

The Global Leap: Turning India into a Clean Energy Exporter

With a solid base at home, Ratul Puri indicated his international plans. His international strategy is centered on:

1. Cross-Border Solar Alliances

Puri has advocated solar corridors linking India with energy-scarce countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. These initiatives enable excess generation in India to energize neighboring nations through interconnected green grids.

2. African Expansion

Puri established solar projects in East Africa, such as a 700 MW solar-plus-storage plant in Kenya, developed in partnership with African utility companies and Indian EPCs. This will place India as a South-South energy development collaborator.

3. Green Hydrogen Partnerships

Hindustan Power is holding preliminary discussions with European and Middle Eastern governments for setting up green hydrogen export corridors based on India’s solar capacity.

4. Tech Transfer and Licensing

Puri has started to license Indian solar and smart grid technology to Latin American developers—a sector where Indian innovation can bridge capability gaps.

Outsmarting the System: Critical Strategic Choices

✅ Public-Private Partnerships

Through proactive interaction with governments and multilateral institutions, Puri bypassed policy constraints. His deployment of PPPs facilitated expedited approvals and non-traditional project financing.

✅ Innovation-Driven Talent Pool

Realizing that talent would be instrumental in global expansion, Hindustan Power established Green Energy Training Hubs in India to train engineers and project managers for deployment overseas.

✅ Geo-Economic Diplomacy

Puri used India’s G20 and International Solar Alliance (ISA) leadership positions to establish energy diplomacy agreements aligned with national interests and build a pipeline for energy exports globally.

✅ Decentralized Solar Deployment

Instead of relying solely on central subsidies, Puri invested in decentralized solar microgrids, which are more adaptable to varying policy and market dynamics abroad.

Case Study: The Kenya Solar+Storage Project

In 2024, Puri’s firm partnered with Kenya Power and German financiers to deliver one of East Africa’s largest renewable energy projects:

• 700 MW solar park
• 200 MWh battery storage
• 15,000+ jobs created
• Energy access to over 2 million households

Why It Matters:

• Promotes India as a global EPC and energy service provider
• Reduces Kenya’s fossil fuel dependency
• Unlocks climate finance from multilateral banks

Global Recognition and Industry Buzz

Ratul Puri’s bold internationalization strategy has been praised by global institutions like:

• IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency)
• World Economic Forum
• European Investment Bank (EIB)
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Financial analysts have noted that Indian clean tech stocks saw a boost after Hindustan Power’s African and Southeast Asian ventures were publicized.

“India’s first real energy multinational play.” – BloombergNEF

Challenges and How Puri Is Addressing Them

⚠️ Regulatory Volatility

Puri addresses global policy risk by creating local JV collaborations that take in risk and simplify approvals.

⚠️ Integration Problems with Technology

With a strong worldwide vendor network, Hindustan Power guarantees compatibility in varied grids and storage structures.

⚠️ Financing Risks

With combined finance structures, such as sovereign guarantees and climate bonds, Puri lowers initial risk and brings in green capital flows.

What This Means for India

• Clean Tech Export Boom

With nations seeking high-quality, low-cost solar solutions, India can be a net green energy component, service, and software exporter.

• Soft Power Surge

Increased Indian participation in international energy projects increases economic clout and its geopolitical leverage, particularly in the developing world.

• Job Creation

Trained employees who are assigned overseas bring best practices back to the company, thereby driving a cycle of innovation.

Conclusion: The Global Architect of Green Power

Ratul Puri didn’t wait for the system to change—he changed the rules of the game. By thinking outside borders and wagering on Indian potential, he has placed Hindustan Power and India at the forefront of global renewable action.

What began as a dream to green India’s grid has today become a masterclass in energy diplomacy, innovation, and world leadership.

India’s clean energy journey might have begun at home—but thanks to Ratul Puri, its destination is international.