Will Ambani Succeed in Doing A "JIO" in the Clean Energy Space

After disrupting the telecom industry with Jio, Mukesh Ambani is now all set to shake the solar industry in India with plans to set up an Rs.75,000 crore solar plant over the next three years. This will pose intense competition for the existing business tycoons namely the Adnais and the Tatas already existing in this plane.

Mukesh Ambani is known for his innovative business plans for the betterment of the masses. His Reliance mobile phones resulted in almost every Indian having a handset and the Jio telecom network rapidly displaced the likes of Airtel and other prominent operators in almost every Wi-fi-ed household. If he succeeds in doing a Jio in the clean energy field, it could change the entire energy landscape in India and will compel complacent competitors to pull up their socks. On the other hand, Gautam Adani has vowed to become the world’s largest renewable energy producer by 2030. Adani Solar has 3.5 GW of annual solar PV production capacity while Adani Green Energy has an impressive project portfolio of 25 GW.

Mukesh Ambani announced to diversify into solar power generation and manufacturing, hydrogen production, e-fuels, and energy storage under its newly formed “New Energy and New Materials” division.  It will also set up a platform for clean energy project financing for investment in this space. This will involve an investment of Rs 75,000 crore over the next three years. The plant will be based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and is expected to producing solar power of 100 GW in the next decade.

Ambani’s green energy investment will also go a long way in supporting PM Modis’ energy target of 450 GW by 2030. Given Ambani’s business acumen, deep pockets, influential business relationships, and manufacturing expertise, this investment could be a welcome sign to lift up solar manufacturing in India and to enable the country to establish a decent spot in terms of clean energy manufacturing on the world map. It has been five years since Jio disrupted the telecom space in India, could Ambani’s investment in the clean energy sector also disrupt the green energy industry in India? Well, only time will tell. For now, it is time to closely watch these two players shape up the Indian clean energy industry, over the next few years.