Somesh Kumar leads the power & utilities practice of EY India LLP. He brings over two decades of diverse and varied experience in power sector reforms and energy transition. He has worked extensively in the areas of grid integration of variable renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), electrical mobility, battery energy storage systems (BESSs), renewable energy financing, and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
In the domain of clean energy adoption, his efforts to enhance the adoption of EVs and integrate BESS for organisations such as the Asian Development Bank highlight the push towards transportation electrification and energy resilience. His efforts in establishing a circular economy for batteries with the World Bank Group has further aided India’s commitment to sustainable life cycle management of energy storage devices.
His thought leadership across the fields of green hydrogen, decarbonisation, acceleration of the clean energy transition and renewable energy investments have helped redefine and draw fresh insights for the industry.
He has extended strategic consultancy and advisory services for large-scale BESS projects under the Solar Energy Corporation of India, showcasing prowess in navigating complex bidding processes and project planning. His involvement in the clean energy transition for Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu demonstrate his strategic approach to long-term energy planning and policy guidance.
According to Kumar, India’s power sector is undergoing a significant transition towards cleaner energy sources, with a strong focus on renewable and nuclear energy. However, coal continues to play a substantial role in the country’s energy mix due to the growing energy demand.
Kumar says that India’s energy transition faces challenges such as grid integration of renewables, financial stress on discoms and slow adoption of energy storage due to high costs. Strengthening of supply chains, circular economy initiatives and innovative financing are essential to reduce import dependency and de-risk green investments.
Kumar’s memorable assignments include his work with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on rooftop solar, as well as with 17 state governments to create an enabling ecosystem and capacity on the ground for C&I consumers.
Team, client, quality, accountability and continuous learning are the key levers that define his professional style.