Dr. Piyush Verma

01/02/2026

🇮🇳 India Budget 2026–27

What’s on energy??

This Budget is not just about clean energy. It’s about energy security, industrial competitiveness, and system resilience in a volatile world.

A few signals worth paying attention to 👇

🔹 Significant support for CCUS
A clear acknowledgement that India’s energy transition will need abatement, not just substitution - especially for hard-to-abate industries.

🔹 Strengthening the solar manufacturing ecosystem
Customs duty exemptions on key inputs like sodium antimonate to reduce bottlenecks in solar glass which is often an overlooked vulnerability in the value chain.

🔹 Battery and storage push
Extending basic custom duty exemptions for capital goods used in lithium-ion cell manufacturing supports domestic battery energy storage - critical for grid stability as renewables scale.

🔹 Critical minerals: from access to processing
Duty exemptions on capital goods for mineral processing signal a move up the value chain—where real energy security will be won or lost.

🔹 Nuclear as a long-term anchor
Extending customs duty exemptions for nuclear power projects till 2035 (and across capacities) reinforces nuclear’s role in clean baseload and strategic stability.

🔹 Biogas gets a fiscal boost
Excluding biogas value from excise duty on blended CNG improves project economics for decentralized, circular energy solutions.

Finally, energy security in the 21st century isn’t just about securing energy needs. It’s about where data lives, how it’s powered, and who controls the infrastructure behind it.

🔹 A quiet but powerful signal on the digital–energy nexus
The Budget also offers tax holidays until 2047 for foreign companies providing cloud services to global customers through India-based data centres, along with a 15% safe-harbour margin for entities operating data centre services from India. This policy support ties together digital sovereignty, energy demand planning, investment certainty, and long-term competitiveness - all the way to 2047.

That’s all a good sign for the energy needs of the country and the world. Building security, competitiveness and resilience is the need of the hour. ⚡

04/11/2025

I am incredibly honored to be named one of the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau’s 40 Under 40 for 2025, under the Influencers and Changemakers category—selected from a global pool of over 500 nominations.

Exactly eleven years ago today, on 4 November 2014, I arrived at Auckland Airport with a head full of questions. I had just taken a leap of faith to begin my PhD in electrical and electronic engineering, and I was filled with uncertainty.

Was this the right decision? Would I be able to complete a PhD? How long would it take to find a job? Would I ever be able to work in the world of public policy, which was where my true passion lay but felt increasingly distant from my academic track? At the time, I saw very few—if any—examples of engineers moving into international climate policy or public policy spaces. It felt like I was stepping into uncharted territory—trying to blend engineering with policy in ways that weren’t yet very common.

Looking back, I now know I couldn’t have chosen a better place than New Zealand. It is a country of breathtaking natural beauty, intellectual rigor, and some of the kindest, most welcoming people I’ve ever encountered. The University of Auckland not only gave me technical depth but also expanded my horizons. It gave me the confidence to think globally and the courage to embrace uncertainty.

This recognition is deeply personal and not mine alone. I owe so much to the professors, mentors, colleagues, and friends who supported me during my time in New Zealand. I’m remembering everyone today with deep gratitude. Thank you for believing in me when I was still learning to believe in myself.

More at:

This year’s 40 Under 40 list celebrates outstanding alumni making a meaningful difference in their field and community.

11/08/2025

Extremely saddened by the devastating news of the passing of my dear friend Miguel Uribe, Senator from Colombia, who was preparing to seek his party’s nomination for the 2026 presidential race.
Miguel and I were batchmates at Harvard in 2021–2022 during our Mid-Career MPA Mason Fellow Program. In one of our classes, “Why Are So Many Countries Poor, Volatile, and Unequal?”, we often sat next to each other. I remember him telling me one day that this was one of the key questions he wanted to understand. While the class was rooted in economics, he said that “economics is not always the answer.” We had several deep conversations on that topic.

I still remember when I once shared my own life journey in class — Miguel wrote to me privately, “Great and inspirational story, Piyush. Thank you for sharing.” That was who he was: always generous with his words, encouraging of others, and genuinely invested in people’s stories.

He became a senator while a student at Harvard — a testament to his extraordinary courage and deep compassion for serving Colombia and its people. His vision for his country was boundless, and his commitment to making a difference was truly inspiring.

May Miguel’s life journey continue to inspire us all to do our part in making the world a better and safer place. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in this time of immense loss. May God grant them strength and comfort. Rest in peace, my friend!

Mr. Uribe, a presidential hopeful, was shot in June at a campaign rally in Bogotá in an attack that shocked the nation.

11/07/2025

🌍 We never really know where life will take us.

For the past three months, I’ve been traveling from the USA almost every month to work in a beautiful island country called Niue, tucked away in the South Pacific Ocean. The country is often described as a tropical paradise and known for its crystal clear waters, unique geological formations, and abundant marine life.

As Chief Technical Advisor on Sustainable Energy with the United Nations Development Programme, it has been an honor and a privilege to support the Government of Niue on their journey toward a clean energy future.

From planting the idea just two months ago to bringing it to life, the Niue National Energy Summit 2025 became a reality—the first of its kind in a decade. It has been one of the most inspiring and rewarding experiences of my career.

Over the past two days, it was more than a privilege to bring together leaders from every corner of Niue to discuss all about energy: the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, village council chairpersons, directors from every government department, private sector, civil society, and development partners.

We also welcomed voices often left out—youth, women, elders, persons with disabilities, and holders of traditional knowledge in the community.

Everyone shared one purpose: to shape Niue’s clean energy future for the next decade.

I especially want to thank Prime Minister Hon. Dalton Tagelagi for staying through almost the entire Summit, listening to every conversation, and even jumping into the technical discussions. His openness and commitment were truly inspiring.

Deeply grateful for the chance to contribute to this journey and hopeful that the ideas shared will soon become Niue’s next 10-year energy strategy.

For me, this experience is a reminder that even in a small island, there are big learnings to carry forward. 🌱 Experiential learning always outweighs any other kind.

📸 Sharing a few photos that capture the spirit of this amazing week—from moments with the Prime Minister of Niue, to snapshots with colleagues, vibrant local dance performances, and the island’s stunning scenery.

01/04/2025

As nations accelerate towards a net-zero world, the volume of discarded modules, turbine blades and -ion is surging. What can we do? Read a piece I wrote for the World Economic Forum.

As nations accelerate towards a net-zero world, the volume of discarded solar modules, turbine blades and lithium-ion batteries is surging. What can we do?

03/03/2025

aims to bridge one of the world’s most pressing energy gaps, ensuring that 300 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa gain access to electricity.

As discussions continue at the recent Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania and this week’s Powering Africa Summit in Washington D.C., we must ask: What does it take to turn this into reality?

In my latest piece for DDNewsLive, I explore India’s electrification success story—a transformation driven by:
✅ Bold political leadership, treating electrification as a national mission.
✅ Financial innovation, making energy access affordable and scalable.
✅ Last-mile ex*****on, ensuring even the most remote communities were connected.

India’s journey from 75.8% electrification in 2014 to universal access by 2021 offers valuable lessons for Africa, proving that with the right strategy, progress can be both rapid and transformative.

🔗 Read more in my latest piece for at: https://ddindia.co.in/2025/03/five-powerful-lessons-from-indias-electrification-success-for-mission-300/

Powering 300 million lives across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 isn’t just ambitious—it’s a game-changing mission that can redefine the region’s future. Mission 300, an initiative led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, in collaboration with key partners, aims to bridge one of t...

03/03/2024

🏆 I am deeply honored and humbled to announce that I have been awarded the Young Achiever Alumnus Award 2024 by National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur! 🎉

Receiving this award is not just a personal achievement, but a testament to the support, guidance, and opportunities provided by my alma mater and the incredible individuals I met at NIT Jamshedpur. They have not only been a part of my journey since then, but have also become cherished mentors, friends, and sources of endless encouragement.

This award holds a deeply personal significance for me because people who know a bit of my story see this as a reminder of the transformative power of perseverance for anyone. I am thankful to all my teachers, mentors, supervisors, subordinates, and dear friends whom I have met at different stages of my life and who have given me enormous motivation and inspiration to keep working hard. My family's unwavering trust and support have been my foundation, and I am grateful for their belief in my dreams.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone at NIT Jamshedpur, including the NIT Jamshedpur Alumni Association, and the Selection Committee for this award. I am truly grateful for the recognition and proud to be a part of the NIT Jamshedpur family. With this honor, I am excited for the opportunities ahead and eager to continue making a positive impact in the world.

Here is a message I recorded as a recipient of this award for the staff, students, and alumni of NIT Jamshedpur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG0iRvApy04

NIT Jamshedpur National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur Alumni NIT Jamshedpur

08/01/2024

📚 Grateful for the opportunity to write the Foreword for this important book by my close collaborator and friend Erlijn Van Genuchten from Germany. She's doing extraordinary work on how sustainable living contributes to happiness, health, and wealth.

🌍 My background in engineering, the research I conducted during my PhD, and my current work have led me to delve into the scientific world. Through this journey, I've come to appreciate the crucial role of effective science communication, particularly for addressing the global issues we face together.

🔬 It's evident that no single entity—whether a company, a country, or a continent—can solve our planetary challenges alone. The urgency of collective action is paramount. Regardless of where you find yourself—whether at the office, at home, or just relaxing on a couch—there are opportunities for each of us to contribute to the well-being of our planet. Even the laziest among us can make a difference.

📖 This book achieves something special by breaking down complex climate information from hundreds of scientific journals into understandable language with actionable steps for everyone. It bridges the gap between scientific jargon and public comprehension, empowering us with one of our most potent tools—plain language.

31/12/2023

Happy New year 2024!! 🎈🎊

27/12/2023

🌟 मेरा हार्दिक आभार 🌟

अपने गृहनगर में गौरव का क्षण साझा करने पर सम्मानित महसूस कर रहा हूँ! हमारे प्रयासों को हमारे ही आंगन में मान्यता मिलना वास्तव में विशेष है।

लार नगर पंचायत के पूर्व अध्यक्ष एवं सबसे प्रखर वक्ताओं में से एक श्री राम सिंह जी ने मुझे सहृदयता से आमंत्रित किया और मेरी उपलब्धियों को पहचाना तथा मेरे पिता जी को भी वही सम्मान दिया। 🎉

मैं आज जो कुछ भी हूं उसे आकार देने में मेरे पिता ने जो भूमिका निभाई है, उस पर विचार किए बिना मैं नहीं रह सकता। मेरे सपनों में उनका अटूट विश्वास मेरी ताकत का सबसे बड़ा स्तंभ रहा है। मुझे कहना होगा कि यह सिर्फ एक उपलब्धि या एक बेटे या पिता की यात्रा का सम्मान नहीं है; यह मजबूत समुदाय, सामूहिक समर्थन और गृहनगर में सभी की अथक भावना का उत्सव है।

मेरे लार समुदाय को, ऐसी जड़ें बनने के लिए धन्यवाद जो आने वाली पीढ़ियों को सितारों तक पहुंचने के लिए प्रेरित करेगी।