India and the UK Strengthen Economic Ties with Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

Saudi Arabia is accelerating an ambitious pivot toward renewables, rapidly building utility-scale solar as part of a broader economic calculus to free oil for export and diversify under Vision 2030. The kingdom, long seen as a brake on global climate action, now ranks among the fastest movers in new solar capacity-without signaling an end to its fossil-fuel dominance.Key assets and capacity ramp-upAl Shuaibah 2, now the country’s largest solar farm, exceeds 2 GW-enough to power roughly 350,000 homes-and is one of several mega-projects advancing across desert sites south of Jeddah. Larger plants are already in development as capacity scales.After having “next to no renewables” in 2020, Saudi Arabia is expected to reach about 12 GW of solar by year-end 2025, pushing it into the top 10 global markets for annual new solar additions for the first time.Rystad Energy projects more than 70 GW of solar installed by 2030, with onshore wind also entering the mix.Strategic investment and partnershipsACWA Power, alongside Badeel and Saudi Aramco Power Company (SAPCO), announced a $8.3 billion program to deliver 15 GW of renewables (12 GW solar; 3 GW wind), with operations slated to begin from late 2027 to early 2028.The program aligns with Vision 2030 and the National Renewable Energy Program, under which Saudi aims to source 50% of electricity from clean energy and 50% from gas by 2030.The kingdom is also building clean power supply for flagship developments, including the $500 billion NEOM city and Red Sea tourism projects, with integrated storage and smart-grid solutions.Economics driving the build-outUtility-scale solar has benefited from sharply lower module prices—driven in part by Chinese panel imports—and battery costs that fell an estimated 40% in 2024, improving solar’s dispatchability and reducing system costs.Saudi Arabia’s solar economics are strengthened by abundant sun, cheap land, low-cost grid connections near major load centers, and economies of scale from very large installations.A core aim is to displace domestic oil-fired power, reserving crude for higher-margin export markets. Burning oil for electricity is comparatively inefficient, and shifting generation to renewables and gas supports export revenues.Storage and grid flexibilitySaudi Arabia is emerging among the top 10 global battery storage markets, with a target of 48 GWh of storage by 2030 and major projects—such as the Bisha 2,000 MWh facility—helping to firm solar output and stabilize the grid.Planned milestones include bringing 8 GWh online by 2025 and 22 GWh by 2026, positioning the kingdom near the global leaders in storage deployment.Progress and constraintsDespite rapid build-out, renewables’ share in the electricity mix remained low at the end of 2024 (around 2%), reflecting how quickly demand is rising and how dominant gas remains.Independent trackers rate Saudi’s overall climate policy as critically insufficient relative to pathways aligned with limiting warming, and analysts caution the 50% clean-electricity target by 2030 may be challenging.Others are more optimistic, projecting the kingdom can surpass one-third renewables by 2030 and achieve 50% soon after, particularly if storage and grid integration keep pace with solar expansion.Competitive positioning vs. global peersSaudi Arabia’s strategy diverges from current U.S. federal headwinds to wind and solar, pursuing an “all of the above” energy mix while scaling clean-tech manufacturing and EV ambitions.Regionally, the UAE, Oman, and even Iran are expanding renewables to address reliability, growth, and sanctions-related constraints—yet Saudi’s scale, financing, and integrated energy industrial base give it a unique edge.Energy diversification without an end to oilSaudi Arabia’s renewables push is rooted in economics, grid modernization, and a bid to future-proof export revenues. Solar deployment, backed by storage and large-scale transmission, is reshaping the domestic power stack. But the kingdom remains a petrostate, expanding gas capacity and asserting oil’s role in global markets and diplomacy. The most likely trajectory is a dual-track energy system: rapid growth in clean power within Saudi Arabia, coupled with sustained-and strategically defended-fossil-fuel leadership abroad.---Startup Europe India Network is a B2B Digital Platform enabling partnerships, innovations and acquisitions in the Europe-UK-India corridor.

Shreekant Patil with Poland-India Chamber and Indian delegates explore investment and innovation partnerships with Wrocław City Council, Rynek 13 — Poland Govt Body.Wrocław, Poland — Leading Indian Entrepreneur and industry leader CEng. Shreekant Patil, together with Indian delegates and in collaboration with the Poland–India Chamber, visited the Wrocław City Council- governing body of Wrocław, Rynek 13, to strengthen mutual business relations and explore new avenues for cross-border collaboration. The delegation met with Małgorzata Krzeszowska, Office Director, Secretary of the Council, Department for the Support of Wroclaw Entrepreneurship in the Public Finance Department of the Wroclaw City Council, to discuss investment in Wrocław, financial support frameworks, government schemes, and technology transfer opportunities for Indian startups and MSMEs.During the meeting, Krzeszowska also offered the delegation a tour of the Wrocław City Council Hall, showcasing its historical heritage and the city’s modern administrative infrastructure. The discussions centered on identifying areas for strategic cooperation, especially in emerging technological domains such as artificial intelligence, electric mobility, and sustainable agriculture.Shreekant Patil India at Poland Wroclaw City Council with Indian Delegates and Poland-India Chamber“Grateful to Małgorzata Krzeszowska for her warm hospitality and exceptional support in hosting my Indian delegates and myself during our visit to Wrocław. Her dedication to fostering cross-cultural and economic ties greatly enriched our experience and strengthened the collaboration between two countries. We look forward to continued partnership and shared success in the future,” said Shreekant Patil.CEng Shreekant Patil, India at Wroclaw City Council Hall, Wrocalw, Poland, EuropeThe Wrocław City Council plays a vital role in economic development by supporting businesses, fostering innovation, and connecting global partners with local enterprises. The Business Relations Office assists domestic and international companies in navigating financial, regulatory, and investment frameworks, ensuring smooth collaboration with the region’s public and private sectors.CEng. Shreekant Patil emphasized India’s growing ecosystem for startups and MSMEs and highlighted the country’s open investment environment. He invited the Wrocław City Council and Polish business community to send a delegate team to India for further discussions on trade, joint ventures, and technology exchange initiatives.CEng. Shreekant Patil’s international leadership during the Poland visit has been instrumental in strengthening India-Europe trade ties, driving sustainable growth, and fostering technology exchange for startups and MSMEs. His strategic vision and extensive experience have empowered Indian entrepreneurs to explore new opportunities in Poland and across Europe.Indian Delegation at Wroclaw City Council- Krystyna, Vincent, Shreekant, Rahul, AsawariThe Poland-India Chamber of Cooperation — (PICC) plays a pivotal role in facilitating bilateral economic cooperation, with Krystyna Wróblewska serving as President and Vincent Peter as Vice President. The Chamber actively supports business partnerships, innovative collaborations, and market access initiatives between Indian and Polish industries.This interaction represents a promising step toward fostering stronger economic bridges between India and Poland, focusing on shared growth, innovation, and sustainable development.#ShreekantPatil #IndiaPolandBusiness #PolandIndiaChamber #InvestInWroclaw #InvestinIndia #Leadership #International #Global #News #StartupIndia #Europe #TechnologyTransfer #AIInnovation #EVTech #PICC #MSMEHelp #Consultant #AgricultureInnovation #MSMEgrowth #WroclawCityCouncil #PolandIndiaPartnership#GlobalBusiness #CrossBorderInvestment #StartupCollaboration

CEng. Shreekant Patil has been awarded the prestigious Bronze Medal in 2025 by the Sustainability and Productivity Standards Council (SPSC), UK. This accolade recognizes his passionate dedication, tireless efforts, enthusiasm, and empathy toward promoting sustainability and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Since 2024, CEng. Shreekant Patil has served as the Sustainability Ambassador for SPSC in India, working closely with the United Nations to promote sustainability in Indian education and industry. His impactful work aligns primarily with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), where he mentors, builds capacity, and fosters sustainable development practices.CEng. Shreekant Patil plays a significant role in supporting students, colleges, universities, industries, MSMEs, SMEs, exporters, industry associations, startups, and government schemes aimed at fostering industrial growth in India. As a trusted mentor and consultant, he collaborates extensively with the Ministry of Education and various government initiatives to enhance education-industry linkages, skill development, and entrepreneurship ecosystems.SPSC deeply admires and aligns its purposeful actions with globally respected organizations including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), UN Environment Programme, United Nations Human Rights Council, International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Standards Organisation (ISO), United Nations University, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Inclusive Capitalism, SME Climate Hub, and Learning for Sustainability Scotland.CEng. Shreekant Patil has been recognized with the distinguished Annual Appreciation Bronze Medal (No. RABRO028842) awarded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the Sustainability and Productivity Standards Council (SPSC), UK, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to sustainability initiatives.This award further validates Shreekant Patil’s role as a leading influencer committed to mobilizing industry and educational stakeholders toward an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for India and the world.