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Vasudha Foundation
Overview
The Giving Green Fund plans to award a grant to the Vasudha Foundation to enhance its internal expertise, support its ongoing work on green hydrogen in industrial decarbonization, and explore technologies in energy efficiency and demand-side management. Vasudha Foundation, based in Delhi, India, adopts a data-driven approach to advancing a clean energy transition in India alongside promoting clean, sustainable, affordable, and 24x7 energy for all.
This falls within our philanthropic strategy of an energy transition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Please see Giving Green’s deep dive report for more information, including risks and potential co-benefits, sub-strategies, theory of change, funding need, and key uncertainties.
Last updated: October 2024
What is the Vasudha Foundation?
Vasudha Foundation, established in 2010, conducts research and creates data repositories to promote evidence-based and inclusive decision-making around climate policy in India. Vasudha Foundation works closely with central government bodies, such as NITI Aayog, the government think tank, and state-level governments, including departments in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa. Vasudha Foundation focuses on renewable and clean energy sectors, electromobility, and climate action. Its flagship projects center around designing and implementing climate action plans on state and district levels, in addition to generating dashboards and analytics on greenhouse gas emissions and climate finance for policymakers.
What are we funding, and how could it help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
We are funding Vasudha’s core operations, with a particular focus on in-house capacity building, green hydrogen work in industrial decarbonization, and exploring energy-efficient technologies. We believe that unrestricted funding will allow Vasudha to accommodate impromptu requests from state governments and expand its outreach to states that have shown an interest in collaborating on net-zero trajectories.
In-house capacity building: Vasudha Foundation will enhance its internal expertise to deliver high-quality, state-specific support in designing and implementing net-zero pathways. Capacity building will equip the Vasudha Foundation team with the latest knowledge about energy transition technologies and strategies and develop AI-based tools for data analysis, modeling, and monitoring.
Green hydrogen for industrial decarbonization: Vasudha Foundation will continue its ongoing assessment of the role of green hydrogen in decarbonizing heavy industry. Vasudha Foundation is evaluating the production, storage, and application of green hydrogen and will explore its integration in select states’ industrial ecosystems. Vasudha Foundation will also support state-level agencies in preparing bankable Detailed Project Reports to attract greater investment in green hydrogen.
Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management: Vasudha Foundation will identify key sectors for maximizing energy savings and promoting efficient technologies, as well as explore policy frameworks and communication strategies to encourage behavioral shifts toward energy conservation.
We believe that unrestricted funding can equip the Vasudha Foundation with greater expertise and flexibility in producing and disseminating technical knowledge to state governments to achieve their net-zero targets.
Why do we think the Vasudha Foundation will use this funding well?
Vasudha Foundation is a leading think tank and crucial partner to state governments in advancing their energy transitions. Its technical work—for example, the Greenhouse Gas Platform India—has been applauded by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. Vasudha Foundation led the creation of a pan-India dashboard on the energy sector, climate, and related economic indicators for NITI Aayog. Vasudha Foundation was on the panel of experts advising the “energy transition” for the Government of Kerala. We believe Vasudha Foundation’s track record and policy wins demonstrate its central role in advancing India’s decarbonization agenda.
For more on the difference between the grantees of the Giving Green Fund and our Top Nonprofits, please see this blog post on the Giving Green Fund. This is a non-partisan analysis (study or research) and is provided for educational purposes.