Governments or facilitators? Power and politics of multi-level sustainable energy governance in Surat, Gujarat

Urban areas are becoming strategic sites in the ongoing sustainable energy transition, driven by the new opportunities and imperatives presented by decentralized sustainable energy technologies. However, the presence of cities in the global clean energy landscape remains underwhelming. Despite national programs encouraging urban energy transition in India, the response has largely failed to meet the goals. The existing literature has primarily attributed this to a lack of technical and financial capacity and to the limited legislative role of urban governments. This paper deepens these arguments and offers a more layered view through the case study of Surat in Gujarat, India. I argue that India’s clean energy transition is unfolding within the traditional frameworks and templates that propped up the conventional energy systems, entrenching incumbent power hierar chies. Increasing institutionalization is leading to increased centralization, narrowing the scope of participation for newer actors, including local urban governments. Surat’s case study demonstrates that city governments are keen to respond to local challenges by capitalizing on the opportunities presented by sustainable energy sources. However, the enduring success of their initiatives will depend on supportive agential, structural, and institutional reforms initiated by the powerful elites within India’s energy governance landscape.