Applications Invited for Communicators’ Workshop on Renewable Energy in Mumbai

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About the Organization

Created in 2004, EJN is now a truly global network of reporters and media outlets in virtually every region of the world.

Environmental and climate change reporting is now more urgent than ever, but journalists face myriad and mounting challenges in covering these topics. The media industry is in crisis, and misinformation is on the rise. Reporters working for cash-strapped news agencies often don't have the resources to research a story properly; freelancers, even less so. That’s where EJN comes in.

About the Award  

Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) invites communicators to join a national workshop on renewable energy in Mumbai from October 16-18, 2025. Unlike earlier regional workshops, this training opportunity is for communicators based anywhere in India. Preference will be given to applicants from Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. 

Earlier this month, there was much celebration within India’s renewable energy (RE) circles when the country crossed the “milestone of 100 gigawatts (GW) of domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing capacity,” according to a government spokesperson.  

The country had crossed the 119 GW mark in solar installations by the end of July 2025, followed by over 52 GW of wind power and more than 10 GW from biomass-based generation. Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi pointed out that it was “a remarkable rise from just 2.3 GW in 2014.” He went on to say, “This achievement strengthens our path towards Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and the target of 500 GW non-fossil [fuel] capacity by 2030.” 

But is the country’s manufacturing capacity growing by leaps and bounds, or its assembling capacity? To make a solar PV module, for instance, you need polysilicon, which is made into ingots and then into wafers. The wafers are put together in cells. In turn, the cells are put together in a solar PV module. According to a recent estimate by an Indian firm, China controls 79.4% of the global polysilicon market, 96.8% of the wafers market, 85.1% of the cells market and 74.7% of the modules market. Indian industrialists are buying cells and assembling them into modules. The government has urged them to take the next step and make the cells. But China’s control over the machinery needed for every step in this process is a major challenge. 

Overall, India’s transition to clean energy is well underway. But there are several roadblocks that still need to be addressed. One is the inability of an outdated electricity transmission and distribution network to absorb the energy produced by RE facilities, especially in times of bright sunshine or high wind when these facilities are running at maximum capacity. A second—and related—challenge is the price of energy storage through batteries to house this excess generation. Globally and in India, an enormous amount of research is going into making cheaper more efficient batteries, but right now adding batteries still raises the cost of generation from RE higher than from coal, oil or gas. The wind industry faces yet another big issue—many wind farms run on decades-old, relatively inefficient turbines. The money to replace them is hard to come by. 

What role can communicators play in informing the public about the progress made thus far and the obstacles yet to be resolved in the energy transition? EJN’s upcoming three-day workshop is an opportunity to delve deeper into this topic. Selected communicators will have the opportunity to learn from researchers, industry experts and policymakers, to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the various aspects related to the growth and adoption of renewable energy in the country. 

The workshop will be held in Mumbai from October 16-18, 2025.  

• Applications are open to communicators based in India from print, online, radio and television outlets. Priority will be given to applications from Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, and to candidates associated with media outlets with large audiences in these states.
• The organizers will cover the cost of travel, accommodation and meals for selected participants.
• The workshop will include a field trip to a relevant location.
• We especially encourage women and early- and mid-career professionals to apply.   

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Commit to attending all days of the workshop.
• Have some experience reporting in one or more of the following areas:
• Energy
• Environment
• Business
• Science
• Understand and be able to communicate in English.
• Demonstrate an interest in renewable energy issues.
• Permit republication by the organizers of any output as a result of participation in the workshop.

How to Apply

• Click the 'Apply now' button at the top of the page.
• If you start the application and want to come back and complete it later, you can click 'Save Draft.' To return to the draft, you'll need to go back to the opportunity and click 'Apply now' again to finalize the application.
• Staffers must provide a letter from their supervisor approving their attendance at the workshop.
• Applicants must submit two published samples or links to work that have appeared online. Work related to renewable energy issues is preferred.
• If you have an existing account, you’ll need to log in. Since we recently updated our website, you might have to reset your password by clicking the “Forgot password?” link in the log in page. If you don’t have an account, you must register by clicking “Log in” on the top right of the page and click the “Sign up” link at the bottom of the page that opens. Click here for detailed instructions on how to create an account, and here for detailed instructions on how to reset your password.

Application Deadline

September 14, 2025, 11:59 PM (Asia/Kolkata)

For more information please check the Link

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