Anant Ambani is taking his work on India’s energy transition into the classroom after being appointed Professor of Practice in Sustainability at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.
The executive director of Reliance Industries will teach students about green energy and sustainability, bringing his experience in industrial decarbonization, clean energy and wildlife conservation to the university.
Ambani has been involved in Reliance’s efforts to reshape its energy operations as the company works toward its goal of becoming net carbon zero by 2035. His responsibilities include overseeing the company’s energy transition and developing strategies focused on cleaner and more sustainable energy.
The Newcastle University appointment brings that industry experience into an academic setting. Instead of following the traditional path into academia, Ambani will draw on his experience in the corporate sector to engage students studying sustainability and green energy.
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The Professor of Practice designation is generally given to experienced professionals and operational leaders whose expertise comes from outside conventional academic careers. Unlike traditional faculty positions, it does not typically require a doctorate, a record of peer-reviewed publications or a tenure-track research position.
For Newcastle University, the appointment creates a connection between classroom learning and the practical challenges companies face as they work to reduce emissions and expand their use of cleaner energy.
Ambani’s work at Reliance includes the development of the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Spread across 5,000 acres, the project is being built around five interconnected manufacturing facilities focused on solar photovoltaic manufacturing, green hydrogen and electrolyzers, advanced battery storage and fuel cell systems.
One of the project’s goals is to establish an integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting 100 gigawatts of solar power deployment by 2030. Reliance’s green hydrogen initiative has also set a target of bringing production costs down to $1 per kilogram.
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The company’s sustainability efforts in Jamnagar extend beyond clean energy infrastructure. More than 10 million trees have been planted as part of an industrial afforestation initiative in the region.
Ambani’s sustainability work also extends into wildlife conservation through Vantara, a 3,500-acre ecological sanctuary and animal rescue facility in Jamnagar.
The facility focuses on the rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife, including elephants. It has also rehabilitated thousands of animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, rhinos and endangered reptiles.
Vantara has a 650-bed multi-specialty wildlife hospital that provides medical treatment and rehabilitation services for rescued animals.
With these, Ambani’s work in clean energy, industrial decarbonization and wildlife conservation provides the practical experience he will bring to his new academic role. His appointment at Newcastle University gives students an opportunity to explore sustainability not only as an academic subject, but also through projects being developed across the energy and conservation sectors.