Dr Bibek Bandyopadhyay is Senior Scientific Advisor in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and heads the Solar Energy Centre (SEC). He is an expert in the fields of hydrogen energy, fuel cells, solar, thermal, development of green buildings and solar cities. In conversation he discusses the research and development activities undertaken by the ministry, the present challenges faced by the solar sector, and the future opportunities in solar and hydrogen energy.