India's growing role as a hub for energy GCCs

India has emerged as a preferred destination for energy GCCs , which are setting up tech centres focused on renewable energy , with significant offshoring opportunities across upstream, midstream, and downstream. GCCs are instrumental in facilitating this transformation, expanding their scope of work in energy solutions, grid modernisation, and clean energy technologies.

EY’s data showed India has 77 GCCs in the energy sector, spanning areas such as oil and gas, power and utilities, renewable energy, and mining. These GCCs collectively employ around 50,000 people. EY analysis reveals there are over 24,000 professionals employed in energy-focused GCCs in India, with talent concentrated in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

With global renewable capacity expected to grow 2.7 times by 2030 compared to 2024, these firms are increasingly investing in renewable energy sources, recognising the need to transition towards more sustainable energy solutions to meet both regulatory pressures and consumer expectations. “GCCs leverage the large talent pool in engineering, R&D, and laboratory functions across their portfolios, integral to India’s energy GCC growth. Key activities include 2D/3D digital engineering, brownfield/green engineering, turnaround management, geophysics operations, and petrophysical studies. Earlier, global parent organisations focused on energy centres of excellence (CoEs) in asset management and regulatory affairs. However, the focus has now shifted towards decarbonisation , clean energy transition, and fuel logistics to align with the ever-evolving energy landscape,” wrote Arindam Sen, EY India Global Business Services and operations partner, and Kunal Ghatak, partner for Global Business Services in EY India.

“What is fascinating to see, however, is that these companies, to a large degree, are somewhat laggards as far as the GCC world is concerned. All of them have a significant cost reduction exercise in some form. There was a significant evolution in job roles within the sector. A recent development in the past two years was the introduction of petrotech and petroleum engineering roles in India, marking a departure from previous practices. This represents both a broadening of portfolio and a fresh assessment of India's potential to deliver diverse skill sets beyond conventional offerings. The companies are pursuing these changes whilst managing their cost considerations and operational pressures,” Sen told TOI.

Shell, for instance, has over 13,000 employees in India, with a presence in integrated gas, downstream, power, renewables, and upstream, with capabilities in R&D and digitalisation. Last year, American energy giant Chevron said it was investing $1 billion in a new engineering and technology centre in Bengaluru. The investment will be spread over 5-6 years, with the company aiming to hire 600 employees across disciplines like mechanical, civil, petroleum, and computer science by the end of 2025. BP has over 2,300 employees in India, including engineering talent at the Technical Solutions India (TSI) centre in Pune. TSI is leveraging its engineering capabilities to deliver services to BP's hydrocarbons and new energy operations globally.

Bengaluru, EY’s report said, is becoming a hub for professionals skilled in turbine micro-siting, GIS mapping, and aerodynamic modelling—expertise vital for advancing wind energy infrastructure. It also said the hydrogen energy sector is gaining momentum, with key talent clusters in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. These cities are home to professionals specialising in hydrogen blending, storage solutions, and refinery operations, all critical to supporting India’s transition to green hydrogen solutions. Sen, however, said companies are struggling to recruit qualified experts capable of handling the transition to cleaner energy sources and decarbonisation initiatives. The scarcity of such specialised talent is evident in Europe and across the US.