Event Date: 14th September 2023

About the Topic 

Energy infrastructure is the intricate framework that powers a nation’s growth, encompassing an array of technologies, policies, and networks that enable energy generation, distribution, and consumption. India’s energy landscape is representative of economic, environmental, and political priorities within this dynamic framework. As of FY23, the nation boasts an energy capacity of 416 GW, catering to its burgeoning population and industries. This capacity amalgamates conventional and renewable sources. The initiatives, like the National Action Plan on Climate Change, support the nation’s commitment to cleaner energy alternatives.

Amidst this intricate interplay, the emergence of solar energy infrastructure takes centre stage, casting a radiant light on the nation’s transition towards a greener future. The country’s solar installed capacity was 70.01 GWAC as of June 30, 2023. Solar power generation in India ranked fourth globally in 2021. In FY 2023-24, India plans to issue 40 GW tenders for solar and hybrid projects. India has established nearly 42 solar parks to make land available to the promoters of solar plants. The India Solar Power market size is expected to increase by USD 240.42 billion from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 35.24%. 

Solar energy is prominent in the spectrum of renewable energy sources due to its accessibility and scalability. Unlike some alternatives, solar projects can be deployed swiftly, rendering them a potent force in meeting India’s growing energy demands. The inherent decentralisation of solar infrastructure empowers communities and reduces strain on centralised grids.

As India strides purposefully towards a sustainable future, solar energy infrastructure becomes a cornerstone of this transformation. It signifies a change in energy sourcing and a holistic shift in economic growth, environmental stewardship, and geopolitical resilience. With every watt of solar energy harnessed, India illuminates a brighter, cleaner path for future generations.

The solar energy discourse couldn’t be timelier as the planet confronts the twin challenges of energy security and environmental sustainability. The Government has set an ambitious target of having 500 GW of installed renewable energy by 2030, including installing 280 GW of solar power. India’s steadfast commitment to renewable energy, underscored by ambitious targets, demonstrates the country’s resolve to tap into solar power’s potential.

Key Points of Discussion

• Energy Companies as Pillars: How energy companies drive solar projects through investments, technology, and operational expertise and advocate for sustainable practices.
• Community Engagement: Explore the vital role of communities as active stakeholders, catalysing solar adoption, project acceptance, and socio-economic growth. Understand how solar energy empowers local communities, intertwining sustainability with local empowerment.
• Blockchain’s Potential: How Blockchain can revolutionise solar energy dynamics, ushering in enhanced efficiency, security, and trust.

Chair

Dr Madhu P Pillai
Advisor (Special), Industry & Energy, CPPR

Dr Madhu Pillai is a Project Management Expert with more than 38 years of broad-based Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, and Power industry experience in Operations and Project Management in India, Nigeria, the USA, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Dr Pillai is an Engineer with a post-graduation in Management and a PhD in Strategic Project Management. He is a Fellow of many leading international organisations. Dr Pillai has spoken in more than 40 international conferences and also chaired many. He has also been part of the global director board of many leading non-profit professional organisations.

Speakers

Adv Megha Arora
Partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors

Adv Megha primarily focuses on the projects and energy sector and has over 18 years of experience in this vertical. She has assisted clients in all aspects of project development and operations, including setting-up of greenfield and brownfield projects. Her experience includes project/energy related joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions and cross-border investments, bid advisory, and advising on energy/project contracts. In the renewable energy sector Megha regularly advises solar and wind energy players on key legal issues in acquisitions and investments. In the oil & gas sector, she has been involved in advising on the project contracts for India’s key LNG terminals. In the banking and finance sector, she has led several project finance transactions for power, refinery and city gas distribution related projects. In the construction space, Megha has advised on several turnkey projects, infrastructure projects and other heavy engineering works. Her focus areas also include Smart Cities and Urban Infrastructure. Megha is well-positioned to offer clients fully-integrated legal representation as her experience includes representing developers, contractors and project operators, off takers, lenders and sponsors.

Dr Vinod Tiwari
Regional Mentor of Change (Gujarat) India, Atal Innovation Mission Official

Dr Vinod Tiwari served as an Engineering Director of the Telectron Group, a specialised engineering company provider of products and services including designing, installation, testing and storage infrastructure including- Solar Power System, Network power Batteries, Industrial UPS system and DC Power. In 2019,  Dr Tiwari got appointed as a ‘Regional – Mentor of Change’ for Gujarat State by NITI Aayog, AIM Team to support the Indian Government flagship initiative of Atal Tinkering Lab. A true veteran in the engineering industry, Dr Tiwari has been leading the UAE market since 2012. His charismatic leadership, technological know-how and operational expertise have transformed the company into a truly significant entity in ADNOC and Telecom Industry. He possesses two and a half decades of a chronicle success thereby having a background of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. Dr Vinod Tiwari is a sought after Speaker, Educator and Motivator, who conducted more than 130 seminars in India/UAE at various industry forums and conventions. He is known for his multi-faceted personality encompassing leadership, business, social work, philanthropic activities, promotion of culture, education and sports. As an acknowledged technical expert and thought leader in the solar industry innovation, he is also a regular contributor to various industries and is considered an authority in aspects related to power electronics industry. He has also authored a bestselling e-book “From Dreaming to Achieving, in LIFE”.

Dr Debajit Palit
Faculty at NTPC School of Business

Dr Debajit Palit has more than 25 years of experience working in the field of renewable energy and energy transition, clean energy access (SDG7), electricity policy and regulation, rural electrification, decentralised electricity solutions, energy-gender-poverty nexus, and water-energy-food nexus. He has been listed in the Top 2% World’s Scientists (last 3 years in a row) by Stanford University and Elsevier BV. Before joining the NTPC School of Business in April 2022 as faculty, Dr Palit was associated with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), an independent global research and policy think-tank, from 1998 to March 2022.

Dr Palit possesses vast national and international experience, working in projects for UN organisations, Bilateral organisations, The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and national governments across 17 countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. He has written widely on energy access and rural electrification issues and has published 3 books and around 145 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, books, and magazines. He is a sought-out speaker on rural energy issues, renewable energy mini-grids – technology and business models, water-energy-food, energy-livelihood, and energy-gender-poverty nexus and has participated in more than 100 national and international conferences and workshops across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Dr Palit is conversant with policy and programme formulation and have been part of various Government of India Committees and National/International Expert Groups on Energy & Rural Electrification and Jury Member for academic & corporate awards.

Dr Palit holds a Master’s degree in Physics and PhD in Energy Policy. The title of his doctoral thesis is “Towards convergence of grid and decentralised electricity solutions for effective rural electrification”.