Stakeholder Engagement to Fast Track Grid Connected Projects under JNNSN

TERI, in association with Department for International Development, UK (DFID) and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) as knowledge partner, organized a special event titled "Stakeholder Engagement to Fast Track Grid Connected Projects under JNNSM" on February 5, 2014 during the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) 2014 in Amaltas Hall, India Habitat Centre. This event was a part of the consultation under the project 'Development of a Roadmap for the Larger and Faster Implementation Programme on Solar Energy Sector', supported by DFID and TERI with internal funds and assisted by REEEP through its South Asia Secretariat.

A welcome remark and setting of the context was done by Mr Amit Kumar, Regional Programme Advisor, REEEP SA. The special address was delivered by Mr Phil Marker, Counsellor, Energy Climate and Growth Unit, British High Commission, followed by an inaugural address by Mr Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, MNRE, Government of India.

Mr Kapoor highlighted seven key issues which are acting as bottlenecks in the uptake of the sector. Two issues relating to Effectiveness of RPO and REC Mechanism, and Challenges and Scope of Infrastructure Availability for Solar Projects, were discussed elaborately in the panel discussions. . The Former session was moderated by Mr K Ramanathan, Distinguished fellow, TERI and second by Mr S Vijay Kumar, Distinguished Fellow, TERI. Mr S K Chatterjee, Jt Chief (Regulatory Affairs), CERC and Mr Rajendra Nimje, MD, SECI, delivered opening remarks for the panel discussions 1 and 2, respectively. The first panel discussion saw senior representatives from POSOCO, NVVN, IEX, and REConnect Energy sharing their views on effectiveness of RPO and REC Mechanism. Second panel discussion, which focussed specifically on land, had senior representatives from SECI, AREVA Solar, Department of Land Resources, and FRI providing their inputs on addressing concerns regarding land availability for solar projects.

This consultation saw an active participation by over 50 people from government representatives, SNAs, funding agencies, academia, project developers, consultancies, technology providers, research institutes, etc.