Page 225 - Low Carbon Development in China and India
P. 225
improve energy security; augmentation of energy supply in rural areas
in a cost-effective manner to improve the quality of life; and reducing
the GHG emission impact from the energy conversion process.
India’s advantages in terms of endowment of natural resources
and the availability of scientific and industrial infrastructure has led
to engagement in leading-edge R&D in several key areas such as rural
energy, solar energy, energy from urban and industrial wastes, wind,
bio-mass and small hydro, ocean and geothermal energy, and new
technologies—fuel cells and hydrogen. Synergies are also being sought
with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for a more scientific
resource assessment and data validation of both wind and solar energy
potential. As part of the renewable energy programme in India, solar,
wind, biomass energy, and small hydropower is being considered as
important resources and have been a research focus for a number of
institutions within the country. The Solar Energy Centre is now the
autonomous National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) that acts as
the nodal agency for R&D. The Centre for Wind Energy Technology
(C-WET), Chennai, is now the autonomous National Institute of Wind
Energy (NIWE). The National Institute of Renewable Energy (NIRE)
will focus on research on bio-energy. The Alternate Hydro Energy
Centre (AHEC) established in Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee,
focuses on power generation through the development of Small
Hydropower projects. Efforts towards skill development are also
being promoted with the recently launched programme, Suryamitra
(Friends of the Sun) for Solar Energy and solar and biomass technician
courses under the vocational training programmes.
R&D for the renewable energy sector has witnessed growth in the
recent years. Outlay for R&D activities in the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, is presently around
INR 910 crore (approx. USD 152 million) in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan,
up from 525 crore (approx. USD 88 million) in the Eleventh Five-Year
Plan which funded 169 projects.
Table 1.1 provides an overview of the R&D projects supported by
the MNRE for various years.
Table 1.1 R&D Projects Supported by MNRE
Year(s) Total no. Amount Amount Areas
of projects (INR (USD
sanctioned crore) Solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, biogas,
million) hydrogen and wind hybrid systems
2014–15 22 N.A N.A
190 Low Carbon Development in China and India
in a cost-effective manner to improve the quality of life; and reducing
the GHG emission impact from the energy conversion process.
India’s advantages in terms of endowment of natural resources
and the availability of scientific and industrial infrastructure has led
to engagement in leading-edge R&D in several key areas such as rural
energy, solar energy, energy from urban and industrial wastes, wind,
bio-mass and small hydro, ocean and geothermal energy, and new
technologies—fuel cells and hydrogen. Synergies are also being sought
with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for a more scientific
resource assessment and data validation of both wind and solar energy
potential. As part of the renewable energy programme in India, solar,
wind, biomass energy, and small hydropower is being considered as
important resources and have been a research focus for a number of
institutions within the country. The Solar Energy Centre is now the
autonomous National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) that acts as
the nodal agency for R&D. The Centre for Wind Energy Technology
(C-WET), Chennai, is now the autonomous National Institute of Wind
Energy (NIWE). The National Institute of Renewable Energy (NIRE)
will focus on research on bio-energy. The Alternate Hydro Energy
Centre (AHEC) established in Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee,
focuses on power generation through the development of Small
Hydropower projects. Efforts towards skill development are also
being promoted with the recently launched programme, Suryamitra
(Friends of the Sun) for Solar Energy and solar and biomass technician
courses under the vocational training programmes.
R&D for the renewable energy sector has witnessed growth in the
recent years. Outlay for R&D activities in the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, is presently around
INR 910 crore (approx. USD 152 million) in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan,
up from 525 crore (approx. USD 88 million) in the Eleventh Five-Year
Plan which funded 169 projects.
Table 1.1 provides an overview of the R&D projects supported by
the MNRE for various years.
Table 1.1 R&D Projects Supported by MNRE
Year(s) Total no. Amount Amount Areas
of projects (INR (USD
sanctioned crore) Solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, biogas,
million) hydrogen and wind hybrid systems
2014–15 22 N.A N.A
190 Low Carbon Development in China and India
