Blue Circle, a cleantech-centered professional network and creator of India’s premier EV Conference EVConIndia, successfully hosted its flagship renewable energy conference REConIndia 2023 – Powering India’s Green Energy Vision 2030, in association with Hero Future Energies.
Speaking on the occasion, Alexander Hogeveen Rutter, Private Sector Specialist, International Solar Alliance said, “PM Modi’s vision for a cleaner, greener India is inspiring and has set the country on an ambitious path towards renewable energy. With a significant portion of waste land at its disposal, India has the potential to unlock enormous opportunities by utilizing it for setting up solar projects. The development of floating solar fields is another area of exploration which presents a unique advantage that the land beneath the panels can be used for farming by farmers who may have given up their land. Not only will these help to ease the path towards achieving country’s renewable energy targets, but it will also help to generate employment and spur economic growth in rural areas. It is, therefore, a strong framework for the development of solar projects on waste land can help build a sustainable and self-reliant India.”
Based on the discussion, a White Paper will be prepared on Solar power challenges, roadmap to make Green hydrogen viable, propelling wind energy and state of Green financing in India.
Siddharth Anand, Founder and CEO, Blue Circle said, “REConIndia 2023 brought together key decision-makers, thought leaders, and experts from across the industry, creating a platform for collaborative thinking and problem-solving. We are delighted to enable a well-considered dialogue to advance the agenda forward in India’s transition towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable energy future. Blue Circle is committed to driving the renewable energy and cleantech agenda forward to enable the growth of renewable energy in India and promote a more resilient and sustainable future for all.”
“As per the industry estimates, India require investment in excess of USD 20 billion in 2023,” Siddharth added.
REConIndia 2023 focused on addressing critical issues such as:
· Addressing the Solar Challenges: Lack of Domestic Manufacturing, Space Scarcity, Low Tariffs, Lukewarm Response from DISCOMS & Waste Management
· Green Hydrogen: Need for a Strategic foresight to establish flexible supply chains, invest in research, development, and demonstration to drive down the cost of electrolysis and workforce capabilities for the future
· Propelling Wind Energy: Repowering older wind turbines, Change in the Bidding Mechanisms & Charting the Roadmap for Offshore Wind Farms
· The Landscape of Green Finance in India
· Paving the road for Energy Storage: Remedial solutions for Paucity of Minerals, Perceived Upfront Costs, Diverse Technical Requirements and Policy interventions.
While inaugurating the conference, Chairman Blue Circle and MTaI, Pavan Choudary said, “There is increasing awareness and sensitivity towards sustainability. Many sectors have started initiating positive changes. For example, the medical equipment sector is taking a lead by planning longer working lives for the chassis of their products and medical disposable manufacturers are exploring the use of bio-degradable materials to reduce the environmental impact of their products. Hope REConIndia 2023 will underscore the fact that sustainability is not just the responsibility of sectors involved in renewable energy production, transmission, and consumption, but a shared responsibility that requires action and collaboration across different sectors and disciplines.”
The conference was addressed by eminent industry leaders and experts. Some of the eminent speakers were Kapil Maheshwari, Leader – Renewable Energy & Green Hydrogen, Reliance Industries Ltd; Raman Chadha, CEO, GAIL Gas; Mohit Bhargava, CEO, NTPC Renewables; Pankaj Sindwani, Chief Business Officer, Tata Cleantech Capital; Balram Mehta, Group President – ReNew Services, Business & Member of Management Board, ReNew Power; Rajesh Cherayil, Chief Strategy Officer, PTC India; Narendra Kumar Verma, Chief Operating Officer, CleanMax; Dhanpal Jhaveri, Vice Chairman, Everstone Group; Tobias Winter, Director, Indo-German Energy Forum Support Office (IGEF-SO); Jami Hossain, Vice President and Technical Chair, World Wind Energy Association (WWEA); Alexander Hogeveen Rutter, Private Sector Specialist, International Solar Alliance; Jitendra Kumar, Head – Project Finance, Hero Future Energies; Gagan Sidhu, Director, CEEW; and Bimal Jindal, Head – Green Energy Development, Larsen & Toubro.
While speaking during the session on “Addressing the Solar Challenges,” CEO, NTPC Renewables, Mohit Bhargava said, “As India races towards its target of achieving 280 GW of solar energy by 2030, it is imperative to increase the production of solar power. Given the significant dependence on China for solar modules, India needs to step up its efforts to establish a robust domestic solar module manufacturing ecosystem. While the government’s PLI scheme holds promise, it may take time to yield results. Therefore, a holistic approach towards increasing domestic production capacities and incentivizing domestic manufacturing is critical to meet India’s renewable energy goals.”
Pankaj Sindwani, Chief Business Officer, Tata Cleantech Capital said, “Our journey of project financing in clean energy sector has proved to be both environmentally responsible and financially viable. In order to capitalize on this potential, it is imperative that we increase our efforts to attract global investment and compete more aggressively. Looking ahead, I am optimistic about the continued growth and prosperity of the clean energy sector.”
R.P.V. Prasad, CEO-India, Envision Energy said, “As a renewable energy source, wind energy is expected to play a significant role in India’s energy mix in the coming years. It is projected that wind energy will contribute around 25% of the total renewable energy production in India by 2030, and will continue to be an integral part of the country’s energy security targets. With the government’s focus on expanding the use of clean energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, wind energy is poised to play a crucial role in meeting India’s energy needs while also promoting sustainable development.”
REConIndia 2023 witnessed animated participation by more than 250 subject matter experts, policymakers, innovators, investors, and startup founders gathered to have different perspectives on how to accelerate the renewable energy stride in India.
