EU INDIA TCP

ENERGY

EU-India Technical
Cooperation Project: Energy
Since 2014

Developed by:
EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy
DCI/ASIE/2014/343-602 LOT 1
 Mission Statement
The EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy, is formed under the joint collaboration
of European Union and Government of India. The project is operational since September
2014 and has provided its assistance to Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Ministry Of Power), Solar
Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
The project provides beneficiaries and participants with the opportunity to enhance their
technical and institutional capacity. The major aim is to create enabling environment for
implementation of climate friendly energy efficient technologies through increasing
awareness amongst public and private sectors. The mandate of the project is:

· Capacity building to support the exchange of best practices and

implementation and enforcement of existing regulations and policies by
organizing seminars, training courses, studies and study tours;

· Awareness raising, visibility creation and communication activities for policy

development, policy implementation and technology deployment,
particularly through networking and exchange of European best practices;

· Providing support to the expansion of New & Renewable Energy Sources

through:

• Activities supporting the government policies and issues related to

expansion of renewable energy in India;

• Exchanging best practices on technical standards and regulatory

incentives for the effective management of renewable energy sources;

• Raising awareness with local authorities and private sector on new

opportunities for development in less developed areas using green
energy sources.
Technical Cooperation with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
The project aimed to develop enabling environment, i.e., the regulatory, legal and fiscal framework
required at state and local administrative level for implementation of the Local Action Plan and for the
effective promotion of energy efficiency. Under the cooperation project, ECBC cells were developed in
4 states of Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.

Session at 'Sharing of EU and Indian best practices on strengthening legislation for energy efficient buildings'.

The development process included preparation of concept notes, organization of trainings and
workshops for supporting BEE in structuring the new projects and sharing the best practices of both
Europe and India for strengthening the legislations for Energy Efficient Buildings.

Technical Cooperation with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI):

To support India's national policies and programmes for development of New and Renewable Energy
sources and related economic and employment activities, in particular for Solar, the project assisted
Solar Energy Corporation of India in development of Solar Parks Program in the country.

Investor's Guide for Solar Parks in India,

Published in Feb. 2016
The EU-India project team supported SECI (State Energy Corporation of India) in
Solar Parks Program and developed Investors Guide on financing solar parks in
India.

It highlighted the renewable energy scenario and provided the potential and
framework for growth in India. Besides, the investment and financing
opportunities were showcased along with the schemes available and necessary
clearances required.

EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy 3

 Supported International Solar Alliance
(ISA)
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an
alliance of more than 121 countries formed with
the primary objective to work for efficient
exploitation of solar energy to reduce
dependence on fossil fuels. The initiative was
launched by the Prime Minister of India during
the United Nations Climate Change Conference
in Paris in November 2015.

The EU-India Technical Project supported the

alliance and developed its logo. The logo with
121 dots represents the ISA prospective member
countries. The official transfer of the copyright
from the EU to the ISA Secretariat was held on
Friday, 11 May 2018. The EU is also supporting
the ISA through the European Investment Bank
(EIB), the largest climate financier in the world.
ISA interim DG, Mr. Upendra Tripathi and EU Ambassador India was the leading recipient of the EIB
to India- Mr. Tomaz Kozlowski with other officials during financing for solar investment outside the
the ISA logo transfer event
European Union, both in 2017 and over all since
2013.
Renewable Energy Mission to Europe
A Renewable Energy Mission to Europe was organized in February 2016 by the EU-India project
team, wherein a delegation of Indian officials visited European Countries and experienced the solar
technological expertise and best practices.

Indian officials on the mission to Spain

4 EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy

Technical Cooperation with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE):
PV Rooftop Cell
To contribute towards India's sustainable and inclusive development objectives, MNRE and
European Union formed the PV Rooftop Cell under the "Technical Cooperation for Project: Energy"
in India. The cell started its operations in July 2016 and is assisting MNRE in its constant endeavor to
promote and implement Grid Connected and Small Power Plant Programme in India. The highlights
of the activities of the PV Rooftop Cell are as follows:

Enhancement of SPIN Portal

Solar Photovoltaic Installation (SPIN) portal developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is a
national database of the solar rooftop installations across India. The portal also assists MNRE in
management of some of its processes. The SPIN portal can be accessed using
www.solarrooftop.gov.in.

The PV Rooftop Cell supported the MNRE and National Informatics Centre (NIC) for modification of
SPIN (Solar Photovoltaic Installation) Portal undertaking the following measures:
• Improved and simplified data collection process;
• Reviewed & analysed rooftop solar data;
• Identified and reported deficiencies;
• Developed feature to track the Public Sector
Undertakings (PSU) PMC activities;
• Organized trainings & webinars for SNA and
Installers.

Information Guide on GCRT Programme

As a part of the clean energy commitments, India plans to install 40,000 MW of grid connected
rooftop solar systems by 2022. Accordingly, to support this target, the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the “Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants
Programme (GCRT)” in the year 2014.

To support the programme, a coherent information guide was developed by the PV Rooftop Cell,
aiming to provide information about Rooftop Solar business models, stakeholders, promotional
schemes, and policies as also new initiatives at one place to raise awareness amongst the general
public.

Information guide launched by Secretary, MNRE in January 2017

EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy 5

ARUN Mobile Application
In-order to create awareness and provide easy access to the information about Rooftop Solar,
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, introduced a mobile application “ARUN 2 - Atal Rooftop
Solar User Navigator”, developed by the NIC.

The PV Rooftop Cell assisted MNRE in development of database of state specific RTS schemes
regulations, policies & FAQs for the mobile app.

Single Window Clearance Portals

With an aim to ease & expedite the implementation of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's
(MNRE) Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme (GCRT) in the country, PV
Rooftop Cell developed a “Single Window Clearance Portal” to bring all major state specific
stakeholders involved in the grid connected rooftop solar implementation on a single online
platform. The first portal was developed for NCT of Delhi, it can be accessed at
www.solarrooftop.gov.in/delhi/

Understanding the need and requirement of such portals in the country, MNRE directed the PV
Rooftop Cell to develop such portals for RTS implementation in various states.

The key features of the portal are

• Optimized process flow • Replicability/Scalability

• User friendly • Data analytics
• Process tracking & monitoring • Integrated with MNRE SPIN portal
• Single database • Multilingual
• Data security

Welcome page of Single Window Clearance portals for Delhi & Goa

6 EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy

Rooftop Solar Knowledge Centre (PVTECH mobile app)
PVTECH is the only of its kind of mobile app in the country that provides one-stop comprehensive
& updated information on Grid Connected Rooftop Solar PV Systems. It helps to understand the
basics, technology, policy & finance aspects related to rooftop solar PV systems.

Not only this, consumers can submit their interest for installation of rooftop solar system simply
through this app.

Developed by “PV Rooftop Cell”, the app can be easily replicated & adopted based on the state
specific requirements & will assist the state nodal agencies in its constant endeavor to promote
grid connected solar rooftop systems across the states.

Special features of the mobile app are

Profile based information for user e.g. Quick consumer registration & Installer
Industrial, Residential etc. selection
State specific information for eg. Continuous assistance to enrich
incentives, regulations, policies etc. knowledge of the user

PVTECH for Delhi

EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy 7

Workshops & Conferences
One of the main agenda of the PV Rooftop Cell is to promote the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar
and Small Power Plant Programme across the country. In this context, the PV Rooftop Cell
organized and participated in various public promotion activities, technical discussions,
conferences and stakeholder consultations across the country.

Workshops, Conferences and Webinars organized by PV Rooftop Cell

Reports prepared by PV Rooftop Cell

Guidelines for making solar ready rooftops in India

Having solar resource in abundance across the country, India

has set for itself an ambitious target of installing 40 GWp of
Rooftop Solar plants by the year 2022. Despite being
profitable for a majority of consumers, India has been able to
install only 2.5 GWp of rooftop PV systems till March, 18. This
can be attributed to a number of factors, the site/ roof
feasibility being one of them. Owing to a number of unfitting
site conditions (eg. lack of shadow free area, low load bearing
capacity etc.), the consumers cannot install or are forced to
either install a sub optimal PV system or install the system at a
higher cost, thus affecting the viability and the overall profits
which could have been generated by the PV system. Once the
building is constructed, there is no or very little scope for
modifications to remove these unfitting site conditions, hence
making it important to foresee the solar PV installation during
the building design stage. Considering these issues, PV
Rooftop Cell prepared guidelines to make the rooftops (Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) and
Metal Sheet) of the upcoming new buildings solar ready to harness the potential to the fullest
extent.

8 EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy

Operation & Maintenance contract between Owner and
Contractor for Rooftop Solar Plant installed under CAPEX
model

An Operation & maintenance contract establishes a

contractual relationship between the plant owner, and the
Contractor of the project. It performs essential role in the
operations phase of the plant, and has a significant impact on
the projects' long-term sustainability and profitability.
Accordingly, “The Contract” is a key document from both the
point of view of the Owner and the Contractor.

PV Rooftop Cell prepared a template for Operation &

Maintenance Contract which can be used for subsidized
projects installed under CAPEX model.

Minimum Technical Standards & Code of Practice for Grid

Connected Rooftop Solar Installation in India

Quality aspect of the RTS installation is compromised at

various instances across the country due to the absence of
the standardization of minimum technical standards of the
components and code of practice for installation across the
country, which is very essential for the successful mass-scale
implementation of grid connected rooftop solar programme.
Therefore, to work towards a technically strong and quality-
controlled rooftop solar implementation environment, PV
Rooftop Cell submitted a proposal of minimum technical
standards & code of practice that may be followed for grid
connected rooftop solar installation in India.

The EU has been working closely with Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy through this Technical Cooperation Project since 2014. This
collaborative partnership has successfully contributed to Government of
India's renewable energy targets - boosting technological support, sharing
innovative European experiences and devising sustainable solutions.

H.E. Mr. Tomasz Kozlowski

Ambassador of the European Union to India

EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy 9

CVs of the relevant officials
Ms. Smita Singh - Senior Project Manager, EU Delegation to India
Ms. Smita Singh is a socio-economic development professional with over 17 years of experience of working in
international agencies. She is presently with the European Union in India, working as a Senior Programme
Manager responsible for projects focussing on sustainable development in sectors including renewable energy,
energy-efficiency, climate change as well as sustainable urbanisation including transport and green housing. She
holds a Post-Graduate diploma in IT Management from Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management Delhi and
has participated in several trainings and workshops related to clean energy and climate change. Ms. Singh is the
Project Manager for the EU Technical Assistance programme to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE),
Government of India acting as a key interface for discussions with the MNRE.

Juan LEKUBE INSAUSTI - Project Manager

Holds a MSc in Mechanical Engineering (2001) and has a Postgraduate diploma in Design of Chemical Plants
(2007). Besides, he has a Project Management Professional certificate issued by the Project Management Institute
(2011). Juan has 17 years of experience and is specialized in environmental engineering having participated in a
lot of waste management and renewable energy projects.
For two years he acted as project manager of the EC funded Technical Assistance to support the MNRE in the
implementation of the solar rooftop programme. He is currently managing two other EC funded projects in
Cyprus and Lebanon. He is a permanent employee and a partner of Idom.

Pedro Fernández Oyón - Project Manager

M. Sc. in Industrial Engineering with over 19 years of experience, Pedro Fernández has been the project manager
of many international projects. Currently he is the Project Manager of IDOM for international technical assistance
projects related to the environment and clean energies. He has carried out energy and environment related
projects: for Gas, Electricity and Telecommunications infrastructures and supervision of industrial installation
works. He has also dealt with different industrial plants such as biodiesel production plants, biomass gasification,
power generation plants, seawater desalination plants and facilities for waste management.

Marek Zabarowski - Team Leader

Graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Poland and awarded with a fellowship on
environmental economics by Hubert Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota. Since 2014 he is the Team
Leader of the EU-India Technical Cooperation Project, cooperating with all nodal Solar agencies India. In Poland,
Vice-President of the Institute of Environmental Economics, leader of Efficient Poland – an alliance of Polish
stakeholders (think-tanks, local governments, NGOs and business associations); Consultant to numerous state
and international institutions and companies, e.g. the European Commission, OECD, World Bank, ARUP, RPS,
ECORYS, Scott-Willson.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh - Managing Director, Thinkstep

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh- Managing Director, thinkstep Sustainability Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a Civil Engineer, M.Tech
in Environment Management from IIT Kharagpur and PhD in Sustainability Management from IIT Mumbai. He has
more than 18 years’ experience in Steel Authority of India Limited and has 25 years of experience in Sustainability
and Environment Management. He has delivered several leadership training on sustainability strategy and risks
mitigation and delivered environmental awareness training. He has published more than 10 papers on
international journals and has vast experience in sustainability reporting and conducting several technical
reviews.

Archak Pattanaik
Archak is a post graduate in Environmental Chemistry from National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela and
M.Tech in Energy and Environmental Management from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. 20 years work
experience in implementing energy efficiency programs and climate change mitigation projects on renewable
energy and waste management, greening of supply chain for automotive, textile and footwear sector,
greenhouse gas (GHG)/carbon foot printing.

10 EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy

Anjana Shanmugavel
Anjana Shanmugavel is a sustainability management professional with 7+ years’ of global experience working
across the manufacturing, consulting and development sectors on sustainable business operations. Anjana
supported the EU-India Technical Cooperation Energy project with the engagement with Solar Energy Corporate
of India (SECI) on the Solar Parks program; representing the consortium member thinkstep AG. She has a
Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from Anna University, Chennai and a Masters in Science
degree in Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh".

Mr. Gagan Devaiah Kechira

An engineer, with Masters in Electrical Engineering & Renewable Energy Systems from University of Leeds, UK.
Over 6 years’ experience in renewable energy and green buildings. Working at GRIHA Council for a year and a
half, managing Business Development, Trainings and Rating Reviews. Previously, Expert Consultant for ‘PV
Rooftop Cell’ set up at the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. Represented the Ministry at various State level
workshops and conferences. As a Project Engineer – Buildings Programme at the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, he
aided in the promotion and implementation of energy efficiency programmes in buildings including “Energy
Conservation Building Code (ECBC)”.

Atul Dhir
Atul Dhir is currently a Sr. Indian Expert, consulting the rooftop solar energy related and allied activities at the PV
Rooftop Cell. He received his MBA from United Business Institutes, Brussels with specialization in Power
Management. He also holds a diploma & graduate degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering. Atul has
been closely associated with the conventional energy generation and rooftop solar energy domain since 2011.

Mrinal Madas
Holding a Master’s degree in Power Management and a Bachelor of Engineering in Power from National Power
Training Institute, Mrinal Madas is presently working under the EU India Technical Cooperation project since Dec
2016 as a member of the PV Rooftop Cell. Till date, Mrinal has been instrumental in managing numerous solar
projects and developed business for renewable energy generating companies in India.

Harpreet Singh
Harpreet works as an Indian Expert with the PV Rooftop Cell. He has prior experience of business development,
project management & liaisoning while working with renewable energy generating & consultancy companies.
He graduated as an electrical engineer from Apeejay College of Engineering and holds accreditation for post -
graduation in finance from Symbiosis.

Ila Singh
A Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University and holding Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and
Advertising, Ila possess more than two decades of extensive multi-disciplinary experience in Communications
and event management, having worked for The Netherlands Embassy as Sr. Policy Advisor - Public Diplomacy
and later freelancing for a number of projects. As a Communication Consultant with the PV Solar Rooftop Cell,
she is presently involved in drafting the communication strategy, content development and production of
promotional collaterals.

EU-India Technical Cooperation Project: Energy 11

Notes
Ms. Smita Singh
Sr. Project Manager
Delegation of the European Union
Email: smita.singh@eeas.europa.eu
CONTACT DETAILS:
MNRE PV Rooftop Cell Ms. Veena Sinha
EU- India Technical Director, International Relations
Cooperation Project: Energy Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Email: cell@pvrooftop.in Email: veena.sinha@nic.in