Mainstreaming The Role Of Innovation In India

ENTICE is aimed at creating an ecosystem for innovators to devise innovative solutions that will accelerate India’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is dedicated to incentivizing innovations at scale for energy transitions with Series ‘A’ funding, market linkages and mentorship.

In the recently concluded first edition of the program, the focus was on offering solution to four problem statements laid out at the commencement of the challenge:

• Designing and developing an energy storage system with a total capital cost below USD 200/kWh with any chemistry or repurposed batteries for a lot size of 100 MWh.
• Developing a distributed renewable energy demand aggregator, including land banks and roof-tops in a contiguous area, through a tech-based platform with a minimum aggregation of 100 MW.
• Devising a scalable and innovative financial and technical solution to bring down the DRE tariff to INR 4 per unit or lower with a minimum capacity of 20KW.
• Developing an AI/ML based tool that assesses the efficiency levels of equipment used in households and provides the techno-commercial benefits of using higher efficiency equipment, using data from smart meters

The program received 400 entries at the close of the application process in August this year. Out of which, 200 applications received were selected in the initial screening process. After which, during the first screening, 120 proposals were shortlisted for technical evaluation and, subsequently, 40 were selected for business evaluation. In the business evaluation process, 13 finalists have been selected through a process that involved a boot camp, an investor marketplace, and jury pitches. After a rigorous evaluation process, four winning solutions from Amperehour, Cancrie, Vflowtech and ReConnect Energy were selected, and felicitated at The Energy Transition Dialogues (TETD) held in New Delhi from 1 - 3 November 2023. Innovative solutions from Ushva and Epvi were considered for special recognition.

As a global initiative to expand the deployment of grid-tied battery energy storage systems, in collaboration with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St?re of Norway and the Global Leadership Council (GLC) of the GEAPP, an attempt is being made to expand the deployment of renewable energy generation capacity. The first pilot project in India to test the business model, with a view to expanding to 4-5 DISCOMs, has been initiated.

As home to over one billion people, among whom young people form a considerable part of the demographics, there is a tremendous scope for India to devise innovative and effective ways of reaching sustainability targets. GEAPP has been at the forefront of helping various states in the energy transition process. The Alliance is accelerating the deployment of solar agri-feeders to energize India’s farmers for both irrigation and cold-chain services. The work is underway in Maharashtra and Odisha, where 1GW of projects are being implemented under the PM-KUSUM scheme. Other projects include rooftop solar solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to reduce their power tariff burden.

“Through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions, GEAPP in India is dedicated to empowering India’s energy sector. The ENTICE program is designed to mainstream innovators and entrepreneurs in solving critical problems, which will help India become a leader in renewable energy, offer a blueprint to lift other emerging economies out of energy poverty, and deliver successful energy transitions”, stated Saurabh Kumar, Vice President - India, GEAPP.

To accelerate India’s progress towards its energy and sustainability goals, GEAPP believes it will be crucial to deploy new strategies, models, and approaches driven by innovation. GEAPP plans to include early-stage financing, market development support, unparalleled networks, strategic insights, and operational handholding for building deep-innovation driven ventures in further additions to ENTICE.