Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL), a power distribution company (DISCOM), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore possibilities for collaboration at the electric utility level in the areas of grid-connected solar rooftop, energy storage systems, electric vehicles, smart grid initiatives, and energy efficiency measures.

The MoU provides a framework for the companies to jointly work toward achieving common goals in the areas of collaboration. Under the agreement, the pair will also conduct research related to those areas and jointly organize capacity building programs for channel partners, project developers, financial institutions, government departments, distribution utilities, and public-sector units.

“With approximately 10 GW of solar estimated to be installed in 2017, the share of renewables in the electricity generation mix in India is increasing at a rapid pace. Partnerships like this will be important going forward for Indian utilities to learn and implement the best practices in integrating renewable energy to the grid,” said Raj Prabhu CEO of Mercom Capital Group.

“The collaboration with an institution like GIZ will provide the impetus towards the adoption of clean, efficient, and smart technology in the utility space. We are confident that the collaboration will help us to learn and achieve greener and sustainable solutions,” said Praveer Sinha, chief executive officer and managing director of TPDDL.

“We expect the collaboration with TPDDL will help us in designing and implementing tailored solutions by developing a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by distribution utilities in promoting mature clean technologies like rooftop photovoltaics. We are proud to state that Tata Power DDL is the first utility in India officially joining GIZ in the effort to install 5 GW of distributed solar power by promoting standardized rooftop PV systems for the broader mass by the year 2022,” said Joerg Gaebler, principal advisor of GIZ.

The MoU aims to pave way for technical cooperation between the two organizations that will help to mitigate climate change by promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. The MoU also furthers other work already being done by GIZ in India. In August 2017, GIZ and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) signed a technical cooperation agreement under the “Indo-German Energy Program – Green Energy Corridors (IGEN-GEC)” to improve the framework for market mechanisms and regulations for the integration of renewable energies.

Recently, TPDDL embarked on a project under which it will install 250,000 smart meters in north and northwest Delhi by the end of 2018.

Image credit: TPDDL