The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) with its focus on solving the dual challenges of energy poverty within a green energy transition acts as a change catalyst in India’s evolving green ecosystem.
Mr. Saurabh Kumar, the Vice President (India) of GEAPP sheds light on the different initiatives and collaborations undertaken by GEAPP to support India’s clean energy transition and how India’s robust startup ecosystem can be leveraged to achieve its sustainability targets.
Q1: GEAPP’s vision has been geared towards scaling initiatives supporting India’s mission to achieve clean energy independence by 2047.
Could you throw some light on the key investment thesis of GEAPP in this regard and the broad areas that your initiatives are focused on?
The alliance’s catalytic philanthropic capital, in collaboration with a world-class consortium of institutions, will mobilise a step-change in financial and technical support to accelerate equitable energy transitions while scaling improvements in energy access, jobs, and livelihoods. The alliance’s core focus is on building transformational national programs that unleash an ecosystem of projects which can be aggregated, replicated, and scaled in order to advance our ambitions at a materially significant level.
As a pivotal contributor to the global energy transition, India represents one of GEAPP’s highest-priority markets. India has ambitious climate goals, which were declared at COP26. The government’s vision is to make India the global leader in creating an ecosystem that serves its sustainable development goals. GEAPP seeks to complement and activate this vision. The key GEAPP interventions will include the following:
Q2: GEAPP, with its recent collaboration with Ashoka University for the development of knowledge collateral for policymakers, has demonstrated the value it sees in building ecosystem-enhancing partnerships.
In what way do you see such partnerships being critical towards meeting the clean energy goals of India?
Partnerships play a crucial role in achieving the clean energy goals of India, and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) firmly believes in the value of building ecosystem-enhancing collaborations. GEAPP's recent partnership with Ashoka University for knowledge collateral development for policymakers is a prime example of our commitment to this approach.
Our collaboration with Ashoka University demonstrates the importance of knowledge-sharing and capacity-building for policymakers. Clean energy goals can only be effectively realised when policymakers as well as implementers, have access to accurate and up-to-date information, research, and expertise. By developing knowledge collateral in collaboration with esteemed institutions like Ashoka University, GEAPP ensures that policymakers are well-informed and equipped to make informed decisions and formulate effective policies for the clean energy transition.
In addition to this, as part of the B20, GEAPP is setting up a task force in collaboration with McKinsey and Co. on Energy, Climate Change, and Resource Efficiency (ECRE), comprising industry leaders from across the G20. As part of its policy brief to the G20, the ECRE task force will make recommendations in four key areas - enhancing global cooperation in accelerating Net-Zero transitions, improving climate finance and non-financial disclosures, ensuring a just and equitable transition and creating enabling regulatory frameworks, policies, business and financing models for resource efficiency. Our aim through this initiative is to outline the financial, technological, and regulatory actions needed by G20 nations by focusing on sectoral transitions, in sectors such as steel, power & transport, and to facilitate support from Global North to the Global South.
These partnerships are critical for meeting India's clean energy goals due to several reasons. They enable the pooling of resources, expertise, and technologies, creating a synergetic effect that can accelerate progress towards clean energy adoption. By combining the strengths and capabilities of different stakeholders, we can overcome challenges more effectively and efficiently.
Q3: The collaboration with Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd. (MAHAPREIT) is aimed at enabling the implementation of rooftop solar projects in Maharashtra for SMEs.
Could you share a little more about this collaboration and what is the nature of support that GEAPP would extend to the program for scaling up solarisation on the ground?
GEAPP is collaborating with MAHAPREIT to enable the implementation of 1000 MW solar projects in the state of Maharashtra. Under this partnership, GEAPP will enable the implementation of 500 MW of rooftop solar for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 500 MW of ground-mounted decentralised solar under the Prime Minister of India-led KUSUM program. The program will target enterprises across 105+ SME clusters with a scaling-up potential of 2.5 GW. The partnership will also support MAHAPREIT in managing, designing, and developing investment projects. With this project, GEAPP will solarize agriculture feeders and SMEs, impacting 1 million lives across the state by 2026.
Q4: GEAPP has also tied up with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to set up a $35 million fund to help boost energy access and the energy transition in South and Southeast Asia.
What are some of the kinds of innovations that this Fund is looking to support in India?
GEAPP's collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to establish a $35 million trust fund marks another significant step towards advancing energy access and promoting the energy transition in South and Southeast Asia. By allocating funds to address energy access gaps, GEAPP and ADB aim to uplift underserved regions and ensure that clean and sustainable energy is accessible to all. The fund will play a pivotal role in financing projects and initiatives that promote renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and the adoption of innovative technologies. This collaboration between GEAPP and ADB will support the development and implementation of sustainable energy solutions, ultimately contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved environmental sustainability, and enhanced resilience to climate change impacts.
Q5: GEAPP has announced its ENTICE programme to support startup innovations. Could you share a little more about this programme?
What kinds of solutions do you see having the potential to reach scale and support the sustainable energy transition?
ENTICE is an initiative that aims to encourage and mainstream innovation in energy transition and climate change among young people who comprise more than half of the global workforce. An annual flagship project, ENTICE will conduct hackathons and challenges with the aim of:
We have identified 4 key focus areas:
With its growing startup ecosystem, India has tremendous scope to take center stage when devising innovative and effective ways of reaching our sustainability targets. To accelerate India’s progress towards its goals, deploying new strategies, models, and approaches driven by innovation will be crucial.
Q6: As we see increasing investments in large-scale renewable energy projects, what areas within the clean energy value chain merit greater commercial investments and could help build greater efficiency of large-scale renewable energy solutions?
GEAPP acknowledges the growing investments in large-scale renewable energy projects and recognizes the importance of identifying areas within the clean energy value chain that warrant greater commercial investments. By focusing on these areas, we can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of large-scale energy solutions.
One area that merits greater commercial investments is battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS will be an integral part of the distribution infrastructure, providing grid-balancing services that will enable large volumes of RE integration. GEAPP has been engaging with DISCOMs to roll out the first wave of grid-connected BESS projects to demonstrate the commercial and technical viability of BESS at the distribution end. GEAPP is working with a consortium of technical, regulatory & policy, investment, and carbon market development experts to develop a commercially viable BESS scale-up pathway.
Another crucial area for commercial investments is digitization of grid infrastructure. Utilities today face immense pressure as the traditional grid evolves into an intelligent, data-intensive, and distributed energy network to deliver on the sustainable energy transition goals. In this regard, GEAPP is introducing the DUET Program, which will support utilities in their digitalization journey with the goal of improving data analytics capabilities, dynamic demand-side management & enhancing renewable/DER penetration.
Mr. Saurabh Kumar, India Head, GEAPP is an Indian Revenue Service officer of 1992 batch. He joined Indian Revenue Service as Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax and worked as Deputy Commissioner in various sensitive intelligence assignments. After IRS he joined the Union Ministry of Power, Government of India as Deputy Secretary in charge of the Budget and Finance wing with the task of appraising large power projects for government investments.
Saurabh successfully led Energy Efficiency Services Limited in implementing energy efficiency projects such as UJALA, SNLP, MEEP, and AgDSM. Saurabh has also worked in various capacities in the Income Tax Department, Ministry of Power, and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
One of the key projects implemented under his leadership is one of the world’s largest CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) based efficient lighting projects. An environmentalist, he has served the UN on deputation handling environmental issues in the Asia-pacific region. Saurabh has a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, and has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan
Background of GEAPP
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is an alliance of philanthropy, local entrepreneurs, governments, and technology, policy, and financing partners driving the transition to a sustainable energy future. Through international collaboration and innovation, it works towards reducing carbon emissions, expanding energy access, and enabling sustainable livelihoods.
