Indo-German Energy Forum
Project description
Title: Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Country: India
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Power (MoP), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
Overall term: 2006 to 2023
Context
The Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) was founded in April 2006 in order to promote and further strategic political dialogue on the ongoing transformation of energy systems in the two countries.
The project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), is advising and supporting the German and Indian Governments in their work to contribute to global energy system transformation and promote the Indian energy market in its transformation process.
The project supporting the IGEF is part of the global project Support for Bilateral Energy Partnerships in Developing and Emerging Countries. GIZ is assisting the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) in implementating and developing strategies for energy partnerships (EP) with Algeria, Brazil, Chile, China, Ethiopia, India, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia, and in establishing new dialogue structures with other developing countries and emerging economies.
Objective
The Indo-German Energy Forum has established itself as a bilateral platform for exchanging on experiences, opportunities and challenges in global energy system transformation. Strategic cooperation projects have been successfully initiated by IGEF and the two governments are increasingly implementing rapid energy system transformation.
Approach
Strategic cooperation projects between the German and Indian Governments, research institutions and the private sector are the main objectives of the project.
The thematic priorities in IGEF are:
- Energy efficiency
- Renewable energies
- Energy security
- Investment in energy projects
- Ensuring sustainable development through cooperative research and development
The IGEF Steering Committee meets annually and provides a platform for dialogue with key policy-makers and representatives of industry associations, financial institutions and research organisations. At working level, four sub-groups have been established and regularly meet to discuss the following topics:
- Making thermal powerplants more flexible
- Renewable energies
- Energy efficiency
- Green energy corridors
With the support of GIZ, a permanent secretariat in India has been set up to support the activities of the energy partnership regarding content and organisation. It serves as an expert point of contact and information platform for all stakeholders and interested parties.
Results
Germany and India support each other in achieving their energy policy goals by exchanging knowledge, promoting investment and cooperating on energy research and development.
Since the establishment of the Indo-German Energy Forum, hundreds of workshops and study trips have been organised and IGEF’s activities have been presented at energy industry conferences, meetings and events. The cooperation projects and activities initiated since the establishment of IGEF include:
- Initiation of the ComSolar Programme, which demonstrates the potential benefits of integrating solar technology into urban areas and industry. Successful activities include photovoltaic system installations on the roof of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
- Construction of a pilot plant, which simultaneously generates electricity, heats and cools at the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre in New Delhi.
- Introduction of a nationwide solar measurement and monitoring programme (SolMap) in coooperation with the partner institute NIWE. The programme provides reliable data on solar radiation and on monitoring of solar system efficiency. The data are published via the Global Solar and Wind Atlas of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
- Large-scale integration of renewable energies into the Indian power grid. This was made possible by the Green Energy Corridors Programme and by increasing the versatility of coal-fired power plants.
Last update: December 2022