Backed by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and government teams in India, and delivered by Energy Systems Catapult in partnership with the Indian Institute for Science (IISc), ITES will support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to test, fund and fast-track their innovations to market that help decarbonise transport in India and the UK.

ITES will offer a ‘soft-landing’ for the SMEs, helping to safely develop, test and export solutions that help decarbonise transport. The collaboration will also help SMEs tackle scalability with go-to-market support and access to potential clients, funders and investment.

This first cohort of 20 UK-based SMEs includes teams in the fields of intelligent electricity system services, battery management, charging systems, energy storage, fleet optimisation, hydrogen and rail.

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The different working areas and their respective SMEs include:

Intelligent electricity system Services

• Flock Energy, which uses machine learning to transform energy usage in factories and help them digitalise their operations. The company has developed proprietary algorithms that optimise energy consumption, improving efficiency and productivity.
  
• Terranow, which uses the potential of generative AI to unlock optimal efficiency in the generation and use of energy through focused solutions for forecasting, control and coordination.

Battery recycling and management

• Aceleron Energy, which develops advanced lithium batteries, aiming to accelerate the global shift to cleaner, more renewable energy and to drive sustainable battery technology.
  
• Faraday Battery Limited, which manufactures battery-packs up to 1MW scale for electric vehicles, including tractors, vans, buses and trucks. vehicle, it significantly reduces the lifecycle cost of the electric bus/truck.
  
• Nexmu, which focuses primarily on electric mobility and energy storage. The Nexmu team has integrated its battery management system and related capabilities in the electric powertrain into a single cloud-based platform.

Charging systems

• char.gy, which manufactures amd operatres charging infrastructure, funding, installing, operating and maintaining EV charge points for private landlords and local authorities for their residents who do not have off-street parking.
  
• Entrust Microgrid, chich specialises in smart microgrid systems that maximise user benefits from embedded solar PV, energy storage system, EV charger and other smart energy appliances, and provide the grid with flexibility.
  
• Petalite, which is a second-generation EV charging company that aims to solve the challenges impeding the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure.
  
• [ui!]uk urban integrated ltd, which is an IT consultancy advising local authorities, cities and metropolitan regions in their strategic planning and in the implementation and operation of smart city infrastructures and e-mobility solutions, such as charge point management systems and mobility service provider apps.
  
• Vertical Solar, which is a renewables developer aiming to bring to market new products that remove the traditional constraints associated with solar deployments.
  
• Voltempo, which develops ultra-high power EV charging hubs for heavy vehicle fleets and public service stations.

Energy storage and delivery

• Energineering LTD, which is a consultancy in the realm of industrial energy efficiency and project development. The last five years have seen the team concentrate on developing innovative energy storage solutions, including its patented MECHAPRES system, which uses a combination of reversible heat pumping and Composite Phase Change Material, latent thermal storage to support the needs of decentralised microgrids and DC EV Charging stations.
  
• LiNa Energy, which is developing and commercialising low-cost, solid-state sodium batteries as a safer, more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion. LiNa’s innovation is based on a novel sodium-metal-chloride planar cell, which they state unlocks the high power/energy density potential of established sodium battery chemistry.
  
• PowerUp, which provides an Energy as a Service model, replacing fossil fuel generators with battery PowerStations, using AI algorithms to predict battery behaviours and facilitate just-in-time swapping with renewable energy-charged replacements.

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Fleet optimisation

• Flexible Power Systems, which aims to address the increased complexity, risks and cost arising from EV adoption.
  
  The company’s platform provides automated EV fleet and charger management for van, bus, truck or mixed fleets that integrates data from across the business for a view of fleet operations. Part of what this enables, states the company, is the management of power constraints to avoid expensive grid upgrades.

Rail

• Riding Sunbeams, which decarbonises rail traction networks through the development and connection of unsubsidised, direct-wire renewable energy supply.
  
  Riding Sunbeams is now working to develop and demonstrate the required technology to connect solar power and line-side energy storage to feed the Alternating-Current (AC), overhead line railways that make up most of the world’s electrified rail networks.

Hydrogen

• AqSorption, which builds renewable energy systems, concentrating on biogas and combined heat and power plants. Following a series of enhancements to its gasification technology, AqSorption has successfully adapted to move into production of hydrogen.
  
  
• Innervated Vehicle Engineering (IVe), which transforms diesel vans into hydrogen fuel cell vans, offering an alternative to diesel.
  
  
• JET Engineering Services, which works with and on behalf of customers to deliver solutions to technical engineering problems. Following a recent contract award to deliver a hydrogen production system on the subcontinent, and changing priorities in global markets, the company took a strategic decision to redirect its efforts into the green hydrogen sector, and has embarked on a programme to develop a range of projects and products to support this.
  
  
• Logan Energy, which specialises in the delivery of integrated engineering solutions incorporating hydrogen technologies for production through to refuelling.
  
  The team offers a full turnkey service, from project inception & feasibility, design development, manufacturing, installation, and operation and maintenance.
  
  Logan Energy has designed, built, and installed hydrogen production and refuelling stations, and are currently constructing further stations for buses, vans, passenger vehicles, and heavy-duty vehicles.

The 20 SMEs will have access to a range of acceleration support – from start-up mentoring and incubation services, to market research and real-world pilots with Indian businesses that help prove new products on the ground.

Paul Jordan, business leader for innovator support & international at Energy Systems Catapult, commented: “It’s a real pleasure to announce such a strong cohort of SMEs to join us at the start of this major innovation initiative between the UK and India.

“They represent some of the highest-priority innovations needed to tackle transport decarbonisation – from cutting-edge hydrogen, rail, and fleet solutions, to battery storage and management, and other technologies and services that can enable an electric vehicle-ready infrastructure.

“By helping these UK innovators to collaborate, commercialise and trial their solutions in the world’s fifth biggest economy, we hope to both turbocharge decarbonisation efforts and help unleash the economic potential that innovation offers.”

The Innovating for Transport and Energy Systems initiative was launched in May this year.

Installation is being coordinated under the JV’s smart meter national programme (SMNP), which is delivering smart meters to the states of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, NDMC-Delhi and Telangana.

The aim of the SMNP is to improve the billing and collection efficiencies of distribution companies (DISCOMs) operating in the country.

According to EESL, the smart meters are connected through a web-based monitoring system to help reduce commercial losses.

The smart meters are further hoped to enhance revenues and serve as an important tool in the country’s power sector reform.

Power sector reforms

Earlier this year in June, India‘s Ministry of Power announced ₹664 billion ($8 billion) in incentives for power sector reform across the country’s States.

The incentives will be granted in the form of borrowing permissions, aiming to encourage each state to undertake reforms to enhance the efficiency and performance of the power sector.

The financing will be made available via the 2021 to 2022 union budget.

Additionally, states the Power Ministry, ₹1.4 trillion ($17.4 billion) has been earmarked as an incentive to States for undertaking the reforms in the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year.

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To be eligible for the incentives, State governments must undertake a set of mandatory reforms and meet stipulated performance benchmarks.

The required reforms include:

• Reducing losses of public sector power distribution companies (DISCOMs) by the State Government
• Transparency in the reporting of financial affairs of the power sector, including payment of subsidies and recording of liabilities of Governments to DISCOMs and of DISCOMs to others
• Timely audits and rendition of financial and energy accounts
• Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

GMR Smart Electricity Distribution Pvt Ltd (GSEDPL), a subsidiary of the GMR Group subsidiary GMR Power and Urban Infra Limited, has received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from the Indian Government to install and maintain almost 7.6 million prepaid smart meters.

The LOI will see GSEDPL implement the smart metering project in the Purvanchal (Varanasi, Azamgarh zone and Prayagraj, Mirzapur zone) and Dakshinanchal (Agra and Aligarh zone) areas of Uttar Pradesh for the respective distribution companies Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd.

They will install, integrate and maintain 75.69 lakh (7.569 million) smart meters in the given areas under the LOI over the next 10 years.

The LOI was issued in conclusion to an e-tender for different areas of Uttar Pradesh; GSEDPL participated and emerged as a winner.

An advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project, the LOI extends to supply, installation, integration, commissioning and operation and maintenance of the smart meters.

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The project with a value of Rs75.93 billion (US$928 million) will be executed under the Indian Government’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), which has two major components:

1. Financial support for prepaid smart and system metering, as well as upgrading distribution infrastructure
2. Training and capacity building alongside other enabling and supporting activities.

The smart meter rollout is expected to reduce AT&C (aggregate technical and commercial losses) in the designated areas and improve the operational and collection efficiencies of the two Uttar Pradesh discoms.

Additionally, as reported by Mint, the announcement saw the company’s shares spike by 20% and, on the technical front, their stock price rose 17% with the order and outperformed the sector by 16.1% in the past year.

The order is the latest from the country’s government, which has been greenlighting a slew of smart meter orders to enhance the electricity system.

The same week as the issuance of the LOI, Tata Power announced their win of an order for 1.86 million smart meters in eastern central India.

Also in Uttar Pradesh, earlier this year in April, smart metering company IntelliSmart won an order for 6.7 million smart meters, claiming the largest order of its kind the country had seen.

Updated 24 July 2023

Genus Power & Infrastructures and Gem View Investment, an affiliate of wealth fund GIC, signed an agreement to set up a platform for Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP) concessions.

GIC will hold the majority 74% stake in the platform with Genus holding the remaining 26%.

Genus will be the exclusive supplier to the platform for smart meters and associated services.

The agreement also includes a INR5.2 crore ($63.1 million) investment from GIC’s Chiswick Investment for 15% in the Indian smart metering company.

According to GIC in a press release announcing the JV, the agreement represents the largest transaction in India’s smart metering space.

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Speaking on the development Jitendra Kumar Agarwal, joint managing director of Genus, in an interview with BQ Prime stated that the platform was created to fund the coming smart meter projects over the next three to five years.

“GIC comes as a financial partner and Genus comes as a technical and system integrator partner.”

When it comes to projects seeking funding, Agarwal states “the platform will have an exclusive arrangement with Genus Power as a system integrator (for AMISPs)…for manufacturing of meters, technical solutions and installation (etc.).”

The platform also is the prime bidder of the contracts to the state electricity boards.

The Government of India is implementing its National Smart Metering Project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), with plans to install the 250 million meters by 2025 at an estimated investment of $30 billion.

With technical and commercial losses exceeding 15% for all major Indian utilities leading to high financial losses, smart metering projects under the RDSS scheme are hoped to reduce such losses, improve operational efficiency of DISCOMs and improve their financial sustainability.

AMISP concessions are awarded by the various state utilities under the RDSS with a concession life of up to 10 years. Concessionaires receive a monthly service charge during this period for installing and maintaining meters and the associated infrastructure.

With the JV, Genus will supplement its manufacturing and execution capability with access to new capital. Genus has also stated it will scale up smart meter deployment in the country in its bid to support energy security and transition through grid optimisation.

According to the Economic Times, Genus Power Shares hit the 20% upper circuit after the platform agreement.

The transactions are subject to the approval of Genus shareholders and fulfilment of customary closing conditions to the satisfaction of the GIC affiliates.

According to people familiar with the announcement, the project marks the first V2G system deployed in the country, which has been seeing surging investment in the EV market.

Just two weeks ago, Siemens became one of the latest companies to tap into the Indian e-mobility market with a €4.3 million ($4.6 million) acquisition.

“There is a desperate need for energy storage solutions to cater to sudden peaks in demand, especially during summer when the need for cooling solutions [increase],” says Sheru marketing manager Kavin Aadithiyan, who is involved in the project.

“However, standalone energy storage solutions are expensive for power utilities to install and have long payback periods. Distributed V2G networks help with supporting the grid as it offsets the need for expensive capital upgrades.”

According to Aadithiyan, the country has been experiencing a major need for distributed energy storage solutions due to the influx of renewable energy sources coming online. “Over 92% of new installed power capacity in 2022 in the country was solar and wind power,” he said.

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India V2G: Unstable grid backdrop

A consequence of this – similar to the situation in the Netherlands, where grid connections sometimes have to be halted due to the lack of capacity on the grid – when combined with a lack of energy storage options, has been an unstable electrical grid.

According to the Indian publication Mercom, one of the latest signs that the country’s grid risked blackout came in December last year, when frequency oscillated between 50.55 to 49.41Hz, rather than the allowed 49.90 to 50.05hz.

And this, adds Aadithiyan, is where a V2G solution can help by supporting the grid through both solutions; energy storage to get through periods of high demand alongside a supply of renewable energy to add to the grid.

According to India Times, the system was announced in partnership with BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL). Shikar Sharma, Sheru’s chief operating officer, commented on how the V2G collaboration between Sheru and BRPL will ensure a “constant supply of renewable energy for round-the-clock power.

“Traditional standalone battery storage entails significant capital expenditure. However, [our] solution taps into the untapped battery capacity of electric vehicles, thus resolving the CAPEX challenge faced by BSES, while also generating income for EV and battery owners.”

Distributed and scalable

A distributed network, through the V2G system batteries will be brought online from idle EVs and used to create an energy storage network.

The company is working alongside New Delhi utilities and has entered partnerships with EV fleet owners and operators in other parts of the country.

The hope of these partnerships is to enable a scalable system, as the V2G market in India, which has otherwise been nascent, picks up.

“As we collaborate with more players, we bring online greater storage capacity while also increasing the geographical presence of the storage network across India.

“Our V2G network is not a short-term project [and] we expect to onboard a significant amount of electric vehicle battery capacity onto our network. And this would only be increasing as the electric vehicle fleet in India increases,” added Aadithiyan.

Also on the radar are announcements from Siemens Gamesa of a wind divestment and Siemens Limited, which is expanding its global portfolio via an Indian acquisition.

$49.5 million into Indian smart meter manufacturer

Smart meter maker Genus Power Infrastructures has received $49.5 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation, according to Times of India reportage.

The funding will be used to scale up their capacity to manufacture new smart meters, the company’s managing director Jitendra Kumar Agarwal told the Press Trust of India.

“Genus has partnered with the US International Development of Finance Corporation for an initial commitment of $49.5 million loan to scale up the deployment of electric smart meters across India, supporting energy security and transition through grid optimisation and efficiency.”

The announcement comes as the country has been making several moves to advance the digitalisation of its infrastructure, namely through smart metering initiatives and policy.

The government’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in particular has seen several announcements of smart metering rollout, one such being IntelliSmart’s contract for 6.7  million smart meters, which they state to be the largest order to date the country has seen.

Said Agarwal:

“With this partnership…Genus is well poised to become a leading player in the AMISP (Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider) market. Smart metering projects under the RDSS will not only reduce technical and commercial losses exceeding 15% for all major Indian utilities leading to high financial losses, but also improve operations efficiency of DISCOMs and improve their financial health by providing results linked financial assistance.

Genus Power Infrastructures, which has operations in smart metering, smart city and smart grid technologies, forms part of the Kailash Group.

SSEN sustainability RCF

British utility SSEN Transmission has signed its first ever sustainability-linked Revolving Credit Facility (RCF), valued at £750 million ($926.4 million), which includes four key performance indicators:

• Reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions;
• Suppliers setting science-based emission reduction targets;
• CAPEX spend on connecting renewables; and
• Biodiversity net gain delivery commitments across major terrestrial projects.

The north of Scotland’s electricity transmission network, states the electric utility, has a major role to play in supporting the delivery of Scotland and the UK’s 2030 climate change targets.

SSEN Transmission has ambitious plans to invest more than £10 billion ($12.3 billion) in its network in the decade to 2030, to enable the delivery of more renewable energy to the UK grid. 

In 2019, SSEN Transmission was the UK’s first electricity networks company to have its GHG emissions target externally validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), in line with a 1.5°C global warming pathway.

Siemens Gamesa divests Windar

Grupo Daniel Alonso, owner of 68% of Spain-based wind tower manufacturer Windar Renovables, and Siemens Gamesa, which owns the remaining 32%, have reached an agreement to sell Windar to Bridgepoint, a British private investment company.

Details on the purchase price and structure have not been released.

“The sale of Siemens Gamesa’s stake in Windar is a natural decision for us, as part of our strategy to focus on our core business: wind turbine design, manufacturing including blades, installation and maintenance,” said Jochen Eickholt, Siemens Gamesa’s CEO.

Orlando Alonso will continue as President and CEO of Windar and will retain an indirect minority stake in the company.

The closing of the transaction is expected to take place before year end. Final transaction closing is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Earlier this year Siemens Energy, according to Wall Street Journal reportage, Siemens Energy, which owns a 97.79% stock in Siemens Gamesa, opened its first green bond of €1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to re-finance Siemens Gamesa debt.

Siemens Gamesa ended a challenging fiscal year 2022 with what they called “record backlog”. The company had to cut 2,900 jobs in a pitch to boost profitability, which included a Mistral strategy programme to restructure their operating model, a strategy which came into effect in January this year. 

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Siemens taps Indian EV market

Siemens has confirmed the acquisition of Mass-Tech Controls’ EV division, aiming to expand the German giants’ range of e-mobility solutions in the country and expand its global portfolio.

Siemens Limited signed an agreement to acquire the division, which is engaged in design, engineering and manufacturing of a wide range of AC chargers, and 30 to 300kW capacity DC chargers for various end applications for EVs.

The cost of the acquisition is approximately €4.3 million ($4.6 million) on a cash free and debt free basis and subject to other adjustments agreed to between the parties.

While Siemens has been active globally in the e-mobility infrastructure space for more than a decade, this addition is hoped to complete Siemens India’s portfolio of e-mobility solutions and address the needs of the Indian market, which they state has unique requirements such as lower power rating and parallel charging.

“The fast-evolving e-mobility infrastructure market in India is important for Siemens due to its high growth potential. The enhanced portfolio will enable Siemens to meet market requirements such as homologation and local value-add with cost-competitive solutions. With this acquisition, we now have a strong platform to address our customers’ needs with locally designed and produced products,” said Markus Mildner, CEO of eMobility at Siemens Smart Infrastructure.

Closing of the acquisition is subject to fulfilment of condition precedents as agreed between the parties and receipt of requisite regulatory, statutory and other approvals.

Post the acquisition, the EV division of Mass-Tech Controls will be fully integrated into the e-Mobility Business Unit of the Smart Infrastructure Business, Siemens Limited.

Encouraged by the FAME-II policy of the Government of India and electric vehicle policies notified by various state governments, the electric vehicle market in India is in the midst of a transformation.

For the latest in finance and investment announcements coming out of the energy industry, make sure to follow Smart Energy Finances, our weekly column.

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Content Producer, Smart Energy International

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The order is being touted as the latest in the company’s robust pipeline of pending smart meter orders in the country, a strategy they are pushing as India continues to roll out state-led schemes for smart metering, such as the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

HPL’s strategic focus on the smart meter sector, they stated in a press release yesterday, is yielding positive results, with a noticeable upsurge in demand. HPL currently has an order book worth over INR1250 crores ($152.6 million).

“We are delighted with our ongoing success, driven by the strong demand for smart meters and our commitment to technological excellence,” said Gautam Seth, joint managing director of HPL.

The order is being touted by the company as in line with a modernisation and process automation vision, which involves the company upgrading its infrastructure to integrate advanced tech and automating key processes.

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This guiding objective, they state, has resulted in higher productivity levels and a reduction in manual dependency.

“The implementation of government schemes has significantly helped the industry, and we are witnessing tangible results. Our robust pipeline of pending orders, combined with our R&D and process automation initiatives, positions us strongly for sustained growth and continued market leadershi,” added Seth.

Details on the order, such as sectors, ordering parties, smart meter types and amounts ordered have not yet been released. HPL and Electric coordinates metering solutions across domestic, commercial and industrial applications.

This marks the latest in Indian smart metering. Two weeks ago, Indian smart metering company IntelliSmart Infrastructure won an order of 6.7 million smart meters, marking the largest order to date in the country.

In that same week, companies Airtel and Secure Meters announced the deployment of 1.3 million NB-IoT enabled smart meters in the country, which marked the first of such tech being deployed with a 2G and 4G fall-back option to ensure continuous supply.

The company’s new RH1NS200 is an LTE NB-IoT modem chipset that is designed to operate seamlessly on the networks of all major Indian telecommunications carriers.

The company is calling it an ideal solution to serve the Indian smart metering market, which some estimates put at roughly 250 million units over the next five years. The chipset aims to enable customers to build complete NB-IoT modules and satisfy “Make in India” requirements.

The new chipset also can be used in asset tracking, lighting, security and numerous other applications, states Renesas.

Sailesh Chittipeddi, Renesas’ executive vice president and general manager of their infrastructure business unit, commented on the chipset being designed specifically with the Indian market in mind: “Renesas recognies India’s enormous potential in terms of both market size and design talent and we are committed to taking part in future growth driven by the Digital India Act.

“This leading-edge NB-IoT solution is a prime example of tailoring our design and manufacturing strengths to meet the unique needs of this market.”

According to Sony, cellular IoT (both LTE-M and NB-IoT) present an ideal solution for smart meter connectivity due to its lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), high-efficiency and global reach, among others.

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Renesas cites the RH1NS200 chipset’s offerings, which include 1uA power consumption in deep sleep mode and an integrated EAL5+ (Evaluation Assurance Level) Secure Element (SE), aiming to ensure the safety of end applications, particularly power and water metering systems.

According to ResearchAndMarkets, the global NB-IoT chipset market size is expected to reach $7.7 billion by 2028 with a 51.6% CAGR during their 2022 to 2028 forecast period.

Additional research from Persistence Market Research shows that, although the US and European regions are dominant in the market, from 2023 to 2033, the tech’s Indian market will grow by approximately 23%.

Indian smart metering company IntelliSmart Infrastructure has been awarded a contract by electric utility Pashchimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) to install 6.7 million prepaid smart meters in 14 districts of West Uttar Pradesh.

According to Intellismart, the project is the largest of its kind in India so far and marks the second smart metering project for IntelliSmart after Assam.

The project will take place in the districts of Amroha, Baghpat, Bijnor, Bulandshahar, GB Nagar, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Hapur, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sambhal and Shamli.

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Speaking on the announcement, Anil Rawal, the company’s managing director and CEO, said, “We are cognizant that, being the largest of the smart metering projects tendered this far in the country, its timely delivery will be the benchmark for the success of the RDSS programme.

“This becomes our second smart metering project after Assam. At this juncture, when smart meter tenders are being rolled out by the states, this win reinforces the sector’s confidence in the capabilities of IntelliSmart to deliver large projects while ensuring cost advantages essential for the improvement of the operational and financial efficiency of the discoms.”

The project falls under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), which has two major components:

1. Financial support for prepaid smart and system metering, as well as upgrading distribution infrastructure
2. Training and capacity building alongside other enabling and supporting activities.

Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to distribution companies to upgrade infrastructure and smart metering systems, based on pre-qualifying criteria and reform benchmarks.

This marks the latest in Indian smart metering, a priority for the country due to its role in data communication across assets.

Earlier this week, companies Airtel and Secure Meters announced the deployment of 1.3 million NB-IoT enabled smart meters in India, which marked the first of such tech being deployed with a 2G and 4G fall-back option to ensure continuous supply.

The installation of smart meters will be accompanied by service cabling and auxiliaries, implemented in TOTEX (Capital Expenditure and Operational Expenditure) mode under the Design Build Finance Own Operate and Transfer (DBFOOT) arrangement, a project mode appointing one contractor to design, construct and arrange financial resources.

The third iteration of IntelliSmart’s annual series of Innovation, Challenge & Hackathon, INSTINCT 3.0 will focus on specific problems that have risen from on-ground operations of smart meter projects.

These include:

• Developing a reliable design solution that will enhance the ability of smart electricity meters to withstand electricity surges up to 10Kv in an operating environment,
• Creating a prototype of an energy exchange platform at a peer-to-peer level based on smart meter-enabled aggregated data and blockchain settlement, allowing consumers to sell energy,
• Demonstrating a solution in which the electricity smart meter acts as host/gateway for connecting and managing home appliances, and residential EV chargers, and has the footprint to connect other utility meters.

A prize of Rs1 million ($12,162) has been allotted for the winning ideas.

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INSTINCT 3.0 and past results

Considered Intellismart’s flagship initiative, INSTINCT aims to develop solutions that will play a pivotal role in India’s vision towards digitalisation of the power sector; more than 900 colleges, 2368 students, 81 startups, 184 professionals, and 145 incubation centres having registered and engaged with the programme’s past iterations.

IntelliSmart – a joint venture between India’s Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) – is currently working with some of the winners of past INSTINCT editions to jointly incubate ideas into working solutions with on-ground application capability.

One such notable idea being worked upon is the Smart NIC system, developed by Boltron, a smart metering and power distribution startup that won INSTINCT 2.0.

Considering the current limitations of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), the solution, with its ability to optimise end-to-end communication across radio frequency and cellular and ensure range, throughput and payload while maintaining security, is hoped to emerge as a game changer for AMI solutions providers and enhance the smart meter implementation process.

The launch of INSTINCT 3.0 was announced by Indian minister of power and new & renewable energy Shri R K Singh at the National Dialogue, Smart-Metered India for a Digitalised & People-centric Power Sector.

Anil Rawal, managing director and CEO of IntelliSmart, said, “It is our efforts to nurture innovation and give wings to potentially transformative ideas that have made INSTINCT a serious program, widely regarded by the innovation community of the country as the flagship hackathon.

“With INSTINCT, our goal remains simple – discovering and developing ground-breaking ideas into potent game-changing products and solutions that will play a pivotal role in the country’s vision towards digitalisation of the power sector.”

Submission deadline and registration for INSTINCT 3.0 is due April 22, 2023.

Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power companies, joined hands with the Italian multinational energy major to implement the pilots under an MoU.

Tata Power’s distribution arm, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. (TPDDL), serving 1.9 million customers in North Delhi, will work closely with Enel Group affiliate Gridspertise, jointly controlled by Enel Grids and CVC Capital Partners, on project implementation.

The first pilot will focus on accelerating digitalisation and automation of secondary substations and see Tata Power joining the international co-creation programme of Gridpertise’s QEd – Quantum Edge Device.

The programme aims to virtualise grid functionalities and enable protection and control, automation, real-time fault detection and service restoration of the network.

The other project is aimed at deploying Gridpertises’ metering technology on a pilot basis in the Delhi power distribution network.

It focuses on testing and evaluating new hybrid smart metering technology featuring a dual communication channel, via hybrid Power Line Communication (PLC) and Radio Frequency (RF).

The metering tech is hoped to offer a robust, efficient and secure communication channel by auto-switching between PLC and RF channels depending on real-time field conditions.

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Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO & managing director of Tata Power, said: “Tata Power is committed to transform the Indian power distribution landscape through innovation and new-age solutions.

“Our association with Enel Group will help us accelerate digitalisation and automation of the distribution grid, including the implementation of the hybrid meter technology. We believe that these tech advancements will pave the way for sustainable and future-ready discoms in the country.”

Tata Power manages a distribution network of more than 0.4 million CKT km with 12 million customers across India via its discoms. It has also reached a milestone of installing 0.5 million smart meters.

Antonio Cammisecra, head of Enel Grids, said that the agreements announced during the India-Italy Business Roundtable result from years of close collaboration between the Enel Group and leading Indian power sector organisations.

“Enel Grids is proud to…support the country’s ambitious smart metering and digitalisation plans to modernise existing distribution grids, increasing performance and quality, as well to tap the incredible grid development opportunities in a country where demographic and economic growth are pushing electrification.”

Robert Denda, CEO of Gridspertise, added: “After opening Gridspertise’s offices in India, we are very proud to step up our collaboration with Tata Power Delhi Distribution on crucial areas such as smart metering and substation automation with our state-of-the-art proprietary edge computing technology.”

The MoU partnership was signed by Dr Robert Ronald Denda and Dr Praveer Sinha in New Delhi in the presence of other senior officials of both companies. The signing was done on the sidelines of the official visit of the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni.

The Centre of Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) – an R&D Institute operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology – transferred the smart metering and Electric Vehicle (EV) tech to private firms.

Developed under the ‘National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET)’ programme, each technology was developed in the hopes of driving adoption of Indian-manufactured technologies within the country.

Transferred to Pragati Electrocom Private Limited, the smart metering tech is based on Indian standards, suitable for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and is compatible with smart grid communication technologies and supports Distributed Generation (DG).

And in terms of EVs, an AC Charger –  as per Bharat EV AC Charger (BEVC-AC001) specifications and AIS-138 standards – was developed and transferred to two firms, Electronic System and Vellore Electronics and Systems Private Limited.

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India-made

During a transference ceremony, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma – secretary electronics and IT (MeitY), government of India – related the tech developments to Narendra’s campaign, which is hoped to boost Indian entrepreneurship across the country’s sectors.

Sharma stated, according to a government-issued press release, “India has moved from [an] importing nation to exporting nation…There is a huge market for the new and innovative devices and the advantage of this technology is efficiency, which will be a win-win situation for the developer…the industry and ultimately India.”

Modi’s Make in India is based on four pillars:

1. New Processes, aiming to de-license and de-regulate industry
2. New Infrastructure, aiming to develop industrial corridors and smart cities, strengthen existing infrastructure, support innovation and research and identify and develop industry skills for industry across the workforce
3. New Sectors: ‘Make in India’ identified 25 sectors in manufacturing, infrastructure and service activities and foreign direct investmetnt has been opened up
4. New Mindset, aiming to change how Government interacts with industry; Government will partner industry in economic development and will be a facilitator, rather than a regulator.

Sharma witnessed the transfer of the technologies to the private firms, which was attended by the additional secretary, MeitY, Shri Bhuvanesh Kumar, group coordinator, MeitY, Smt. Sunita Verma, officials from C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram and other dignitaries.

The country’s G20 presidency announced enhanced focus on energy issues, providing immense investment opportunity for energy firms as NTPC Green Energy (NGEL) stated their intention of raising an immense loan of Rs9,000 crore ($1.1 billion) to repay debt obligations after 15 renewable businesses were acquired in April, 2022.

Also on the radar is a new study from Juniper Research, which has found that revenue from EV (Electric Vehicle) charging will exceed $300 billion globally by 2027.

And Elia Group, which consists of Belgian TSO Elia and Germany’s wing of TSO 50Hertz – has become one of several Belgian companies selected to be part of BEL ESG, a new stock market index directly linked to sustainability, launched by Euronext.

India’s G20 Presidency

According to reportage by ET EnergyWorld from the Economic Times, India’s G20 presidency has announced a renewed focus on renewables, hoping to spur much needed investment in the industry.

The announcement was made while inaugurating India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru, as Prime minister Modi mentioned how India’s energy demand has significantly increased and will reach 11% of the global demand as compared to 5% currently.

Renewable investment in the country will be vital for international net zero goals to be reached.

As mentioned by ET EnergyWorld, in India‘s 2023 budget, Rs35,000 crores ($4.2 billion) were allocated as priority capital investment toward the energy transition in line with the government’s stated 2070 net zero goals.

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$1.1 billion renewable debt for a past renewables acquisition

NTPC Green Energy (NGEL) plans to raise a loan of up to Rs9,000 crore for repaying debt obligations towards NTPC – a state-run power giant in India – against an acquisition of 15 renewable energy assets and their CAPEX from back in April, 2022.

According to the Press Trust of India (via Outlook India), a document released details the company’s intention.

“NGEL intends to raise fresh debt and repay outstanding liability of about Rs8,200 crore ($990.1 million) towards NTPC by 31 March 2023 along with applicable liability of interest cost. Additional funds to the tune of Rs800 crore ($96.6 million) would be required for additional debt liability based on the balance sheet as on the closing date and for balance CAPEX payments of projects which are yet to achieve full COD (Cash On Delivery),” said the official document.

Press Trust of India further reports that the document stated that the minimum amount of loan offered by banks shall be Rs1,000 crore ($120.7 million) and in multiples of Rs500 crore ($60.4 million) thereafter.

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EV charging to exceed $300 billion globally by 2027

Meanwhile, in the international scene, a new study from Juniper Research has found revenue from EV (Electric Vehicle) charging will exceed $300 billion globally by 2027; up from $66 billion in 2023.

The report, EV Charging: Key Opportunities, Regional Analysis & Market Forecasts 2023-2027, assessed leading EV charging vendors and evaluated them on a number of criteria, including depth and breadth of offerings, innovation and future prospects; providing extensive analysis of the competitive landscape in this dynamic market.

The Competitor Leaderboard ranked the three leading vendors as follows:

1. Siemens
2. ChargePoint
3. ABB

Research author Jordan Rookes explained further: “Siemens demonstrates an intricate knowledge of the market; targeting currently underserved segments, particularly public transport and fleets. Competing vendors must diversify their portfolio away from just home and public chargers and start targeting alternative high-growth market segments to maximise their market share.”

The research also predicts by 2027, the total number of plug-in vehicles will surpass 137 million globally; up from 49 million in 2023.

Elia joins sustainability stock market index

Over in Europe, Elia Group has become one of the Belgian companies selected to be part of BEL ESG, a new stock market index directly linked to sustainability, launched by Euronext, a pan-European stock exchange that offers trading and post-trade services.

The index is designed to meet an increasing market demand for improved visibility of sustainable investment tools. It will monitor 20 listed Brussels-based companies that adopt the best Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.

The index identifies and follows 20 BEL 20 and BEL Mid companies and states itself as a “sustainable version of the national blue-chip index” that will now also follow shares listed on the Brussels stock market.

Designed in partnership with ‘Sustainalytics’, a research and ratings institutions for ESG data, the index aims to help investors identify companies that show a strong commitment to sustainable development, combining economic performance with ESG considerations. The makeup of the index will be revised on a quarterly basis.

Elia Group correlates their integration into the new index with the implementation of ActNow, their sustainability programme focusing on five key dimensions in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), namely:

1. Decarbonising the electricity sector and business activities
2. Minimising environmental impact Group infrastructure
3. Improving health and safety conditions of employees and subcontractors
4. A committment to diversity, equality and inclusion
5. Attention to good governance to ensure long-term sustainable success

For the latest in the energy industry’s finance and investment scene, make sure to follow our column, Smart Energy Finances Weekly.

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Yusuf Latief
Content Producer, Smart Energy International

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Delta, an energy management and industrial automation solutions developer headquartered in Taiwan, announced the two solutions as part of a portfolio during ELECRAMA 2023, India’s tradeshow for the electrical industry and power sector at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.

The EV solution integrates Delta’s Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers, energy storage systems, solar PV inverters and EV Charging Infrastructure Management System to enable microgrids capable of providing clean and stable electricity to EVs.

The VP3000 series on the other hand is an automation solution with a power rating of up to 630kW that aims to enhance productivity and lower harmonic distortion (THDi) down to 35% in industrial motors used in HVAC, pumps, compressors and water supply applications.

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During Delta’s press conference for the show, Benjamin Lin, president, Delta Electronics India, commented: “For two decades now, Delta India has built a unique track record in developing tailor-made solutions to suit the requirements and sustainable goals of our Indian customers…and the Green EV Charging Station launched today at ELECRAMA will help accelerate India’s e-mobility transition even further.

“The new VP3000 Series is an important addition to our broad Industrial Automation Solutions offering for a wide range of applications. Today, we are demonstrating how Delta’s solutions transform transportation, factories, buildings, telecom power sites and data centres into intelligent, connected and sustainable infrastructure.”

Delta cites the portfolio as their latest contribution to the ‘Make in India‘ initiative, an initiative by the country’s Government to create and encourage companies to develop, manufacture and assemble products made in India to incentivise investments into manufacturing.  

The new Demand Response Management Programme comes from the collaboration between India’s largest integrated power company alongside Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) provider, Autogrid.

The programme aims to engage 55,000 residential consumers and 6,000 large Commercial and Industrial (C&I) customers in the country’s most populous city.

With the programme built on the AutoGrid Flex platform, consumers can earn incentives by choosing to curtail their load in response to signals relayed via text messages and email during times of critical need.

Because India’s predominant source of energy is thermal power, aggregating small adjustments by consumers can eliminate the need for costly and heavy-polluting plants.

The programme aims to achieve at least 75MW of peak capacity reduction within the first half-year of management, scaling up to 200MW by the summer of 2025.

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AI-enabled demand response

In addition to the Behavioural Demand Response (BDR) programme, Tata Power will stack on an Automated Demand Response (ADR) programme with direct load control assisted by customer participation with its in-house smart plug platform, EZ Home.

“An AI-enabled, demand energy response system has the potential to empower customers and make them join the energy transition journey. Tata Power is committed to making distributed energy resources mainstream and promoting a culture of hi-tech energy conservation,” said Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & managing director, Tata Power.

“India and Tata Power can reach ambitious sustainability goals by leveraging the flexible capacity available by adopting innovative approaches to leverage distributed energy resources,” added Amit Narayan, AutoGrid founder and CEO.

Over the last two decades, India has seen rapid growth in DERs, including solar, smart meters, Electric Vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure.

The country has a significant opportunity to harness demand-side flexibility, strengthen the grid and advance sustainability, but the lack of a singular, scalable programme has hindered progress in the past.

Additionally, according to Tata Power and AutoGrid, the lack of adequate regulatory approval prevents these resources from being utilised at the incredible scale the Indian market has to offer.

The two companies’ collaboration started in 2021 with Tata Power Delhi Distribution’s residential customers in Delhi.

Based on the success of this engagement, Tata Power expanded the initiative within the Delhi distribution region in 2022 and AutoGrid is now extending this programme across Tata Power’s distribution territories to include all segments.

The platform, which launched on 12 January 2023, is stated as an ‘all-inclusive, technology-agnostic platform’.

The platform aims to cater to EV ecosystem stakeholders, including EV OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), component and equipment providers, fleet operators, battery technology providers, charging infrastructure and service providers, battery swapping companies and other key stakeholders.

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The IEMC will focus its activities on various areas, including:

• R&D and innovation in the EV space
• EV and related component manufacturing across all vehicle segments (2W, 3W, 4W, Bus and heavy-duty vehicles)
• charging infrastructure, EV adoption and EV fleet operation
• battery swapping, training and capacity building
• EV financing and taxation
• testing and safety
• standards and certification
• start-ups and investment
• urban air mobility and electric boats
• Vehicle to Grid (V2G)
• digitisation

India‘s EV ecosystem

Debi Prasad Dash, executive director, IESA, said on the platform’s launch, “The India Electric Mobility Council (IEMC) initiative by IESA is intended to explore opportunities for India to exploit the potential of R&D and manufacturing of e-mobility technologies and support quicker adoption of clean transport.”

Mr. Dash also added that IEMC aims to serve and support more than 100 EV and infra-related member companies to become the largest EV platform in India by the end of this year.

The platform comes in as the role of EVs within the energy transition becomes an ever more pertinent topic. The role of EVs is important not only in replacing Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) – a known contributor to greenhouse gasses – but also in assisting with grid management.

V2G tech in particular opens up avenues for coordinating load control by operating EVs as ‘batteries on wheels’, thus allowing for peak load management when necessary.

Thus, the announcement from IESA illustrates the recognition and potential of EVs within the country.

According to the storage alliance, India is in the nascent stages of the EV revolution and EVs make up only 2% of the country’s automobile sales. However, there have been programmes like PLI, FAME and PMP, which aim to push the sale of EVs.

And so, alongside targets from the country’s Union and state government to increase EV adoption in the next decade, such a platform offers promise of exponential uptick in EV infrastructure and adoption.

India’s Panaji Public Works Department (PWD) awarded a smart water metering contract to Cranberry Analytics, a water management company based in India, with an initial phase of replacing 3,094 consumer-grade mechanical water meters with LoRaWAN enabled ultrasonic smart water meters.

And it was in support of this project that SenRa – a PAN-India LoRaWAN public network operator – announced the deployment of their public network across Panaji to enable the streaming of smart water meter data.

Water scarcity and management in the province of Goa has long been an issue with extreme water shortages a recurring theme. A recent case saw the province’s water supply deteriorate significantly earlier this year in the summer.

The issue has reached a point where outdated infrastructure, such as old pipelines, led to 38% water loss across the province. Additionally, earlier in October, the PWD released a statement that action will be taken against residents who misuse domestic water, including disconnection of supply.

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Water digitisation

Within this scenario of continued scarcity, such a smart metering project may provide a way forward.

According to Cranberry Analytics, their smart water metering solution provides a sustainable approach to managing water supply and distribution by analysing water consumption data on a daily basis to detect anomalies.

Through the correlation of that data with other data streams, they hope to help cities plan water distribution, mitigate water wastage (NRW) and improve consumer billing.

“Having worked on multiple such projects in the past 10 years, both with mechanical water meters and smart devices, we understand the nuances of this technology spectrum and how critical it is to have a stable and reliable network partner for the success of such projects. Since SenRa is one of the very few network providers in India which has worked on LoRaWAN-related products extensively and has a good presence in the region, we have chosen to partner with them for this project,” said Shishir Thakur, CTO, Cranberry Analytics.

“Assuring a regular and long-term supply of potable water to Indian households requires constant monitoring of service level indicators,” added Kush Mishra, CTO and COO, SenRa. “We are excited to partner with Cranberry Analytics and utilise our expertise in LoRaWAN-based metering systems to solve this problem with reliable LoRaWAN network services.”

With this collaboration, TPTCL and 75F shall jointly offer solutions in the space of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) optimisation and smart building automation powered by IoT, cloud and AI/ML tech.

The solutions aim to help commercial buildings with centrally air-conditioned spaces save on HVAC energy consumption, which typically constitutes 50% or more of total building energy consumption, along with intelligent automation, analytics and actionable insights on facility and portfolio data.

Deepinder Singh, founder and CEO, 75F Inc. US, on the collaboration: “We seek to solve the growing challenges of energy wastage and the need for automation across the world. Toward this end, we’re delighted to associate with a globally renowned company like Tata Power Trading, on a joint mission to deliver on a triple bottom line: making people more productive, companies more profitable and the planet more sustainable.”

Mr Sanjay Banga, president T&D, Tata Power, added, “Collaborating with 75F unfolds avenues for TPTCL for greater adoption and propagation of energy efficiency initiatives. Implementation of smart technology will enable a smooth transition to sustainable alternatives for commercial building segment.”

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The need for efficiency

TPTCL cites how, due to increased economic activity, power consumption in commercial establishments has increased exponentially.

The use of energy conservation solutions can significantly help reduce costs and result in energy savings for businesses/building owners.

The move is aligned with the country’s Energy Conservation Act, which mandates commercial buildings to follow the energy efficiency code. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) had in 2017 launched the Energy Conservation Buildings Code (ECBC) for commercial buildings.

Mr. Gaurav Burman, APAC President, 75F Smart Innovations India Pvt Ltd., pointed out, “Across 1.8 billion sq. mts of commercial real estate in India, there is an estimated energy savings potential of 7 billion KWh, without replacing any equipment at all…”

The partnership will cover industry verticals like IT/ITeS, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance) hospitality, healthcare, education, government and retail.

The Indian electricity distribution company stated the smart meters as a first phase target, with their remaining 2 million consumers slated to get smart meters by the end of FY25.

According to The Times of India, AEML has already installed 110,000 smart meters, and the remaining is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Each of the smart meters costs up to ₹1,000 ($12.56) extra, but the savings accrued from operating expenses are hoped to outweigh the upfront increase.

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According to the company’s managing director and chief executive, Kandarp Patel, the expenditure for the installations is being done through internal accruals and the company has no plans for equity infusion.

Patel also stated how the company has been investing up to ₹15 billion ($188.4 million) annually in technology and network improvement initiatives and is aiming to continue with such investments for the next two years.

It has not been able to increase its market share over the last four years, and hopes that initiatives on the services front will help it, Patel said.

In terms of revenue (INR Crore) and GWh potential, the research examines the current market trend and prediction for electric vehicles (EV), as well as the need for EV batteries by various EV segments. The report includes a thorough chapter on the analysis of EV policies at the central and state levels. It also includes a section on the growth of the EV ancillary market in India.

This chapter covers important components like battery management systems, motors, controllers and power electronics, among others, and it provides a competitive analysis of the market’s major players and the supply chain for important components.

According to the survey, the EV industry in India experienced one of the quickest recoveries from the pandemic-induced slowdown in 2020. The e-2Ws (50% market share), followed by the low-speed e-3Ws, accounted for most of the 467,000+ annual EV sales in India in 2021; however, other segments also showed notable increase over the course of the year.

The research report routes three different market projection scenarios for the ensuing decade. According to the report’s Business as Usual (BAU) scenario, the Indian EV market would expand at a CAGR of 49% between 2021 and 2030 and is predicted to reach annual sales of 17 million units by that time, with almost 15 million of those projected to be electric two-wheelers. Between 2021 and 2030, the yearly battery demand is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 41%, reaching 142GWh. The market is of 6.5GWh, just like in 2021.

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According to the report, the Indian EV market is anticipated to grow quickly after 2024–2025 as the initial costs of EVs are predicted to be comparable to those of ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles because of falling battery prices, advancements in EV technology, domestic production and economies of scale. Lead-acid batteries continued to dominate the Indian EV ecosystem in 2021, accounting for 81% of the market; this is due to the high demand for e-rickshaws.

The market share of lithium-ion batteries has been steadily growing and in 2021, for the first time, the demand for these batteries exceeded the 1GWh threshold. Additionally, among lithium-ion chemistries, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) is the chosen option for e-3Ws and e-4Ws, whereas Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) is the preferred option for e-2W and e-buses.

The FAME II programme, which has been extended to 2024, was launched by the government to look into ways to make EVs cheaper and attractive to end-users. By December 2021, the scheme had benefited more than 1.8 million automobiles. FAME Incentives for e-2Ws have also been raised from INR10,000/kWh to INR15,000/kWh in a recent policy revision.

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Many states have announced their own EV policies that are unique to each state. Additionally, the central government issued directives and policies geared on removing obstacles and promoting progress. Along with securing supply through the introduction of numerous PLI programmes for advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery storage, automobiles and auto components, as well as semi-conductors, the government has also been working to increase demand. Local manufacturers are also being protected through the imposition of basic customs duty on imports in accordance with the Phased Manufacturing Programme for EVs.

According to the report, the main factors propelling the EV market’s expansion in the current decade will be: rising consumer awareness, rising fuel prices, commitments from fleet aggregators and corporations, entry of new players, advancements in EV technology, continued subsidy support from both the central and state governments, as well as anticipated implementation of strict emission standards.

Read more about the report.

IESA is a leading industry alliance focused on the development of advanced energy storage, green hydrogen and e-mobility technologies in India. Founded in 2012 by Customized Energy Solutions (CES), IESA’s vision is to make India a global hub for R&D, manufacturing and adoption of advanced energy storage, e-mobility and green hydrogen technologies.

The alliance has been at the forefront of efforts seminal in shaping an enabling policy framework for the adoption of energy storage, electric mobility, green hydrogen and emerging clean technologies in India. Today, IESA is a proud network of 160+ member companies, encompassing industry verticals from energy storage, EV manufacturing, EV charging infrastructure, green hydrogen, microgrids, power electronics, renewable energy, research institutes, universities and cleantech startups.

According to EPR, this comes in as the largest order to date for the Cambridge-based company, which provides networking solutions and applications. The order was placed by Genus Power Infrastructures, a smart metering solutions provider, which operates across the Asia Pacific region, for CyanConnode’s Omnimesh RF Infrastructure.

Under the purchase order, CyanConnode will supply the modules together with the AMI, standards-based hardware, Omnimesh head-end software, perpetual license and a support and maintenance contract.

Delivered as part of CyanConnode’s Omni Internet of Things (IoT) platform, Omnimesh is a scalable system aiming to provide cost-effective, multi-technology communications to support smart grid AMI solutions.

The smart meters are hoped to enable utilities to improve upon their commercial models and customer experience, automate billing, quickly locate and resolve outages, reduce distribution issues and losses and manage demand in real time during peak periods.

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“We are very pleased to once again be partnering with CyanConnode. Both companies have already worked closely together and successfully deployed four projects, resulting in the rollout of over 6 lakh (600,000) smart meters. I believe our joint capability and track record will result in further opportunities for both our companies in the near future”, mentioned Jitendra Kumar Agarwal, joint managing director of Genus to EPR Magazine.

Commenting on the occasion, Ratna Garapati, managing director and CEO of CyanConnode India, added: “CyanConnode is committed to strengthening the smart metering landscape in India by bringing in its experience of executing over a million smart metering points on the Omnimesh network across nine states and now into the state of Bihar. With Genus leading this initiative, we are very confident this implementation of 10 lakh (one million) Omnimesh modules will be a great success.”

Anil Daulani, president of global business of CyanConnode, added: “This is the culmination of several years of developing our RF technology for over 10 lakh smart meters and demonstrating reliable, consistent performance to meet Indian utility requirements for operational, technical and consumer-side improvements.

The supply of modules is expected to commence in September 2022, with installation being completed over two years.

The support and maintenance contract is for a period of eight years and will commence upon completion of installation.

The event will host energy ecosystem stakeholders to unpack the industry’s priorities including its strategic roadmaps, visionary reforms, low cost capital investments and breakthrough technologies for building India’s long term self-reliance in energy.

Part of the world’s largest series of energy sector events spread across North America, Europe, Australia, Africa & South East Asia, this even brings together over 200 exhibitors and 8000 qualified professionals from the entire value chain of the global power generation, transmission and distribution under one roof.

While the world is at a decisive cross-road in its journey to tackle the climate crisis, reaching net zero by 2050 and limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 °C, India under the visionary leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi has time and again shown its commitment to environmental stewardship, climate action and focus on renewables to decarbonise the way the country operates.

As a part of the national statement delivered at the 26 Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in Glasgow in November 2021, the Prime Minister announced the landmark commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070. The five-point action plan included meeting 50 per cent of India’s electricity requirements from renewable energy sources by 2030, installing 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, reducing the emissions intensity of its economy by 45%, and reducing a billion tonnes of CO2.

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As a large developing economy with over 1.3 billion people, India’s climate adaptation and mitigation targets are not just transformational for India but for the entire planet. The country’s pioneering new model of economic development that avoids the carbon-intensive approaches, provides a blueprint for other developing economies.

With India’s energy demands set to grow by more than that of any other country in the coming decades, the enormous challenge of transforming India’s energy systems is also a huge opportunity for its economy. Whilst pathways to transform the economy from one dominated by fossil fuels into one powered predominantly by renewable energy are extremely challenging, transition to clean energy would propel India as a global leader in renewables, battery storage and green hydrogen.

It would also secure access to affordable energy supplies, build self-reliance, create millions of new jobs and boost economic growth.

ABOUT DISTRIBUTECH INDIA

Themed “Building a Modern Power System”, DISTRIBUTECH INDIA is colocated with Indian Utility Week and POWERGEN INDIA to deliver unprecedented authority, with insights shared by the world’s most forward-thinking policy makers, regulators, industry titans, thought leaders and experts in facilitating India’s Clean Energy Transition.

Their exhibit floor will be full of information, products and services related to electricity delivery automation and control systems, energy efficiency, demand response, renewable energy integration, advanced metering, T&D system operation and reliability, communications technologies, cyber security, water utility technology and more.

The concurrent strategic summits and knowledge hubs will be action-oriented covering a host of topics from India’s green hydrogen ecosystem, generation outlook, gas based power, flexible & autonomous generation, decarbonisation strategies, emission control initiatives, digitalisation and future energy mix to building next-gen, digital-age utilities of the future through smart metering, smart grids, battery storage, micro Grids, EV charging infrastructure, cybersecurity & electricity markets etc.

Speaking about the co-located events, Mr. Abhishek Bhatnagar, Member Advisory Committee – POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week, said: “The co-located events are timely and important for the country in building India’s self-reliance in energy, and a roadmap for its clean energy future. They would also facilitate the building of a digital age, secure and sustainable power system that would propel India as a global leader in renewables, hydrogen and EVs.”

DISTRIBUTECH India 2022, POWERGEN India and Indian Utility Week thus promise to be a progressive step towards building a cleaner, greener and sustainable power system that will facilitate India’s mission of becoming ‘AatmaNirbhar’ in energy.

This news comes in after a slew of announcements by the company in their push to leverage the electrification movement and gain a stake within the growing sector.

Chandrasekaran stated Tata’s hopes in mind of the expected performance improvements the company is expecting this fiscal year: “We continue to work closely with our customers and ecosystem partners to mitigate risks and manage uncertainties. Accordingly, we expect performance to progressively improve through the year with the second half of FY23 being notably better than the first half,” he stated.

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Earlier this year in April, Tata Motors also announced their expectations of bolstering yearly production of EVs to over 80,000 units for the 2022 financial year, Reuters reported.

2021 saw the automaker announce plans to launch 10 EV models by March 2026, investing about $2 billion on new vehicle architecture, related technology and infrastructure.

Tata accounts for 90% of India’s EV sales – a segment that still only represents 1% of the country’s annual sales of about 3 million vehicles.

Rolling out more EVs is reportedly a central aspect of India prime minister Narendra Modi’s carbon reduction agenda. The country has also stated its intentions of rapidly increasing EV use and buy in. In line with this, India wants electric models to make up 30% of total passenger car sales by 2030.

This news was originally reported by Reuters.

The opening was announced by SolarEdge Technologies, which provides smart energy technologies, and their subsidiary Kokam, which develops and provides lithium-ion batteries and integrated energy storage solutions.

Sella II is currently producing test cells for certification, with ramp-up expected during the second half of 2022.

Once ramped up, Sella II will enable SolarEdge to have its own supply of lithium-ion batteries and the infrastructure to develop new battery cell chemistries and technologies.

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The facility is planned to manufacture battery cells for SolarEdge’s residential solar-attached batteries as well as battery cells for a variety of industries, including mobile applications, energy stationary storage solutions (ESS) and UPS applications.

The facility can scale its battery cell capacity in the future to support the growing needs for storage solutions offered by the company.

Zvi Lando, SolarEdge CEO, commented in a statement: “The opening of Sella II is an important milestone for SolarEdge. It allows us to own key processes in the development and manufacturing of advanced energy storage solutions for our solar core business and additional applications, while further securing the resilience of our supply chain.

“We are committed to growing our business in the energy storage market, as well as our investment in battery cell technology and cell manufacturing, further strengthening our storage product portfolio.”

The opening of the Sella II facility is the latest example of SolarEdge’s expansion within the ASEAN region. In 2018 they acquired Kokam, which is headquartered in South Korea and develops lithium-ion battery cells, batteries and energy storage solutions.

Within the ASEAN regions and its surrounds, the renewables conglomerate also has operations in Tokyo, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan and Belanguru, India.

The fleet will help the mine achieve its carbon neutrality ambitions and will be the first underground battery electric vehicle (BEV) fleet deployed in India.

The agreement comes courtesy of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Sandvik and Hindustan Zinc. Sandvik is a multinational engineering company and Hindustan Zinc Ltd is an Indian integrated mining and resources producer of zinc, lead, silver and cadmium.

The pair will be supplying the BEVs to the mine, which is located in Rajasthan, India, and is the country’s largest underground mine, according to Sandvik.

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The equipment to be delivered includes an LH518B loader, three TH550B trucks and a DD422iE drill rig with Sandvik’s ‘charging-while-drilling’ technology. Sandvik will also provide batteries, charging systems and a full-range on-site battery and equipment service team.

The loader and the trucks will be equipped with AutoSwap, Sandvik’s battery self-swapping system, capable of battery changeout within a few minutes.

“Aligned with our expansion strategy for battery-electric vehicles, I’m delighted to sign this agreement with Hindustan Zinc to deliver the first battery equipment fleet in India,” said Henrik Ager, president of business area, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

The TH550B truck and LH518B loader are based on the Artisan technology, which Sandvik acquired in 2019, and is augmented with Sandvik mining technology, contributing to overall productivity improvements of up to 20%.

The machines will be equipped with battery telemetry solutions enabling automated, on-premise and remote health and performance monitoring.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter 2023.

By Ian Terblanche

The recent COP26 conference highlighted government-led initiatives which are forcing change as we face a resource crisis, with water shortages, energy scarcity, and overall global warming. Among these activities, smart meters feature as a way to monitor and control utility use.

While mature markets are still digitising or retrofitting advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), developing countries are starting from scratch and focusing on delivering a utility and collecting payment. In the UK, for instance, a mature and deregulated market, utilities such as Northumbrian and Welsh Water are exploring the Internet of Things (IoT) enabled smart meters to reduce leaks and bills.

IoT has been pivotal to the successful rollout of smart meters. IoT devices and networks enable the wireless transfer of data at low cost and over long distances with ultra-low energy consumption. Smart metering is in fact one of the most widespread examples of IoT products in action.

Our [Sigfox] teams are already working in developing countries on IoT smart metering implementation. For instance, Sabesp, one of the largest water and sewage service providers in the world, has successfully rolled out 100,000 smart water meters. The project, which is one of the largest in Latin America, introduces water consumption telemeasurement in Sabesp’s 100,000 largest consumers in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. In Europe, HEP-Plin, part of the HEP Group, the national energy company in Croatia, is deploying Byte Lab retrofit smart devices to digitize their gas meters.

Smart meter development in India

Against the backdrop of wider global smart metering adoption, we welcome the Indian government’s plans to ramp up metering. In the Smart Metering National Programme £29 billion ($39 billion) has been allocated to smart metering in the budget for FY-22; 250 million conventional electricity meters are to be replaced by smart meters over the next five years.

Water supply and distribution is a state concern, with every state following an independent procurement and deployment strategy. For example, Maharashtra leads the way with over 500,000 smart water meters installed in the large cities of Pune and Nagpur. While Rajasthan has allocated approx. £39 million ($53 million) to replace all existing meters in the city of Jaipur over the next three years.

In terms of gas, pipeline natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) distribution are new to the country, with only 4 – 5% of the population receiving supply. However, there is a significant focus by India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to accelerate the adoption of gas as a primary fuel for domestic, automotive and commercial consumers. Key figures include: 6.6 million PNG connections as-on-date; 50-55 million new PNG connections over the next six years.

Even though smart metering initiatives are already underway to minimise the attrition of customers and increase efficiency, water utility metering is a zero-tech business, with manual meters and readings and pipeline gas being a new phenomenon. These utilities, however, are set to grow exponentially as a result of government mandates. For instance, there will be a move in domestic gas supply away from LPG, and cities need to provide at least 200 litres of water per person per day.

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Smart metering, digitisation and automation will be the only way that utilities operators will meet government targets. While IoT-based smart metering is a mature solution with a well-understood technical value proposition, the utility sector needs to adopt new business models and strategic partnerships, that simplify adoption and integration.

Smart metering, digitisation and automation will be the only way that utilities operators will meet government targets.

Utilities in India are looking for a flexible, fit for purpose and technology-agnostic solution while deciding on suppliers. Their concerns include integration and field deployment challenges linked with adopting an AMI solution; inadequate IT infrastructure which requires a parallel upgrade; and finally, how to measure impact on customer lifetime value and operating margins.

IoT as part of the ecosystem

In terms of innovation in smart metering in India, and for that matter other developing nations, this centres on the business model and the overall solution that is being delivered to customers. Utilities are looking for either hybrid CAPEX/OPEX or managed services models localised to their country. IoT networks or device manufacturers are key parts of the ecosystem.

From this standpoint, IoT firms should be strongly advocating the overall transformation of the utility, rather than just connecting the meter to the cloud. Working in partnership is the only way to build a cohesive end-to-end solution that encompasses the utility, device manufacturers, software companies, billing platforms, ERP systems, customer service and more. For example, we are working with a large industrial group, Raychem, a manufacturer of gas meters with the largest footprint for gas meter install base in India. Through this partnered service, IoT networks bring last-mile connectivity.

‘Streamlining Meter to Cash process’ is an attractive business model, which apart from the meter and connectivity also includes the meter data management (MDM) software, CRM application, personalized mobile app and customer service and support ticketing software.

Our team in India has been working with stakeholders in the utility supply chain to bring a meter-to-cash solution to gas distribution companies, in the first instance. Our public network rollout is happening currently, with first base stations being installed in Gujarat, Karnataka and soon in Tamil Nadu.

This end-to-end approach favoured by utilities enables the reduction of recurring IT costs, while network costs are shared across multiple clients and projects. There is also the ability to increase revenue streams while delivering a safe and reliable service over the customer lifecycle. In India, IoT networks work closely with the entire ecosystem, from meter OEMs, ISVs and System Integrators to bring this proposition to bear.

While some degree of best practice can be adopted from other countries, smart metering rollouts are all at different stages, using various architectures and devices, so any IoT-powered smart metering solution needs to be tailored. While Nippon Gas Co gave 1,000,000+ gas meters across Japan a smart makeover and SHV Energy is rolling out a global LPG tank level monitoring solution, these are not comparable to efforts in India. In India, currently, communications only need to be one way from the meter to the cloud.

IoT networks and device manufacturers can be seen as digital transformation partners. Connectivity is a small part of the solution but is a key part of the journey that starts with AMI. Metering is step one in the journey. Once the value of IoT is realised, then utilities can explore its benefits further. For instance, when distribution companies lay kilometres of pipeline embedded in the ground, these are not visible, but still need to be maintained. There will need to be solutions for leak detection (as per our UK example), track layout and more. There will be an opportunity to digitise every part of the utility.

IoT technology in itself is an enabler for the delivery of smart metering on the subcontinent. As the market matures, buyers will start to differentiate on the technology level. Today, the focus is on a solid business model with operational efficiency. In the future, businesses will consider connectivity benefits more.

The future looks bright for smart metering in India. The utilities will lift some of the economic burden from the government, with correct meter readings and reduced subsidies. These state-owned utilities will become profitable one day while also meeting environmental targets. While Indian citizens benefit as smart metering improves customer behavior. It encourages efficient use of non-renewable energy, especially with personalised apps to track and monitor usage, compelling customers to behave more intelligently and maturely. A win-win situation for all concerned.

About the author

Ian Terblanche, Strategic Sales & Channel Director at Sigfox, is responsible for directing and executing the company’s global sales, scaling routes to market.

He has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, working with utility partners and organisations in the UK and globally.

KfW is issuing the loan on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The smart meters will record consumer energy usage data in near real-time for the development of personalised energy efficiency recommendations, to ensure accurate energy billing and demand response use cases such as Time-of-Use tariffs.

Access to energy usage data is expected to help consumers make more informed decisions regarding their energy consumption.

The smart meters are expected to enable utilities to address peak loads, as well as energy transition challenges such as the fluctuating nature of renewable energy.

Data acquired from the smart meters will be used to match demand with supply or generation, a move that will enable the state to expand its renewable energy capacity integrated with the grid, once grid expansion measures are put in place using the loan.

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The aging nature of India’s power grid is challenging the connection and operation of wind and solar, hence the project will result in the installation of new infrastructure capable of accomodating more renewables capacity and reducing technical and financial losses.

The loan is expected to help Madhya Pradesh reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 110,000 tons per annum, moving India closer to its energy decarbonisation and climate action goals.

India is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the United States.

The Indian government has set a target of increasing renewable energies to a volume of 175GW by 2022 and 450GW by 2030 to ensure energy affordability and sustainability.

The grid modernisation project is also expected to reduce energy theft, ensure fewer outages on the grid and improve customer services.

The project will also enable utilities in the state to address rapidly increasing energy demand and connect more consumers to the grid through electrification of the population living in villages.

Hille Henebry, KfW portfolio manager said: “Our project is helping the country to meet its growing electricity needs more efficiently and sustainably. This is the basis for economic development in rural regions as well.”

The government of West Bengal will use the loan to fund the implementation of the West Bengal Electricity Distribution and Grid Modernisation Project.

The project aims to help utilities in the state address energy sector challenges and prepare for changing business models and consumer energy demands.

Challenges being faced by utilities include:

Increases in energy demand: Electricity demand has risen by 4.5% in the past five years with utilities such as the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) doubling the number of consumers in the past six years to reach 20 million consumers. The increase in demand is also due to a rapid increase in economic and industrial activities.

Financial instability: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the Indian economy resulting in commercial and industrial consumers struggling to pay their bills. WBSEDCL’s revenue generation from industrial and commercial customers, the main sources of income for the utility, has plummeted resulting in a financial crisis for the energy distributor.

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Efforts by WBSEDCL to improve energy access across the state have led to more consumers from rural areas being connected to the grid. However, these consumers are struggling to pay their bills, resulting in an increase in the utility’s revenue deficit.

Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, India, on behalf of the World Bank said: “The financial stability of electricity companies is critical to providing efficient and reliable electricity to people. The pandemic has adversely affected the financial health of electricity distribution companies in India and in turn the financial health of the electricity generation companies.

“The West Bengal Electricity Distribution and Grid Modernisation Project will strengthen distribution networks, invest in smart-grid technologies, and ensure financial sustainability of WBSEDCL. This could serve as an example for other public distribution utilities across India.”

The grid modernisation project is also expected to help improve regional energy trading between India and neighboring countries since West Bengal is strategically located along the corridor to the Northeast and to Southeast Asia. Today, the state’s grid is enabling energy trading between India and Bangladesh.

By deploying smart grid solutions, WBSEDCL is expected to improve the efficiency and reliability of the grid and resistance to harsh weather events. The deal follows the state’s grid being heavily damaged by cyclone Amphan in May 2020.

In addition, distribution losses will be minimised and the integration of distributed energy resources increased for decarbonisation and stability purposes.

The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance stated that, “Providing efficient and reliable electricity supply is a priority for the Government of India. The project will help improve the electricity distribution network in the state of West Bengal to ensure uninterrupted, affordable and quality supply of electricity to all homes, industries and commercial establishments in the state.”

The modernisation initiative is also expected to help India accelerate its electrification programmes, such as Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, as well as the implementation of the Government of India’s 24×7 Power For All Programme.

The 150KW/528KWh was developed in partnership with Nexcharge and is India’s first grid-connected Community Energy Storage System.

The utility says it is using the project to manage peak load, regulate voltage, improve power quality, for frequency regulation and deviation settlement mechanisms to ensure grid reliability at the distribution level.

The system enables Tata Power to take advantage of energy flexibility to address power adequacy concerns during exigency.

The project is part of efforts by Tata Power Delhi to adopt new technologies to improve services to its 7 million customers, expand renewable energy capacity and align operations with changing business models.

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Ganesh Srinivasan, the CEO of Tata Power Delhi, said energy storage will play a key role in helping India to generate 50% of total electricity from renewables by 2030 and reduce carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030.

Srinivasan added: “Tata Power-DDL is striving to reach new milestones every day in the field of innovation and technology. This award reaffirms our efforts and commitment to transform the power distribution space. We are proud to receive this recognition from Asian Power.”

The utility has also deployed what is touted to be South Asia’s largest grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System, the 10MW/10MWh Lithium-ion Battery-NMC in Rohini.

Developed in partnership with AES and Mitsubishi, the project supports 1.8 million customers through the provision of services including overload mitigation of substations, CAPEX deferral and reactive power management.

During a visit at the battery storage site, Shri Satyendar Jain, Hon’ble Power Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, said Delhi should set up ambitious energy storage targets like the 200MW by 2025 set by Singapore to deliver the energy transition, ensure energy sustainability and security whilst mitigating climate change.

The award is the first smart metering project in India to be competitively bid on a TOTEX basis, i.e. CAPEX + OPEX, and installation will be delivered in 19 circles (districts) in Assam.

IntelliSmart, a joint venture of the government’s National Investment & Infrastructure Fund and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, thus becomes the first company in the smart metering segment to deliver the programme in this region of India.

IntelliSmart operates with a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model and will maintain the advanced metering infrastructure system for a total contract period of about nine years.

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The project will be undertaken in Nagaon, Morigaon, KANCH, Cachar, Badarpur, Jorhat, Golaghat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, GEC-I, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Rangia, Mangaldoi, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur and GEC-II circles of Assam.

“This is a proud moment for us as we secure the first-ever competitively bid smart metering project of the country,” said Anil Rawal, MD and CEO of IntelliSmart, of the win.

He adds that it entails an investment of about 500 Crs ($67 million) in the state for enabling smart metering in prepaid mode and would usher the transformation in the power distribution in Assam through the digitalisation process.

“We shall continue to have commitment to Assam to the smart metering as well as other digital initiatives of the state to help Assam’s drive to be on the forefront of the energy map of the country.”

Smart metering is expected to create systemic efficiency improvements in the financial and operational health of India’s distribution companies, along with consumer empowerment by giving them control on consumption based on their capacity and need as well as building transparency by providing regular data on their consumption.