The Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) celebrated the 8th Indo-German Energy Day with a series of presentations and events. To begin with, the virtual Renewable Energy India E-Expo (REI E-Expo) took place on 5-6 August. The REI E-Expo was a web-based platform, ensuring that developers, producers, experts and policymakers from the field of renewable energies can come together to connect and collaborate with their target audience. It also provides knowledge-based conference sessions in a virtual environment. IGEF and the Indo German Chamber of Commerce had a joint pavilion.

Dr. Stephan Hesselmann, Economic Minister Counsellor of the German Embassy in New Delhi was among the dignitaries who inaugurated the REI E-Expo. In his speech, Dr. Hesselmann emphasized the strong partnership between India and Germany in working towards energy transition. For more than a decade, both countries have met under the umbrella of the IGEF to work on topics such as the expansion of renewables, energy efficiency and e-mobility. Today, solar energy and grid integration of renewables remain the most important areas for cooperation. 

After the inauguration ceremony, IGEF’s Local Business Council introduced Dr. Stephan Hesselmann as well as Dr. Steffen Koch, Head of Economics and Global Affairs from the German Embassy to participants from the private sector. Challenges and opportunities for German and Indian businesses in the renewables sector were discussed.

On 6 August, IGEF hosted a session on “New Agrivoltaics Developments in India” as part of REI E-Expo, where international experts gave an update on recent developments in the Agrivoltaics sector. The session was inaugurated by Dr. Nicole Glanemann, Dpty. Head of Division, Federal German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and Mr. Rajneesh Khattar, Group Director Energy Portfolio, Informa Markets in India. 

Mr. Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO, National Solar Energy Federation of India Ltd gave his presentation on Agri PV Plants in India – Challenges, Opportunities and Road Ahead and also gave detailed information on India’s Agri- Solar Scheme (KUSUM). He discussed the different types of Agri-photovoltaics plants. Dr. Jai Prakash Singh, Technical Director of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) talked about vertically installed bifacial PV modules. He presented findings from a pilot project at the NISE in Gurugram. Mr. Shravan Sampath, Chief Executive Officer, Oakridge Energy spoke on the Development of their latest 110 kW Agri-photovoltaic project in cooperation with Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Inter alia, he explained how land taken for solar can conflict with the livelihoods of farmers and lead to food insecurity in a purely solar plant set-up. Mr. Maximillian Vorast, Research Scientist Fraunhofer ISE, Germany presented on Agri-photovoltaic Experiences from Germany and Europe. He showed the participants international agri-photovoltaic plants and the different types of agrivoltaic systems and their categorizations and stressed the need to build a worldwide Agri-photovoltaics community.