Latest news with #EnergyTransitionsInnovationChallenge
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How GEAPP is powering the rise of clean energy start-ups in India
Live Events Start-ups in the clean energy space face significant challenges in developing commercially viable solutions for the energy ecosystem due to the highly regulated nature of the electricity sector in the country and the absence of an open market, said Saurabh Kumar , VP-India, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet ( GEAPP ), an alliance of organisations working on green energy.'You can't really do business with distribution companies unless there is a regulatory requirement or a regulatory approval. Therefore, it's also very limited space per se for clean energy start-ups and the interest from venture capitalists (VC) is also a little muted,' he at supporting innovative solutions from start-ups and addressing funding gaps, particularly within the energy infrastructure sector, GEAPP in 2023 launched its flagship innovation initiative, the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE). In January this year, the platform launched the second edition, ENTICE 2.0, emphasising its commitment to supporting and scaling investable noted that one of the key learnings from the previous edition is that the cash awarded to winning start-ups does not have a substantial impact. 'We realised from the feedback we got from participants, jury members, and players in the ecosystem that very few entities in India provide technical support and assistance to start-ups. This whole sector is completely regulated. Challenges like this have been solved in places like California, but not in India. And the reason is very simple. There is no regulatory assistance…no regulatory push to solve these kinds of problems,' he is data available from smart meters, but no one in the country is using it, Kumar said. 'This is what will be a major difference between ENTICE 1.0 and 2.0. Once the jury selects the winners, we will work with them between September and March, and we have a tie-up with at least two discoms. One is BSES in Delhi, and another is Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) in Rajasthan. They will provide these start-ups with data from smart metres and other things that are needed. Then we will work with these starters on that data to create a business model for demand response or demand flexibility and take it to the regulator and get this approved. Only then we hope to start the commercial operations of these start-ups in this particular area,' he exercise is scheduled to take place between September and March, and GEAPP hopes to trigger off regulatory mandates to other states. The goal is to integrate this over the next one or two years into the whole operation of the distribution said that they are creating a digital twin of the distribution network to establish a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI). 'When I say digital twin, I mean three things. Number one, providing each of the assets that is part of the low voltage network of a discom, a unique digital identity. Two, collecting the technical specifications of that asset. And three, we are looking at their connectivity. These assets are distribution transformers, poles, switch-chairs, substations, etc. The total number of such assets in a typical discom is about 80-90 lakh. So, it's a massive exercise,' he added that when this becomes the digital infrastructure which will belong to the discoms, this data will belong to the distribution utility. GEAPP and the ENTICE team are doing this on behalf of the distribution utility but are also trying to encourage them to make at least some parts REConnect Energy, a digital energy platform startup, was the winner of ENTICE 1.0. Giving a description of how the system works like UPI, Vishal Pandya, Chairman & MD, REConnect Energy said that in pre-UPI times, there was NFTS and RTGL transactions, and before that people pretty much had to walk into a bank, fill in some receipts and then the money would get credited.'So pre-UPI, the interface to transact was only via banks. In electricity today, the interface to transact is only via distribution companies. You need consent and network access. But imagine if these transmission companies become enablers where you have an account. The way you have an account with a bank. Now you want to transact as a generator or a consumer or as a prosumer, you need approvals in place if you want to import or export power. It's not ultra fast where you decide today to transact and you can start trading. So that can change,' he added that the other governing principle of DPI is that it becomes kind of a common language to interact with different infrastructure layers.'So there are a set of devices or infrastructure layers within your network, transformers, energy metres, and so forth. A discom would be storing them in a certain fashion. The discoms would have different OEMs storing the same information in certain fashion. The moment you switch from Network A to Network B, you will see that the entire nomenclature is different. So there is too much translation and translation error that takes place. Now if all this data is synchronised, then these infra layers can start engaging with each other in a common language. The data becomes more democratised,' he Dwivedi, Partner, Deloitte India, said that digitised and synchronised electrical grids and electrical equipment are an inevitable imperative that is likely to be achieved in the foreseeable future. As power generation becomes increasingly decentralised due to the emergence of small/modular renewable energy resources, along with the introduction of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and EVs, it will soon be impractical to operate electricity grids in the traditional, relatively passive mode.'Grids will increasingly become automated and intelligent and be able to self-balance to address a wide range of variations on the supply side. Notwithstanding the same, it would be equally important to implement demand/consumption-side measures wherein the load at an equipment level could be controlled to respond to varying supply-side conditions (commonly known as demand response). The cost of meeting the load curve, purely through supply-side interventions, in a NET ZERO scenario could become extremely prohibitive and lead to the creation of assets that will remain highly underutilised. Therefore, digitisation of electricity equipment, on the demand side will be an important lever to balancing the grid,' he pointed out that the target is to bring out commercially viable business models which can be fully taken up by the discom and the regulator. "This will create new revenue streams, and for a discom, this will help them reduce their procurement losses."
Economic Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
How GEAPP is powering the rise of clean energy start-ups in India
Saurabh Kumar, VP - India, GEAPP Start-ups in the clean energy space face significant challenges in developing commercially viable solutions for the energy ecosystem due to the highly regulated nature of the electricity sector in the country and the absence of an open market, said Saurabh Kumar, VP-India, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), an alliance of organisations working on green energy.'You can't really do business with distribution companies unless there is a regulatory requirement or a regulatory approval. Therefore, it's also very limited space per se for clean energy start-ups and the interest from venture capitalists (VC) is also a little muted,' he said. Aimed at supporting innovative solutions from start-ups and addressing funding gaps, particularly within the energy infrastructure sector, GEAPP in 2023 launched its flagship innovation initiative, the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE). In January this year, the platform launched the second edition, ENTICE 2.0, emphasising its commitment to supporting and scaling investable noted that one of the key learnings from the previous edition is that the cash awarded to winning start-ups does not have a substantial impact. 'We realised from the feedback we got from participants, jury members, and players in the ecosystem that very few entities in India provide technical support and assistance to start-ups. This whole sector is completely regulated. Challenges like this have been solved in places like California, but not in India. And the reason is very simple. There is no regulatory assistance…no regulatory push to solve these kinds of problems,' he is data available from smart meters, but no one in the country is using it, Kumar said. 'This is what will be a major difference between ENTICE 1.0 and 2.0. Once the jury selects the winners, we will work with them between September and March, and we have a tie-up with at least two discoms. One is BSES in Delhi, and another is Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) in Rajasthan. They will provide these start-ups with data from smart metres and other things that are needed. Then we will work with these starters on that data to create a business model for demand response or demand flexibility and take it to the regulator and get this approved. Only then we hope to start the commercial operations of these start-ups in this particular area,' he said. This exercise is scheduled to take place between September and March, and GEAPP hopes to trigger off regulatory mandates to other states. The goal is to integrate this over the next one or two years into the whole operation of the distribution said that they are creating a digital twin of the distribution network to establish a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI). 'When I say digital twin, I mean three things. Number one, providing each of the assets that is part of the low voltage network of a discom, a unique digital identity. Two, collecting the technical specifications of that asset. And three, we are looking at their connectivity. These assets are distribution transformers, poles, switch-chairs, substations, etc. The total number of such assets in a typical discom is about 80-90 lakh. So, it's a massive exercise,' he added that when this becomes the digital infrastructure which will belong to the discoms, this data will belong to the distribution utility. GEAPP and the ENTICE team are doing this on behalf of the distribution utility but are also trying to encourage them to make at least some parts public. Bengaluru-based REConnect Energy, a digital energy platform startup, was the winner of ENTICE 1.0. Giving a description of how the system works like UPI, Vishal Pandya, Chairman & MD, REConnect Energy said that in pre-UPI times, there was NFTS and RTGL transactions, and before that people pretty much had to walk into a bank, fill in some receipts and then the money would get credited. 'So pre-UPI, the interface to transact was only via banks. In electricity today, the interface to transact is only via distribution companies. You need consent and network access. But imagine if these transmission companies become enablers where you have an account. The way you have an account with a bank. Now you want to transact as a generator or a consumer or as a prosumer, you need approvals in place if you want to import or export power. It's not ultra fast where you decide today to transact and you can start trading. So that can change,' he said. He added that the other governing principle of DPI is that it becomes kind of a common language to interact with different infrastructure layers. 'So there are a set of devices or infrastructure layers within your network, transformers, energy metres, and so forth. A discom would be storing them in a certain fashion. The discoms would have different OEMs storing the same information in certain fashion. The moment you switch from Network A to Network B, you will see that the entire nomenclature is different. So there is too much translation and translation error that takes place. Now if all this data is synchronised, then these infra layers can start engaging with each other in a common language. The data becomes more democratised,' he Dwivedi, Partner, Deloitte India, said that digitised and synchronised electrical grids and electrical equipment are an inevitable imperative that is likely to be achieved in the foreseeable future. As power generation becomes increasingly decentralised due to the emergence of small/modular renewable energy resources, along with the introduction of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and EVs, it will soon be impractical to operate electricity grids in the traditional, relatively passive mode.'Grids will increasingly become automated and intelligent and be able to self-balance to address a wide range of variations on the supply side. Notwithstanding the same, it would be equally important to implement demand/consumption-side measures wherein the load at an equipment level could be controlled to respond to varying supply-side conditions (commonly known as demand response). The cost of meeting the load curve, purely through supply-side interventions, in a NET ZERO scenario could become extremely prohibitive and lead to the creation of assets that will remain highly underutilised. Therefore, digitisation of electricity equipment, on the demand side will be an important lever to balancing the grid,' he pointed out that the target is to bring out commercially viable business models which can be fully taken up by the discom and the regulator. "This will create new revenue streams, and for a discom, this will help them reduce their procurement losses."
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
DPIIT inks pact with GEAPP to support climate-tech startups
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on Saturday (May 17, 2025) said it has inked a pact with Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to support early-stage climate-tech startups through funding access, and mentorship. As part of the MoU, GEAPP will launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE), a competitive platform offering up to $500,000 in rewards for high-impact solutions, it said. Investment support will also be facilitated through partners like Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital, it added. Joint Secretary in the department Sanjiv, said this partnership would open significant opportunities for clean energy startups to scale technologies that support the country's long-term net-zero objectives. The MoU was signed by DPIIT Director Sumeet Jarangal and Saurabh Kumar, Vice President - India, GEAPP.
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
DPIIT partners with GEAPP to boost climate-tech startups in India
New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the clean energy and manufacturing sectors. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry shared this update on Saturday. Ministry said this two-year partnership, which can be extended in the future, aims to support early-stage climate-tech startups in India. The collaboration will provide these startups with access to funding, mentorship, pilot opportunities, and market linkages. The goal is to create a strong pipeline of scalable and investable ventures that are in line with India's net-zero goals. Under this MoU, GEAPP will also launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE). This challenge is a competitive platform that will offer up to USD 500,000 in rewards for solutions that can bring a high impact in the climate-tech space. In addition, investment support will be provided through partner organizations such as Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital. Commerce ministry in a statement said 'DPIIT will connect the program to the Startup India network and anchor outreach through major government schemes'. Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, emphasized that India's leadership in climate action depends on a strong base of entrepreneurs. He said the partnership with GEAPP will create important opportunities for clean energy startups to grow and develop technologies that support India's long-term net-zero targets. Saurabh Kumar, Vice President, India, GEAPP, called the MoU a major step towards driving change through collaboration between the government, private sector, and innovators. He said that GEAPP's global experience, combined with the support of DPIIT and Startup India's network, would help unlock new opportunities for climate-tech entrepreneurship. The MoU was signed by Sumeet Jarangal and Saurabh Kumar in the presence of senior officials from both DPIIT and GEAPP. (ANI)
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
DPIIT partners with GEAPP to boost climate-tech startups with funding, mentorship
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to support early-stage climate-tech startups in India. The partnership aims to provide these startups with access to funding, mentorship, and growth opportunities. Under the agreement, GEAPP will launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE)—a competitive platform offering rewards of up to USD 500,000 for impactful solutions aimed at accelerating the clean energy transition, news agency PTI reported. In addition to the prize money, investment support for selected startups will be facilitated through ecosystem partners such as Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital. Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, said the collaboration will pave the way for innovative clean energy startups to scale their technologies and contribute to India's long-term net-zero targets. The MoU was officially signed by DPIIT Director Sumeet Jarangal and Saurabh Kumar, Vice President – India, GEAPP. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
