FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy, Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), commissioned a one MW of Goa’s first solar energy project. This is CESL’s and Goa’s first milestone in this 100 MW project. The project was inaugurated by the Power Minister Nilesh Cabral last year on the Liberation Day of Goa on 19 December 2020. The project integrates the delivery of clean, renewable, decentralised energy from solar feeders with energy efficient pump sets and LED lamps for rural homes. Of Goa’s total 600 MW power demand, 100 MW from solar energy is a big move towards energy independence and a greener Goa. The Herald spoke to CESL CEO and MD, Mahua Acharya to know more. Excerpts of the interview
HERALD: What is your vision for CESL? How do you envisage the nation’s energy sector shaping up in the near future?
MAHUA ACHARYA: Since inception, we have been channeling our innovation to create impactful new initiatives, build partnerships across sectors and geographies. At CESL, we are attempting to bring together seemingly independent sectors such as renewable energy and energy storage to ramp up areas such as street lighting, domestic lighting, energy efficient cooking and e-mobility. We will build upon the decentralised solar development experience in under-served rural communities in India, and over time, using battery energy storage, will deliver renewable energy solutions to power agricultural pumps, street lighting, domestic lighting and cooking appliances in villages.
Instead of looking at just emission reductions and peak demand avoidance, we are taking a deeper look into the social impact that our efforts can bring about. With the evolution of the energy ecosystem, we shall witness the emergence of newer initiatives and fresh ideas, in hitherto untapped sectors, combinations and geographies. In the near future, I foresee a strong push by us into sectors such as mobility, battery storage and decentralised solar.
We, at CESL will continue to devise bespoke energy programmes, across the spectrum, in a bid to move the needle towards creating a sustainable, clean, green and energy equitable India.
HERALD: Can you briefly talk about the 100 MW project launched by CESL in Goa?
MA: In December last year, we had witnessed the inauguration of a 1 MW pilot decentralised ground mounted solar power plant, which is part of a larger 100 MW project that we are implementing in the State. For this, we had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of New & Renewable Energy (DNRE), Goa to roll out India’s first project under our Convergence initiative.
We are currently carrying our feasibility studies in the State and will subsequently implement decentralised solar energy projects in Goa. We aim to install 100 MW of decentralised ground mounted solar power projects on government lands to be used for agricultural pumping, distribute 16 lakh LED bulbs for households and replace 7000 agri pumps with BEE 5 star rated pumps in Goa.
HERALD: What efforts is CESL making for increasing the adoption of electric vehicles in the State?
MA: Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the future and India’s transition towards cleaner modes of transport cannot be fulfilled without the mass adoption of EVs. As an organisation focused on delivering clean energy, renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions, we aim to venture into all sectors where a confluence of these solutions can be implemented. On World Environment Day, we had forged key partnerships to further the deployment of electric vehicles in the country. We’ve partnered with the State governments of Goa and Kerala to procure over 30,000 two- and three-wheelers. This is the first foray into the 2W and 3W segments in the country, with solutions uniquely designed to deliver affordable financial solutions to buyers. We will also be investing in establishing the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and monitor the use of the assets. This customer-oriented approach is designed to deliver good ease-of-use and better accessibility.
HERALD: How is CESL providing a fillip to the renewable ambitions of Goa?
MA: We have partnered with the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) for the installation of solar PV systems at 151 households in the State. For this, the Minister of Power of Goa, Nilesh Cabral had inaugurated the solar lighting programme for the off-grid houses with a vision to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy to all. Under this initiative, we will, in partnership with GEDA, design, manufacture supply, install, test, and commission solar PV systems at a household level. We will also undertake exhaustive site surveys and sites visits to gauge the current solar situation in the State.
