During his visit, Mr. Christophe Gégout met with the Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and also the director general of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). This indian institute is tasked by the MNRE to contribute to the development of solar energy in India. The CEA and the NISE are currently working on the finalization of a memorandum of understanding structuring technological research and training cooperations on renewable energies.
This visit is part of long-term exchanges between the CEA and indian institutionnal and industrial stakeholders in the field of renewable energies. Thanks to that dialogue, cooperations both at academic and industrial levels have been established.
India has the ambition to add an installed capacity of 100 GWe of solar energy by 2022. In the industrial segment, the CEA considers partnerships with indian industrialists for the purpose of implementing technological innovations (upscaling of the production, optimization of production units) notably developped by the National Solar Energy Institute (CEA/INES, located in France near Chambery).
More broadly, the CEA offers to its Indian industrial counterparts to implement innovative solutions for a wide range of applications (decarbonisation of transport, electrification of rural areas …).
Following discussions between Mr. Christophe Gégout and Indian industrialists, the signing of a first agreement is considered in coming weeks. These discussions highlighted the keen interest from Indian counterparts for cooperation with the CEA. Implementing in the fast-growing Indian market technologies derived from French, European and Indian innovations, would emphasize the synergy between India and France in the solar energy and more broadly renewable energies fields (photovoltaic, storage, grids management, electric mobility).
During his visit, the deputy chairperson of the CEA also met Mr. Upendra Tripathy, interim director general of the International Solar Alliance. They discussed about implementation of actions mentioned during the visit of INES of Mr. Upendra Tripathy last December (link) (training, electric mobility, quality control of components used for photovoltaic cells manufacturing). The CEA whishes to become a major partner of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with a view being a centre of excellence for France and to provide, alongside with the NISE, its expertise.
CEA - INES :
The National Solar Energy Institute (INES) is the center of reference in the field of solar energy in France and among the main ones at the European level. It is dedicated to both research and innovation and training. Set up with the backing of Savoie Départemental Council and Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, the institute includes research and development teams from the CEA and the University Savoie Mont Blanc. The INES currently employs 400 staff on a 22,000 m² site equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The platform research & innovation, steered by the CEA, gathers laboratories from the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, closely linked to the needs of industry. Its works cover the whole value chain, from materials and components to applications: solar technologies, electricity, solar mobility and energy efficient buildings. This platform is at the heart of a French and international network. http://www.ines-solaire.org/?lang=en
International Solar Alliance :
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was set up during the COP21 by Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi and French President François Hollande. Open for signature and ratification during the COP22 (November 2016), the ISA framework agreement aims at bringing together all 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn in order to massively scale-up solar energy deployment. Since December 6th, 2017, the ISA is an international organization based in New Delhi. It aims to attract over 850. Md € of public and private investment by 2030. http://isolaralliance.org/
