Workshop held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 04 2013 :
A one-day workshop related to 'Renewable energy microgrids as a pathway to rural electrification and economic development: Policy and implementation case studies and lessons learned from the Indian context' was held at Classic Hotel today under the aegis of Pune-based Arc Finance.
Organised under the objective of engaging local policy makers and public officials in discussing policy-related, financial and operational dimensions of microgrid deployment in rural India with specific focus on potential application in under-served regions of Manipur, the event had Development Consultants, Pvt Group Director Dr SP Gonchaudhuri, Executive Director of Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Authority Shailendra Shukla, Microgrid Technical Advisor (CAT Projects) Michael Tuckwell and Off-grid Energy Analyst of Energy Research Institute K Rahul Sharma as the panel members elaborated on existing case studies, key challenges and best practices, variations in programme and business model design and the role of public-private partnerships in promoting success, sustainability and scale.
Speaking at the occasion, Weaker Section Development Society secretary Mang Kipgen exuded confidence that through effective and judicious implementation of renewable energy microgrids problems of power supply shortage in Manipur could be addressed to a great extent along with benefiting those implementing the projects in the rural areas.
Informing that ahead of today's workshop a meeting attended by the Chief Secretary, Dr SP Gonchaudhuri and State Government officials was held yesterday, Mang said Manipur also stands to gain immensely from such projects as had been witnessed in some other States like Bihar and Odisha.
With the project's funding criteria based on 90 percent subsidy and 10 percent loan, the Government of Manipur can take major role in promoting the project by facilitating public-private partnerships.