The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is set to host a significant two-day event, the ‘Chintan Shivir,’ on the 14th and 15th of November 2024, at ITC, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The event aims to engage leading policymakers, industry experts, financial institutions, and key government officials in discussions focused on advancing India’s renewable energy sector, in line with the country’s ambitious renewable energy goals.
The primary objective of the ‘Chintan Shivir’ is to explore and deliberate on strategies for achieving the government’s renewable energy target of 500 GW by 2030, with an eye toward the subsequent goal of 1800 GW by 2047. This event will provide a platform for high-level discussions on critical issues that affect the renewable energy landscape, both present and future.
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, will inaugurate the event on the morning of 14th November 2024. The opening session will be graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha; Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy; Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Odisha’s Energy Minister; and Shri Prashant Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
The two-day conference will feature a series of focused thematic sessions aimed at addressing the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the renewable energy sector. Key discussions will revolve around the government’s flagship initiatives, such as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which seeks to achieve 1 crore rooftop solar installations, and the promotion of solar ancillary manufacturing in India. In addition, the event will also delve into the critical role of land acquisition and transmission infrastructure in the expansion of large-scale renewable energy projects across the country.
The agenda will further include sessions on India’s emergence as a global hub for solar and wind manufacturing, the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid, and strategies for accelerating the solarization of agricultural sectors through solar pumps and the integration of agrivoltaics. The potential of offshore wind energy and the challenges related to matching upcoming renewable energy capacity with transmission capabilities will also be discussed.
The second day of the event, 15th November, will explore strategic solutions for ensuring the off-take of renewable energy by Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) and examine the role of bioenergy, particularly biogas, in India’s energy mix. In addition, emerging technologies such as battery energy storage systems and pumped storage will be explored as essential components of the nation’s energy transition. Other areas of focus will include the promotion of small hydropower plants, the development of a green hydrogen ecosystem, and the contribution of solar thermal technologies to India’s decarbonization efforts.
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Moreover, the event will address the unique challenges and opportunities for renewable energy integration in India’s northeastern states, hill states, and islands. Discussions will also focus on the creation of an innovation-driven financial ecosystem to support renewable energy projects, as well as the need for a skilled workforce capable of driving India’s transition to a low-carbon energy future. The event will conclude with a valedictory session at 4:00 PM on 15th November 2024, during which the key insights from the discussions will be summarized, and future strategies to advance India’s renewable energy goals will be outlined.
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