Energy & Power Systems > Projects

Ongoing Projects

Energy, Food and Water Nexus-Analysis in a Macroeconomic Consistency Framework 
Supported by-Niti Aayog , GoI

Diesel Price Rationalisation converging the Divergence between diesel and petrol pricing 
Supported by-Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation

Electricity as a clean cooking option for rapid scale cooking option

IRADe has been awarded this work by NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) to explore the possibilities of using electric cooking as a way for providing clean cooking access to rural-peri-urban areas. Under this project IRADe would work in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh states to carry out the study with field level surveys and technology demonstration and monitoring of the household that would be provided with electric induction cookers. The study will help to understand consumer/stakeholder behaviour towards the new technology/device, cooking habits and reasons for its adoption or otherwise. The project will involve a multi stakeholder approach to address all the issues and will work with petroleum, renewable and electricity departments and ministries. The project will help in meeting the UN’s SDG’s of clean energy accesses and gender issues and suggest suitable policy issues to reach the goals effectively.

Supported by: National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) , Government of India

Ajmer Solar City Master Plan
IRADe is preparing the Ajmer Solar City master plan for Ajmer Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan under the Solar City Programme of MNRE and Smart City. Urbanization and economic development are leading to a rapid rise in energy demand in urban areas leading to enhanced Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. The program aims at minimum 10% reduction in projected demand of conventional energy at the end of five years, which can be achieved through a combination of energy efficiency measures and enhancing supply from renewable energy sources.

The solar city master plan of the city will include the base line for energy consumption during the baseline year, demand forecasting for the next five years, sector-wise strategies and action plan for implementation of renewable energy projects like solar, wind, biomass, small hydro, waste to energy etc. may be installed along with possible energy efficiency measures depending on the need and resource availability in the Ajmer city, so as to mitigate the fossil fuel consumption in the city and reduce the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

Supported by: Ajmer Municipal Corporation, Government of Rajasthan​



Udaipur Solar City Master Plan

IRADe is preparing Udaipur Solar City master plan for Udaipur Municipal Corporation under the Solar City Programme of MNRE. Urbanization and economic development are leading to a rapid rise in energy demand in urban areas leading to enhanced Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. The program aims at minimum 10% reduction in projected demand of conventional energy at the end of five years, which can be achieved through a combination of energy efficiency measures and enhancing supply from renewable energy sources.

The solar city master plan of the city will include the base line for energy consumption during the baseline year, demand forecasting for the next five years, sector-wise strategies and action plan for implementation of renewable energy projects like solar, wind, biomass, small hydro, waste to energy etc. may be installed along with possible energy efficiency measures depending on the need and resource availability in the Udaipur city, so as to mitigate the fossil fuel consumption in the city and reduce the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.
IRADe has submitted the Draft report to Udaipur Municipal Corporation after undertaking extensive field surveys and meetings with various stakeholders. Next Step is a Stakeholder consultation meeting to discuss draft report of Solar city master plan. After receiving comments of stakeholder consultation on Draft report, Final report will be submitted.

Supported by: Udaipur Municipal Corporation, Government of Rajasthan​

Global Technology Watch Group (GTWG) on Advanced Coal Technologies (ACT) for Power Generation

IRADe is a member of the Global Technology Watch Group, a consortia comprising of three IIT’s (Madras, Bombay and Delhi) for  the   continuous monitoring of  the status of coal technologies in India and abroad, their evaluation for use in India, and to facilitate the development of a road map of Advanced Coal Technologies for Sustainable Power Generation.

Coal will be the fuel of the country for several more decades. The present coal technologies are of low efficiency and highly polluting. Highly efficient, eco-friendly, economically viable ACT need to be developed and deployed at the earliest. The existing non-technological barriers like isolated and fragmented research and development, lack of effective collaborative research and focused team work can be overcome by  establishing a national ACT network which will bring together stakeholders from industry-academia-government-society to encourage, facilitate, catalyse and actuate purposeful sharing of knowledge and resources at national and international levels. This will help in creating a coal database, facilitate the development of a coal road map and culminate in the creation of a Global ACT Network, for the benefit of coal power generation in the country.

IRADe would critically examine the various technologies in power generation, beneficiation and mining and would develop a technology index based on multiple evaluation criteria such as capital cost, O&M cost, CO2 & other emissions, socio-economic and water food print evaluation.Some technologies that are already in various stages of development but yet to be evaluated are ultra super critical power plants and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC). Technology literature reviews for coal power generation, sustainability assessment and have developed a draft matrix for sustainability analysis.

Under the project IRADe has participated in three meetings at IIT-Madras, IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi along with participation in many related workshops and conferences.

Supported by Ministry of Science & Technology, 
Department of Science & Technology, Government of India

South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Initiative (SARI/EI)

The South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Initiative (SARI/EI) program is the regional energy program of USAID covering eight countries of the region: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.  Started  in the year 2000, the program  has consistently strived for promotion of energy security in the South Asian nations by working in three focus areas: 1) cross border energy trade, 2) energy market formation, and 3) regional clean energy development.

The SARI/E Energy program in year 2012 entered into its fourth and final phase, SARI/Energy Integration (SARI/EI). In this phase (2012-2017), the project goal is to advance regional energy integration and  project purpose is to increase  cross-border energy trade through focus on the following three components: (consistency required in the tenses)

1) Harmonization of Policy, Legal, and Regulatory mechanisms
2) Advancement of Transmission Systems Interconnections
3) Establishment of South Asia Regional Electricity Markets

The program would catalyze enabling systemic conditions for regional energy integration through formation and support to three Task Forces (TFs) focusing on three components mentioned above.
The representatives of regional stakeholders like national governments, national power transmission utilities, national electricity regulatory commissions, power market institutions, and other in-country organizations will be the members of the Task Forces. TFs will showcase examples of the benefits of regional cooperation, leverage counterpart funding and resources, provide unbiased support for regional initiatives, present a platform to discuss cross-border trade, and promote infrastructure interconnections. TFs will also help create markets and mechanisms for transparent trade practices, clean energy access, efficiency, conservation and renewable sources.

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) is program’s apex body and provides overall strategic direction.  The PSC comprises - senior representation from the country governments of individual SARI/EI countries, independent energy experts/diplomats, representatives from the regional institutions like SAARC Energy Center and multilateral donors like the Asian Development Bank. 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) selected the Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), through a competitive process, for the implementation of this phase of the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration (SARI/EI) program. IRADe’s approach would be to actively act both as the secretariat and technical input provider, and work towards consensus building amongst member countries for the program objectives in a constructive manner.

The activities of the Task Forces form the heart of the program. Task Force meetings will  be focused, structured, demand-driven and resulting into tangible outcomes. The process of guiding the TFs through their work will be supported by demand driven research and analysis. The requirements for technical analysis, study, and research evolved during the discussion in the TF meetings will be promptly responded to.  Thus, the members will be assisted in their decision-making process so that they can make informed recommendations on the issues of cross-border energy trade.

Key Recommendations

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs):

Green and energy efficient building standards:

Low carbon governance and institutional framework: