The Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) held a Subgroup II meeting on June 7, 2023, in New Delhi, focusing on the topic of "Renewable Energies." Chaired by Dr. Andreas Nicolin, Deputy Director General, Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and Shri Lalit Bohra, Joint Secretary of Solar, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the meeting addressed productive discussions and decisions aimed at fostering the development and collaboration in renewable energy initiatives.

Recognizing the importance of land permitting and land use in renewable energy projects, IGEF was entrusted with conducting a study to compare the land permitting processes and guidelines in Germany and India, aiming to incorporate best practices into bidding guidelines.

The initiative aimed to promote active participation by German companies in India's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for battery manufacturing, encouraging collaboration and investment in the Indian market. Knowledge exchange on storage solutions and virtual power plants was encouraged between the German and Indian counterparts, facilitating the sharing of technological advancements and best practices.

The IGEF was tasked with conducting a brief study on the latest developments in various battery technologies, contributing to the overall understanding and adoption of innovative energy storage solutions.

Considering the importance of sustainability and waste management, IGEF was assigned the responsibility to gather information and facilitate an information exchange on guidelines and policies pertaining to the disposal of photovoltaic (PV) waste, promoting a circular economy approach. IGEF reiterated its commitment to supporting the development of niche markets for solar photovoltaics (PV) and exploring potential future projects with India, fostering innovative and sustainable approaches in the solar PV sector. 

The meeting stressed the importance of continued information collection and exchange on financing renewable energy projects, ensuring a well-informed approach to support RE growth.