The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) have jointly organized a two-day International Conference on Solar Thermal Technologies in New Delhi.
The conference aims to deliberate on the integration of Solar Thermal and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) storage with Renewable Technologies, examining the global landscape and potential applications within the Indian context.
The inauguration of the conference on February 12, 2024, witnessed the participation of notable dignitaries including Secretary of New & Renewable Energy, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla; Managing Director of SECI, R.P. Gupta; and Director General of NSEFI, Deepak Gupta. During the inaugural session, Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla highlighted India’s strides in solar PV growth and underscored the importance of embracing new technologies like Solar Thermal and Concentrated Solar Power to achieve reliable and emission-free energy generation. He expressed optimism that the conference would chart a path forward for CSP adoption in India.
SECI’s CMD, R.P. Gupta, emphasized the global emergence of Solar Thermal Technology and Concentrated Solar Power with storage as promising solutions aligned with India’s energy targets. Meanwhile, Director General of NSEFI, Deepak Gupta, advocated for exploring CSP to expedite the nation’s energy transition, envisioning it as the catalyst for a Solar Thermal revolution.
During the first day of the conference, international experts and industry stakeholders shared their insights and experiences, shedding light on India’s potential in Solar Thermal technologies. Representatives and speakers from Belgium, Israel, Spain, and Germany presented global case studies and discussed the financial viability of such projects, underlining solar thermal’s capacity for long-duration energy storage. They emphasized its potential to support India’s Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) requirements, including round-the-clock power supply, catering to diverse consumer demands.
A special session conducted by SECI delved into the features of the proposed tender for supplying FDRE through the blending of CSP with other RE technologies, offering a comprehensive overview of the initiative.
The second day of the conference is set to feature speakers from academia, research institutions, financial entities, and industry representatives from across the globe, continuing the dialogue on leveraging Solar Thermal technologies for sustainable energy advancement.
