MSL Partners for India Project

As of January 2014, the Microgrid Systems Laboratory has begun work on a feasibility study for rural microgrid pilot deployment in India.

General MicroGrids, Inc (GMI), a member of MSL, is leading the India microgrid project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, and partnered with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in India. TERI, also a founding member of MSL, is one of the world’s top-rated think tanks for sustainability issues. MSL will participate directly in this project, which will contribute to the objectives of India’s Ministry of Power’s recently released “Smart Grid Vision and Roadmap for India.” india-roadmapThe Roadmap calls for 10,000 village-scale microgrids by 2022, as a primary rural electrification strategy to reach India’s 300 million people with no access to electricity (as well as industrial parks and commercial hubs).

Solar resource map of India

Solar resource map of India

GMI’s soma online CEO, Terry Mohn, commented: “GMI recognizes the need for standard approaches to off-grid technologies, business processes, workforce training, and government regulations, in order to scale up delivery of clean, reliable energy to the world’s 1.3 billion people who have no access to electricity today. GMI is partnering with MSL to establish certain standards to further these goals.”

According to Amit Kumar, Director of the Energy-Environment Technology Development Division of TERI: “Effective solutions to reliable and sustainable energy for emerging and developing economies is a top priority for TERI, and we look forward to working with the Microgrid Systems Lab on projects to advance this agenda.”

MSL is pleased to collaborate with these global leaders, and is seeking opportunities to expand this important work to other parts of the developing world and those living in energy poverty.