May 15, 2015: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, inaugurated today “ Surya Bhawan” the New Solar Passive Building of the National Institute of Solar Energy situated in Gurgaon, Haryana. The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is the apex National Centre of research and development in Solar Energy under administrative control of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India. It coordinates solar energy research & technology related work in the country under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
On the occasion, Goyal also launched a Biomass knowledge portal which aims to disseminate information about effective use of Biomass for Power generation. The Portal would provide information about Biomass resource potential, latest technologies and technical inputs to set-up grid connected as well as off-grid projects.
Following the Inauguration of the New Building, the Minister visited various Solar projects in the Campus. The campus of National Institute of Solar Energy would soon meet all its electrical requirements from the Solar Power Projects setup in the campus with Solar Thermal and Solar Photovoltaic Technologies. The NISE is aiming towards becoming a NET ZERO Electricity Centre
Lauding the role and contribution of all officers and students of NISE in establishing this Institute , Goyal said “in coming days, role of the NISE will take quantum growth particularly when energy security of the country is intrinsically linked with success of Renewable Energy mission.” He further said that our efforts to reach 175000MW of RE shouldn’t be completed by 2022 but by 2019-20 by putting all of our efforts.
The Minister also announce establishment of International Solar Policy and Applications Agency which would be a coalition of Solar resource rich countries for the development of Solar Energy and Solar technology applications. This would help in addressing special energy needs of these countries and in the long run reduce reliance on fossil fuels by increasing the share of Solar Energy in the energy mix. The Minister also announced preparation of establishing World Renewable Museum in the NISE campus.
R.P Wattal, Secretary (Expenditure), Upendra Tripathy, Secretary MNRE, CMD NBCC and Additional Chief Secretary, Haryana were present on the Occasion.
About National Institute of Solar Energy( NISE) , Gurgaon
National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is the apex National Centre of research and development in Solar Energy under administrative control of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India. It coordinates research & technology related work under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). The National Institute of Solar Energy has been registered as a society on 28th October, 2013.
The National Institute of Solar Energy (formerly Solar Energy Centre) has been involved in demonstration, standardisation, interactive research, training and testing solar technologies and systems. The Photovoltaic Division at NISE is maintaining a NABL accredited PV module testing laboratory, lighting system test laboratory, battery testing facility and a water pumping system test rig and outdoor test facilities.
In view the technical responsibilities assigned and requirements of JNNSM, NISE has organize itself in following Five Technical Verticals.
- Solar Photovoltaic Division
- Solar Thermal Division
- Resource Assessment and Information Technology Division
- Hydrogen Division
- Training and HRD Division
Activities proposed during 2015-16:
The year 2015-16 is the second year of NISE to function as autonomous institution. In line with the technical responsibilities assigned to NISE and requirements of JNNSM, it would become inevitable to upscale various facilities at NISE and create new facilities.
Following activities are proposed to be taken up during 2015-16:
(i) Up-gradation of SPV module test facility
(ii) Up-gradation of solar cell test facility
(iii) Expand of battery test facility
(iv) Enlarge SPV water pumping test facility and other labs.
(v) Up-gradation of Solar Thermal Labs
(vi) Establishment of IT cell
(vii) Renovation of work shop facility
(viii) Establishment of R&D monitoring cell
(ix) Setting up of 500 kW SPV power plant &Solar collector of 60 m2 area.
About Green flagging establishment of International Solar Policy and Applications Agency :
Hon’ble Prime Minister, during his address in the RE-INVEST 2015 had given the idea to bring solar resource rich nations together to jointly address their challenges of energy security.
- Accordingly, it is proposed to start a coalition of solar resource rich countries for the development of solar energy and solar technology applications. This would help in addressing special energy needs of these countries and in the long run reduce reliance on fossil fuels by increasing the share of solar energy in the energy mix.
- The coalition is proposed to be named as International Solar Policy and Applications Agency (IN-SPAA).
- Solar resource rich countries between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn which lie at 23.5 degrees latitude on either side of the equator are proposed to be members of this agency. The Tropic of Cancer runs mostly cutting across Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, etc. The Tropic of Capricorn runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil, and South Africa. Around 110 countries are bound by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and Tropic of Capricorn on the south
The charter of activities of INSPAA may include:-
- Joint Research and Development to promote energy access & energy equity:
- Manufacturing eco-system:
- Development of Common Standards and Test Procedures:
- Technology Transfer
- Human Resource Development:
- Business to Business Collaboration:
- Innovative Financing Mechanisms:
IN-SPAA is proposed to have institutional set up with an Assembly, Council and a Secretariat. However, it will be subject to member countries ratification.
- It is proposed to establish its Secretariat at the National Institute of Solar Energy.
- The scope of IN-SPAA will be dynamic, depending on emerging challenges.
