Smart solutions can help India with smart grids

Finnish technologies, already dominant in the Indian power sector, can help the country’s mega tech-savvy developments such as smart solutions but it should not be pricey.

The technology was highlighted by a Finnish business delegation and Environment, Energy and Housing Minister, Kimmo Tiilikainen, who addressed the ‘India-Finland Business Seminar’ organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi on 4 October 2017.

Finnish companies can help Indian electricity utilities to transform conventional electrical grids into high-performance smart grids with distributed energy generation, intelligent power management with high level of digitalization and demand response equipment where needed, said Tiilikainen.

Finnish companies were already established in both thermal power and solar energy sectors and two-thirds of Indian power plants were running with Finnish automation technology, he pointed out.

Finnish smart solutions could help Indian cities to accomplish the ambitious development plans aimed at, for example, electricity stability, smart waste management systems, advanced traffic system and electric vehicle infrastructure, he elaborated.

But India is a price sensitive market, added Devin Narang, Member, FICCI National Executive Committee, Chair, FICCI Bio Energy Task Force and Managing Director (Co-generation), Sindicatum Sustainable Resource.

“Therefore, Finnish companies needed to take into account that technology should be not be priced too highly for India,” he said.

India was a large market and scaling up technologies could help in achieving economies of scale, reassured Narang.

Finland has a very stable grid with minimal transmission losses of just three per cent. It aims to become a carbon-neutral society by 2030. Finland’s energy policy is balancing between cost efficiency, environment and security.

Tiilikainen said that energy consumption and emissions go hand in hand. Cities and buildings sectors have a key role on the path to sustainable, carbon-neutral future and clean environment.

At the governmental level, the two countries have identified a great amount of mutual interest related to energy, environment and smart city solutions for tomorrow, he said.

Nina Vaskunlahti, Ambassador of Finland to India, said that Finnish companies have the capabilities and expertise to answer the challenges faced by India in terms of modern-day transportation, smart solutions for energy security and renewable energy.

She added that ‘Make in Finland, the Indian way’ should be the new call to strengthen ties between Finland and India.

India offers a huge market with ambitious energy programs, acknowledged, Arto Räty, Leader of the Business Delegation and Senior Vice President (Corporate Affairs and Communications), Fortum Corporation.

Finland is committed to provide the promised deliverables and is keen to partner with India in areas such as renewable energy, energy security and stable energy grid, he said.

Meanwhile, Indian and Finnish companies have signed two energy-related Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi on 4 October 2017.

The first was signed by Avanto Venture and Atal Incubation Centre for collaboration in the corporate venturing activities.

The second was between h2e Power Systems Pvt. Ltd., and Convion, a Finnish Company, pioneering integration and development of multi-fuel capable fuel cell systems in the power range of 50kW and above. fii-new.com