Greentech Lead India: The United States Trade Development
Agency (USTDA) has signed two deals with Indian firms to help develop clean
energy projects. The deals will generate Indian demand for US equipment worth
over $250 million.
Under the first deal, the agency will support a
feasibility study for development of a rural micro-grid solar power project
that will bring electricity to remote villages in India.
The second deal is related to the implementation of smart
grid technology in Kolkata.
“India has ambitious energy infrastructure
development goals. We are pleased to join this trade mission to support those
goals, and to help open the market for US clean energy technologies,” said
Henry Steingass, regional director for US Trade Development Agency.
Steingass is part of a business delegation accompanying
US Commerce Secretary John Bryson. Bryson on his current India visit is leading
a delegation of 16 US infrastructure firms.
The US agency said it will help private solar power
developer Azure Power in the feasibility study to access the development of a
rural micro-grid solar power project that will bring electricity to remote
villages in India.
Azure aims to set up over 100 micro-grid solar systems.
Each system would cover an area of 2-3 acres of rural land with little or no
connectivity to existing electrical grids.
The other deal signed with CESC is related to a
feasibility study for implementation of smart grid technologies across their
electricity distribution networks in Kolkata. The project will improve
efficiency and energy reliability for its 2.5 million customers.