The Climate Group announces the winners of Off-Grid Energy Competition in India

The Climate Group, in collaboration with the World Bank Institute and the Dutch Postcode Lottery, announced the winners of the Off-Grid Energy Challenge in a ceremony hosted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New Delhi. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the most innovative and financially attractive business models in the off-grid energy sector in India with proven technologies and scope for rapid scale up.

The winners, Mera Gao Power Pvt Ltd., Simpa Networks Pvt Ltd., OMC Power Pvt Ltd. and Nature Tech Infra Pvt Ltd. were recognized as promising business models in the off-grid sector and were awarded US$30,000 each to further rural energy access in India through sustainable and commercially viable off-grid “access to energy solutions”.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Pallassana Krishnan, Executive Director, The Climate Group said, “The Climate Group envisions a low carbon future that is sustainable and prosperous to all. This award is an attempt to recognize those sustainable business models that can accelerate clean energy as a means to drive rapid growth and development”

On the sidelines of the event a CEO round table was also organized to discuss business led solutions for a sustainable future. The event was jointly organized by The Climate Group and the Netherlands Embassy. Alphonsus Stoelinga, Dutch Ambassador to India, moderated the discussions with more than 15 business leaders, which included representatives from TATA Steel, YES Bank, Philips, Shell India, Sun Group, RRB Energy and DCM India. The round table served as a platform for discussion among business leaders to discuss the leaders’ views on the contribution of the private sector to sustainability, including corporate social responsibility.

Speaking at the CEO round table, Mrs. Lilianne Ploumen, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, urged business leaders to look beyond CSR and to mainstream sustainability into core business activity. She extended the full cooperation of the Dutch government to foster knowledge exchange among Dutch and Indian business groups.

During his address at CEO round table, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister and Chairman of The Climate Group, congratulated the business leaders for their commitment to sustainability. Mr. Prabhu said that sustainability is both a social and economic issue, and business leaders have the capacity to play a vital role in the rapid upscale of sustainable models that will benefit all.

The off-grid energy challenge is part of The Climate Group’s access to rural energy project in India, Bijli – Clean Energy for All. Principally funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery, the project aims to reach 50,000 rural Indians with clean and affordable energy.

The Netherlands Ambassador to India, H.E Alphonsus Stoelinga said, “The award is an initiative by The Climate Group which provides a platform to individuals and businesses to showcase exciting new and innovative ideas in the off-grid energy sector. This award has introduced a new level of innovation and competition for the industry which will inspire entrepreneurs and investors alike to the exciting prospect.”

Marieke van Schaik, Managing Director, Dutch Postcode Lottery, said, “The Dutch Postcode Lottery is a longtime partner of The Climate Group and a principal funder of the Access to Rural Energy in India program Bijli, bringing access to clean and affordable solar power to 50.000 people in India. We are excited with the developments in India in the field of clean energy. We would like to congratulate the winners of the Off Grid Energy Challenge Award, initiated by The Climate Group and the Dutch Postcode Lottery. I hope that the recognition and the money that comes with the awards will allow all the winners to further build your business cases for affordable clean energy in India.”

The competition was designed to promote innovative, technological and financial solutions that scale-up or extend the use of proven technologies for delivery of off-grid energy through a variety of pioneering and commercially viable methods -reaching communities not served by existing power grids.