INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
IN AUGUST John Grimes and Scott Hamilton visited India at the request of Dr Anil K Garg, President of the World Renewable Energy Congress 2022. The 8-day trip to Delhi and Chennai took in site visits, roundtables, presentations at three conference and exhibitions, and back-to-back meetings with government and business leaders in India’s burgeoning
IMAGE: SCOTT HAMILTON
PASSAGE TO INDIA
renewables sector. The trip was supported and facilitated by the Australian High Commission and Austrade. “The purpose of the trip was to build strategic relationships to help diversify smart energy and renewable hydrogen supply chains,” John Grimes said. “We had the opportunity to identify key trade and investment opportunities in all facets of renewables. We returned very pleased about India’s willingness to regard Australia as a key partner in decarbonisation. “We are now building on those connections and planning a major delegation to India in 2023,” he said
No trip to India – business or leisure – is complete without a visit to the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra and luckily that tour was arranged during the one free afternoon
The ‘sleeves rolled up’ itinerary included meetings with CESL and ReNew, SunSource, Tata, Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro, Motherson and Jakson. Some other notable meetings included Evenergi with its modelling software for electric bus depots and fleets, and ATTERO with its aspirations for building a battery recycling and manufacturing facility in Australia. “We forged some strategic battery partnerships in terms of investment and supply agreements, battery recycling with ATTERO and the likelihood of interest spreading to Indonesia,” John said. Look out for some of these names from India at next year’s Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition in Sydney. Solar modules: “We went to India wondering if we could consider the country as a supply partner for solar components and in other strategic areas of collaboration. I think the answer is a definite yes, given India is ramping up solar module manufacturing.”
Among the module makers are multi-billion dollar entities including Reliance, Avaada, ReNew and Tata, building between 3GW to 5GW. “Not only are they producing wafers, cells and solar ingots but they are also considering innovations around the efficiency of solar cells and investing in battery manufacturing in Australia given the trajectory to become the largest lithium-ion battery market in the world.” Another fun fact, EVs: More than half of all the three wheelers sold in India are electric vehicles which are in high demand by small businesses – micro agricultural and commercial outfits – as utility vehicles. John likens this to a ‘bottom up’ movement in that it’s not the likes of Tesla leading the charge in the EV market. “That got me wondering if we could attract that capacity into our states, electric vehicles present a huge opportunity, we just need to develop a plan.”
John Grimes presenting at the ‘Towards Electric Bus Reform in India’ workshop in New Delhi, India
IMAGE: SCOTT HAMILTON
“We forged a series of agreements that strengthen trade ties between India and Australia and will accelerate the transition to renewable energy.” JOHN GRIMES 42 SUMMER 2022
