ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 20 Vision Creating Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future Mission Tackle issues of concern to Indian society, and the world at large, and develop innovative and cost effective solutions Enhance networking for sustainable interventions Realize potential for national and international leadership as a knowledge-based agent of change in the fields of energy, environment, other natural resources, and sustainable development Inspire and reach out to diverse stakeholders for realizing a shared vision of global sustainable development, which could be translated into action Our growing commitment to a sustainable future Research and outreach activities in over 50 countries CONTENTS Annual Report 2019/20 2 137 Director General’s Message Partnerships and Networks 5 153 Who’s Who at TERI Knowledge Contributions 9 157 Research Programmes Human Capital and Infrastructure Facilities 102 163 Domestic and Global Operations Appendices 113 179 Support Services Financial Summary 123 Support Units Annual 2 Report 19/20 During unprecedented times of the COVID-19 outbreak, the adoption and promotion of clean-energy solutions has acquired a whole new meaning and dimension. In this regard, the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) India project aims to develop a narrative for policymakers for adopting low-carbon pathways to enable smooth transition towards a carbon-neutral or zero-carbon energy sector in India. This requires a study of various options of supply of clean power to match the estimated demand for the country till 2050. The work includes a holistic assessment of demand, supply, grid-balancing, investments, and policymaking for the energy sector. During 2019/20, a detailed study with hourly despatch model for production cost optimization using open- source software, namely PyPSA (Python for Power System Analysis), was given a final shape. The study charted a cost-effective and feasible pathway for India’s power system to achieve high levels of wind and solar electricity generation by 2030. Additionally, three studies highlighting the challenges and the ways forward with regard to open- DIRECTOR access, cost of supply, and electric vehicles duly taking into consideration the distribution companies' (DISCOMs) and stakeholders’ perspectives through consultative GENERAL'S workshops were successfully completed. Within the paradigm of renewable energy (RE), India MESSAGE is moving steadily to achieve its targets with wide- ranging policy initiatives at the level of central and state governments. The RE sector is evolving and generating opportunities for working on its various aspects. And The year 2019/20 has been both daunting and awakening. in order to support the national vision of RE, TERI’s Daunting because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 global Renewable Energy Technology (RET) Division has pandemic, and awakening since it heralded a paradigm shift maintained its focus on R&D, project implementation, in the overall outlook of the human race. Worldwide, COVID-19 policy research, and consultancy services, besides select cases have surpassed 100 million and while vaccinations are training and capacity-building activities. Further, the underway, we must not underestimate the powers of the invisible Division took charge of setting up of one of the most virus, especially when its mutations are emerging in several parts advanced solar water pump test facilities in collaboration of the world. This year, however unprecedented, has taught us to with M/s Maxop Engineering Company Private Limited, revive, be resilient, and restore, that too, efficiently. besides completing a number of studies with exemplary support from the MacArthur Foundation, Energy Transition The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), despite obstacles Commission India, and Norwegian Framework Agreement. and challenges, has grown as a multidisciplinary and polyphonic firm through a synthesis of its Division-based areas Presently, TERI in association with GERMANWATCH is and Programme-driven work culture. Enabling work from home working on MAP (Multi-Actor Partnership) project to in an era of the new ‘normal’, the Information Technology identify and map the risks involved in the solar sector. The and Services Division facilitated most of our colleagues project is sponsored by the German Ministry (BMZ). Under to work from home across the regional centres. Microsoft this initiative, TERI organized two stakeholder consultation Teams ensured excellent experience of online meetings or workshops, including a workshop titled ‘New Business and collaborations and integrated people, contents, and tools. Investment Opportunities in Solar Sector’ conducted in The harmonious integration of our institute’s diverse research November 2019, at INTERSOLAR 2019, Bengaluru. One of programmes with the corresponding units and areas – energy, the several accomplishments in this area was that Innovate integrated policy analysis, natural resources and climate, UK awarded a contract to TERI titled ‘CORES: Collaboration sustainable habitat, social transformation, environmental and to Optimise Renewable Energy Systems’ to introduce industrial biotechnology, and sustainable agriculture – through affordable, reliable, portable energy solutions to remote concerted efforts, have brought us closer to realize the goal communities in India and Africa. of adopting energy-efficient choices for a sustainable, greener Among other laurels, TERI and Society for Energy, society and future. In its research endeavours, TERI was ably Environment, and Development (SEED) won prize money assisted by the support services – communication outreach under Indo-US Science and Technology Forum for an and advocacy unit, project management unit, knowledge innovative concept, that is, a solar dryer-based self- management, growth diversification, commercialization unit, employment model for rural tribal communities, women, and corporate social responsibility unit. The support units and differently abled persons. TERI hosted the SEED – administrative services, human resources, and of course India Hub for delivery of customized enterprise support information technology also provided anchorage to TERI’s and promotion of eco-inclusive entrepreneurship for research efforts. Energy is the pillar of our country’s socio- sustainable development. During 2019/20, TERI worked on economic development, and over the years, the growth in international- and local-level projects addressing waste the energy sector has been monitored and sustained through management issues in different spheres and worked on- changes and variations in both the demand and supply sides. ground to demonstrate the impact. In 2020, programmes Annual Report 19/20 3 included the Training of Trainers (ToT) and cocreation With the objective to inform policy on the critical sustainability sessions for Business Development Support (BDS) providers, issues of our time, the Integrated Policy Analysis (IPA) practitioner’s lab for climate finance targeted at the needs of Programme through an in-depth and interdisciplinary growing 'missing middle' eco-inclusive enterprises, and SEED research seeks to answer the central question, ‘How can replicator programme matching proven business models with policy be designed to scale up solutions that successfully aspiring entrepreneurs. decouple economic development from natural resource use The conversion of waste into a renewable resource is one of and environmental degradation while enhancing livelihood the fine examples to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions opportunities and the quality of life?’ In this regard, the Centre for power generation. In a move towards waste management for Integrated Assessment and Modelling (CIAM) develops and through methanation technology, TERI installed a first-of- uses state-of-the-art tools and techniques to provide inputs its kind biomethanation plant in Udaipur city supported by through integrated assessments of energy, economy, and the Udaipur Municipal Corporation. A two-tonne per day environment interactions. capacity plant based on the modified TEAM technology During 2019/20, the Division was engaged in providing (anaerobic digestion) was installed to scientifically treat inputs to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Branching out in Change (MoEFCC), through its study on long-term low- this vision, the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited carbon development strategies for India. The project focused awarded a contract to TERI for setting up of a 100 kg per on developing alternative energy-economy scenarios for day biomethanation plant at NTPC-Farakka, West Bengal. At India to examine the implications of India’s development the global front, a UNIDO-sponsored project for setting up trajectories with varying focus on energy access, jobs and of a biomass power generation plant was implemented and clean energy/sustainable urbanization objective. Additionally, the inauguration of rice husk in Cambodia was successfully the Division completed two projects supported by the done, while a bamboo waste-based project in Thailand is in Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NFA). These projects installation and commissioning stage. focused on undertaking a detailed estimation (across five grid Within the Industrial Energy Efficiency Division, the pool regions, various seasons) of energy (in particular electricity) of engineers, many of whom are accredited and certified requirements across various end-uses, particularly in the energy