New Zealand firms eye clean tech opportunities in India

New Zealand-based companies are eyeing opportunities in clean technology in India and are keen to share their expertise in niche areas.

Mike Allen, Special Envoy for Renewable Energy and Executive Director Geothermal, New Zealand, told BusinessLine : “We are here as much for the clean technology side as much as we are here for renewable energy.

We don’t have extensive solar developments in New Zealand, but, we do have ability around the grid and grid integration side.”

“Our companies are typically small and are niche players.

“There are specialisation areas in water and renewables where we think we can fit in. We don’t have the capital backing of say a Tata, but we are looking at partnerships here,” said Allen.

On India’s renewable energy market and programme, Allen said, “There is a lot of competition in the solar market in particular.

“Tariffs and pricing is being pushed quite low because of the competition making it hard to get returns but that might get balanced out in the future.

“It has to be seen whether the market will remain rational as it grows.”

He also was impressed that the individual project sizes have been kept smaller rather than building large plants.

“All renewable projects suffer from being in areas where the demand is not so much. If you can put solar power close to the transmission lines, then, there is nothing like it,” said Allen.

On India’s policy to protect domestic solar power panel manufacturers through subsidies and incentives, Allen said, “It is not an irrational move. Many countries want to do that.”

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