The purpose of developing Smart Grids is to seamlessly transit from the existing centralized power network powered with fossil fuels to decentralised generation systems powered withrenewable energy. The initiative also aims to conduct research, development and demonstration to fostertechnology innovations that are technicallyfeasible, robust and cost effective to facilitate greater share of renewable energy in overall energy mix, and develop research pathways toallow 100% renewable powered grid eventually. It is expected to evolve technologies anddevelop methodologies tunable to local as well as at global needsthrough setting up virtual joint Clean Energy Centre in consortium mode.

Programmes

1. Smart Energy Grids and Storage(SEGS)
   1. 1 Smart Energy Grids and Energy Systems (SEGES)

DST in collaboration with the Research Councils United Kingdom (RCUK) led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is aiming at strengthening collaboration between UK and Indian research institutions andhas identifiedSmart Energy Grids and Energy Systems as area of significance in providing solutions to the problem of meeting future energy needs. 5 research proposals has been supported focusing in the areas namely, Appropriate distributed storage technologies, On/off grid energy systems, DC networks and Control & communications.

1. 2 Joint Virtual Centre for Clean Energy

Towards the joint commitment to clean energy led low carbon economy, DST and UK together have set up virtual Joint Clean Energy Centre on Clean Energy. These virtual centres will focus on integration of intermittent clean energy with storage for stable power supply at grid as well grid isolated communities at a total investment of £ 10 million.  The UK partners comprises of SUPERGEN hubs in the UK which will link to leading academic centres in India in the areas of solar energy, energy storage and networks. The proposed centres will operate through one UK consortium which is linked with two Indian consortia working in the areas of solar energy, energy storage and networks.

These two Indian consortia UK India Clean Energy Research Institute (UKICERI), led by IIT Kharagpur and India UK Centre for Education and Research in Clean Energy (IUCERCE), led by IIT Bombay will bring together experts from national laboratories, universities and industry in both India and the UK to leverage their expertise and resources to unlock the huge potential of clean energy technologies.

        1.3 Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre on Smart Grids and Energy Storage ( UI-ASSIST)

India and the United States of America agreed to expand the Indo-US Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre (JCERDC) by funding new research in two areas critical to improving the reliability, flexibility and efficiency of the electricity delivery system i.e. Smart Energy Grids and Energy Storage. The programme is being administered in India by the bilateral Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and in the US by the Department of Energy (DoE).

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur is leading a Pan-India consortia of 15 organizations involving 5 IITs, TERI, NTPC NETRA, Utilities and Industries in this five-year joint Indo-US research project, which started on 29 September 2017. The consortia from US is being led by Washington State University (WSU), Pullman, WA and also has 15 organizations collaborating, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Texas A&M University  (TAMU), two DOE labs, industries and utilities.

1. 4 Indo Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research and Collaborative Programme

The initiative aims on applied R & D projects focused on co-development of new technologies, services or processes to address challenges within the context of electrical smart gridwith a strong potential to future commercialisation. A digitalized, flexible and interactive power system will make it possible to use energy more efficiently. Smart grids empower consumers and give all stakeholders in the electricity market the opportunity to contribute to a sustainable energy system. The challenge is how to carry out the development and transformation of the power system from a holistic perspective so that it not only enables, but also facilitates, change in the transport sector, building sector, industry and other sectors prioritized by both countries. Critical aspects are integration of renewable energy, grid security, flexibility, digitalization, integration of local systems together with national grids, end users including “prosumers” and integration to other systems such as the building sector, transport sector and industry.

This joint Initiative betweenIndian and Swedish is to be led by a commercial company in the respective country and the consortium could in addition include research performing organisations such as universities, research institutes or other similar entities.

1. 5 India EU Integrated Local Energy Systems

This joint initiative between India and EU aims to develop and demonstrate novel solutions, integrating all energy vectorslike electricity, heating, cooling, water, wastes, etc., including possibilities offered by batteries and electric vehicles, interconnect them and optimize joint operation with increased share of renewables and higher energy efficiency. The system developed should be robust, replicable, scalable, sustainable and cost effective with low maintenance and less skilled manpower dependent. Cooperation will take the form of a proposal demonstrating a local energy system (or several) in Europe and/or India. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) will range between 5 and 8.

1. 6 Misssion Innovation Programme on Smart Grids

The Smart Grids captured global attention in recent years and stands as a viable solution towards global climate change and energy crisis. Excessive combustion of fossil fuels for generating electricity is leading the growth of GHG emissions that in turn fuel climate change.Smart grids offer the promise of increasing the efficiency and utilisation across the whole energy system, deferring or avoiding investments in costly physical infrastructure, and increasing access to electricity at a lower cost than traditional solutions. Smart Grids is a revolutionary initiative towards clean energy innovation on a global scale to an urgent and lasting global response to climate change. 9 collaborative projects with 9 countries have been supported so far.