Indo-German Energy Programme (IGEN)
Rapid industrialisation, a fast pace of urbanisation, and the associated consumerism are indicative of India’s fast growing economy. Energy is one of the most important natural resources needed to support this growth.
India's enactment of the Energy Conservation Act 2001 is a major step towards regulating energy demand in order to maintain growth as well as improve the quality of life for all. The Act intervenes positively at all levels of society, such as energy-intensive large industries, manufacturers of household appliances and industrial equipment, residential households, as well as engineering consultancy enterprises and power stations.
The broad focus of the Indo-German Energy Programme (IGEN) is to support the implementation of the Energy Conservation Act. Germany's international cooperation agency GIZ and the KfW Development Bank jointly implement the programme.
The bilateral cooperation brings in local and international professional expertise and support to undertake the following activities:
- Labelling of household appliances and energy intensive industrial equipment with respect to energy efficiency
- Certification of energy managers and energy auditors
- Setting of norms and standards for energy intensive industries
- Transfering and promoting cutting-edge technology to reduce energy consumption
- Promoting public-private partnerships to advance awareness of the need to save energy
- Operating one of the largest web portals (www.energymanagertraining.com) on this subject in India.
The CDM-India component of the programme supports high quality Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in India. These projects are widely replicable and provide experience through “learning by doing”. The primary aim is developing capacity and providing support to public and private sector institutions to prepare and implement internationally acceptable projects under the Clean Development Mechanism. CDM India cooperates actively with the National CDM Authority (NCDMA) of India for the institutionalisation of CDM projects in India.
Results achieved so far
- Over €400 million are invested annually in energy efficiency measures
- Annual energy cost savings of about €300 million are reported for these investments
- Indian certified emission reductions of more than €70 million are sold
- About 8,000 energy managers and energy auditors have taken the examination for certification over the past three years
- Relevant rules and regulations have been developed and implemented
- About 700 energy intensive and large industries have been asked to reduce energy consumption in a financially attractive and technically viable manner
- 28 state designated agencies (SDA), and seven from the Union Territories have been formed and are supported in the implementation of the Energy Conservation Act
- Regulations on labeling energy efficiency for various household appliances and energy-intensive equipment are at an advanced stage of implementation
- Over 500 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects have received host country approval and are in various stages of certification and registration
- The world's first baseline of carbon burning in the Indian power sector has been prepared and institutionalised
- Mapping and performance verification of all Indian thermal power plants in the public sector has begun
