OST supports Solar In India

OST Energy (OST) has announced that it has opened an office in New Delhi, India, to support its increasing work in the Indian renewable development market. OST incorporated its Indian business division in December 2015, and has already carried out a number of solar surveys with developer CLP.

Under Prime Minister Modi’s reforms of the energy market in 2014, solar energy has been identified as the leading technology to bring power to 300 million people in the country currently without electricity.  The strategy will also enable the country to meet a number of ambitious clean energy targets.

However, in order to realise these goals and the wider potential of the Indian domestic solar market, developers must not only understand exactly where and how to deploy and install solar capacity, but also how to guarantee the long-term performance of projects and maintain the appetite of international investors.

To support India’s move towards increasing its solar deployment and, aiming to bolster its technical advisory and due diligence offering to cater for demand in the region, international consultancy OST has hired a new country manager, Bihag Mehta, to lead the firm’s activities in India.

From its new offices in New Delhi, OST has assisted CLP, amongst other developers, in surveying new utility scale solar capacity, and provided recommendations to bring international best practice and de-risk the projects.

“There is huge potential behind the push for Indian solar development,” said Simon Turner, Director, OST Energy.

“If the country is to reach its goals with the technology, however, there are a number of key challenges that need to be addressed throughout the development and implementation process.”

“Given pressure to lower the levelised cost of energy for solar development in India, due to the high cost of domestic capital, we have to ensure that the projects that are developed are built according to industry best practice. Only investment grade assets will help the country meet its ambitious long term targets.”

Brajesh Kumar, Senior Manager at CLP India commented: “Having worked with OST for a number of years, we are pleased that the firm is expanding its operations in the Indian market.  We look forward to working with its technical due diligence team again in future.”