Kanoda, Inc., in its efforts to explore the solar energy potential in Gujarat, India, and develop solutions, is collaborating with the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy (CEEP) at the University of Delaware.  Kanoda Inc. is headed by Dr. Omkar Jani, who has also been involved in several breakthrough projects monitored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 

Kanoda, Inc. will be instrumental in formulation of a roadmap that will serve as a comprehensive guide for the development of photovoltaic industry in Gujarat up to the year 2020.  Commenting on the vision plan, Dr. Jani said, “Gujarat has one of the highest levels of insolation (a technical term for irradiation), in the country and also the world. For a state which has conquered new frontiers in energy and commerce, I would say that this initiative has been long overdue.”

While Dr. Jani brings his technological expertise, CEEP, headed by Dr. John Byrne, a member of the Nobel Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), enhances this effort through its proficiency in the field of government policies for renewable energy.  The IPCC was the co-recipient, with Al Gore, of the Nobel Peace Prize of 2007.  Dr. Byrne, with other long-standing researchers of the IPCC, shares this Nobel Peace Prize.

The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is also a part of this collaboration to fulfill its commitment to provide the citizens of Gujarat with clean and affordable electric power through an aggressive, yet systematic solar infrastructure development.  According to Mr. Vagmin Buch, director of GEDA, “This alliance will enable GEDA to draw upon the expertise of some of the leading US-based researchers.”

Elaborating on the plan to take this initiative forward, Dr Jani said, “Well-planned expansions have successfully mitigated high costs of solar energy in other countries by overcoming the learning curve and economies of scale. The roadmap strongly advocates a ‘photovoltaic carve-out,’ where a precise fraction of the state’s energy demand be supplied by photovoltaics.”  

The roadmap champions rural and urban; distributed and centralized; as well as domestic, agricultural and industrial aspects of development.  The roadmap also stresses on research, industrial, and institutional partnerships along with effective government policies.

About CEEP: Established in 1980, the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy (CEEP) is a leading institution for interdisciplinary graduate education, research, and advocacy in energy and environmental policy at the University of Delaware.  CEEP is led by Dr. John Byrne, Distinguished Professor of Energy & Climate Policy at the University. For his contributions to Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 1992, he shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with the Panel's authors and review editors.

About Kanoda, Inc.: Kanoda, Inc. is dedicated to provide cutting-edge and comprehensive solutions to deploy solar energy technologies.  The group’s activities span over a wide range including innovation, R&D, manufacturing, installation & maintenance, education and training, consultancy, information and management services in the solar energy sector.