Collaborators

California

California Energy Commission (CEC): the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. Created by the Legislature in 1974 and located in Sacramento, the Commission has five major responsibilities: Forecasting future energy needs and keeping historical energy data; Licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger; Promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building standards; Developing energy technologies and supporting renewable energy; Planning for and directing state response to energy emergency. The most important development in California energy policy in the past two years, if not the past several decades, is the arrival at consensus that California must act to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions, in order to reduce the impact of climate change. In 2006, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed two landmark pieces of legislation with far-reaching implications for energy policy.
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): serves the public interest by protecting consumers and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy. We regulate utility services, stimulate innovation, and promote competitive markets, where possible, in the communications, energy, transportation, and water industries.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL): a member of the national laboratory system supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Office of Science. It is managed by the University of California (UC) and is charged with conducting unclassified research across a wide range of scientific disciplines. Berkeley Lab has trained thousands of university science and engineering students who are advancing technological innovations across the nation and around the world. Berkeley Lab has trained thousands of university science and engineering students who are advancing technological innovations across the nation and around the world. The Lab at a Glance: eleven Nobel Laureates, thirteen National Medal of Science members, sixty-one National Academy of Science members, eight-hundred University students trained each year.
University of California, Berkeley (UCB): a major research university located in Berkeley, California, United States. The oldest of the ten major campuses affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley offers some 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The University was founded in 1868 in a merger of the private College of California and the public Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. Berkeley was a founding member of the Association of American Universities and 61 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the university as faculty, researchers and alumni. Berkeley physicists worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II and the university now manages the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

India

Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST): government owned organisation, which was set up in 1873, operates one of India's largest bus fleets. Originally setup as a tramway company, it branched out into supplying electricity to the city in 1905, and later into operating buses in 1926. The BEST is run by the city's municipality as an autonomous body. The bus transport service covers almost the entire city and extends its operations outside city limits. In addition to buses, it also operates a ferry service. The electricity division of the organisation is also one of the few electricity departments in India to garner an annual net profit. Until 1995, BEST stood for Bombay Electricity Supply and Transport. After the name of the city was formally changed from Bombay to Mumbai, this was also reflected with the adjustment to Brihanmumbai, which means "Greater Mumbai".
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE): has the mission to institutionalize energy efficiency services, enable delivery mechanisms in India and provide leadership to the key players involved in the energy conservation movement. The primary goal of the Bureau is to reduce the energy intensity in the economy.
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC): established in 1988 with the objective of providing a Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, charged with the rationalization of electricity tariff, transparent policies regarding subsidies, promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Confederation of Indian Industry, I.L.C.: works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes. CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organisation, playing a proactive role in India's development process. Founded over 113 years ago, it is India's premier business association, with a direct membership of over 7500 organisations from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 83,000 companies from around 380 national and regional sectoral associations.
Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC): established in December 1999, has evolved to provide the legal framework for the reorganization and privatisation of the energy sector. It should back up the rationalisation of generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity and increase private sector participation in the electricity sector.
Delhi School of Economics: formed in 1949 is a conglomerate of three departments, under the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Delhi. Currently, the School comprises the departments of economics, geography and sociology. The department of economics was designated a Centre of Advanced Study by the University Grants Commission. In 1993, the Centre for Development Economics was created within the department, to strengthen the research infrastructure.
Department of Science & Technology (DST): established in May 1971, with the objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology and to execute the tasks of organising, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in India. Some areas of responsibility include: Promoting new areas of science and technology with special emphasis on emerging areas; Evaluation and development of indigenous technologies concerning bio-fuel production, processing, standardization and applications; Capacity building including setting up new institutions and institutional infrastructure; Fostering grass-roots development at the State, District, and Village levels; Application of science and technology for benefit weaker sections of Society.
Forum of Regulators: was created16th February, 2005 under section 166(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Chairperson of CERC is the Chairperson of the Forum and Chairpersons of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) make up the remainder of the commissioners. The mission includes analysis of the tariff orders and compilation of data, highlighting, especially the efficiency improvements of the utilities; Harmonization of regulation in power sector; Laying of standards of performance of licensees as required under the Act; Sharing of information among the members of the Forum on various issues of common interest and also of common approach; Undertaking research work in-house or through outsourcing on issues relevant to power sector regulation; Evolving measures for protection of interest of consumers and promotion of efficiency, economy and competition in power sector; and such other functions as the Central Government may assign to it from time to time.
Indian Institute of Science (IISc): started through the pioneering vision of J.N. Tata. It is a premier institution of research and advanced instruction, with more than 2000 active researchers working in almost all frontier areas of science and technology. IISc is an institute of higher learning and is constantly in pursuit of excellence. It is one of the oldest and finest centres of its kind in India, and has a very high international standing in the academic world as well.
International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT): Hyderabad an autonomous, self-supporting institution. IIIT is a research university, at its core. A major goal of IIIT is to impart a uniquely broad and interdisciplinary IT education of the highest academic quality. The Institute lays emphasis on research at the undergraduate level. It has highly focused research centers in Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision/Computer Graphics, VLSI and Communication, Databases, Robotics, Information Retrieval and Algorithms. The Institute combines the freedom of an academic institution with the strength of the corporate sector.
Jadavpur University: a State University under the State of West Bengal. Its parent institution was set up by the National Council of Education, Bengal in 1906. Jadavpur University has been declared as the Centre of Excellence in Mobile Computing and Communication by the University Grants Commission. The Engineering Faculty has long been known for its excellence in training and in path-breaking research. The Science Faculty goes from strength to strength in its teaching programmes and research in frontier areas of knowledge.
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC): established to promote competition, efficiency and economy in the power sector and to regulate tariffs of power generation, transmission and distribution and to protect the interests of the consumers and other stakeholders.
Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA): in line with the Central Government policy, Maharashtra created Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA). MEDA's objective is to undertake development of renewable energy and facilitate energy conservation in the State of Maharashtra, as a state nodal agency under the umbrella of the Wind Solar Hybrid System.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL): came into existence on June 6, 2005 after unbundling the erstwhile Maharashtra State Electricity Board into four companies. MSEDCL is also known as Mahavitaran or Mahadiscom. Mahadiscom is one of the largest public sector companies engaged in the business of electricity distribution with annual turnover of Rs. 20,000 Crores. It serves 146.55 Lakh consumers in Maharashtra State with a committed pool of over 75000 employees.
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF): an Indian government ministry. The ministry is responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of environmental and forestry programmes in the country. The main activities undertaken by the ministry include conservation and survey of the flora of India and fauna of India, forests and other wilderness areas; prevention and control of pollution; afforestation, and land degradation mitigation. It is responsible for the administration of the national parks of India.
Ministry of Power: concerned with perspective planning, policy formulation, processing of projects for investment decision, monitoring of the implementation of power projects, training and manpower development and the administration and enactment of legislation in regard to thermal, hydro power generation, transmission and distribution. The Ministry of Power is responsible for the Administration of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and to undertake such amendments to these Acts, as may be necessary from time to time, in conformity with the Government's policy objectives.
National Power Training Institute (NPTI): identified as a Premier Nodal Institute for Advanced Learning and Management studies for higher echelons of Power Sector in the advanced and frontier technologies has also established a `Centre for Advanced Management and Power Studies' (CAMPS) and has been developing comprehensive capsule courses covering areas of Hydro, Thermal, Power Systems, Total Quality Management, Executive Development Training etc., covering technology-management interface, power-environment interface, power financing, privatization and regulatory issues through Workshops, Seminars, Conferences for dissemination of latest information to blend Technology with Management in order to create systems of excellence in the Power Sector.
National Thermal Power Corporation: India's largest power company, was set up in 1975 to accelerate power development in India. Today, it has emerged as an 'Integrated Power Major', with a significant presence in the entire value chain of power generation business. In the Forbes list of 'World's 2000 largest companies, 2007', NTPC occupies 411th place. With a current generating capacity of 29,894 MW, NTPC has embarked on plans to become a 75,000 MW company by 2017.
Prayas: one of India's largest non-profit organizations. It's subsidiary Prayas Energy Group does research on policy analysis and advocacy that promotes the public interest. The focus of Prayas Energy Group (PEG) is the protection of the public interest in the Electricity Sector. Public interest issues include consumer issues as well broad social issues.
Reliance Energy: a company under the Reliance — Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group banner, one of India's largest conglomerates. The company is the sole distributor of electricity to consumers in the suburbs of Mumbai. It also runs power generation, transmission and distribution businesses in other parts of Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh. Reliance Energy plans to increase its power generation capacity by adding 16,000 MW with investments of $13 billion.
Satyam Computers (NYSE: SAY): offers a variety of information technology (IT) services spanning various industry sectors. Satyam's network spans 66 countries across six continents. The company employs 52,000 IT professionals across development centers in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Hungary, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, Egypt and Australia. It serves over 654 global companies, 185 of which are Fortune 500 corporations. Satyam has strategic technology and marketing alliances with over 50 companies.
Tata Power: an amalgamation of two entities: Tata Hydroelectric Power Supply Company and Andhra Valley Power Supply Company (1916).Today Tata Power Company Limited is India's largest private sector electricity generating company with an installed generation capacity of over 2300 MW. The Company has emerged as a pioneer in the Indian power sector, with a track record of performance, customer care and sustained growth. Tata Power has a presence in all areas of power sector generation (thermal, hydro, solar and wind) transmission and distribution. The founders of Tata Power pioneered the generation of electricity in India with the commissioning of India's first large hydro-electric project in 1915. The thermal power stations of the company are located at Trombay in Mumbai, Jojobera in Jharkhand and Belgaum in Karnataka. The hydro stations are located in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and the wind farm in Ahmednagar. The Company has been a front-runner in introducing state-of-the-art power technologies.
The Energy Research Institute (TERI): initially set-up as the TERI School of Advanced Studies, it received the status of a deemed university in 1999. The University is a unique institution of higher learning exclusively for programmes leading to PhD and Masters level degrees. Its uniqueness lies in the wealth of research carried out within TERI as well as by its faculty and students making it a genuinely research based University. TERI now has staff strength of over 700 dedicated employees, drawn from a range of disciplines and experience, supported by infrastructure and facilities, which are world class and distinctively state-of-the-art. The Institute continues to grow in size, spread and intensity of work undertaken.

International

Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate: an international non-treaty agreement among Australia, Canada, India, Japan, the People's Republic of China, South Korea, and the United States. Launched on January 12, 2006 at the Partnership's inaugural Ministerial meeting in Sydney. Environment and Energy Ministers from partner countries agreed to co-operate on development and transfer of technology which enables reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Alliance to Save Energy: a coalition consisting largely of industrial, technological, and energy corporations. The Alliance states that its mission is to "support energy efficiency as a cost-effective energy resource under existing market conditions and advocate energy-efficiency policies that minimize costs to society and individual consumers, and that lessen greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the global climate."
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to spread awareness of man-made climate change and lay the foundations for counteracting it. The committee praised the IPCC for creating an "ever-broader informed consensus about the connection between human activities and global warming", by involving thousands of scientists and officials from over 100 countries.
International Energy Agency (IEA): acts as energy policy advisor to 27 member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens. Founded during the oil crisis of 1973-74, the IEA's initial role was to co-ordinate measures in times of oil supply emergencies. As energy markets have changed, so has the IEA. Its mandate has broadened to incorporate the "Three E's" of balanced energy policy making: energy security, economic development and environmental protection. Current work focuses on climate change policies, market reform, energy technology collaboration and outreach to the rest of the world, especially major consumers and producers of energy like China, India, Russia and the OPEC countries.
International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC): a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the mission of promoting sustainable approaches to energy use in developing countries. It's mission is to create enabling mechanisms and institutions world wide for efficient and sustainable use of resources, including energy, water, materials, and the environment.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): created over a decade ago, when most countries joined an international treaty — the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. The UNFCCC secretariat supports all institutions involved in the climate change process, particularly the COP, the subsidiary bodies and their Bureau.
World Bank: an internationally supported bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e.g. bridges, roads, schools, etc.) with the stated goal of reducing poverty.

United States

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): the mission is to protect human health and the environment. EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. Develops and enforces regulations that implement environmental laws; Researches and sets national standards for a variety of environmental programs; Dedicates between 40 and 50 percent it's budgets to direct support for high-quality research that will improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues; Performs environmental research to assess environmental conditions and to identify, understand, and solve current and future environmental problems; Sponsors voluntary partnerships and programs with industries, businesses, non-profit organizations, state and local governments on pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts; Advances educational efforts to develop an environmentally conscious and responsible public, and to inspire personal responsibility in caring for the environment.
Chatterjee Group: a principal investment firm specializing in early stage investments. It prefers to invest in the biotechnology, technology, communications, and information technology services. The firm also invests in international infrastructure projects, financial services, real estate, software, health care, and aviation. The firm typically invests in the United States and India. The Chatterjee Group was founded in 1986 by Dr. Purnendu Chatterjee and is based in New York, New York City.
Energy Conservation and Commercialization — Phase III Project: ECO-III project is being implemented under a bilateral agreement between US Government and Government of India. The project is working on Energy Conservation Building Code implementation, Energy Conservation Action Plan (ECAP) for Gujarat and Punjab, Municipal Energy Efficiency Projects, Establishment of Regional Energy Efficiency Centers, and an Architectural Educational Curriculum initiative. The project is headed by Dr. Satish Kumar (Scientist on leave from LBNL) and collaborates very closely with LBNL India team on Data Center Energy Efficiency, DSM program, and Benchmarking Energy Use in commercial buildings.
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL): through onsite and contracted research develops technologies to resolve the environmental, supply, and reliability constraints of producing and using fossil resources. Resolving these constraints is critical to ensure reliable, secure, affordable, and environmentally responsible supplies of energy for the nation's growing economy. NETL is the only U.S. national laboratory devoted to fossil energy technology.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex. The Department's strategic goals to achieve the mission are designed to deliver results along five strategic themes.
U.S. Department of State (DOS): within the Executive Branch, is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency. The Department advances U.S. objectives and interests in the world through its primary role in developing and implementing foreign policy. The Department also supports the foreign affairs activities of other U.S. Government entities including the United States Department of Commerce and the U.S. Agency for International Development. It also provides an array of services to U.S. citizens and to foreigners seeking to visit or immigrate to the U.S. The U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with about 180 countries.
USAID/India: an independent government agency that provides economic development and humanitarian assistance to advance U.S. economic and political interests overseas. USAID/India and the Government of India have mutually agreed on projects in the following focus areas: Disaster Management; Economic Growth; Energy and Environment; Equity, and Health.