Tetra Tech is recruiting for an Independent Consultant based in India for a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded program to be implemented in India. This program would provide technical expertise and support to Indian distribution companies (DISCOMs) in planning for and scaling up clean energy.  This program will also be implemented in close collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) which will provide technical assistance to DISCOMs, specifically on topics related to distributed PV technologies such as proposing compensation and business models around distributed PV generation.

 

Responsibilities:

1. The Independent Consultant will play a critical role as the technical expert in developing a scope of work (SOW) for the USAID program. 
2. In developing the scope of work, the Consultant shall work closely with USAID Mission in New Delhi, India to coordinate meetings and consultations with state power sector players, and key national and energy stakeholders, such as the Ministry of New and
3. Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Distributed Solar Power Association (DISPA), state ministries, state nodal agencies, DISCOMs, state electricity generation and regulatory companies.
4. The Consultant shall travel to selected states and DISCOMs to discuss and develop scope of work elements, as part of a USAID/NREL team.
5. The Consultant shall coordinate with, and if required, shall provide support to NREL who would be designing and implementing the distributed PV portion of USAID’s program.

Examples of SOW elements where technical expertise and support under the program would be provided include:
- Guidance on strategic planning for renewable energy (RE)
- Improving understanding of RE in utility’s business model
- Development of effective demand forecast frameworks/methodologies and its implementation
- Cost/benefit analysis of various RE options available for DISCOMS, such as efficient load/peak demand management; locations for distributed RE, etc.
- Procurement of RE, including RE target setting, bid document preparation and tender implementation
- Deployment of emerging RE technologies such as solar-wind hybrid and solar with storage
- Capacity building of DISCOM staff through sharing of best practices, workshops, and training.

Deliverables:

- Draft SOW, in the format to be provided, to be delivered one week after the mission concluded. The Draft SOW shall include illustrative tasks and activities and shall be pragmatic and realistic enough to be completed within a 2-year timeframe.
- Associated indicative budget to be provided one week after the mission concluded
- Final SOW and indicative budget to be provided one week after final comments are provided.

 

Requirements:
- A minimum of 10+ years of experience in the power sector, with a good understanding of renewable energy in India
- A minimum of 3+ years of experience working with DISCOMS in: (i) demand and load forecasting; (ii) grid integration of variable RE at the distribution level; (iii) national and state stakeholder engagement; and, (iv) electric utility regulations
- Exposure to distributed generation and solar rooftop technologies
- Understanding of state-level power sector planning
- Development of tender documents for RE projects preferred
- Design and implementation of procurement for RE preferred
- Public-private partnerships in the RE space preferred
- Ability to mobilize quickly to begin interacting with USAID Mission and planning the work
- Full-time availability during SOW development activities
- Excellent skills in communication, writing, and presentation.