Indo-German partnerships for sustainable energy and agriculture
Sircilla becomes solar showcase site – Indo-German cooperation launched
In a pioneering initiative, IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH has entered into a partnership with the Cooperative Electric Supply Society (CESS) in the Indian state of Telangana. The aim is to develop the town of Sircilla in the Rajanna Sircilla district into a center for renewable energies.
At a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, Tummala Nageswara Rao, IAK Managing Director Sven Gehlhaar presented the concept. The initiative focuses on decentralization: by establishing renewable energy cooperatives (RECs), local citizens are to be actively involved in solar power generation.
Specifically, 253,500 households and consumers are to become solar power producers. The goal: 80% energy self-sufficiency for CESS. The measure will not only reduce dependence on conventional electricity sources but also cut annual CO₂ emissions by around 705,000 tons.
IAK is also working with a German-Indian start-up to develop a business concept for an innovative solar panel, which forms the technological basis for the project.
Visit to the ACRAT project in Telangana – exchange on agricultural innovations with Fraunhofer HHI
Sven Gehlhaar also visited ACRAT (Accelerating Climate Resilient Agriculture in Telangana), a project of the cooperation partner Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute (Fraunhofer HHI), which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
We are following the further development of the agricultural technology innovations developed as part of ACRAT with great interest and are committed to harnessing their potential in other IAK project countries.
We would like to thank our colleagues at Fraunhofer HHI, especially Dr. Sebastian Bosse and Dr. Raghu Chaliganti, as well as Dr. Ramesh Chennamaneni, Rebecka Ridder from BMEL and the team from AgHub Hyderabad, especially Mukesh Ramagoni, for their friendly support and guidance during the project visit.
The trip took place from Mar 18-22, 2025.