On January 26, the village’s 60-odd families got something they never had before: lights and electricity in their homes. Scatec Solar, a Norwegian solar solutions company, has taken the lead in setting up what is touted as India’s first community-based solar power plant in Rampura.

Working on a pilot basis, Scatec has funded and set up, with active engagement with the Rampura community, an off-grid solar electrification system. Solheim, who is in India to attend a summit, will visit the village to examine the project and look for ways to “upscale” such initiatives.

“Rampura is a pilot project but Norway would like to be involved in upscaling such projects to a larger level,” Solheim said. “Solar energy is a fascinating idea. It is easily available in India and can help so many enterprises in the city. Students can read at night, and small enterprises can come up.”

It’s not just energy. Norway is also interested in clean cars, with the public-private route being the way forward, Solheim said. “The Tata group has started investing in Norway. I think the way forward would be to combine the expertise that Tata has in manufacturing cheap cars with the Norwegian expertise in manufacturing electric cars,” he said.

Arguing passionately for the importance of the carbon market at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) on Thursday, Solheim said: “The only way to make finances for mitigating climate change is through the carbon market and the private sector. I believe two per cent of the carbon credits should be auctioned internationally. And the way forward is the government working with private players, and technology transfer in the private sector.”