In March 2023, a task force was established to advise the Australian and Indian governments on opportunities to accelerate the rollout of solar PV and clean supply chains. The task force is led by Australian and India solar experts, Professor Renate Egan (UNSW, Australia) and Professor Anil Kottantharayil (IIT Bombay, India).

Mr. Sanjiva de Silva, the Counsellor to Australian High Commissioner, played an instrumental role in signing the LoI and taking forward the proceedings of the solar task force and Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) from Indian (MNRE) and Australian (DCCEEW) sides. Mr. de Silva visited PoTIC/NCPRE on March 14, 2024. The agenda for the meeting with Prof. Anil Kottantharayil and other PoTIC/NCPRE faculty members was to discuss the solar task force recommendations to the proposed 5th India-Australia Energy Dialogue, as well as other agenda items of mutual interest.

Mr. de Silva also discussed on-going engagements between IIT Bombay and Australian Universities with Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, Dean of International Relations, IIT Bombay. Later Mr. de Silva visited the NCPRE labs, met students and appreciated the state-of-the-art research facilities and the work being carried out at NCPRE.