New Delhi, Jul 19 (IANS): The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Tuesday signed two deals worth over $1.4 million to fund feasibility studies in India's energy sector.

"Feasibility study is a bit of a foundation before some of our projects can be financed by OPEC and Accent Bank, and two such feasibility studies will be signed today," said USTDA director Leocadia I. Zak ahead before the deals were signed at a round table conference on building India's 21st century infrastructure.

The conference coincides with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's three-day visit to India.

The first deal provides USTDA funding for a $7,19,985 feasibility study to Astonfield Renewables Private Limited to prepare the design and deployment of two solar photovoltaic power projects in West Bengal (5 MW) and Karnataka (10 MW).

The objective of the study is to maximise the electricity output from the two projects through site and technology confirmation and design optimisation.

The second is a $6,86,447 grant to North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) for the implementation of smart grid technology in India.

The study will develop requirements for a smart grid implementation roadmap for NDPL and address a range of improvements and investments, including integrating smart meters and automated reading into NDPL's distribution system.