On May 26, 2023, R. K. Singh, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, met with Frans Timmermans, the Executive Vice President of the European Green Deal, European Union, in New Delhi. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss cooperation under the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. The discussion covered various topics, including energy efficiency, renewable energy (such as solar and offshore wind), green hydrogen, energy storage, diversification of the global supply chain for the energy sector, the International Solar Alliance, India’s presidency of the G20, and how India and the EU can partner on the clean energy transition.
Minister Singh highlighted India’s growing power demand and the need to double its power generation capacity by 2030, despite having low per capita and cumulative emissions. He emphasized India’s leadership in energy transition and climate action. He also discussed the importance of manufacturing facilities for energy storage to bring down storage costs and invited the EU to encourage other countries to establish such facilities. The Minister suggested joint pilots with the EU in areas like green steel and other frontier technologies. He mentioned India’s pilot projects for round-the-clock renewables using hydrogen and ammonia as storage.
The Minister stressed the need for free and open trade for the journey to green hydrogen and increased electrolyser manufacturing capacity. He mentioned India’s plan to introduce a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) bid for electrolyser manufacturing. The Executive Vice President of the European Green Deal appreciated India’s leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency and suggested promoting global energy efficiency targets.
The discussion also covered collaboration opportunities in grid-scale battery-based energy storage systems, batteries for green mobility, heat pumps, and the detoxification of agriculture by transitioning away from chemical fertilizers. The issue of energy access for 800 million people worldwide, particularly in Africa, was highlighted, and the role of the International Solar Alliance in addressing this challenge was discussed.
The meeting resulted in a mutual agreement to establish a partnership between the EU, International Solar Alliance, Africa, and India to address the lack of energy access in Africa.
The European Green Deal delegation included Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India; Edwin Koekkoek, First Counsellor, Energy & Climate Action, EU Delegation; Sara Zennaro Atre, First Secretary, Trade Section, EU Delegation; Estela Pineiro Kruik, Member of Cabinet; Damyana Stoynova, Member of Cabinet; and Diana Acconcia, Director, International Affairs and Climate Finance, Directorate-General for Climate Action, EU.
The Indian delegation included Alok Kumar, Power Secretary; Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, New & Renewable Energy Secretary; and other officials from the Ministries of Power and New & Renewable Energy.