Recently, the Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India met with the Executive Vice President of the European Green Deal, European Union (EU). They discussed potential cooperation under the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, highlighting numerous areas for collaboration such as renewable energy, green hydrogen and energy storage.
Understanding the European Green Deal
The European Green Deal is a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. It targets achieving no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 while encouraging economic growth independent of resource use. The Green Deal leaves no person or place behind, ensuring inclusivity in its green transition.
A significant portion of the EU’s budget will be directed towards Green Deal financing, with one third of the €1.8 trillion investments from the Next Generation EU Recovery Plan contributing to the cause.
Key Highlights of the Meet Between India and EU
The meeting between Indian and EU representatives centred around the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. Aims of the discussion included diversification of the global supply chain for the energy sector and the expansion of renewable energy capacity in India.
India is planning to increase its manufacturing capacity for advanced solar cells and panels. By 2030, the country is projected to have a total manufacturing capacity of 80 gigawatts (GW).
Energy Storage and Round-the-Clock Renewables
Both parties recognized the need for more energy storage to ensure a constant supply of renewable energy. To this end, India plans to introduce bids for additional storage capacity and has already started a bid for a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for energy storage.
Green Hydrogen and Free Trade
India expressed the necessity of free and open trade for the progression towards green hydrogen. The country cautioned against protectionism and outlined plans to boost electrolyser manufacturing capacity.
Global Energy Efficiency Targets
Both sides agreed on the importance of bringing energy efficiency to the global stage. They discussed setting global energy efficiency targets, with the Executive Vice President of the European Green Deal appreciating India’s leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Green Mobility and Energy Access
Potential areas for collaboration include batteries for grid-scale storage and green mobility. India’s goal is to establish a significant presence in the green mobility industry by turning a majority of its two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and large proportion of four-wheelers into green vehicles by 2030.
Towards Sustainable Agriculture and Universal Energy Access
Moving away from chemical fertilizers in agriculture is one of India’s major goals. Both parties discussed the importance of energy access for everyone, highlighting the role of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in providing clean energy to regions without this basic necessity.
About EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership
The EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership was established at the EU-India Summit in 2016. This project, managed by the Delegation of the EU to India and financed by the EU’s Partnership Instrument, aims to enhance cooperation on clean energy and ensure the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The primary focus of this partnership revolves around Energy Efficiency (EE), Renewable Energy (RE) and Climate Change (CC). Among the key attention areas are Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), Large Scale Solar PV, Offshore Wind Energy Storage, Green Hydrogen, Adaptation Mitigation Cooling, and Knowledge Management.
Previous Year Questions from UPSC Civil Services Examination
The article also contains previous year questions from the UPSC Civil Services Examination related to the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) launching the ‘Trade and Technology Council’, and the ‘Stability and Growth Pact’ of the EU. Detailed explanations are provided for each question, providing further insight into the discussed topics.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024