Energy ministers from the UK and India met ahead of the COP26 climate summit to discuss strengthened collaboration on clean energy.
UK Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and India’s Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh met for the third UK-India Energy for Growth Dialogue, where they highlighted the importance of a “strong, home-grown” renewable energy sector being the cornerstone for building a secure energy system.
The ministers endorsed an ambitious forward action plan on clean energy, including boosting renewable energy and storage, improving energy efficiency measures, enabling production and use of green hydrogen and boosting the switch to electric vehicles (EVs).
Their first action is to initiate a joint programme on smart power, renewable energy and storage.
The programme will help to create digital solutions for power distribution companies and improving industrial energy efficiency, in addition to providing a springboard for India’s renewable energy market in areas such as offshore wind.
The ministers also discussed how COP26 is an opportunity to show global leadership on clean energy, including the expected launch of the UK and Indian Government’s Global Green Grids – One Sun One World One Grid Initiative by delegations of the two countries.
The initiative will bring together an international coalition of national governments, financial organisations and power system operators to accelerate the development of new infrastructure needed to deliver a massive scale-up of secure and affordable power, such as flexible grids, charging points and electricity interconnectors.
Mr Kwarteng said: “As we gear up to host the UN summit next month, today the UK and India have made important progress in outlining how this deep partnership can continue to deliver green growth for both countries powered by clean energy.
“Supporting the move to clean energy is a shared priority and our new joint programme on smart power, renewable energy and storage will help to increase investment in renewable projects, while creating new high skilled jobs across both nations as we build back greener.”
Alex Ellis, High Commissioner to India added: “Action on climate change is a central pillar of the 2030 Roadmap agreed by Prime Ministers [Narendra] Modi and [Boris] Johnson.
“The Energy Dialogue today advanced our joint agenda to develop clean energy to support sustainable growth for both our economies.”
