Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 37 2021

AsiaElec RENEWABLES AsiaElec

India keen to cement green

partnership with the US

INDIA INDIAN Power and Renewable Energy Minister The Indian government claims that it is the
Raj Kumar Singh has urged the US to join the only major economy with actions in line to keep
Indian-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) as global warming below 2°C of pre-industrial lev-
New Delhi seeks to boost its global renewables els and the only G20 country whose energy tran-
reputation. sition is consistent with this goal.
Singh said in a ministry statement that the However, India has stopped short of declaring
two countries needed to work together to find a net-zero emission goal, dubbing such targets as
ways to expand renewable energy’s role and to meaningless and doubting whether other coun-
meet climate targets. tries can meet such targets.
Singh was speaking after his meeting with US “SPEC proposed that USA is willing to enter
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) into a genuine collaboration with India to enable
John Kerry in New Delhi. us realise the ambitious target of reaching 450
India is promoting the ISA as a major global GW of renewable energy by 2030, which would
economic and diplomatic tool to counter the pave the way to India achieving sub 2°C level,
influence of China’s Belt and Road Initiative much more than what has been committed to
(BRI). under Paris Climate Agreement,” the statement
“He (Singh) urged the US side to join the said.
International Solar Alliance which can benefit “The US side appreciated India for its Energy
many countries,” India’s power ministry said in Access drive and commitment to achieve 450
a statement. GW of RE by 2030. They also lauded India for
“Both sides agree to collaborate to find solu- electrifying 28.02mn homes in 18 months and
tions for making energy transition economically achieving universal household electrification,”
viable,” the statement added. the statement added.
The ISA was co-founded by India during the India and the US have added a fifth track on
2015 Paris Conference and aims to make green ‘emerging fuels’ as part of the US-India Strategic
financing more attractive. Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).
Green finance is among the priority themes at “Both sides agreed that Indian labs could
COP-26, with the conference being held against work with the US labs with the objective of
the backdrop of US re-entering the Paris climate reducing costs and finding alternative chemis-
accord. try for making energy transition economically
“The purpose of the meeting was to discuss viable. SPEC highlighted that India and USA
further collaboration on climate change issues could take a global leadership role on the Energy
and to work towards a genuine partnership Transition front and show the rest of the world
between the two countries to pave the way for that ambitious RE targets can be achieved,” the
the rest of the world on Energy Transition,” the statement said.™
statement said.

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 37 15•September•2021