India has taken the globally acknowledged initiative of energy transition, says R K Singh
Solar energy will play a key role in the European Union and India’s fight against climate change and target of achieving net zero emissions, President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told diplomats and industry stakeholders at the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Secretariat in Gurugram on 24 April 2022.
“India and the European Union are closely aligned in the fight against climate change. Both India and the EU have embarked on their way to net zero emissions. And in both India and Europe, solar energy will play a key role to get there,” said von der Leyen.
“Now, we need to step up EU-India cooperation in developing solar energy. We can learn from each other how to finance, promote and deploy solar energy and how to secure global supply chains and material needed for solar panels.”
Highlighting the long-standing partnership between EU and India, the President commended India’s ambitious renewable energy goals announced at COP26.
“There is a lot of untapped potential between the European Union and India, we have a lot in common. And joining forces, we can do so much together for the benefit of our people but also for the benefit of our climate and our planet.”
“We share the idea that we need to look into solar energy, wind energy, biomass, hydropower, green hydrogen and geo thermal. These are the ingredients for success for the economy, for the benefit of the people and the protection of our climate and environment.
“Protecting the climate and environment has a lot to do with innovation. With innovation the world takes the right direction in cutting emissions and protecting the environment and for that we need clean innovative technologies,” she said.
With the signature of a joint declaration for cooperation on 11th December 2018, the European Union is a partner organisation to the ISA. The EU supports ISA with concrete actions, such as the development of the ISA’s collaborative and knowledge platform, the ISA Infopedia and solar academy which was launched at ISA’s General Assembly 2019.
EU-India Cooperation in the area of clean energy and climate action: The European Union and India are closely cooperating on climate action and on ensuring affordable, clean and secure energy, which is a focus area for both sides.
The current EU-India climate and energy relations are guided by the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership as agreed at the EU-India Summit on 30 March 2016, with the aim of reinforcing cooperation in the area of the clean energy transition and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
This partnership was reconfirmed in the joint statement at the EU-India Summit on 6 October 2017. In the Joint Statement and the EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025 agreed at the EU-India Summit on 15 July 2020, as well as the Joint Statement adopted at the EU-India Leaders Meeting on 8 May 2021, also welcomed the strengthening of cooperation under the Clean Energy and Climate Partnership.
India has taken the globally acknowledged initiative of energy transition and it is time now for all countries to come together and contribute to solve each other’s problems, said R. K. Singh, Minister of Power & New and Renewable Energy and President of ISA Assembly.
Singh and von der Leyen addressed ‘Industry on Solar Energy Development’ at the ISA Headquarters during their visit to the ISA Secretariat and participated in a panel discussion on solar energy development.
The diplomats at the meeting included Ambassador of the EU to India and Bhutan, Ugo Astuto; and Ambassadors of five of the seven EU Member Countries of ISA: Ambassador of France, Emmanuel Lenain; Ambassador of Denmark, Freddy Svane; Ambassador of Sweden, Klas Molin; Ambassador of Germany, Walter Lindner; and Ambassador of Italy, Vincenzo de Luca.
Industry leaders who were present included CEOs of the Clean Energy International Incubation Centre, EDF-India, Greenko, Reliance, Renew Power, Schneider Electric, Tata Power and Vikram Solar. They shared their thoughts on key issues related to solar energy development.
The European Commission and ISA have had a strong collaboration ever since the ISA establishment. At COP24 in 2018, the EU and the ISA signed a joint declaration to promote solar energy.
European Commission Executive-Vice President Frans Timmermans had announced an EU funded Euro 1 million project during his participation in the ISA Assembly in October 2021, aiming at further strengthening the engagement of the EU, the EU Member States, and EU academic, business, and financial communities with the International Solar Alliance. Currently, seven EU Member States: France, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Greece, are ISA Member Countries. India and France are the President and Co-President of ISA. fiinews.com
