India, US agree to cooperate on clean energy

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Dec 1 (PTI) India and the US have decided to
scale up cooperation in the field of energy security and
climate, reaching an agreement to launch an initiative on
promoting the use of clean energy, including transfer of
innovative technology.
As part of their cooperation in sustainable development,
the two countries would encourage mobilisation of public and
private resources to support establishment of funds that would
invest in clean energy projects in India.
According to an MoU signed between the two countries
during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's state visit here
last week, India and the US will launch a process of bilateral
collaboration to support their efforts to achieve sustainable,
climate-friendly growth through the development, deployment
and as appropriate transfer of transformative and innovative
technologies in areas of mutual interest.
"This represents a major step forward in US–India
partnerships to strengthen economic growth and energy
security, while also addressing the threat of global climate
change," says the text of the MoU released by the State
Department here Tuesday.
The priority initiative includes an Indo-US Clean Energy
Research and Deployment Initiative, including a Joint Research
Center to foster innovation and joint efforts to accelerate
deployment of clean energy technologies.
The areas of focus for this initiative include solar
energy, energy efficiency, smart grid, unconventional natural
gas, second-generation bio-fuels, clean coal technologies
including carbon capture and storage, and integrated
gasification and combined cycle.
Other areas may include sustainable transportation, wind
energy and micro-hydro power.
Under the MoU, the two countries also agreed to increase
cooperation on scaling up solar energy and energy efficient
buildings and advanced battery technologies.
Besides, they also agreed to boost cooperation on
unconventional natural gas including cooperation on coal bed
methane, natural gas hydrates and shale gas.
India and US also agreed to reduce emissions from land
use, including reducing emissions from deforestation and
forest degradation besides enhanced sequestration through
afforestation, conservation and sustainable management of
forests.
They further agreed to strengthen cooperation on
adaptation and climate science, including through improved
ocean, weather and climate observation and prediction
capabilities, enhanced monsoon forecasts for agricultural
community, flood control and water supply monitoring.
"India and the US are committed to work together for
energy conservation and sustainable development - to achieve
energy security, mitigate the effects of climate change and
safeguard the environment through both national as well as
multilateral initiatives," the MoU says. PTI LKJ
RDM