India and the United States agreed to further work collaboratively on energy sector. At the India-US Energy dialogue in New Delhi, both the countries agreed to promote scientific cooperation, research & development for greater technological innovation and for deployment of environmentally-friendly technologies and products. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr.Montek Singh Alhuwalia and the United States Department of Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz after participating in the Dialogue, held a press interaction in New Delhi today. They hoped that the Dialogue will lead to business-to-business collaboration of both the countries. The expected expanding trade and sound regulatory frameworks would emerge to deliver energy solutions for sustainable growth of economies of both the countries for benefit of their people.
Five of the six working groups affiliated with the Energy Dialogue (Coal, Oil & Gas, New Technologies and Renewable Energy, Power and Energy Efficiency, and Sustainable Growth) have held meetings over the last five days at the Co-chairs level including experts/officials. U.S.-India Joint Clean Energy Research and development Centre had also brought up issues relating to progress on solar energy, advanced bio-fuels and energy efficiency of buildings under PACE-R.
Partnership to Advance Clean Energy PACE- Research & Development (PACE-R) has been working on research and development projects on solar energy, Building Energy Efficiency and Second generation bio-fuels. A number of consortia from Industry, R&D and Education Institutions have been formed to take up the projects in these areas.
In 2009, the India and U.S. agreed to significantly increase collaboration on energy security and clean energy through launching the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE).
India and USA have also signed two separate MOUs for partnership in clean energy access (PEACE) and demand for air-conditioning sector. The MOU on Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) was launched in September 2013 for promoting increased energy access and is developing several priority activities.
Dr. Ahluwalia said that the U S Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz will be in Mumbai tomorrow to witness the meeting of civil nuclear working group which could help to work towards cooperation in this sector.