New Delhi: The Ministerial meeting of the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) emphasized the importance of collaboration and joint action in navigating the global energy transition.
Held in New Delhi, the meeting brought together Hardeep Singh Puri, the union minister of petroleum and natural gas, and Jennifer Granholm, the US Energy Secretary.
Both sides, in a joint statement released after the meeting, reaffirmed their commitment to a just, orderly, and sustainable energy transition that prioritizes access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy supply.
‘Highlighting that India and the US represent the largest democracies, and the largest and fastest growing economies in the world, the sides underscored the importance of joint action and collaboration not only for bilateral progress but also for navigating the global energy transition,’ it said.
During the meeting, both countries acknowledged the increasing significance of their bilateral energy cooperation while emphasizing the crucial role of clean energy engagement. They also highlighted the accomplishments of the SCEP in enhancing energy security, fostering clean energy innovation, addressing climate change, and promoting job creation opportunities.
Furthermore, they examined the scope of the SCEP, which has fostered collaboration in various areas of clean energy such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, emerging technologies like battery storage and swapping technologies, gas hydrates, advanced biofuels, and hydrogen and electrolyzer production.
In this context, the sides recognised the importance of producing green/clean hydrogen as a critical energy source for global decarbonisation and agreed to support each other’s national hydrogen missions.
Both the minister and the secretary emphasized the significance of promoting energy access, affordability, and energy justice in each country. It was also acknowledged that achieving ambitious climate and clean energy goals requires coordinated efforts in developing energy transition roadmaps, capacity building, job skilling, and sharing best practices at all levels of government. In line with this, the parties agreed to collaborate on the establishment of net zero villages in India to support the transition to clean energy.
According to the joint statement, Puri and Granholm expressed their appreciation for the launch of the U.S.-India New and Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies Action Platform (RETAP). This platform aims to expedite the development of crucial technologies in order to advance shared ambitious clean energy objectives.
