The U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) Ministerial was held yesterday in Washington D.C., convened by U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. The meeting marked a significant milestone in the two countries’ collaboration on clean energy innovation and the transition to more sustainable energy systems.
During the ministerial, the U.S. and India reviewed progress across multiple technical pillars of the SCEP, including Power & Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Responsible Oil & Gas, and Emerging Fuels & Technologies. Both sides reiterated their commitment to fostering clean energy transitions, with a focus on building resilient and diversified supply chains, advancing energy security, and spurring clean energy innovation.
One of the key highlights of the meeting was the formal launch of the Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP), established to accelerate research, development, and deployment of hydrogen, offshore wind, geothermal energy, and long-duration energy storage technologies. Ministers applauded the work being done under RETAP and emphasized the platform’s role in driving forward clean energy manufacturing and technology sharing between the two countries.
The partnership on hydrogen technologies was particularly lauded, with both countries welcoming the recent establishment of the National Centre for Hydrogen Safety in India. In addition, collaboration on green hydrogen, including its use in public transportation and heavy-duty vehicles, was emphasized as a critical area of focus, with experts from both countries already engaged in research and development initiatives.
In a major development for energy storage, the ministers announced the formal launch of the public-private Energy Storage Task Force. This initiative aims to address key challenges in policy, safety, manufacturing, and supply chains for long-duration storage systems, alternative chemistries to Li-ion technologies, and projects in Indian states like Assam and Haryana.
The meeting also commended India’s strides towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, specifically acknowledging the efforts of Indian Railways. The two sides agreed on increased collaboration for the deployment of over 1.5 GW of round-the-clock renewable energy and the development of energy efficiency policies for railway facilities.
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) emerged as another key focus area. Both countries agreed to boost efforts in SAF development through workshops and training, capacity building, tax incentives, and regional collaborations, further cementing the bilateral commitment to decarbonizing the aviation sector.
The ministers also celebrated the success of the recently concluded U.S.-India CollAborative for Smart Distribution Systems with Storage (UI-ASSIST) program, which has advanced research on smart grid technologies and energy storage.
In a significant boost for clean energy trade and investment, Indian solar company Waaree announced a $3 billion investment in a state-of-the-art solar module manufacturing facility in Texas. This development underscores the importance of public-private partnerships and foreign investment in advancing clean energy goals.
The ministers concluded by reaffirming their commitment to enhancing energy efficiency, electrifying transport systems, and promoting decarbonization across high-emission sectors. They praised the broad cooperation between public and private sectors, emphasizing that by leveraging these partnerships, both nations could accelerate their clean energy transition while addressing global climate challenges.
