India and EU are among biggest democracies in world, have responsibility to help drive shift toward renewables: EU Energy Commissioner

European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, who is on two
days visit to India, said that as being amongst the world’s biggest
democracies, shifting towards renewables is our responsibility,
Trend reports citing
The Print.

“Both India and the EU have our sights set on net zero. The EU
by 2050, and India by 2070. And India has committed to producing
500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030.

The role of renewables has become even more significant because
of another tragedy, this one political. Russia’s war against
Ukraine”, she said.

“Moving to renewables is not just a good idea for our
environment, today and tomorrow. It’s also a continuous strategic
investment in security. Because every kilowatt-hour of electricity
we generate from solar, wind, hydropower or biomass is one less
that we rely on fossil fuels for”, she added.

Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making
India energy-independent by 2047, the Commissioner said that India
and the EU are on the very same page.

“I know independence, in every form, is high on the agenda for
this country. In 2047 you will celebrate a century of India’s
independence. And I know that Prime Minister Modi has announced
that your country should be energy independent by then. So, it is
in our common interest that we evolve from our old ways of
polluting to newer cleaner sources. And solar can be central to
that evolution”.

Kadri Simson spoke in New Delhi today at the solar energy,
diversification of supply chain and EU India cooperation in
manufacturing event, with Minister of State for New and Renewable
Energy, Chemicals and Fertilizers Bhagwanth Khuba.

The EU and India established a ‘Clean Energy and Climate
Partnership’ in 2016 and have been working closely together on
clean energy transition, speeding up the deployment of renewable
energy, promoting energy efficiency, collaborating on smart grid
and storage technology and modernising the electricity market.

Simson called the EU a strong supporter of the International
Solar Alliance launched by India and France in COP26 in Paris and
said that more and more EU Member States are joining this important
new organisation, based in India.

Simson also called for broadening the manufacturing market which
will help to boost both Indian and EU economies.

“The EU and India can learn from each other. Especially when it
comes to diversifying supply chains and developing an open,
competitive and rules-based market for solar. This has been high on
the agenda of the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. We
have had great cooperation so far when it comes to solar: on the
operation of large solar parks, on the policy developments for
rooftop PV, on the circularity in the supply chain, and other
issues”.

While India celebrates its 75th year of Independence, it also
celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations with the European
Union.

Simson and Power Minister RK Singh will inaugurate the first
EU-India Green Hydrogen Forum on September 8. The forum will focus
on exchanging best practices and policies on the role of hydrogen
in energy systems, discussing the state of play of existing and
upcoming hydrogen projects in the EU and India as well as clean
hydrogen production and application technologies, and prospects for
international Hydrogen trade and need for certification
frameworks.