Denmark and India accelerates partnership on green energy transition with the signing of a new MOU
New Indo-Danish cooperation will prepare the Indian energy system for the integration of 450 gigawatt renewable energy by 2030.
Today, the Ministry of Power of India (MOP) and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy & Utilities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on green energy transition in India. The MOU will be the foundation for the new 5-year Indo-Danish cooperation called the India-Denmark Energy Partnership (INDEP) and ignite the cooperation between the MOP agencies and the Danish Energy Agency and will be a valuable knowledge exchange for green energy transition in both countries.
The announcement is in line with the recent Joint Commission meeting held between the Danish and Indian Foreign Minister on May 12 and the conversation between the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where it was agreed to work towards a bilateral Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark.
The Indo-Danish cooperation on the integration of large amounts of renewable energy acknowledges that an affordable and reliable supply of renewable electricity is instrumental to economic growth and energy security.
The collaboration under the new MOU is focused on four key areas: Energy planning and scenario modelling; integration of high share of renewable energy; power system flexibility; and electricity markets. The partnership aims at supporting the ambitious Indian target of 175 GW by 2022 and long term target of 450 GW renewable energy capacity announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Climate Summit in September 2019.
“Green energy transition can help kick-starting economies after the Covid-19 pandemic. The choices we take now to restart our economies will determine our ability to create new and permanent jobs and mitigate the impacts of pollution. The Indo-Danish cooperation can help green energy transition to deliver jobs and economic growth while also ensuring that our energy systems are modernised, more resilient and less polluting” says the Ambassador to Denmark, Mr. Freddy Svane.
The future power system starts now
A holistic approach to energy transition is vital for India to be able to fulfill its commitments under the Paris Agreement and to secure job creation, sustainable development and economic growth. The Indo-Danish energy cooperation started in 2018 with a Strategic Sector Cooperation with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) focused on offshore wind. The new 5-year India-Denmark Energy Partnership is now expanding the cooperation to include both MNRE and MOP. The cooperation will be supported by the placement of a long-term sector expert within a Ministry of Power agency to be determined.
“The India-Denmark Energy Partnership will help to accelerate green energy transition through a strong government-to-government cooperation between India and Denmark. Our energy cooperation and knowledge exchange will contribute to powering the Indian transition towards a higher share of renewable energy and meeting the energy demand of the future” says Deputy Director General Mr. Martin Hansen of the Danish Energy Agency.