Discussions also explored new opportunities in energy storage, green data centres, and offshore wind, particularly benefiting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
India and the UK on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future while reviewing progress in power and renewable energy cooperation between the two nations.
At the ‘Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue,’ co-chaired by Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal and UK Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband, both sides emphasised the need for balancing economic growth with a just energy transition, ensuring affordable and clean power for all.
The dialogue highlighted the importance of strengthening energy security and sustainable development, with a focus on power distribution reforms, industrial energy efficiency, electric mobility, and decarbonisation. Discussions also explored new opportunities in energy storage, green data centres, and offshore wind, particularly benefiting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
A key outcome of the meeting was the launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power and Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme, which will provide technical assistance for uninterrupted power supply, expanding renewable energy efforts, and accelerating industrial decarbonisation in partnership with the Ministry of Power (MoP) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Progress in trade missions on offshore wind and green hydrogen was also reviewed, along with collaborations between the UK’s Energy Systems Catapult and India’s Power Trading Corporation.
Recognising the shared vision for offshore wind development, the ministers announced the creation of a UK-India Offshore Wind Taskforce to boost the sector’s growth, strengthen supply chains, and enhance financing models in both countries.
Miliband lauded India’s ambitious renewable energy initiatives and expressed interest in learning from India’s experience in implementing the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
Both nations also acknowledged the crucial role of power market regulations in accelerating the clean energy transition and reinforcing energy security.
To support this, the UK and India agreed to extend the Power Sector Reforms programme under the UK Partnering for Accelerating Climate Change (UKPACT). Additionally, a new taskforce was proposed between the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to facilitate renewable energy integration and grid modernisation in India.
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