MINISTER OF STATE FOR NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
SOURCES HEADS RENEWABLE ENERGY MISSION TO EUROPE
AGREEMENTS WITH EU RENEWABLE ENERGY
INDUSTRY LIKELY
India has planned a capacity addition of about
10,000 MW from renewables by the year 2012. With the present level
of renewable energy installed capacity of over 3,500 MW, renewable
energy is contributing about 3.5 percent of the total installed
capacity for power generation of India. The Indian renewable energy
programme covers a spectrum of technologies and renewable energy
power generation is private sector driven with incentives from
the Government and there are ample business opportunities for
setting up joint ventures and collaborative projects. In view
of the possibilities and prospects for furthering business between
the Indian renewable energy industry and renewable energy industry
in European countries, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
has fielded a Renewable Energy Mission to The Netherlands, United
Kingdom and Switzerland from June 19th to 28th 2002.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Non-Conventional
Energy Sources, Shri M. Kannappan, is heading this mission. While
leaving on this mission, Shri. Kannappan, highlighted the Government
of India’s renewable energy plans and mentioned that in addition
to capacity addition of 10,000 MW from renewables by the year
2012, there are plans for electrification of 18,000 remote and
in accessible villages. During the visit Shri Kannappan will meet
Energy Ministers of the respective countries for enhancing bilateral
cooperation in the renewable energy area. The industry representative
are likely to enter into business collaboration/joint ventures
with European renewable energy industry for technologies and investments.
It is worth noting note that significant technological developments
are taking place in the European Union (EU) in the field of renewable
energy. The EU has brought out a strategy for enhancing the percentage
of renewable energy in their total energy mix. This is partly
due to emissions reduction obligations under the Kyoto Protocol
of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
India has registered an excellent growth in the renewable energy
area. There has been active collaboration in the renewable energy
between public and private sector companies of India and Europe.
As such, in view of the present possibilities under the climate
change regime particularly the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM),
there are significant possibilities for enhancing technological
and business co-operation between India and EU member countries.
Further, the ratification of Kyoto Protocol by EU has sent a strong
message to the global community about their commitment for protecting
global environment.
