India & US Join Hands To Advance Clean Energy Pace In President Biden and Prime Minister Modi Meeting

The DOE and India's MNRE held a meeting to officially launch the U.S. India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. RETAP, conceived during a June 22, 2023 meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi, signifies their joint commitment to accelerate the shift to clean energy technologies.

DOE's Deputy Secretary David Turk and MNRE's Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla lead RETAP, aimed at enhancing bilateral collaboration with a focus on time-bound technology achievements. The main goal is advancing and scaling innovative renewable technologies. Initial areas of focus include green hydrogen, wind energy, long-duration storage, and exploring emerging options like geothermal and ocean/tidal energy, as agreed upon later.

The DOE and MNRE have established an initial plan for their collaboration within the framework of RETAP. This plan is centred around five main themes:

1. Research and Development

2. Testing and Implementation of Innovative Technologies

3. Advancing Training and Skill Development

4. Formulating Policies and Strategies for Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) and related technologies

5. Initiating Programs for Investment, Incubation, and Outreach

Delegations from both countries discussed recent technological advancements in hydrogen, energy storage, and renewable energy like wind, geothermal, and marine technologies. The DOE and MNRE plan to strengthen collaboration through RETAP by forming a Steering Committee, joint working groups, and expert cooperation.