With a large land mass that receives among the highest solar irradiation in the world and a long coastline with consistent high wind velocities, India has great potential for renewable energy. Recognizing the importance of developing renewable energy resources, the Indian government has set two ambitious targets with its National Action Plan on Climate Change:
- To achieve ~55 GW of Renewable Energy (RE) by 2017
- To increase the share of RE in electricity mix to 15% by 2020 (currently 5.5%)
In order to meet the goals of the National Action Plan and effectively double RE capacity over the next five years from the 2012 level of 28 GW, The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has formulated an energy roadmap to install an additional 30 GW of RE capacity by 2017.
India has played a key role in supporting the global renewable energy industry and fostering dialogue between nations. Delhi was the host of the Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC) in 2010, which brought together government delegations, business leaders, NGOs, and international organizations from around the globe.
As for energy relations between the United States and India, the future is bright. The two nations continue to engage through forums such as the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue and the Clean Energy Ministerial, which was held in Delhi this year, and negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty are proceeding smoothly. Additionally, joint research programs between the two nations are making progress toward a clean energy future.
ACORE is participating in the PACE-D Technical Assistance Program of USAID, for creating and supporting a non-profit all-renewables industry platform in India. This platform will assist in catalyzing finances, developing appropriate policies and deploying renewable energy widely. PACE-D has special focus on distributed generation, off grid deployment, micro-grids and demand response technologies.
ACORE is also working with the newly established Indian Renewable Energy Federation (IREF) and The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) to build a network of governmental, corporate and non-profit entities in India with the common goal of expanding renewable energy capacity.
For more information on ACORE’s International Programs, please contact:
Senior Associate, International Programs