India, US join hands to launch Renewable Energy Tech Action Platform for clean energy

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A meeting between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India was held on Tuesday to launch the new US-India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership.

“RETAP was announced during the June 22, 2023 meeting in Washington DC, between His Excellency Joseph R Biden, President of the United States of America and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Modi, when the two leaders announced the expansion of collaboration on new and emerging technologies to accelerate the clean energy transition. This launch marks the rapid translation of the leaders’ vision into reality,” the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said.

Meanwhile, led by DOE Deputy Secretary David Turk and MNRE Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, the RETAP was established to take bilateral collaboration further with a result-oriented, time-bound technology focus.

The Ministry further stated that it is intended to advance new and emerging renewable technologies with a view toward deployment and scaling.

“RETAP’s initial focus is to be on green/clean hydrogen, wind energy, long long-duration energy storage, and to explore geothermal energy, ocean/tidal energy and other emerging technologies as mutually determined in the future,” it stated.

DOE and MNRE outlined an initial work plan regarding RETAP collaboration. Work is guided by five themes: Research and Development, Piloting and Testing of Innovative Technologies, Advanced Training and Skill Development, Policy and Planning for Advancing RET and Enabling Technologies, Investment, Incubation and Outreach programmes.

During the meeting, the delegations shared information about emerging technology developments in each country, including hydrogen, energy storage, wind, geothermal energy, and marine renewable energy technologies, and clean energy deployment programs.

Going forward, DOE and MNRE intend to enhance RETAP collaboration, including potentially through the creation of a RETAP Steering Committee, joint working groups and collaboration among subject matter experts. (ANI)