‘India-UAE power grid to benefit millions’
Study to look into potential interconnection of electricity systems
If a proposed India-UAE interconnected power grid is materialised, it will help give energy access to millions of people in South Asia and Southeast Asia, a senior Indian official told Gulf News.
R.K. Singh, Indian Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, said in a recent interview in Abu Dhabi that the proposed project will also help India and the UAE to share renewable energy to enhance production of low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia in each other’s country to meet export demand for such fuels from Europe, Japan and elsewhere. He said this while mentioning about India-UAE talks about a feasibility study on laying undersea cables between both countries to interconnect their power grids.
Singh said he discussed the matter with Suhail Bin Mohammad Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, during his three-day official visit to the UAE from January 13 to 16.
“Our assessment is that both regions will benefit from the project. The cost will be shared by both countries,” Singh revealed, adding that the feasibility study will estimate the actual cost of the project.
Far-sighted vision
The proposed interconnection of power grids is part of a mission announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid Initiative’, the minister said.
“When sun sets on one part of the world, it still shines somewhere else in the world. Therefore, if you interconnect the grids across the world, you will have the solar energy available round the clock,” the minister said.
The proposed feasibility study will look into the potential interconnection of India and
UAE electricity systems that will help export surplus electricity to each other’s country. “So, it is a win-win.”
The India-UAE interconnection will help connect South Asia and the Arabian Gulf grids, Singh said.
The Indian grid is already connected to Bangladesh and Nepal and will connect with Sri Lanka and Myanmar in near future, he revealed. Although India has almost achieved universal electricity access, millions of people still do not have energy access in other parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia, the minister said. Therefore, the proposed interconnection will help give energy access to those millions, he added.
During the meeting in Abu Dhabi, Singh and Al Mazrouei also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation in the field of green hydrogen development and investment.