Green ties strengthened
The aid will help achieve renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022
The climate cooperation will help achieve Modi’s renewable energy target by 2022
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NEW DELHI/BERLIN:
Germany pledged an investment of over 1 billion euros in Indian solar power projects in addition to a similar amount promised earlier by the European nation for a clean energy corridor here, as the two countries struck deals on Monday to strengthen their green ties.
The India-Germany Climate and Renewable Alliance will help New Delhi achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s renewable energy target of 175 gigawatts by 2022 which also found mention in India’s climate action plan 2020-30 submitted to United Nations last week, sources said.
“I admire German leadership in clean energy and commitment to combating climate change,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the third summit level inter-governmental consultations with German chancellor Angela Merkel and her senior Cabinet colleagues in New Delhi, while he described the deal as having great value. “This is an area where we have convergence of views, and rapidly growing cooperation.”
Modi also said the alliance would ensure deepening of research cooperation in clean and renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency, a necessity to contain rising global temperatures. Merkel referred to the alliance as a sign of great collaboration between the two countries.
A joint statement said both countries would intensify their cooperation in renewable technologies including storage and cooling mechanics, super-efficient appliances and buildings, zero-emission passenger and freight vehicles, energy-efficient rail and water infrastructure as well as offshore wind energy.
“The new paradigm is flexibility and cheaper power for an average Indian apart from being a non-polluting energy source,” said Marcus Steigenberger, deputy executive director of Ger man energy think tank Agora Energiewende.