In the last couple of years, India has been very clear regarding the country's ambitions for the expansion of sustainable energy, such as wind and solar energy - especially considering India's fast-growing electricity usage and their contribution the Paris Climate Agreement.

Currently, India is hosting 'RE Invest', the region's largest conference regarding sustainable energy, where more than 10,000 people will be attending. Permanent Secretary, Morten Bæk, will be representing Denmark and give a lecture about the Danish experience with offshore wind. The Indians have started to notice the Danish know-how and expertise within the green sector. Consequently, Denmark will now establish a Danish-Indian knowledge centre for the development of especially wind energy in the world’s second most populous country.

"I see great potential for cooperation with India in the coming years. The country's political ambitions for the green transition are not to be mistaken. Therefore, I am hopeful that we will be able to establish a fruitful collaboration with India. The Indian's have visited Denmark multiple times to learn from us, and I believe the time is right for us to move there and bring our experience and know-how into play for the benefit of the climate, the global green change and the Danish energy companies", said Minister of Energy, Utilities and Climate Lars Chr. Lilleholt.

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The Indian Prime minister Modi has previously stated that the country must produce 227 GW of green energy in 2022. Modi is completing an electrification of all Indian villages, but the increasing prosperity of people in India is expected to up the demand for energy significantly in the coming years. Especially wind and solar energy is in for a historic boom. If everything goes as planned, India will have a capacity of 66 GW onshore wind in four years - in comparison, Denmark currently has a capacity of 4.5 GW. Furthermore, India wants to reach 30 GW of offshore wind before 2030, which corresponds to 23 times the 1.3 GW capacity that Denmark has achieved since 1991.

The knowledge centre is to be financed under the Danish Finance Act, and the plan is to allocate EUR 7.4 million over the next five years.

Facts:

• India is on its way to becoming one of the world's largest markets for sustainable energy. Until 2040, India will account for 30 percent of the world's increased energy demand and thereby have the largest energy growth, right in front of China (IEA).
• India is predicted to add "an EU" in energy capacity up until 2040, meaning that the Indians will expand their energy sector equivalent to the size of the EU’s sector today.
• India is projected to be the world's fastest-growing economy until 2040 (5.5 percent average GDP growth)*.
• In 2016, investments in the Indian energy sector reached EUR 76,3 billion, number four following China, the US and the EU**.
• The Danish Energy Agency is starting a three-year strategic sector cooperation with Indian ministries and national institutes. Offshore wind energy and integration of renewable energy into the electrical system are the key focus areas.
• The launch of a new knowledge centre is expected to support wind and offshore wind energy especially.

* According to International Energy Agency - World Energy Outlook 2016
** According to International Energy Agency World Energy Investment 2017

Source: Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate (in Danish)