Despite being home to one-sixth of the world’s population, India’s energy consumption is modest. However, that will change over the coming years as India’s population and wealth grow. The Indian government has therefore decided to aim for more sustainable and clean energy in one of the world’s largest clean energy expansion programmes. The target is 40 per cent clean energy by 2030 – and Denmark will assist India in achieving that target.

The Ministry of Power of India and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy & Utilities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the green energy transition in India. The MoU will be the foundation for the new 5-year Indo-Danish cooperation with valuable knowledge exchange for green energy transition in both countries.

“Green energy transition can help kick-starting economies after the Covid-19 pandemic. The choices we take now to restart our economies will determine our ability to create new and permanent jobs and mitigate the impacts of pollution. The Indo-Danish cooperation can help green energy transition to deliver jobs and economic growth while also ensuring that our energy systems are modernised, more resilient and less polluting,” said the Danish Ambassador to India, Freddy Svane, in a press release.

During the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Indian target of 175 GW renewable energy by 2022. The long-term target is of 450 GW renewable energy capacity, which in comparison is roughly equivalent to the European Union’s current renewable energy capacity of 496 GW.

-Related solution: International energy cooperations

The future power system starts now

The India-Denmark Energy Partnership (INDEP) is focused on four key areas: energy planning and scenario modelling; integration of high share of renewable energy; power system flexibility; and electricity markets. A holistic approach to energy transition is vital for India to be able to fulfil its commitments under the Paris Agreement and to secure job creation, sustainable development and economic growth.

“The India-Denmark Energy Partnership will help to accelerate green energy transition through a strong government-to-government cooperation between India and Denmark. Our energy cooperation and knowledge exchange will contribute to powering the Indian transition towards a higher share of renewable energy and meeting the energy demand of the future,” said Deputy Director General of the Danish Energy Agency, Martin Hansen, in a press release.

The Indo-Danish energy cooperation started in 2018 with a Strategic Sector Cooperation with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) focused on offshore wind. The new 5-year India-Denmark Energy Partnership is now expanding the cooperation to include both the Indian renewable energy ministry and the Ministry of Power.