Monday, January 20, 2014: In an effort to strengthen cooperation and investment to ramp up efforts in the renewable energy sector, India and the UAE signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the same. Union Minster for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and UAE’s Minister of State Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber signed the MoU in Abu Dhabi during the Fourth Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Cooperation under the MoU will help identify areas of mutual interest and develop new and renewable energy for both countries, especially in the spheres of solar and wind power. Abdullah briefed the UAE Minister on India’s progress in renewable energy with special reference to the National Solar Mission launched in 2010 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. “India today stands among the top five countries in terms of renewable energy capacity. We have an installed base of over 30,000 MW. This represents an almost 400 per cent increase in the past five years alone,” Abdullah was quoted as saying.
The two sides further agreed to form a Joint Working Group for joint research on subjects of mutual interest, exchange and training of scientific personnel, exchange of technologies and data, organisation of workshops and seminars, and transfer of know-how and equipment on non-commercial basis. Meanwhile, Abdullah also spoke about India’s efforts to promote energy for remote and un-electrified areas.
The fourth assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) convened on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi with focus on the development of renewable energy. Heads of State and Ministers from over 150 countries and representatives from 120 organisations are participating in the assembly of IRENA, the first global intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in the Middle East.
