May 23, 2018
The deal comes in the backdrop of the nation’s stellar achievements in installing solar and wind capacities, which besides alleviating pollution concerns, are targeted at aiding economic growth
Under their agreement, India and Morocco will aim to establish ground for an institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical cooperation in new and renewable energy
India and France will identify projects for the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and the France’s Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in mutually identified areas
In March 2018, India and France had jointly hosted ISA’s first formal summit in New Delhi; ISA aims to invest US$1 trillion to install 1,000 GW of solar generation capacity worldwide by 2030
India’s Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its formal approval for two preliminary agreements with Morocco and France related to the field of new and renewable energy. The deals were first signed on April 10 in New Delhi. The agreements come amid India’s growing engagements with foreign entities in driving renewable energy project construction and financing globally. The deal is in the backdrop of the nation’s stellar achievements in installing solar and wind capacities, which besides alleviating pollution concerns, are targeted at aiding economic growth. India is aiming to set up 175 GW of new renewable energy capacity by end-2022, from more than 69 GW of capacity at the end of March 2018. This target includes 100 GW from solar energy, 60 GW of wind energy, 10 GW of biomass power and 5 GW from small hydro power. Driven by strong activity in the national sector, India has offered assistance to foreign nations, especially in the developing regions.
Under the deal, India and Morocco will aim to establish ground for an institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical cooperation in new and renewable energy. The agreement envisages establishment of a joint working committee to review, monitor and employ topics related to areas of cooperation. The partnership also allows for exchange of expertise and networking of information. The deal comes amid growing ties between India and Morocco that has encouraged cooperation in the fields of mining and geology as well as legal affairs in recent times. Activities under the mining cooperation will include development of geological infrastructure, promotion of mining and geology, training programs and establishment of geological data bank to support innovation. The other agreement will give an opportunity to lawyers, law officers and law students to discuss issues in the field of law and justice through seminars, symposiums and workshops arranged by authorities of India and Morocco.
India and France will identify research and pilot projects between the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and the France’s Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in mutually identified areas. Under the partnership, both parties would implement pilot projects in International Solar Alliance (ISA) member countries. In March 2018, India and France had jointly hosted ISA’s first formal summit in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by 23 heads of states and 10 ministerial delegations. ISA, which brings together 120 nations to promote development of solar energy projects. The leaders underlined their commitment to ISA’s projects and programmes and to mobilize affordable financing for solar energy deployment. The ISA aims to mobilise investment of over US$1 trillion from public and private sources that will help it instal more than 1,000 GW of solar generation capacity worldwide by 2030. To aid this, India and France will collaborate in research and development as well as easy financing of solar projects.