India and the United States have reached an agreement to promote sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, and the use of hydrogen in buses, tractors, and heavy equipment. This initiative was announced during the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) dialogue held in Washington, DC, between U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. Both nations emphasized the importance of a “just, orderly, and sustainable energy transition,” aimed at ensuring access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy. Key areas for collaboration include modernizing the power distribution sector to provide continuous power, supporting India’s smart metering initiatives, and enhancing cybersecurity.
The ministers recognized Indian Railways’ commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and supported initiatives for round-the-clock renewable energy procurement exceeding 1.5 GW. They also welcomed the development of a comprehensive energy efficiency policy for railway facilities. The partnership will focus on advancing the production and utilization of SAF, which is derived from renewable feedstocks and can significantly reduce carbon emissions in air transportation. Plans include an inaugural SAF workshop addressing research and development, tax incentives, supply chain capacity building, and market development. Two joint reports on SAF and biofuels have also been prepared under the Biofuels Task Force.
Additionally, discussions covered carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), along with progress in methane abatement in the oil and gas sector. The ministers expressed satisfaction with ongoing public-private sector dialogues aimed at scaling clean energy technologies and facilitating investment. The recent launch of the Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) was highlighted as a significant step toward developing actionable roadmaps for hydrogen, energy storage, offshore wind, and geothermal energy. This collaboration seeks to advance research and development, pilot projects, and industry networks.
The joint statement also noted the establishment of the National Centre for Hydrogen Safety in India, along with ongoing bilateral exchanges focused on clean hydrogen research and development, cost reduction, and the establishment of hydrogen hubs. Efforts will prioritize large-scale integration of renewable energy into the grid and the development of energy storage solutions. The focus on energy storage was further reinforced with the creation of the public-private Energy Storage Task Force, aimed at addressing policy and regulatory frameworks, safety, manufacturing, and supply chains. The initiative will also explore alternative chemistries to lithium-ion technologies and the feasibility of various storage technologies for renewable energy systems.
Both ministers praised the U.S.-India partnership for its contributions to clean energy goals and climate challenges, highlighting that through SCEP, the countries can foster innovation and build more secure, resilient, and diverse clean energy supply chains.
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