The UK and India have announced a collaboration on clean energy and efficiency technology research.
Prime ministers David Cameron and Narendra Modi signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday as part of a tranche of trade deals estimated to be worth upwards of £10 billion.
Under the MoU, India and the UK will “strengthen energy cooperation” and promote future collaboration in areas including energy efficiency, smart grids, energy storage and general renewables, while also investigating a broader collaboration on future energy planning.
India and the UK also announced £10 million in funding from the UK’s Research Councils and India’s Department of Science and Technology to create a new virtual joint centre for clean energy, which will help fund R&D projects in the clean energy field.
“Prime Minister Cameron and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the importance of global collaboration on research and development in finding innovative solutions and their applications to facilitate the expansion and reduce the costs of clean energy,” a statement read.
UK energy secretary Amber Rudd welcomed the agreement and stated: “We share world-class expertise in research and innovation. The UK’s experience in green finance and technology in particular makes us well – placed to work together to promote secure, affordable and sustainable supplies of energy and address climate change.”
And at a press conference held yesterday evening, Cameron heralded low-carbon energy as “vital for the future” and spoke of the potential for more UK businesses to export expertise to the Indian market. “We want our companies to truly make in India, and that’s why we’re re‑invigorating our forum of business leaders who we’ll see tomorrow,” he added.
