New Delhi: Keen on harnessing the potential for offshore wind power generation, India has announced the launch of a Centre of Excellence (COE) on Offshore Wind with Denmark on Thursday under the green strategic partnership between the two nations. "Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri RK Singh met with Mr Dan Jørgensen, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities here today… The two ministers jointly launched 'Centre of Excellence on Offshore Wind' as part of the Green Strategic Partnership," said an official statement released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
At the outset, the Centre of Excellence on Offshore Wind will be centred around four working groups — spatial planning, financial framework conditions, supply chain infrastructure and standards and testing. "In the initial phases, the Centre of Excellence (COE) will focus on the offshore wind sector. In the medium-to-long term, the vision is that the Centre will broaden to include a wider group of international governments and players, accumulating experience and best practices on offshore wind, and become an international centre for offshore wind and with broader links to new and renewable energy," said the statement.
Both sides agreed to further their cooperation in renewable energy with a focus on offshore wind energy. The two countries already have an agreement on 'Strategic Sector Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy with a focus on Offshore Wind Energy.' The Danish minister also invited Singh to Denmark to take a first-hand look at Denmark's work in offshore wind energy.
The news assumes significance as India plans to add 30 GW of offshore wind energy projects by 2030. The Centre is keen on utilising India's 7,600-km-long coastline to for generation of power from offshore wind power projects in order to give a push to India's green energy ambitions. India has shown great resolve in meeting its climate commitments and is the only G20 nation whose energy transition plan is in line with the goal of keeping global warming below 2°C of pre-industrial levels, the Power Minister has said on numerous occasions.
During Thursday's meeting, Singh underlined to the Danish side that energy transition towards green is an important part of India's policy. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, has set a target of 450 GW of renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2030. The minister informed the Danish minister that India's renewable energy portfolio already stands at 146 GW. Discussing the potential of green energy, Singh said that India is looking at making Ladakh and islands such as Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep green in energy, including transport.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of mounting pressure on India to declare its net-zero emission goal. However, India has called out developed nations on their inability to cut carbon emissions in line with the Paris agreement, and has termed their carbon neutral intent statements as 'lip service.'
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