The Netherlands and India join efforts on renewable energy

The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), set up by the Indian Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, have agreed to co-operate at the implementation of renewable energy.

On the 20th of June 2002 an Indian renewable energy mission led by Mr. M. Kannappan, Minister of State for the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, had a meeting with ECN in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. During this day both sides exchanged views on renewable energy policy and programmes in the Netherlands and India. The two parties also presented the activities in the renewable energy sector in both countries.

Both parties concluded that the experience, gained by both sides in the application of renewable energy technologies, will provide an excellent opportunity for enhancing co-operation for capacity building, policy research, and research and technology demonstration in various areas of renewable energy. Next to wind energy, this includes also solar photovoltaics, fuel cells, policy studies and village electrification. The agreement was signed by Mr. W. Schatborn, managing director of ECN, and by Mr. Ajit K. Gupta, advisor of the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, on behalf of the Indian delegation.

India is the first country in the world to have a fully independent Ministry of Non-conventional Energy. As Mr. Kannappan said: "Our endeavours to promote renewable energy from the early seventies have now been vindicated due to global efforts aimed at minimizing the climate change impact of the existing energy production and consumption patterns. Our efforts have resulted in substantial achievements in almost all areas of renewable energy technologies. Also we have been able to create institutions of finance and research & development to strengthen our own renewable energy production capabilities."

Today India’s elektricity demand is growing fast. In the next ten years India requires to add 100.000 MW to sustain the desired growth rate. Also 76 million rural households still do not use electricity and 80.000 villages are yet to be elektrified. It has been estimated that about 18.000 villages are not elektrificable through the conventional grid. These villages have to use renewable energy sources, like wind energy. On this field, ECN en C-WET are going to implement their first joined projects in India.