India approves energy cooperation MoU with UK

The energy cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the UK and India has been approved by the Union Cabinet.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing the MoU with UK. The MoU was signed during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the UK on November 12, 2015.

The MoU is expected to provide an enabling framework for technical assistance.

It cludes an in-kind grant, and other support, as mutually agreed, through relevant projects initiated by the United Kingdom.

The areas of cooperation include the following:

• Market reforms, regulatory structures and the role of competition in the supply and distribution of electricity, including regulations and incentives for renewable energy deployment,
• The integration of renewable energy into the grid,
• Energy efficiency policies and practice, including industrial energy efficiency and vehicular fuel efficiency,
• Offshore wind energy and solar energy,
• Smart grids,
• Energy storage and new energy technologies,
• Capacity building of renewable energy institutions,
• Offgrid renewable energy services, and
• Tidal energy.

According to the Union Cabinet, project specific agreements may also be developed, from time-to-time.

The focus will be the electricity market structure and the integration of renewable energy into the grid, and the programme is expected to work at both central and state levels to improve energy security and reliability of supply, improve energy access and facilitate sustainable economic growth.