Washington DC, May 14, 2013: TERI-NA in association with Yale University organized the fourth edition of the US-India Energy Partnership Summit themed ‘Stimulating Technology, Trade and Development’ today.
It brought together leading researchers, policymakers and businesspeople from both the countries to find ways to a sustainable future.
(Photo: Bala Chandran)
At the 4th edition of the Summit, key experts and policymakers from the two countries focused on the various dimensions pertaining to stimulating technology, trade and development in the energy sector. The Summit provided a perfect setting for deliberations on strategies and activities for Indo-US collaboration towards energy security for both countries, as they move towards low carbon economic pathways.
Dr Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India, in his message to the summit said “The Partnership Summit is a particularly welcome initiative because energy is a key global challenge in this century and also constitutes one of the key pillars of the India-US Strategic Partnership.”
He further added “In recent years, through the India-US Energy Dialogue, our bilateral co-operation has made remarkable progress in seeking solutions to the energy challenges of our times. President Obama and I have launched a number of bilateral energy initiatives, especially in the areas of clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency. I am confident that this commendable initiative of TERI and Yale University will bring our energy experts into deeper engagement in an area of great importance for the prosperity of our two nations and for a sustainable future of our world.”
Delivering the Special Address, HE Ms Nirupama Rao, Ambassador, Embassy of India to USA said energy security is a question of life and survival for the Indian masses. In ensuring sustainable development, cooperation between India and the United States is crucial, she said.
Ms Rao said as India and the US pursue energy security, an area with geopolitical importance, the export of natural gas and fossil fuels from the U.S. to India could have a vital role. She said the export of shale gas would benefit both countries – providing energy security for India and are liable market for the U.S. She said that 19 applications for export of shale gas to India are pending with the U.S Department of Energy and their approval should be expedited.
Dr RK Pachauri, Director General, TERI and President, TERI-North America, in his address said “In a world which is flat, as described by Thomas Friedman, there are opportunities by which policies in different countries can stimulate the development and dissemination of technology, the promotion of trade with large mutual benefits and development across the globe. The inter-linkages between these aspects requires the institution of policies that are comprehensive and integrated across various sectors of the economy. Leaders from the two largest democracies in the world would benefit both societies by discussing appropriate policies and putting them in place in both countries.”
Dr Richard C Levin, President of Yale University, in his video address said the report last week that concentration of carbon dioxide has reached a milestone of 400 parts per million, the highest in at least 800 years, and more likely in millions of years speaks of the urgency of dealing with the problem. Private and public sector cooperation is essential for this, he said.
Dr Farooq Abdullah, Minister for Renewable Energy of the Government of India,said India and the US share a common interest in lessening the dependence onfossil fuel. US cooperation is important in the area of technology development and transfer, but some other areas that need more attention are manufacturing and investment.
Dr Abdullah said that US banks like the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation provided loads for solar projects that were predicated on buying thin film from the US. He said US banks should provide financing regardless of the origin of the products used in the projects.
Giving the Keynote Address Mr Daniel Poneman, Acting Secretary of Energy, US Department of Energy said the creativity seen in technology development in dealing with issues of climate change should now be carried over to the area of finance in order to ensure that capital is available for renewable sources of energy. He pointed out that the main cost for renewable sources of energy like solar and wind is capital.
Mr Ponemon spoke of the strides made in India in science and technology education – which he said, he witnessed first hand at TERI University – and said that US-India cooperation through the joint research and development program, which is funded by the US to the tune of$125 million, will have the participation of 95 government and private entities through the next five years. The research is focused on the areas of building efficiency, solar and bio fuels.