India is the world’s third-largest energy-consuming country. Its energy sector is set to keep growing in the coming decade as the country focuses on domestic energy production, including renewables, nuclear and energy efficiency. India was a key player in achieving the Paris Agreement in December 2015.
India has an ambitious renewables target (175 GW installed capacity by 2022, 500 GW of ‘non-fossil energy production capacity’ by 2030) and is planning a massive deployment of offshore wind energy blocks within the next years for a total of 37 GW by 2030.
India also aims to increase nuclear power production and the share of gas in its energy mix. However, it continues to strongly rely on coal (42%), and its usage in electricity production seems to have peaked in 2018 as renewable energy capacity is growing.
EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership
In 2016, the EU and India established the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP), which promotes access to and dissemination of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies, and encourages research and the development of innovative solutions. This partnership guides the energy and climate policy dialogue between the EU and India and helps to support joint projects and research.
Current areas of collaboration include activities in offshore wind energy, rooftop solar and solar parks, integration of renewable energy and storage, smart grids, biofuels and energy efficiency in buildings.
Meetings and events
An energy panel meets annually at senior officials' level. Working groups in various energy sectors are actively working on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security. In addition, energy cooperation is taking place through conferences, study tours, exchanges, business meetings, joint research and others within these energy sectors.
On July 20 2022, the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership organised their 6th EU-India workshop series on energy regulation, in collaboration with the Florence School of Regulation.
Within their partnership, the EU aims to further strengthen its cooperation with India in the field of renewable energy, while supporting its clean energy transition and ambitious climate mitigation targets. Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, participated in early September 2022 in two EU-India events focused on further developing the EU-India cooperation in the areas of solar energy and hydrogen.
EU-India Trade and Technology council
The two strategic partners further strengthened their relationship by setting up a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in February 2023. Ministerial meetings of the TTC will rely on the preparatory work of 3 working groups
- Strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity
- Green & clean energy technologies
- Trade, investment and resilient value chains
In synergy with the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, the clean energy technologies group will focus on green technologies, including investments and standards, with an emphasis on research and innovation.
Ministerial meetings of the TTC will take place at least once a year, with the venue alternating between the EU and India. The first EU-India ministerial meeting took place in Brussels on 16 May 2023. The next ministerial meeting is planned for early 2024 in India.
Fusion energy
India is a major actor in the field of fusion energy. It participates with the EU, US, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea in the international ITER fusion project. Bilaterally, the EU and India cooperate under a Euratom Cooperation Agreement on Fusion Energy Research.
Smart and sustainable urbanisation
Under the EU-India partnership on smart and sustainable urbanisation, the EU provides support to Indian cities to develop plans for sustainable development, transport, industry, water and waste management and has established city-to-city cooperation between European and Indian cities.
The EU is also providing support to Indian cities to join the Global Covenant of Mayors for climate and energy.