In a significant development, India and the US have agreed to give impetus to sustainable aviation fuel, electrifying medium and heavy-duty vehicles, and increasing the use of hydrogen in buses, tractors, and heavy equipment. This commitment was outlined in a joint statement issued after the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) dialogue.
The statement, released after the SCEP Ministerial meeting held in Washington DC on Monday, featured discussions led by US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. It highlighted both nations’ enthusiasm for boosting investment in each other’s clean energy sectors.
The two countries emphasized the importance of a fair and orderly energy transition that ensures reliable, affordable, and clean energy. They also acknowledged the crucial role of energy trade in supporting their national priorities.
The statement underscored the need to modernize the power distribution infrastructure to provide consistent, reliable power to consumers. It lauded ongoing support for India’s smart metering projects, advancements in inverter-based resources, power market reforms, system inertia estimation, and cybersecurity initiatives.
Moreover, the ministers praised Indian Railways’ commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. They also supported India’s inaugural 24×7 renewable energy procurement initiative of over 1.5 GW and the development of an energy efficiency policy for all railway facilities.
The statement emphasized the two countries’ agreement to boost the use of sustainable aviation fuel.
