Greentech Lead India: India and Spain have agreed to enhance research, cooperation and technologies in the field of Renewable Energy.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister for New & Renewable Energy met Spanish delegation led by Ms. Carmen Vela Olmo, Minister of State for Research, Development and Innovation.
Besides, research projects in the area of forecasting of wind power and fabrication of cost effective solar cells will be considered for financing by the Indian and Spanish governments.
During the meeting, the two ministers also agreed to initiate a second call for research proposals so as to encourage joint research and development activities between research institutions as well as industry groups of both the countries.
The joint Indo-Spanish program for Technological cooperation in Renewable Energy was developed as a consequence of the visit of the Minister of New & Renewable Energy, to Spain last year. Following the signing of the agreement in May, 2012, a joint call for project proposals was published. Proposals on various aspects on Renewable Energy involving industry and R & D institutions in both the countries and covering all aspects of Renewable Energy.
India and Spain are among the leaders in wind and solar power installed capacity. Spain is the 4th largest producer of wind generated power and is top-ranked worldwide in terms of photovoltaic solar power capacity.
India is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of wind power installed capacity. In addition, India’s National Solar Mission aims to facilitate the installation of 20000 MW of grid connected power capacity by 2020.
Phase I of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission nearing completion
The first phase of JNNSM ends on March 2013. Grid connected projects of total capacity of 1047.16 MW have already been commissioned. Under off-grid scheme, 160.8 MW of photo-voltaic based systems have been sanctioned and 6.07 million square meter of collector area of solar water heating has been installed.
The Solar Platform of Almeria (PSA), run under the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness is considered one of the largest and best R&D facilitates for Concentrating Solar Power Technologies.
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