India-EU Workshop On Green And Clean Energy Technologies Paves The Way For Sustainable Collaboration

The India-European Union (EU) Trade & Technology Council (TTC) Working Group 2 (WG2) recently organised a two-day international workshop focusing on "Green & Clean Energy Technologies." The event, hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and orchestrated by the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, occurred on October 10-11, 2023. This significant workshop was a crucial element of the strategic coordination and engagement on trade and technology between India and Europe established under the India-EU-TTC framework.

The India-EU-TTC, officially unveiled on April 25, 2022, during a bilateral cooperation meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, comprises three working groups. Notably, Working Group 2 on Green & Clean Energy Technologies is helmed by Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, and Marc Lemaître, Director-General of the Directorate General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, Brussels, from the European side.

In his inaugural address at the workshop, Professor Sood highlighted the pivotal role of India-EU TTC in enhancing trade and technology relations between the two regions. The objectives of the workshop, as outlined by Professor Sood, included:

•     Sharing insights on policy and regulatory frameworks.
•     Identifying cutting-edge green technologies.
•     Pinpointing collaboration opportunities.
•     Fostering technology co-development.
•     Establishing institutional collaboration initiatives.

Lemaître, joining the workshop via video conferencing, underscored the crucial role of research and regulation in accelerating the growth of green and clean energy technologies. He emphasised the significance of India-EU collaboration in achieving a sustainable future, particularly highlighting e-vehicles as a critical solution for meeting future targets.

The workshop was divided into four insightful sessions:

1. Waste to Green Hydrogen

• Chaired by Dr Arun Tripathi (Advisor, MNRE, India) and co-chaired by  Helene Chraye (Head of Unit, DG R&I Directorate C1 - Unit on Clean Energy Transition, EU). Discussions focused on collaboration opportunities between India and the EU concerning hydrogen storage, transportation, safety standards, and regulatory frameworks. Participants explored technologies and options for converting waste into green hydrogen.

2. Marine Plastic Litter and Wastewater

• Chaired by  Szilvia Nemeth (Deputy Head of Unit, Directorate B4 on Healthy Oceans and Seas, EU) and co-chaired by  M.V. Ramana Murthy (Mission Director, Deep Ocean Mission, Ministry of Earth Sciences, India). Topics included mitigating marine plastic pollution and wastewater treatment strategies to address the ocean plastic crisis and urban water challenges.

3. E-Mobility: Circulatory Aspects of Batteries

•  Chaired by Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha (Adviser, Infrastructure, Connectivity & E-Mobility, NITI Aayog) and co-chaired by Philippe Froissard (DG R&I - Head of Unit, Directorate C2 on Future Urban & Mobility Systems). This session delved into battery circulatory considerations and the potential of the electric vehicle (EV) and battery recycling sector.

3. Interoperability of Charging Infrastructure

• Chaired by Ashok Rajput (Member, Central Electricity Authority (CEA)) and co-chaired by Harald Scholz (Head of Mobility Lab in JRC-ISPRA). The session explored co-development opportunities for charging infrastructure technologies between India and the EU. It also examined collaboration between the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and Joint Research Centre (JRC), EU, in standards, testing methodology, and optimisation.

4. Standards

• Chaired by Kirsi Haavisto (DG R&I - Head of Unit in Directorate C1 on Valorization Policies & IPR) and co-chaired by Pramod Kr. Tiwari (DG- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)). Discussions in this session revolved around the importance of harnessing data and scientific insights to create standards and initiate research and innovation (R&I) in the early stages of new technology development. A potential Code of Practice on Standardization was also on the agenda.

Ambassador-designate of the EU to India, Hervé Delphin, highlighted the need for ongoing dialogue and technological cooperation between India and the EU to address global challenges effectively.

Dr Parvinder Maini (Scientific Secretary, Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India) summarised vital takeaways from Sessions I and III, which included R&D on lithium-ion batteries, recycling technologies, uniform waste collection systems, and the value-chain business model development.

Cristina Russo (Director of Global Approach and International Cooperation in R&I, EU) shared insights from Sessions II and IV. She emphasised the necessity of a harmonised approach to address plastic litter and proposed developing standards for specific technologies under each thematic topic.