India to provide 24x7 power by 2019: Piyush Goyal

Washington: India will provide 24x7 power across the country by 2019 by creating cost effective infrastructure which is sustainable and inclusive of clean energy solutions, Power Minister Piyush Goyal has said. Goyal was speaking at the India-US Ministerial Energy Dialogue held at the US Department of Energy here on September 21.

The Indian delegation was led by Goyal while the US side was led by Dr Ernest Moniz, the US Secretary of Energy. "Government of India to provide 24x7 power across the country by 2019 by creating cost effective infrastructure which was sustainable and inclusive of clean energy solutions," the Minister said.

Goyal emphasised that India is committed to pursue a green path to growth. He also elaborated on India's ambitious plans for deployment of 175 GW Renewable Power capacities by 2022, including 100 GW of Solar and 60 GW of Wind, which may require investment of around USD 150 billion in the next seven years.

He also stressed on government's objective of construction of 100 smart cities which would include in its blueprint adequate provisions for power generation, usage of renewables and energy efficiency technologies, comprehensive waste management programme, usage of waste to energy technologies, etc.

Goyal pointed out that India-US collaboration in the energy sector offer great potential, in view of India's enormous energy needs and the US' resources, capabilities and technology.

He also welcomed US-based companies to invest in the Indian energy sector and invited them to also participate in India's unconventional hydrocarbons sector, especially in the field of exploration and exploitation of alternate energy sources such as shale oil, shale gas and gas hydrates.

During the Dialogue, presentations were made on progress made under various joint research programme like Partnership to Advance Clean Energy - Research (PACE - R), including in the field of solar energy, energy efficient buildings and biofuels.

Substantial headway has been made for the development of new technologies for distributed power generation through solar thermal route and development of new tools for improved building energy efficiency codes.

It was also agreed to explore addition of smart grids and energy storage for grid application as the fourth stream under PACE - R.

Presentations were also made on various aspects of integration of clean energy sources into existing energy infrastructure in India, as well as mechanisms for promoting financing for clean energy and cleaner fossil energy sources.

Avenues for advancing off-grid clean energy access was also discussed in depth during the Dialogue.