Indo-US sign deals on clean energy technology

Clean energy technologies, disease detection and weather forecasting remained high on the agenda as India and the United States signed six memorandums of agreement (MoUs) on Monday.

More than half of India's electricity is generated from thermal power using coal and nuclear and hydro electricity still is much less in India's total output currently.

India is looking at alternative sources of energy to plug gaps in supply and demand for electricity which is at present about 165 gigawatts of installed generation capacity. To meet its power generation target of 62,000 megawatts by March 2012, US will help India with alternative sources like solar, biofuel and shale gas.

The two countries have agreed to set up a Clean Energy Research and Development Centre with a jointly funding of $5 million each for the next five years and matching investment from the private sector. The deal will facilitate development of clean energy technologies and the initial priority areas will be focussing on solar energy, second general bio-fuels, and building efficiency.

The agreement on shale gas calls for the US to carry out studies on resources in Indian basins. Besides, Indian personnel will be trained in assessing resources.

In the MoU for co-operation in Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership both countries have also promoted initiatives aimed at strengthening global nuclear security and addressing threats of nuclear terrorism. They will co-operate in programmes for capacity building to interested states involving technology and human resource development, education and training, and giving an impetus to research and development in nuclear science in these areas.

Under the India-US Energy Cooperation Programme (ECP) an organisation of Indian and US firms will cooperate with their governments to promote clean energy and energy efficiency business.

India will set up Monsoon desk with the help of US to study dynamical seasonal prediction of Indian summer monsoon rainfall to have a better picture of Indian monsoon and precipitation characteristics. For this India will provide a fund of $4,80,000 over next five years for establishment and maintenance of ‘Monsoon desk' while the US government will provide $1,00,000 per annum to the project.

In health, it has been decided to set up a Global Disease Detection Centre in India with the help of National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. This will include sharing best practices for detection and response to emerging infections, training in field of epidemiology, surveillance for emerging infectious diseases, international health and mentoring of public health professional.