India has set a target of 450 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030

India was well on its way to achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) relating to clean energy and emission reduction well ahead of the target date, Union Minister RK Singh said on Wednesday.

The Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy also affirmed India’s commitment to the environment and the cause of clean energy and energy transition.

Addressing the Ministerial session of the Green Grids Initiative-One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG) Northwest Europe Cooperative Event, Singh highlighted India’s target of achieving 450 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The event saw the participation of UK's Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng, and Belgium's Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten, said a press release issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Acknowledging the challenges presented by the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy sources, and by the high cost of energy storage, Singh presented the GGI-OSOWOG initiative as a possible solution for driving down the need for storage and in effect reduce the costs of the energy transition.

Secretary Kwarteng stated that accelerating global power transition was a top priority for the UK as it leads the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) as its President. He appreciated the innovative work that has been done by the ISA and India toward developing OSOWOG, the release said.

Extending UK’s support behind the GGI-OSOWOG initiative, he emphasized the country’s intentions of strengthening international collaborations well beyond COP26.

Minister Van Der Straeten of Belgium emphasized the need for action by political leaders and engagement from all countries big and small to invest in the energy of tomorrow.

She remarked that with the GGI-OSOWOG initiative, cost effective solar power could be delivered to Belgium all the way from India.

Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Ajay Mathur and Country Director, World Bank, India Junaid Ahmad provided insights into the work that is being undertaken toward the initiative.

The idea for the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative was put forth by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in October 2018. He had called for connecting solar energy supply across borders.

In May 2021, the United Kingdom and India agreed to combine forces of the Green Grids Initiative and the One Sun One World One Grid initiative and jointly launch GGI-OSOWOG at the COP26 summit being hosted by the UK at Glasgow in November 2021.