To accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, India and the United States jointly established the Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) in Delhi as part of their bilateral Strategic Clean Energy Partnership.
The launch of RETAP was officially announced on June 22, 2023, during a meeting in Washington involving U.S. President Joseph R. Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During this meeting, both leaders extended their partnership to focus on new and emerging technologies aimed at expediting the transition to clean energy.
The platform’s inauguration took place during a meeting between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of the Indian Government, marking the swift realization of the leaders’ vision.
RETAP’s primary objective is to advance new and emerging renewable technologies, with a primary emphasis on the deployment and scaling of green/clean hydrogen, wind energy, and long-duration energy storage. Additionally, it aims to explore future possibilities in geothermal energy, ocean/tidal energy, and other emerging technologies as mutually agreed upon.
DOE and MNRE have outlined an initial work plan for RETAP, structured around five key themes: research and development, piloting and testing innovative technologies, advanced training and skill development, policy and planning to advance renewable energy technologies, and investment, incubation, and outreach programs.
During discussions, both delegations exchanged information about emerging technology developments in each country, covering areas such as hydrogen, energy storage, wind power, geothermal energy, marine renewable energy technologies, and clean energy deployment initiatives.
In the future, DOE and MNRE intend to strengthen their collaboration within RETAP, potentially establishing a RETAP Steering Committee, forming joint working groups, and fostering collaboration among subject matter experts to further advance renewable energy technology initiatives.
