India-Chile to Enhance Cooperation in Renewable Energy

India and Chile on 13 September 2013 agreed to enhance their cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy at Ankara during India’s Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah's visit to Chile. India plans to add over 30 GW of renewable energy to its energy mix in the next 5 years alone. He also dwelt on the success of the wind programme as well as the significant cost reductions in solar energy through the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).

Chile is almost entirely dependent on imports for its energy needs and is therefore extremely keen to diversify its energy mix by introducing a large component of renewables. It has considerable potential in wind, hydro, solar and geothermal energy. India has considerable achievements and strengths in the sector of renewable energy and noted that India had made large strides in the same.

India offered its support and expertise to Chile in setting up renewable projects. It offered the services of Indian experts and institutions like Centre for Wind Energy, Solar Energy Centre, Alternate Hydro Energy Centre for resource assessment of renewable energy sources, training of personnel and also preparation of projects for exploiting these technologies in Chile. It also offered training slots in India to Chilean scientists, engineers and technicians through the Indian Technical And Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.