Focus on Decentralized Renewable Energies and Demand Side Energy Efficiency Germany

April 28–29 2010, New Delhi

India and Germany face similar challenges in the energy sector, with regard to both sustainable energy development and security of energy supply. Under the aegis of the Indo-German Energy Forum, the Ministry of Power (MoP) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, jointly organised the 2nd Indo-German Energy Symposium.

Addressing the themes, Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission and the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the agenda of the symposium intended to strengthen the bilateral dialogue focussing on decentralized renewable energies and demand side energy efficiency. Decentralized renewable energies can be the solution to electrify and energise rural India promoting sustainable development for a large portion of rural Indian society, what India follows with its initiative-- “Power for All”. Demand side energy efficiency offers an enormous potential for reducing energy consumption. Whether existing or new added consumption, energy efficiency constitutes a savings potential that is still far from being fully utilized.

The symposium facilitated the efficient implementation of concrete projects and developed corresponding policy recommendations to strengthen energy efficiency and renewable energy in identified areas. More than 300 participants from India, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Spain attended the symposium.