India to step up technologies to fight climate change

Aug 13, 2009 - The Associated Press

NEW DELHI - India said Thursday it will step up use of technologies to combat climate change.

"We will increase low carbon technologies, including nuclear energy, 'hydel' and other renewable energy sources, to combat climate change," R Chidambaram, chief scientific advisor to the government of India, said at a conference.

Currently, most of India's energy requirements are met from carbon-rich thermal power.

Wind and renewable power constitutes 5.9% of requirements; nuclear 2.9% and hydel (hydroelectric) power 26.2%.

The official also said India's "multi-pronged" strategy in acquiring various kinds of energy resources would strengthen India's energy security to boost its growing economy.

India launched a Solar Energy Mission plan last year as part of its National Action Plan on Climate Change that is to produce 20,000 MW by 2020.

India has also been intensifying its civil nuclear trade with many countries, including the United States, Russia, France and Canada and has set a target of producing 20 GW of nuclear power by 2020.

According to a scientific study by an Indian semigovernmental agency, India has a potential of 65,000 MW of wind energy and 5 trillion kW of solar energy per year.

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