India hosted the 6th RD20 Conference, marking a milestone in global energy collaboration. It is a premier forum to advance clean energy technologies and the first time it’s being held outside Japan. This indicates that India has a significant role in innovation in energy, and it has become an ideal place for conducting this type of conference, thanks to the efforts of TERI in partnership with MNRE. The five-day conference, held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, brings together leading research institutions, industry experts, and policymakers from G20 nations to explore pathways for achieving carbon neutrality through international collaboration.
Launched in 2019, the RD20 facilitates the exchange of ideas and research to address pressing energy challenges. This year’s agenda covers cutting-edge advancements across green hydrogen, biofuels, life cycle analysis (LCA), and renewable energy, among others. India’s leadership also reflects its commitment to furthering research and innovation for clean energy technologies, toward supporting global climate goals as well as promoting sustainable development practices.
The conference began with sessions on the development and challenges of green hydrogen technologies. The delegates discussed technical barriers, transportation, storage, and usage challenges related to hydrogen and potential solutions through collaborative research and innovation. The discussions also focused on the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which includes investments in low-carbon steel, mobility pilot projects, shipping, and energy hubs.
Bioenergy and biofuels were another major focus area, with experts discussing innovations in biorefineries and strategies for integrating biofuels into a circular economy. Sessions highlighted the importance of domestic and international collaboration and increased investment from public and private sectors in advancing bioenergy technologies. Other technical sessions covered the wider hydrogen ecosystem, including its application in various sectors such as electrification, seawater desalination, and energy storage.
The transition towards sustainable energy had India reaffirm some of its targets on its commitment to emission reduction, moving to renewable sources of power, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. This conference brought along some ongoing efforts at the reduction of fossils as the key source of dependence; hence, renewable energy remains a crucial channel for such objectives. Since its target date, almost half of India’s generating capacity is not based on fossils.
This conference aims at fostering joint research initiatives and addressing shared challenges among academics, industries, and governments. The session will then culminate in a workshop, a closed-door session of leaders who will, in turn, table actionable plans by the G20 nations toward overcoming technical, policy, and economic barriers to clean energy.
As the host organization, TERI has played a pivotal role in advancing research and implementing impactful clean energy projects. With decades of experience in sustainability, climate change, and energy innovation, TERI’s efforts continue to reinforce India’s position as a global leader in the transition to carbon neutrality.
The RD20 Conference, with conferences held through to December 6th, 2024, has technical sessions, policy dialogues, collaborative discussion groups, and technical tours, all set to establish the framework for a strategic framework for international cooperation over clean energy.
Source: NewsVoir