The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) have each pledged to spend $1.5m annually for five years to study smart grid and energy storage technologies.
Private sector players from both the countries will contribute the remianing $15m amount.
The US and India launched the clean energy research project in 2009 and announced a $50m investment in solar power, energy efficiency and biofuels research in 2012.
US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz said: “Smart grid and storage technology will transform how we produce and consume electricity, which has the potential to decrease carbon pollution by scaling up renewable energy deployment.
“Working collaboratively with India will accelerate solutions to drive down technology costs and improve grid resilience and reliability in both countries.”
The Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) acts as the core mechanism for bilateral energy R&D collaborations between India and US.
Since the initiative's launch, there has been an agreement between both countries over expanding the initiative three main areas of activity. These include Research (PACE-R), Deployment (PACE-D) and Access (PEACE).
The present Funding Opportunity Announcement offers resources for a fourth consortium under PACE-R that will focus on smart grid and energy storage for grid applications.
The new consortium will allow counterparts in the US and India to use the technological research capabilities of both countries. It will be officially established when an award selection is made, which is expected in 2017.
Image: US and India to jointly research on smart grid and energy storage. Photo: Courtesy of mrsiraphol/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
