Pre-Copenhagen Executive Mission matches US technology to Indian needs

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The US-India Business Council (USIBC) launched the first annual Green India Executive Mission, with an executive delegation representing some of the world’s leading clean energy and water infrastructure companies.

Led by Robert Nelson, senior partner with the renowned firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and Member of the US-India Business Council Board of Directors, the Green India Executive Mission is in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

“Our Delegation is enthusiastic to play a role in deploying the latest and best clean technologies in India -– to help India meet its growing energy needs in a sustainable manner,” said Ted Jones, Director for Policy Advocacy at the US-India Business Council.

Even with efficiency improvements, India’s demand for power is forecast to more than quadruple by 2030, making India the third largest energy consumer in the world after the United States and China.

India’s need for water infrastructure is equally acute. India is heavily dependent on the monsoon for water supply –- 90 percent of all river flows occur in a four-month period. Whereas the US stores up to 5,000 cc of water per capita and China stores up to 1,000 cc, India currently stores just 500 cc of water per capita.

“India has made important domestic commitments to deploy low-carbon-technologies and improve the existing water infrastructure,” said Jones. “Our companies are here this week to better understand these new incentives, and gauge the commercial opportunities.”

The National Action Plan details plans to deploy 15,000 megawatts of renewable power by 2012; 20,000 megawatts of solar power by 2020; saving 10,000 megawatts through energy efficiency by 2012; and increasing nuclear capacity to 40,000 MW by 2032.

India aims to increase efficiency in the water sector by 20 percent as well as make improvements in the overall storage and distribution of water throughout the system.

“Obviously these commitments can be met only by broad private-sector participation,” Jones observed. “The key is for India to develop and sustain a robust market for clean technologies and water infrastructure.”

Among the technology companies in the Delegation are AES Solar; Astonfield Renewable Resources Ltd.; Azure Power; CH2M Hill; Easy Energy Systems; Eaton Corp.; General Electric Co.; Hines Corp.; Honeywell; SPX; Synergics; United Technologies; and Weston Solutions Ltd. The delegation also includes leading investment banks and finance firms energy consulting and professional services companies.

The USIBC Delegation will meet with key Government of India officials in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ministry of Power, and the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, among others.

Recognizing the important role of State Governments in the deployment of low-carbon technologies and improvements in water infrastructure, the Mission will host in New Delhi senior government officials from select progressive States, including Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat.

On the morning of Friday, October 30th, the Mission Delegates will meet with their Indian industry counterparts in sessions aimed at exploring partnerships between US and Indian companies in the clean energy and clean water sectors.

With this Mission, USIBC is fulfilling its commitment to deepen U.S.-India trade and investment in clean technologies made at the launch, one year ago, of its standing Green India Initiative.

US-India cooperation in energy and infrastructure has steadily increased ever since India and the United States launched Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) in 2001. The deepening of this collaboration will yield political and economic benefits that support the mutual interests of India and the United States in achieving energy security and reducing carbon emissions.

The US-India Business Council (USIBC), formed in 1975 at the request of the Government of India and the U.S. Government to deepen trade and strengthen commercial ties, is hosted under the aegis of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.