Decarbonise, decentralize and digitize energy sector for full benefits: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi [India], Aug.21 (ANI): Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal, on Monday said India and the rest of the world need to focus on the "common shared goal" of decarbonising, decentralizing and digitizing the energy sector to ensure full benefits to society in terms of a better life and a safer and clean environment.

In an address delivered on the first day of the three-day the Eighth World Renewable Energy Technology Congress being held at the Expo and Convention Centre, Manekshaw Centre, here on the theme "Renewable Energy: What Works", Goyal said, "We have looked at the G-20 energy ministers getting together to see what can be done to look at a better future for the world. All of these engagements, I think, are focusing on or towards a common shared goal to decarbonise the energy space; to look more and more towards the decentralization of the energy space and looking at more digitalisation of the energy space."

"I think these three 'Ds' will define the energy sector in the future and unless we decentralize and decarbonise; going for more and more digitilised technologies, I am very worried that we could wind up decelerating the world economy because I doubt very much that the world has much time or much space to further mess around with the atmosphere, mess around with the global planetary situation," he added.

Goyal cautioned the world community that time was running out and that there was an urgent need to accelerate efforts to promote clean energy and to look at ways and means to reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.

"Your deliberations over the next three days to promote renewable energy, costs are down, costs are becoming far more reasonable when one looks at comparable costs of energy around the world, I think renewable energy is becoming more and more attractive. Going forward, very clearly, with the advancements of technologies and better grid integration between renewable energy and base loads of power coming from carbon sources, I am sure this will make renewable energy more attractive particularly for growing economies like India," the minister said.

He also said for a robust renewable energy policy to take root in India and in other parts of the world, there was a need for sustainable renewable energy growth, more global cooperation and standardization of innovation.

He also spoke about the progress being made after the launch of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

"Before the end of this calendar (year), we shall see that as a multilateral agency, multinational agency ratified by the first 15 countries, who, will be the founder members, we have seen machine innovation taking some shape and we hope to see more action on machine innovation. We have had a good number of engagements on the geo-thermal world, on the rapid expansion of the decarbonisation of the energy space. A number of initiatives have also been taken on the African renewable energy initiative (as well)," Goyal said.

The minister said the aim should also be to bring down consumption of oil and other petroleum products and to promote an eco-system where renewable energy goes in to power electrical vehicles whenever they are introduced, and to bring down overall carbon dioxide emissions. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI