Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a key discussion with a US delegation led by John Podesta, Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden for International Climate Policy, focusing on bolstering the partnership between India and the United States in the global clean energy transition.

The dialogue centered on the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP), where the Ministry of Power leads initiatives under the ‘Power & Energy Efficiency Pillar.’ Highlighting the significance of this collaboration, Khattar emphasized India and the US's shared commitment to a clean energy future that supports economic growth and development. He noted that the engagement under SCEP plays a crucial role in achieving energy transition goals.

Podesta acknowledged India’s importance as a strategic partner and expressed optimism about collaborating on clean energy, energy storage systems, and energy efficiency. He stressed that the US is ready to assist India in enhancing its manufacturing capacity and developing resilient supply chains through an investment-led strategy.

During the discussions, both sides explored technical exchanges aimed at upgrading India’s power grid to manage future load growth. The dialogue also touched upon policy consultations and potential financial support to modernize the grid infrastructure. A focus was placed on reducing import dependency by enhancing domestic manufacturing in critical sectors, such as large transformers.

Additionally, the meeting explored state-to-state partnerships, particularly for long-duration energy storage studies, and highlighted collaboration opportunities for grid-scale battery storage solutions. Both parties agreed on the importance of manufacturing high-efficiency air conditioning systems and fans to stimulate the sector.

The discussions concluded with a mutual commitment to deepen cooperation in driving the global clean energy transition. Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Naik, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Power, also participated in the talks, reinforcing the strategic importance of the India-US partnership in this field.