The UK and India are set to launch a global Green Grids Initiative (GGI) at the COP26 climate conference in November. The international event will be hosted by the UK in Glasgow, Scotland. Last month, as a prelude to the conference, the UK and Indian partnership was showcased at a meeting of the Energy Transition Council, which is made up of 19 countries. The virtual meeting heard how India and the UK are committed to working together on the GGI, which aims to bring together a global coalition of governments, financiers, experts and power system operators, to accelerate the construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean energy.
Immigration specialist Yash Dubal, Director of London-based AY & J Solicitors, says that the partnership, combined with a new UK immigration system designed to attract global tech, engineering, science and IT expertise to Britain provides an ideal opportunity for any renewable energy businesses in India looking to open an office in the UK. Indian businesses can take advantage of the Sole Representative Visa, which allows representatives of qualifying overseas businesses to live in the UK while establishing a subsidiary office.
Mr Dubal explained: “The GGI partnership is another example of the closer economic and business ties between India and the UK, which is eager to have a full trade deal with India. This climate of collaboration, together with the impetus towards renewable energy investment that will be a theme at COP26, provides a perfect environment for Indian renewable energy pioneers wishing to expand internationally.
“The new UK immigration regime which was enacted after Britain left the European Union is particularly geared to attract investors, businesses and individuals with specialisms in engineering, science, IT and tech and the Sole Representative Visa provide a perfect route into the UK market.”
COP26 President-Designate, and Co-Chair of the Energy Transition Council, Alok Sharma, said: “Through our partnership with India, a country with huge commitments to renewable energy, we will work with international partners to rapidly scale up smart green grids to trade renewable electricity.
“In the build-up to COP26, I want countries to show real ambition on clean energy transition and to harness the power of international collaboration to make this happen.”
Has set itself an ambitious target of having 175 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2022 and USD 70 billion has been invested in renewable energy across the country in the past seven years. Globally, the country was ranked fifth in wind power, fifth in solar power and fourth in renewable power installed capacity, as of 2019.
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. It is scheduled to be held in the city of Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021 under the presidency of the United Kingdom.
