India, Netherland to intensify cooperation in renewable energy sector

India and Netherland on Tuesday signed an agreement to intensify cooperation in the renewable energy sector, Indias renewable energy ministry said.The ministry stated that Indian Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Dutch Ambassador Alphonsus Stoelinga signed an agreement whereby both countries decided to expand the cooperation in the renewable energy sector."Under this agreement, an Indo Dutch Joint Working Group will be set up and the exchange of technical and institutional knowledge on clean energy will be facilitated," the ministry stated.Speaking on the occasion, the Indian minister said the signing of the agreement was just the beginning of a symbiotic and mutually beneficial wave of cooperation in the clean energy sector. Discussing the energy situation in India, Abdullah said there was rapid growth of the renewable energy sector in India. He explained that Indias was planning to add over 30 Gega Watts of renewable energy to its energy mix in the next 5 years.On the other hand, the Dutch Ambassador emphasized that both their countries have similar ambitions and face similar challenges in realizing clean energy options in the respective countries.The ambassador said apart from cooperation on official and governmental levels but also between leading Indian and Dutch private companies and research institutions.