Itanagar: You don’t need to construct big dams to generate electricity from the rivers, and yes, you heard it right. India and Norway signed an MoU to harness the natural flow of Himalayan rivers to generate clean power in Arunachal Pradesh.
India and Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 14 to collaborate on geothermal energy and sustainable infrastructure development, officials said. The agreement includes collaboration with Norwegian institutions, among them the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute.
Reacting on the latest development Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu said, “The signing of the MoU with Norway’s Tidal Sail AS to establish India’s first River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Project is another proud milestone towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.” He further said that, “Our rivers are not just a natural blessing, they are a source of innovation and opportunity. This pioneering initiative is a commitment towards embracing cutting-edge technology while safeguarding our environment.”
Congratulations to Centre for Earth Sciences & Himalayan Studies (CES&HS), Minister Dasanglu Pul Ji, our partners from Norway, and all stakeholders who made this landmark collaboration possible, CM Khandu added.
According to officials, the MoU opens a new chapter in India-Norway ties in the renewable energy sector. It is expected to pave the way for advanced river kinetic energy technologies to be used in the river systems of the Himalayas.
Officials of Arunachal Pradesh government said the initiative would help harness the natural flow of Himalayan rivers to generate clean energy, an area where Norway has considerable expertise given its own experience with hydropower and geothermal projects.
The partnership is also expected to support Arunachal Pradesh’s long-term energy security. Officials added that the technologies being introduced through this collaboration would help the state build a more sustainable and reliable power infrastructure in the years ahead.
The Indian government is trying to capitalise on diversifying India’s renewable energy mix, especially in regions like Arunachal Pradesh where the rivers have natural downstream heavy flow and where conventional power infrastructure remains a challenge with the help of the expertise of Norway which is much advanced in geothermal energy and geotechnical research, and the agreement is seen as a step toward for India.
