The week before COP31, the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit (BRES) in Delhi demonstrated India’s ambition and action on clean energy, and the opportunities for partners such as the EU and UK. The message is clear: India, the EU and UK are well positioned for deeper cleantech cooperation. Brand new trade agreements offer a foundation for discussions about how market access can be turned into investible projects. The partners have complementary strengths across five key cleantech value chains, where collaboration can build domestic manufacturing capacity in India and diversify sourcing and markets for the EU and UK. Deeper India–EU–UK clean energy dependencies would therefore mean benefits for both industrial competitiveness and energy security for all partners.
With disruptions in West Asia again exposing the cost of relying on concentrated and vulnerable fossil fuel supplies, securing reliable, affordable renewable energy is increasingly inseparable from economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for India, the EU and the UK alike. Recent comments from Indian Prime Minister Modi reflected this shift, when he stated that: “Energy security is directly linked to economic security. And we all know that the future of energy security lies in clean energy. If we continue to remain excessively dependent on fossil fuels, the global economy will continue to face repeated disruptions.”
This is not just rhetoric. The IEA estimates that renewables avoided more than $100 billion in coal and gas import costs for India between 2011 and 2025, with cumulative savings projected to more than double by 2030. India has now surpassed 300 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity, reached over 50% non-fossil installed capacity five years ahead of the target in its 2030 climate action plan (NDC), and become the world’s second-largest solar module manufacturer. The direction of travel is even more ambitious, with a vision of achieving around 2000 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2047.
India, EU and UK offer complementary strengths for building cleantech value chains
India can build on its trade agreement discussions with the EU and UK to cooperate on developing cleantech value chains, with benefits for all partners. There is considerable untapped potential; in 2024, bilateral trade between India and the EU accounted for just 1% of their respective imports of solar PV modules, wind generators and lithium-ion batteries.
This cooperation should focus on specific value chains where combining the partners’ respective capabilities can improve competitiveness and supply chain resilience. Discussion at a recent roundtable convened by the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Dalberg and E3G identified opportunities across five cleantech value chains that are particularly critical to delivering a clean, resilient power system (see table below).
India’s expanding manufacturing base, engineering capabilities, competitive costs and a large growing domestic market complement EU and UK strengths in research, innovation, industrial expertise and investment. For India, these partnerships can strengthen domestic manufacturing and improve access to advanced technology. For the EU and UK, deeper partnerships with India offer opportunities to diversify sourcing and expand markets for technology, equipment and investment.
| Sector | Complementary strengths | Partnership opportunities |
| Solar | India: Expanding module production EU & UK: Upstream technology and equipment | Joint ventures (JVs) in cells, wafers, glass and equipment Co-develop perovskite and tandem cells |
| Energy storage | India: Scaling lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and new chemistries EU & UK: Scaling nickel manganese cobalt (NMC); materials and equipment expertise | JVs in battery materials, cells and equipment Align standards, traceability and certification |
| Green hydrogen | India: Growing alkaline electrolyser production EU & UK: Alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) expertise | Co-develop electrolysers and balance-of-plant systems. Partner on derivatives production and offtake, and align certification for trade. |
| Wind | India: Competitive onshore components EU & UK: Advanced and offshore components | Jointly manufacture advanced and offshore components Enable market access through testing and certification |
| Grids | India: Transformers and conductors EU & UK: High voltage direct current (HVDC), stability systems and advanced cables | Expand equipment trade and ease supplier qualification Jointly develop advanced grid system |
Practical steps to turn trade agreements into investment
The timing is right, with new trade agreements to build on. The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been in force since July 2026; the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be signed in December 2026 and enter into force in early 2027.
Turning market access into investible projects however requires immediate practical action. The discussion at our roundtable identified key priorities for how to advance delivery:
- Set a target to increase cleantech trade for the next three years and translate market access into predictable two-way demand. Give manufacturers the confidence to invest and scale through long-term purchasing commitments from industrial buyers and utilities, and public procurement opportunities wherever eligible. Investment protection and intellectual property safeguards could support joint ventures and technology sharing.
- Build on existing partnerships to address specific supply chain gaps. The EU–India Trade and Technology Council (TTC); Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP), Horizon Europe, India–UK Energy Dialogue and India’s bilateral cooperation with EU member states can help advance concrete opportunities across priority value chains. Initiatives such as the Indo-German collaboration on next-generation solar cells, and the India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce, can connect industrial partners, support cooperation and project development.
- Make it easier for suppliers to serve both markets. Align standards and explore mutual recognition of testing and certification to widen sourcing options for European buyers and market access for Indian manufacturers.
- Bring buyers and financiers in early. Develop a small portfolio of industry-led manufacturing projects in priority cleantech sectors with agreed production requirements and credible demand. EU and UK development finance institutions and export credit agencies could work with Indian financial institutions to reduce financing costs and improve bankability, complemented by joint investment in R&D and industrial skills.
- Create a platform to deliver. An India–EU–UK green transition accelerator platform could bring together governments, business, and investors to turn priority cleantech opportunities into commercially viable partnerships. Building on existing partnerships and institutional mechanisms, such a platform would help channel technical support and finance into project preparation, standards and certification cooperation, skills development, and technology demonstrations and pilots. Directing part of the proposed €500 million in EU support under the FTA towards such a platform could help relevant activities, helping to build a credible project pipeline that attracts wider public and private finance.
Cooperation has benefits beyond India, the EU and the UK
India–EU–UK cooperation can build competitive clean tech industries, diversify supply chains and widen access to affordable clean technologies across the Global South.
Clean electrification offers a shared agenda connecting energy security, industrial competitiveness, and emissions reduction. Existing partnerships, including through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), provide routes for delivery while engagements with diplomatic initiatives such as the Global Energy Transition Forum, and the Global Clean Power Alliance could open further opportunities. The challenge now is to turn shared interests and trade frameworks into commercially viable partnerships at pace and scale delivering investment, competitive manufacturing, skilled jobs and reliable clean energy across all three economies and beyond.
