India-US clean energy research centre established

India and the US formally signed an agreement for cooperation on a joint Clean Energy Research Development Centre. The agreement follows from the discussions held between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama during the former’s visit to Washington in November 2009.

The areas of co-operation would include energy efficiency of buildings, smart grids, unconventional natural gas, second-generation biofuels, clean coal technologies and solar energy.

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India to see a spurt in green jobs

As global focus shifts to energy efficiency, with the market for environmental products and services projected to touch $2.74 trillion by 2025, headhunters say about one million green jobs will open up in India alone over the next two years. Green jobs, as defined by the United Nations Environment Programme, refers to work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development or administrative activities that contribute to preserving environmental quality, and help in protecting the ecosystem and biodiversity.

While green architecture, biotechnology and environment management are the most lucrative and sought-after professions in the new, green sector, policy-making for renewable energy and natural resources management is fast gaining popularity.

Wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy signed an MoU with TERI University in March 2009 to institute an MTech programme in renewable energy engineering and management. From just 48 students in 2006, the varsity has over 260 pupils.

According to a United Nations Environment Programme report based on 2008 estimates, by the year 2025 India will see the creation of 900,000 green jobs in the area of biogas alone.

(picture from http://businesstrends.wordpress.com/)