India, Belgium ink renewable energy agreement

The union cabinet on Thursday approved an agreement between India and Belgium on new and renewable energy at the federal and regional level.

"The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity," said a cabinet statement.

The agreement encompasses development of new and renewable energy technologies in wind energy, biomass, solar (thermal and photovoltaic), smart grids, geothermal energy and marine energy.

It also entails renewable energy sources to contribute for the diversification of supply and energy security and other mutually agreed areas.