DOE International Affairs

Last month, U.S. Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma met with key energy leaders in India, including in the Prime Minister’s Office and representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Power, Petroleum and Natural Gas, New and Renewable Energy, and Science & Technology & Atomic Energy in New Delhi, as well as officials from NITI Aayog. Discussions focused on strengthening India’s clean energy manufacturing capacity to help diversify American supply chains in key areas of the clean energy technology sector. Growth in solar, grid-scale storage, and clean hydrogen manufacturing capabilities will be critical for India’s clean energy transition, and we are committed to supporting their efforts. Roundtable discussions focused on the importance of U.S. and Indian investments in clean technology manufacturing to build out India’s domestic clean energy supply chains. The impact of these investments will spread beyond the country and help diversify the industrial base needed for a global energy transition. Thank you to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), US-India Business Council (USIBC), the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), and the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) for being fantastic partners in hosting us. Additionally, we held our 2nd U.S.-India New and Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies Action Platform (#RETAP) Steering Committee meeting to accelerate development of key technologies to advance our common ambitious clean energy goals. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners in New Delhi for their warm hospitality and the productive conversations. We look forward to showcasing the progress of our U.S.-India collaborations at the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership Ministerial #SCEP this coming week.

On August 16, 2024, Mr. Alex Santander, Head of the Energy and Environmental Policies and Studies Division at the Chilean Ministry of Energy and Deputy Assistant Secretary Beth Urbanas agreed to an Action Plan that will implement the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two countries that was signed in August 2023.  This Action Plan sets out specific activities over the next two years that the countries will undertake to further deepen their energy cooperation and executes work on their highest priorities. The Action Plan includes joint activities in seven areas, including early technology adoption, decarbonization, grid modernization, clean hydrogen, Net Zero World, critical minerals, and energy justice. Its implementation will further build on our successful partnerships and shared values in these areas, and we look forward to enhancing our strong collaborative work with Chile while being forward looking and thoughtful about future work and impacts our countries can undertake together. 

On August 16, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm led the U.S. Presidential Delegation to the Dominican Republic to celebrate the inauguration of President Luis Abinader’s second term in office. While in the Dominican Republic, Secretary Granholm and the U.S. delegation met with President Abinader and expressed President Joe Biden’s commitment to continuing to strengthen our countries’ longstanding relationship and our shared goals of a more democratic, prosperous, and secure Western Hemisphere. The Secretary conveyed the United States' commitment to supporting the Dominican Republic’s inclusive economic growth along with the advancement of its clean energy transition and climate resilience, including through the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (#PACC2030). Read More: https://lnkd.in/dqVSXqPd

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆! Interested in joining DOE’s International Affairs team? We’re looking for a talented individual to join our Front Office Team to coordinate our congressional affairs and external communications efforts.  Want to help us navigate global energy challenges and enhance our partnerships domestic and abroad? Join us and play a significant role in advancing DOE’s mission on a global scale. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gArkWqeM  #DOE #InternationalAffairs

Following up from a fantastic week in Bucharest, DOE and its partners, the Ministry of Energy of Romania and the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center co-hosted the Fifth Ministerial meeting for the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation #PTECC from July 23-24, 2024. Secretary Granholm, along with representatives from DOE’s Offices of International Affairs and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, held key discussions with our European counterparts with a focus on energy security; industrial policy to advance the clean energy transition; opportunities for geothermal energy development; and strategies to support the protection and rebuilding of Ukraine’s energy sector. We look forward to the coming year of P-TECC work and continued collaboration with our European partners. Read more about our endorsed Joint Statement of Principles here: https://lnkd.in/g6KaC6Wx.

On July 18th, 2024, Joshua Volz, Deputy Assistant Secretary of International Affairs, and Kimberly Harrington, Deputy Assistant Secretary from the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources, co-led the U.S. delegation in Astana for the 2024 Strategic Energy Dialogue with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy. The conversations focused on energy security, energy transition, methane abatement, advancing nuclear energy, and critical minerals. More details here: https://lnkd.in/gKFUMYM5

On June 25th 2024, Julie Cerqueira, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of International Affairs, led a U.S. Government delegation in talks with Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy to progress our cooperation under the U.S.-Brazil Energy Forum (USBEF). The conversations focused on new initiatives related to Clean Hydrogen; Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration; Methane Abatement; and Clean Energy Generation. The teams made substantial gains in identifying new cooperation that will be announced at the upcoming USBEF Ministerial meeting in Iguaçu Falls in October. We thank Mariana Espécie, Thiago Barral, Pietro Mendes, PhD, Carlos Pachaá, Isadora Rodrigues for hosting the U.S. Government delegation and for organizing productive discussions that will move forward energy transition in the Americas.

Following up from a great trip in Kenya and Tanzania, DOE participated in the US-Africa Business Forum on Energy Transition in Africa hosted by Power Africa and Global Affairs Canada on June 24, 2024, at the Africa Energy Forum in Barcelona, Spain. The focus of the forum was on incentivizing investment in the clean energy transition in Africa. #ProudPowerAfricaPartner

The U.S. Embassy in Morocco was thrilled to be part of the 2024 Solar Decathlon (U.S. Department of Energy) Africa Design Challenge at UM6P - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, organized in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and IRESEN - Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies. This major international event showcased the potential of participants' skills and ingenuity to revolutionize sustainable architecture and construction. Over 250 students and researchers representing more than 70 universities presented high-performance, energy-efficient housing prototypes featuring cutting-edge technologies. Kudos to all these talented students who will literally design our future!