Aiming to cut down emissions, India on 8 June announced a national mission on cleaner coal utilisation and setting up of two centres of excellence on clean coal technologies entailing an expenditure of $248 million.

Leading the Indian delegation at the Eighth Clean Energy Ministerial here, Union Environment and Science Minister Harsh Vardhan announced a national mission on advanced 'ultra super critical technologies' for cleaner coal utilisation that will cost $238 million.

The two centres of excellence will be set up at a cost of $5 million each. 

"In our quest for cleaner fuels, a national mission on methanol and dimethyl ether is being launched. A new centre on solar photovoltaic, thermal storage and solar fuels research has been approved, costing $5 million," a government statement said.

"Funding opportunities have been announced in the areas of energy storage, clean coal, waste water treatment, costing $10 million," the statement added. 

The government also announced that a joint virtual clean energy centre with UK and Indian government funding of 5 million pounds each has been initiated. 

"Under the Indo-US joint clean energy research, the new collaborative public-private programme on smart grids and energy storage has been approved. India has also embarked on a joint programme on renewable energy with Norway," a statement said.

Energy Ministers from 23 nations with 80 per cent of clean energy investments and 75 per cent of greenhouse gas emission met on June 6 to 8 here to focus on advancing clean energy cooperation and implementing their commitments under the landmark Paris climate agreement.

The Minister held a successful bilateral meeting with US Secretary Rick Perry. 

Joint collaboration in clean energy was discussed to widen new areas of research cooperation in clean coal, carbon capture, and accessible and affordable water.

In November 2015, leaders of 20 countries came together to launch Mission Innovation, a landmark five-year commitment to accelerate the pace of innovation and make clean energy widely affordable and accessible worldwide. 

MI now comprises 22 economies and the European Commission, representing the European Union, and collectively accounts for more than 80 per cent of the world's total public financing of clean energy research and development.