CHENNAI: Even As India is grappling with protests over the Koodankulam nuclear power plant, Germany is working out a plan to attain self-sufficiency in renewable energy and is seeking India’s cooperation.In an exclusive interaction with Express on Wednesday, Cord Meier-Klodt, Charge d’Affaires of the German embassy said, “Germany has set the ambitious target to give up nuclear power by 2022, and there has been a lot of research on renewable energy. We hope to harness 80 per cent of renewable energy in the next decade.”His comments come in the wake of the state government expressing interest on tapping solar energy and inviting investment in the energy sector. Meier-Klodt said that there could be plenty of cooperation between India and Germany in the field as Germany is planning to be leader in that particular area. Interestingly, a German solar energy delegation is also expected to visit the country soon.To a query on Germany working with India on sharing of nuclear technology, he refused to comment. On the Euro crisis, the envoy said that this would be another difficult year for the country and a solution will have to be found with the joint effort of all those involved to overcome the crisis.He however, refused to comment on the Tibet issue which had earlier cast aspersions over Germany ties with China. On the status of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between EU and India, he said, “It is in a crucial stage. The contours of the FTA will be known next month during the EU Summit.” The Inter-governmental Consultations that began last year between Germany and India is progressing well, he said, and there has been follow-up action in fields like education, vocational training and environment. ‘Classic Incantations’, a five-city concert tour, will boost cultural ties between the countries. “Through this concert we want to target the upwardly mobile young middle class,’ he added.
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