Renewable Energy in India

India has been driving a vibrant renewable energy programme aimed at achieving energy security, energy access and reducing the carbon footprints of the national economy. As a part of Nationally Determined Contributions as per the Paris Accord on Climate Change, India has made a pledge that by 2030, 40% of our installed power generation capacity shall be from non-fossil fuel sources and also by 2030, reduce emission intensity of GDP by 33-35 % from 2005 level.

Government of India has set a target for installing 175 GW of Renewable Energy capacity (excluding large hydro) by the end of 2021-22 which includes -

Renewable Energy in India 2021-22


100 GW from solar,

60 GW from wind,

10 GW from Biomass and

5 GW from Small Hydro.

In order to become self-reliant in power generation and achieving energy transition towards clean energy, Government has inter-alia taken following measures:

(1) The renewable energy capacity to go up to 450 GW.

(2) Phase-wise retirement of old polluting coal-based power plants.

(3) Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis.

(4) Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12000 MW CPSU Scheme Phase II, etc.

(5) Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.

(6) Notifying Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.

(7) Declaring Large Hydro Power (LHPs) (>25 MW projects) as Renewable Energy source.

(8) Hydro Purchase Obligation (HPO) as a separate entity within Non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).

(9) Tariff rationalization measures for bringing down hydro power tariff.

(10) Budgetary Support for Flood Moderation/Storage Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs).

(11) Budgetary Support to Cost of Enabling Infrastructure, i.e. roads/bridges for hydro projects.

(a) ₹ 1.5 crore per MW for projects upto 200 MW

(b) ₹ 1.0 crore per MW for projects above 200 MW.


 Also Read: International Solar Alliance


Achievements:

As on 31st October 2020, India’s total renewable energy installed capacity (excluding hydro power above 25 MW) had reached over 89.63 GW.

During the last 6 years, India has witnessed the fastest rate of growth in renewable energy capacity addition among all large economies, with renewable energy capacity growing by 2.5 times and solar energy expanding by over 13 times.

Renewable energy now constitutes over 24 per cent of the country’s installed power capacity and around 11.62 per cent of the electrical energy generation.

If large hydro is included, the share of renewable energy in electric installed capacity would be over 36 percent and over 26 per cent of the electric energy generation.

Around 49.59 GW renewable energy capacity is under installation, and an additional 27.41 GW capacity has been tendered.

This makes the total capacity that is already commissioned and in the pipe line about 166.63 GW.

Further, large hydro power, which has also been declared as renewable energy has about 45 GW hydro installed capacity and 13 GW capacity under installation.

This brings our total renewable energy portfolio of installed and in pipeline projects to 221 GW. Sector wise details of Installed Capacity from renewables excluding large hydro above 25 MW is as follows:

Sector

 

Installed capacity (GW)

Under Implementation (GW)

Tendered (GW)

Total Installed/ Pipeline (GW)

Solar Power

36.32

 

 

37.10

 

21.21

94.63

Wind Power

38.26

 

 

 

8.99

0.00

47.25

Bio Energy

10.31

 

 

 

0.00

0.00

10.31

Small Hydro

4.74

 

0.46

 

0.00

 

5.20

Wind Solar Hybrid

0

 

 

 

1.44

1.20

2.64

Round the Clock (RTC) Power

0

 

1.60

5.00

 

6.60

 

Total

89.63

 

 

49.59

27.41

166.63

 

 

 

Major initiatives of Government of India for Renewable Energy:

 National Solar Mission (NSM):

In January 2010, the NSM was launched to install 20 GW solar power by 2022. This was upscaled to 100 GW in early 2015. Numerous facilitative programmes and schemes under the Mission have driven the grid connected solar power installed capacity from 25 MW in the year 2010-11 to about 36.32 GW as on 31st October 2020. An additional 58.31 GW solar power capacity is currently under installation/ tendering process.

 

1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM):

PM-KUSUM Scheme is an ambitious scheme consisting of three components for providing water and energy security to farmers and enhancing their income by making Annadata also a Urjadata. During the budget for 2020-21 expansion of scheme was announced to increase quantity of standalone solar pumps covered under the scheme from 17.5 lakh to 20 lakh pumps and quantity of solarisation of grid connected pumps from 10 lakh to 15 lakh. With expansion the target solar capacity under the Scheme has increased to 30.8 GW from earlier 25.8 GW.

 

2. Off-Grid Solar PV Applications Programme Phase III:

Implementation of Phase-3 of the Off-Grid Solar PV Applications Programme for Solar Street Lights, Solar Study Lamps and Solar Power Packs was extended for North-Eastern States during the year. Sanction under the Scheme stands at 1.74 lakh solar street lights, 13.5 lakh solar study lamps and 4 MW capacity solar power packs, which in under different stages of implementation by state nodal agencies. Till October 2020 around 30000 solar street lights installed, 2.13 lakh solar study lamps distributed and 1.5 MW solar power packs have been set-up as reported by SNAs.

3. Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) Phase-II:

The AJAY Ph-II Scheme for installation of solar street lights with 25% fund contribution from MPLAD Funds was discontinued from 1 April 2020 as the Government decided to suspend the MPLAD Funds for next two years i.e. 2020-21 and 2021-22. However, installation of 1.5 lakh solar street lights sanctioned under the scheme till March 2020 was under progress and till October 2020 around 0.84 lakh solar street lights reported installed and balance are targeted to be completed by March 2021.

4. Roof Top Solar programme Phase-II:

Roof Top Solar programme Phase-II for accelerated deployment of solar roof top systems with a target of 40 GW installed capacity by the year 2021-22, is also under implementation. The scheme provides for financial incentive for 4 GW of solar roof top capacity to residential sector and there is a provision to incentivise the distribution companies for incremental achievement over the previous year. For residential sector use of domestically manufactured solar cells and modules have been mandated. This scheme is expected to act as catalyst for adding solar cell and module manufacturing capacity in India. So far, a cumulative 4.4 GW solar roof top projects have been set up in the country.

 

5. Solar Parks Scheme:

To facilitate large scale grid connected solar power projects, a scheme for “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” is under implementation with a target capacity of 40 GW capacity by March 2022. Solar

parks provide solar power developers with a plug and play model, by facilitating necessary infrastructure like land, power evacuation facilities, road connectivity, water facility etc. along with all statuary clearances. So far, 40 solar parks have been sanctioned with a cumulative capacity of 26.3 GW in 15 states. Solar power projects of an aggregate capacity of around 8 GW have already been commissioned in these parks.

6. Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme:

A scheme for setting up 12 GW Grid- Connected Solar PV Power Projects by Public Sector Undertakings with domestic cells and modules is under implementation. Viability Gap Funding support is provided under this scheme. Apart from adding solar capacity, the scheme will also create demand for domestically manufactured solar cells/modules, and thus help domestic manufacturing.

 

Wind Power:

India’s wind power potential at hub height of 120 meters is 695 GW. The wind power installed capacity has grown by 1.8 times during past 6.5 years to about 38.26 GW (as on 31st October 2020) and India now has the 4th largest wind power capacity in the world. The wind energy sector is led by the indigenous wind power industry with a strong project ecosystem, operation capabilities and a manufacturing base of about 10 GW per annum. Ministry is developing strategy and roadmap to harness the potential of offshore wind energy along India’s coastline.

1. Scheme for procurement of blended wind power from 2500 MW ISTS connected projects:

The objective of the Scheme is to provide a framework for procurement of electricity from 2500 MW ISTS Grid Connected Wind Power Projects with up to 20% blending with Solar PV Power through a transparent process of bidding. Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is the nodal agency for implementation of the Scheme. It has provisions for payment security mechanism, commission schedule, power offtake constraints, power purchase agreement, etc. SECI has awarded 970 MW of projects under this scheme at discovered tariff of Rs. 2.99-3.00 per unit.

 

2. Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process for procurement of power from Grid Connected Wind Solar Hybrid Projects :

The objective is to provide a framework for procurement of electricity from ISTS Grid Connected Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects through a transparent process of bidding. Individual minimum size of project allowed is 50 MW at one site and a single bidder cannot bid for less than 50 MW. The rated power capacity of one resource (wind or solar) shall be at least 33% of the total contracted capacity. It has provisions for payment security mechanism, commission schedule, power offtake constraints, power purchase agreement, etc. SECI is the nodal agency for implementation of the Scheme.

 

Other renewables for power generation:

The Ministry is implementing a scheme to support biomass-based co-generation in sugar mills and other industries.

Energy generation from urban, industrial, and agricultural waste/residues is an area of focus.

Waste to Energy projects, besides generating useful energy, also help combat pollution.

As on 31stOctober 2020, installed capacity of grid connected biomass power projects stood at about 10.15 GW, waste to energy projects capacity was 168.64 MW (grid connected) and 204.73 MWeq (off grid), and about 4.74 GW small hydro power capacity from 1133 small hydro power projects was operational.

 

Green Energy Corridor:

In order to facilitate renewable power evacuation and reshaping the grid for future requirements, the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) projects have been initiated.

The first component of the scheme, Inter-state GEC with target capacity of 3200 circuit kilometer (ckm) transmission lines and 17,000 MVA capacity sub-stations, was completed in March 2020.

The second component - Intra-state GEC with a target capacity of 9700 ckm transmission lines and 22,600 MVA capacity sub-stations is expected to be completed by May 2021.

The present efforts are focused on strengthening institutions, resources and protocols, and investing judiciously in grid infrastructure. A total of 7175 ckm of transmission lines have been constructed and substations of aggregated capacity of 7825 MVA have been charged.

 

The energy sector has a big role to play in the pace of the nation as it is involved both ease of living and ease of doing business. In the energy sector, the Government of India has made Four Pillars of ‘R’ - Reach, Reinforce, Reforms and Renewable energy as its basic mantra.

 Also Read : Solar Energy in India

Source : PIB


Post a Comment

Thanks...keep in touch 🤟