GREEN ENERGY

India is on the way to set up green energy corridors across the length and breadth of the country. The focus is drastically shifting from coal based power generation to the green energy corridor comprising renewable energy sources mainly the solar based power generation option. The programme is being taken up on gigantic scale and in a fast track mode. Sandeep Sharma takes a look at some such initiatives and projects in the Solar Energy space...

RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL AND SHARE

India has an estimated renewable energy potential of about 900 GW from commercially exploitable sources viz. Wind – 102 GW (at 80 meter mast height); Small Hydro – 20 GW; Bio-energy – 25 GW; and 750 GW solar power, assuming 3% wasteland. As on 31st October 2016, the country has got total installed power generation capacity of 307.27 GW from all resources. Out of this the share of the renewable energy is 46.33 GW installed capacity amounting to 15% of the total installed capacity.  

NATIONAL SOLAR MISSION

The National Solar Mission aims to promote the development and use of solar energy for power generation and other uses. The objective is to reduce dependency on fossil-based energy options and the cost of solar power generation in the country through long-term policy, large scale deployment goals, aggressive R&D and the domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products.

In order to achieve the renewable energy target of 175 GW by the year 2022, the major programmes/ schemes on implementation of Solar Park, Solar Defence Scheme, Solar scheme for CPUs Solar PV power plants on Canal Bank and Canal Tops, Solar Pump, Solar Rooftop etc have been launched during the last two years.

CLEAN ENERGY TARGET

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is in the forefront of taking the required steps to expedite the implementation of the world’s largest renewable capacity expansion programme targeting clean energy capacity to touch 175 GW by 2022. The major programmes/ schemes include implementation of Solar Park, Solar Defence Scheme, Solar scheme for CPUs Solar PV power plants on Canal Bank and Canal Tops, Solar Pump, Solar Rooftop etc have been launched during the last two years.

FACTS & FIGURES

As per MNRE year end review report, a total of 7,518 MW of grid-connected power generation capacity from renewable energy sources has been added so far this year (January 2016 to October 2016) in the country. A total of 7060 MW of grid-connected power generation capacity from renewable energy sources like solar (3019 MW) and wind (3423 MW), Small Hydro Power (218 MW), Bio-Power (400 MW) has been added during 2015-16 in the country against target of 4,460 MW.  During 2016-17, a total 3575 MW capacity has been added till 31.10.2016, making cumulative achievement 46,327 MW.

A capacity addition of 14.30 GW of renewable energy has been reported during the last two and half years under Grid Connected Renewable Power, which include 5.8 GW from Solar Power, 7.04 GW from Wind Power, 0.53 from Small Hydro Power and 0.93 from Bio-power. As on 31st October, 2016, Solar Energy Projects with an aggregate capacity of over 8727.62 MW has been installed in the country.

SOLAR FACTS

Under National Solar Mission, the target for setting up solar capacity increased from 20 GW to 100 GW by 2021-22. Target of 10,500 MW, set for 2016-17 which will take the cumulative capacity to 17 GW till 31st March 2017. As on date, 19,276 MW has been tendered out, of which LOI issued for 13,910 MW/PPA signed for 10,824 MW. 34 Solar Parks of capacity 20,000 MW in 21 states have been sanctioned which are under various stages of execution. As on 31st October 2016, a total of 90,710 solar pumps have been installed throughout the country.

A total amount of Rs. 67.01 crore has been sanctioned for preparation of master plans, solar city cells, promotional activities and installation of renewable energy projects. So far an amount of Rs. 24.16 crore has been released under Solar City Programme.

Various departments and ministries under central government have committed to deploy overall 5,938 MW of rooftop solar capacity for their internal power consumption.

SECI is aggregating demand for a part of this requirement and helping in procuring rooftop solar systems. SECI has issued a tender for development of 1,000 MW rooftop solar capacity on pre-identified central government/ department owned buildings. It is the largest such tender in India’s fledgling rooftop solar market.

Several schemes namely (i) Defence scheme (ii)  Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) scheme (iii)  Bundling scheme (iv) Canal Bank/ Canal Top scheme  (v) VGF Scheme (vi) Solar Park scheme (vii) Solar rooftops, have been initiated/launched by the Ministry under National Solar Mission which are under implementation. Under Defence scheme against a target of 300 MW, 347 MW sanctioned, under Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) scheme against a target of 1000 MW, all capacity sanctioned, under 3000 MW Bundling scheme, Tranch-I: 3000 MW has been tendered, under 100 MW Canal Bank/ Canal Top scheme, all capacity sanctioned, under 2000 MW & 5000 MW VGF Scheme, tenders issued for 4785 MW, and under 20,000 MW Solar Park scheme, 34 Solar parks have been approved in 21 States with aggregate capacity of 20,000 MW.

Solar Rooftop: A target of 40 GW grid connected solar rooftops is planned to be achieved by 2022. So far, about 500 MW have been installed till 30.09.2016.and about 3,000 MW has been sanctioned which is under installation. All major sectors i.e. Railways, Airports, Hospitals, Educational Institutions, Government Buildings of Central/State/PSUs are being targeted besides, the private sector. Rs.5000 crore approved for solar rooftops. A total sanction of 1300 million US$ has been received from World Bank, KFW, ADB and NDB through which the SBI, PNB, Canara Bank and IREDA will be in the position to fund at the rate of less than 10%.

PROJECT GALORE

Some of the solar energy projects tracked are listed below:

200 MW SOLAR POWER PLANT AT JETSAR

The Centre gave its nod for the utilization of 400 hectare of un-cultivable farmland at the Central State Farm (CSF), Jetsar in Sri Ganganagar District, Rajasthan for setting up of a solar Power Plant of capacity exceeding 200 MW. The land is presently in possession of National Seeds Corporation (NSC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The Solar Power Plant will be set up by a CPSE, which would be selected through negotiation. The Project, by utilizing un-cultivable land for a Solar Power Project, will yield revenue for NSC and will also generate clean energy for the nation

GREEN ENERGY CORRIDOR

Rs.38,000 crore Green Energy Corridor is being set up to ensure evacuation of Renewable Energy. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has sought a Loan assistance of US$ 1,000 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) comprising Sovereign guaranteed loan of US$ 500 million and Non-Sovereign loan of US$ 500 million. the Loan would be utilized for funding of the following transmission projects including a project under Green Energy Corridor projects in next 3-4 years:

(i) HVDC Bipole link between Western Region (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) and Southern Region (Pugalur, Tamil Nadu) - North Trichur (Kerala)- Scheme 1: Raigarh-Pugalur 6000 MW HVDC System.

(ii) HVDC Bipole link between Western Region (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) and Southern Region (Pugalur, Tamil Nadu) - North Trichur (Kerala)- Scheme 3: Pugalur- Trichur 2000 MW VSC based HVDC System.

(iii) Real Time Measurement/ monitoring scheme.

(iv) Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) associated with Green Energy Corridor as under:

a)         Ajmer(New) – Bikaner (New) 765 kV D/c

b)         Bikaner(New) – Moga (PG) 765 kV D/c

c)         LILO of one circuit of 400kV Bhadla- Bikaner (RVPN) line at Bikaner(New)

d)        Establishment of 2x1500 MVA, 765/400 kV S/s at Bikaner (New)

The country plans to invest INR 127 bn to set up power transmission lines called as Green Corridor. The aim is to transmit 20 GW of power generated from 34 solar parks across 21 states.

LARGEST SOLAR POWER PLANT IN TN

India unveils the world's largest solar power plant located at Kamuthi in Tamil Nadu with a power generation capacity of 648 MW covering an area of 10 sq km. Adani Group has built and funded this project. The plant is estimated to produce power enough to light 1.5 lakh homes.

SOLAR PLANT AT HAL

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)  has successfully completed the installation of a 3.5 MW solar power project at its Bengaluru airport. The project is spread over 23 acre of land and comprises more than 12000 solar modules. Amplus Energy Solutions has executed the project.  HAL is going ahead with the installation of 50 MW power generation capacity through renewable energy in next two years. Out of this around 35.8 MW capacity will be through solar plants and 9.275 MW will be from  roof-top solar systems. The remaining capacity will be from wind power plants.

HAL is considering a proposal for setting up 150 MW capacity solar power plants in collaboration with BEL and MDL. The plants will be provided and set up on the land owned by Ordnance Factories across India.

40 KW SOLAR POWER PLANT FOR ECO-TOURISM

Utpal Bora, Chairman and Managing Director, Oil India Ltd has recently commissioned a 40 KW solar power plant in Sasoni Merbeel Eco-Tourism Project as part of its CSR initiative. The Sasoni Merbeel Eco Tourism Project is located in Dibrugarh. The oil major had sanctioned Rs 1 crore as financial assistance towards setting up the solar power plant, procurement of 13 pedal boats, a four-wheeler, two eco-friendly green vehicles, construction of jetty and a bio digester plant for sewage disposal,

50 MW SOLAR POWER PROJECT IN ANANTHAPURAM

Azure Power has bagged a 50 MW solar power project out of 100 MW under the National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase II Batch III. The project was recently put up for auction by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The project will be installed in the Ananthapuram Solar Park, which is being developed by the Solar Park Implementation Agency (SPIA), Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Ltd (APSPCL).

AZURE COMPLETES FIRST PHASE OF DELHI METRO ROOF TOP PROJECT

Azure Power has successfully completed the first phase of 14 MW solar rooftop project for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Sultanpur facility. The contract was awarded for the generation and supply of solar power to Delhi metro rail network at a tariff of INR 5.55/kWh ($0.083/kWh), with a total subsidy of INR 167.4 million ($2.5 million).

HINDUSTAN ZINC FORAYS INTO SOLAR ENERGY

Hindustan Zinc has announced its foray into solar energy business. The company plans to set up 115 MW of solar energy projects with an investment of Rs 630 crore in two phases. first phase comprise setting up 15 MW solar energy projects which would require an investment of Rs 80 crore and are likely to be commissioned by March 2017. The second phase would be of 100 MW requiring an investment of Rs 550 crore, which is likely to be commissioned by September 2017.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

Targeting a capacity of 100 GW by 2022, the sector offers more than $100 billion opportunity over the next seven years in India. Private sector players like Adani Group, Reliance Power, Azure Power and many others are leaving no stone unturned to grab the share of opportunities. The opportunities are available for solar power installations from most sectors of the economy including Airports, Ports, Metro Rail Stations and National Highways. The rooftop solar installation potential has so much to explore from the corporates to even households across the country. UN Environment Program’s (UNEP) ‘Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016’ report ranks India among the top ten countries investing in renewable energy. The opportunities are immense and with a proactive government is in the fast lane.