Lok Sabha Question No. 4129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-10
Subject: Research Accomplishments
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: M. I. SHANAVAS, ANJU BALA, B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4129

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2017

## RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS

4129. SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA: SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the country's research and development accomplishments of the country in renewable  energy  do  not  gain  the  recognition  they  deserve  and  if  so,  the  initiatives  made  by  the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government has initiated an exercise for developing a compendium of India's research accomplishments in renewable energy area and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has sought inputs from all individuals, institutions and organizations who have contributed in renewable energy research, in order to ensure that the information they are compiling is exhaustive and representative of the research accomplishments of the country and if so, the details thereof and number of areas proposed to be  covered under the above database;
- (d) whether the Government is considering an ambitious plan to make Varanasi,  a 'clean electricity city' where only renewable energy would be used and if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard till date; and
- (e) whether  the  urban  development,  sanitation  and  solid  waste  management  programmes  have  been completed in Varanasi in a bid to reduce the carbon footprints?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): The  Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  (MNRE)  has  a  scheme  'Research, Development,  and  Demonstration  (RD&D)'  for  funding  RD&D  projects  to  various  academic/research institutions,  industry  in  the  areas  of  solar,  wind,  biogas,  biofuel,  small  hydro  power,  hydrogen  and  fuel cells, geothermal, etc. for technology development and demonstration leading to commercialization. During the 12th Plan Period, 112 projects were sanctioned/ implemented and a total amount of Rs.568 crore was spent on RD&D.

As part of review of achievements of RD&D projects implemented in 12th Plan Period, MNRE decided to  interact  with  experts,  project  implementers,  researchers,  related  industry  and  stakeholders  sharing  the outcomes of projects and seeking their inputs  for preparing an action plan for  technology development for various  applications  for  13th  Plan  Period.  A  compendium  of  RD&D  achievements  will  be  prepared  for appraisal of a panel of experts to be organized in September 2017. The review includes RD&D projects in areas of solar energy, wind energy, bio-energy, small hydro-power, hydrogen and fuel cells.

In addition, the MNRE in July 2017 launched a scheme for awards for innovation in new and renewable energy. Nominations are being invited for the same.  The MNRE is in the process of bringing out a policy integrating technology development with innovation.

(d): Interactions have been initiated with concerned stakeholders recently to prepare a  plan for making Varanasi as first Indian city powered by 100% renewable energy.

(e): The  Urban  Development,  Sanitation  and  Solid  Waste  Management  Programme  works  are  in progress. Till now the following works have been done in Varanasi to reduce the Carbon footprints:

- A 600 Ton Per Day (TPD) capacity waste to compost plant has been installed and is functional.
- A one TPD flower waste to compost plant has been installed and is functional.
- A 5TPD waste to energy plant based on biomethanation has been installed and is functional.
- 36077 Street light points of Sodium lights and florescent tube lights are being replaced with LED based lights. 29762 points have been changed and work is in progress for the rest.This change has reduced the burden of electricity bill by approximately 41% and also the carbon footprints.