Lok Sabha Question No. 3768 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Draft Policy for Wind and Solar Hybrid Plants
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: RAM CHARITRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3768

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2016

## DRAFT POLICY FOR WIND AND SOLAR HYBRID PLANTS

## 3768.  SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD

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

- (a) whether the Government has released a draft policy for wind and solar hybrid plants;
- (b) if so, the salient features thereof;

(c) whether the draft policy is restrictive as it puts a cap on the size of these plants and also suggests  that  hybrid  capacity  addition  for  existing  plants  must  be  limited  to  the  sanctioned transmission capacity and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the draft policy is also not clear about the financial incentives for hybrid systems and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether a significant quantum of solar energy potential could be tapped in the wind farms with low turbine density which may require additional transmission capacity and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps being taken by the Government to achieve the targeted wind and solar hybrid plants capacity of 10 GW by 2022?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Yes Madam.

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued a draft policy for wind and solar hybrid plants  in  June  2016  with  an  objective  to  provide  a  framework  for  promotion  of  large  grid connected wind-solar hybrid system.

The salient features of the draft Policy are as under:

- (i) The goal of the policy is to reach wind-solar hybrid capacity of 10 GW by the year 2022

(ii) The  Policy  aims  to  encourage  new  technologies,  methods  and  way-outs  involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.

(iii) Different approaches suggested for integrating wind and solar depending upon the size & technology type.

- (iv) Implementation strategy proposed for existing and new plants.
- (v) Regulatory authorities to frame regulations for hybrid plants.
- (vi) Provisions to provide incentives to encourage hybrid plants.
- (vii) Provisions to provide support for technology development and development of standards.

(c): No Madam.  The Draft policy doesn't put cap on the size of hybrid plants. For existing wind/solar plants injection of hybrid power up to sanctioned transmission capacity is proposed to avoid requirement of transmission augmentation and levy of additional connectivity/transmission capacity charges.

(d): No  Madam.  The  Draft  policy  proposes  to  encourage  development  wind-solar  hybrid systems through various incentives including extending fiscal and financial incentives available to wind and solar power projects also to hybrid projects, low cost financing through IREDA and other financial institutions including multilateral banks, support for technology development and support for development of standards for hybrid systems.

(e): The initial results of a study undertaken to estimate the amount of solar power which can be integrated with existing wind farms  indicates that solar power capacity equivalent to around 50% of  wind  farm  power  capacity  could  be  integrated  without  any  requirement  of  additional transmission capacity.

(f): After  approval  of  the  draft  policy,  the  schemes  and  programmes  will  be  formulated within the policy framework to achieve the stipulated targets.

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