Lok Sabha Question No. 2730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Potential of Wind Energy in Ladakh
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2730

ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022

## POTENTIAL OF WIND ENERGY IN LADAKH

## 2730. SHRI JAMYANG TSERING NAMGYAL

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

- (a) the present capacity of wind energy production along with per unit cost of power generation and its supply in Union Territory of Ladakh;
- (b) whether the Government has worked out any mechanism to explore the total potential of wind energy in Ladakh;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the steps taken/being taken so far to boost this environment friendly resource to reduce per unit power generation cost;
- (e) whether the Government has any plan/project to harness the wind energy in near future in Ladakh; and
- (f)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) No grid-connected wind power projects have been installed so far in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh.
- (b) & (c) Based on mesoscale modelling, the preliminary estimated wind energy potential of UT  of  Ladakh  is  around  100  GW,  which  needs  to  be  validated  through  ground  based measurements. National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has identified 7 locations in UT of Ladakh  for  carrying  out  wind  resource  assessment.  A  wind  monitoring  station  has  been commissioned  at  one  location,  i.e.  at  Shahshithang,  Kargil.  In  addition,  NIWE  has  also commissioned a Light Detection & Ranging device (LiDAR) at Debring, Ladakh for wind resource measurements.
- (d) The Government has taken several steps to promote renewable energy, including wind energy, in the country. These include:
-  permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route,
-  waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025,
-  declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2022,
-  setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis,
-  laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity for evacuation of renewable power,
-  setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments,
-  Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.
-  Government has issued orders that power shall be dispatched against Letter of Credit (LC) or advance payment to ensure timely payment by distribution licensees to RE generators.
-  Conducting skill development programmes to create a pool of skilled manpower for implementation, operation and maintenance of RE projects.

In addition to the above, the following steps have been taken specifically for promoting wind energy:

-  Concessional custom duty exemption on certain components required for manufacturing of wind electric generators.
-  Generation Based Incentive (GBI) is being provided to wind projects commissioned on or before 31 March 2017.
-  Technical support including wind resource assessment and identification of potential sites through the National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai.

(e) & (f) Government has planned 10 GW of renewable energy projects, including solar and wind energy, in UT of Ladakh.

*****