Lok Sabha Question No. 4235 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Renewable Energy Share of Jharkhand
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4235

ANSWERED ON 26/03/2025

## RENEWABLE ENERGY SHARE OF JHARKHAND

## 4235. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM

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

- (a) whether it is true that renewable energy accounts for only around 12 per cent of Jharkhand's total power capacity compared to the national average of approximately 46 per cent;
- (b) if so, the steps being taken to bridge this gap and enhance Jharkhand's renewable energy capacity; and
- (c) the key challenges faced in achieving a higher renewable share in Jharkhand's energy mix and the measures being taken to address these challenges?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) installed capacity report for the month of February, 2025, the total electricity capacity in Jharkhand is 3 GW and the total renewable energy capacity is 0.4 GW which is 13.33% of the State's total power capacity. The total electricity capacity in the country is  470.45 GW and the total renewable energy capacity is 214.68 GW which is 45.63% of the total capacity.
- (b)  The  Government  of  India  has  taken  several  steps  and  initiatives  to  promote  and  accelerate renewable energy capacity in the country, including the state of Jharkhand, to realise the target of 500 GW non-fossil power capacity by 2030, as given at Annexure.

Further, as per the information received from the State of Jharkhand, the State has also taken various initiatives to enhance its renewable energy capacity. These include, inter-alia, the following:

- i. The State has come up with 'Jharkhand State Solar Policy 2022', in which the State has set a target for 4,000 MW capacity addition and also provided various incentives and policy provisions to encourage developers to install solar capacity in the State.
- ii. The State Nodal Agency Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) is:
- developing a single window portal for simplifying the application and approval process for renewable energy project development in the State.
- developing a 600 MW floating solar project on Chandil Dam reservoir area.
- developing 1,000 'Solar Grams' in Jharkhand with potential of 400 MW distributed solar capacity addition.
- has floated EOI for the development of solar projects in the State by private developers. In this  process,  a  large  number  of  developers  participated  and  showed  interest  in  developing nearly 850 MW capacity.

iii. SECI is developing a 100 MW floating solar project on Getalsud dam in the State, in which all the approval process has been completed and PPA has been signed between SECI and JBVNL.

(c) As per the information received from the State of Jharkhand, availability of land for renewable energy project development is one of the major challenges in the State. Due to the applicability of the Chota  Nagpur  Act  (CNT),  1908,  and  the  Santhal  Parganas  Tenancy  (SPT)  Act,  1876  has  been  a challenge  for  developers  to  find  suitable  large  parcels  of  land  for  Renewable  Energy  project development.

The lack of streamlining of project approval and clearance processes for renewable energy project development in the State, results in a lack of interest from renewable energy developers for developing projects in the State.

To  remove  these  challenges  and  to  make  a  conducive  investment  for  renewable  energy  project development in the State, the State Nodal Agency is developing a single window portal for providing timely approval and clearance to Renewable Energy developers. The State is also in the process of developing a land bank to aggregate both government and private land in the State for renewable energy project development.

*****

## Annexure referred to in reply of part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4235 to be answered on 26.03.2025

The  Government  of  India  has  taken  several  steps  and  initiatives  to  promote  and  accelerate renewable  energy  capacity  in  the  country,  including  the  state  of  Jharkhand,  to  realize  the commitment  of  500  GW  non-fossil  energy  capacity  by  2030.    These  include,  inter-alia,  the following:

- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued Bidding Trajectory for issuance of RE power procurement bids of 50 GW/annum by Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) [REIAs: Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), NTPC Limited, NHPC Limited, SJVN Limited] from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been permitted up to 100 percent under the automatic route.
- Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges have been waived for inter-state sale of solar and  wind  power  for  projects  to  be  commissioned  by  30th  June  2025,  for  Green  Hydrogen Projects till December 2030 and for offshore wind projects till December 2032.
- To boost  RE  consumption,  Renewable  Purchase  Obligation  (RPO)  followed  by  Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) trajectory has been notified till 2029-30. The RCO which is applicable to all designated consumers under the Energy Conservation Act 2001 will attract penalties  on  non-compliance.  RCO  also  includes  specified  quantum  of  consumption  from Decentralized Renewable Energy sources.
- Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments has been set up.
- Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar, Wind, Wind-Solar Hybrid and Firm & Dispatchable RE (FDRE) projects have been issued.
- Schemes  such  as  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Urja  Suraksha  evam  Utthaan  Mahabhiyan  (PMKUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, New Solar Power Scheme (for Tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan  Mantri  Janjati  Adivasi  Nyaya  Maha  Abhiyan  (PM  JANMAN)  and  Dharti  Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects have been launched.
- Scheme for setting up of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power projects is being implemented to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale.
- Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity has been funded under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.
- Electricity  (Rights  of  Consumers)  Rules,  2020  has  been  issued  for  net-metering  up  to  five hundred Kilowatt or up to the electrical sanctioned load, whichever is lower.
- 'National Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects, 2023' has been issued.
- 'Strategy for Establishments of Offshore Wind Energy Projects' has been issued indicating a bidding trajectory of 37 GW by 2030 and various business models for project development.
- The Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2023 have been notified vide Ministry of External Affairs notification dated 19th December 2023, to regulate the grant of lease of offshore areas for development of offshore wind energy projects.
- Standard  &  Labelling (S&L)  programs  for Solar  Photovoltaic  modules  and  Grid-connected Solar Inverters have been launched.
- To augment transmission infrastructure needed for steep RE trajectory, transmission plan has been prepared till 2030.
- 'The Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and related matters) Rules (LPS rules) have been notified.
- Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022, has been notified on 06 th June 2022 with objective of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable green energy for all. Green Energy Open Access is allowed to any consumer with  contract  demand  of  100  kW  or  above  through  single  or  multiple  single  connection aggregating Hundred kW or more located in same electricity division of a distribution licensee.
- Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) has been launched to facilitate sale of Renewable Energy Power through exchanges.
- 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.