Lok Sabha Question No. 436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Exploring Solar and Wind Energy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Arun Govil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 436

ANSWERED ON 27/11/2024

## EXPLORING SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY

## 436. SHRI ARUN GOVIL SHRI LUMBA RAM

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

- (a) the efforts made by the Government to explore the possibilities of solar and wind energy in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan including their Sirohi, Jalore, Meerut and Hapur districts
- (b) the total megawatt of electricity being produced from solar and wind energy at present in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh; and
- (c) the time by which an affordable option of hundred percent solar and wind energy is likely to be made available in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan including the said districts as an outcome of these efforts?

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

- (a)   In line with the Hon'ble Prime Minister's announcement at COP26, Government is working towards achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.  The Government of India has taken several steps and initiatives as given in Annexure to promote and accelerate renewable energy capacity in the country, including in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to realize the commitment of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
- (b)   As on 31.10.2024, in the State of Rajasthan 5195.82 MW of wind energy capacity and 24553.13 MW of solar energy capacity has been installed and in the State of Uttar Pradesh 3286.98 MW of solar energy capacity has been installed.
- (c)  The  tariff  of  solar  and  wind  power  projects  discovered  through  transparent  bidding  process  is competitive and affordable, which are being procured by various DISCOMs in different States.  Solar and wind both being infirm (not available 24 hours a day) would always require storage and base load management.  As per Renewable Purchase Obligation, all States are required to meet 43.33% of their total consumption by renewable energy by 2030.

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

- Notification of trajectory for RE power bids of 50 GW/annum to be issued by Renewable Energy Implementation  Agencies  [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.
- 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 (PM-KUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, National Green Hydrogen Mission, have been launched.
- Scheme for setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks 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.
- Uniform Renewable Energy Tariff (URET) has been introduced through which a uniform tariff will be provided to the consumer by averaging tariffs of individual RE projects of similar type awarded via tariff based competitive bidding process. Implementation of URET for 'Solar Power Central Pool' and 'Solar-Wind Hybrid Central Pool' from 15 th February 2024 has been notified.
- 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.

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