Lok Sabha Question No. 1142 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-08
Subject: Development of Wind Energy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1142

ANSWERED ON 08/02/2024

## DEVELOPMENT OF WIND ENERGY

1142. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS

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

- (a) whether any steps have been taken by the Government for the development of wind energy in Maharashtra;
- (b) if so, whether Wardha and Amravati have been included for the same, as these two districts have highest potential for the development of wind energy; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (c) Wind power projects in the country are set up mostly by private sector developers based on techno economic viability of the project at high wind potential sites. Government of India  has  taken  several  steps  to  promote  renewable  energy,  including  wind  energy  in  the country, including in Wardha and Amravati district of Maharashtra. These, inter alia, 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,
- Notification  of  minimum  share  of  consumption  of  non-fossil  sources  (renewable energy),  including  separate  share  for  wind  energy  by  designated  consumers  as  a percentage of their total share of energy consumption under Energy Conservation Act, 2001 up to the FY 2029-30,
- 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,
- Notification  of  Promoting  Renewable  Energy  through  Green  Energy  Open  Access Rules 2022,
- Notification of Late Payment Surcharge and related matters Rules 2022.
- Concessional custom duty exemption on certain components required for manufacturing of wind electric generators,
- Generation Based Incentive (GBI) is being provided to the wind projects commissioned on or before 31 March 2017,
- Issuance of 'National Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects - 2023',
- Technical support including wind resource assessment and identification of potential sites through the National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai.

In addition, the following steps have, inter alia , been taken by Government of Maharashtra to promote renewable energy, including wind energy in the state of Maharashtra:

- Declared Renewable Policy- 2020 with target of installation of 2500 MW wind power project. The highlights of the policy are as under;
- i. Encouragement to Repowering & hybridization
- ii. Waiver of Electricity Duty (ED) for 10 years for captive wind power projects.
- iii. Non-agricultural (NA) taxes exemption for wind power projects.
- Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) carried out wind resources study on following locations in Wardha and Amravati districts:

|   S.N. | Village   | Taluka      | District   |
|--------|-----------|-------------|------------|
|      1 | Motha     | Chikhaldara | Amravati   |
|      2 | Makhala   | Chikhaldara | Amravati   |
|      3 | Lawada    | Chikhaldara | Amravati   |
|      4 | Ranigaon  | Dharani     | Amravati   |
|      5 | Bhankheda | Amravati    | Amravati   |
|      6 | Virgaon   | Tivasa      | Amravati   |
|      7 | Moi       | Asthi       | Wardha     |
|      8 | Garpith   | Karanja     | Wardha     |

MEDA signed MoU with MAHAGENCO for development of wind-solar hybrid projects at lands owned by MEDA in Amaravati district.

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