Private developers participation based on techno-economic viability of the project
Tenders to set up 20,000 MW wind power projects have been invited by various central and state agencies in the country, out of which 14,332 MW projects have been awarded, Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R. K. Singh said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 29 July 2021.
The wind resource is highly site specific and its commercially exploitable potential is available only in seven States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Karnataka.
Wind power projects are set up by private developers based on techno-economic viability of the project, said Singh.
Also, the Government has put in place a system of Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, and only equipment manufactured by those in the approved list is allowed for Wind Energy Projects, he said.
More than 70% percent of the equipment used by the industry are manufactured in India.
He also listed several steps taken by the Government to promote renewable energy, including wind energy.
These include:
Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% 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 30 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.
The 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 the 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.
A cumulative of 39,486 MW capacity of wind power projects have been installed in the country, as on 30 June 2021, Singh said. #tenders #solar #wind #renewables #projects #investment /fiinews.com
