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The potential of renewable energy in the country from wind, small hydro and biomass has been estimated at around 80,000 MW, against which around 5500 MW grid interactive renewable power installed capacity has been set up, as on 31.12.2004. Informing Rajya Sabha in a written reply today, the Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources Shri Vilas Muttemwar said that this include around 2980 MW from wind, 1690 MW from small hydro and 2.80 MW solar photovoltaic.
Shri Muttemwar further informed that during the first two years of the 10th Plan, 10 percentage points of grid interactive power installed capacity has come from wind, while small hydro power have contributed 2 per cent. Apart from this, 3 percentage points have come from bio energy thereby making it a total of 15 percentage points of grid interactive renewable power installed capacity in the country. The rate of deployment of these renewable technologies is highly satisfactory when compared with the aim of deploying 10% of additional grid interactive power installed capacity from renewable sources during 10th & 11th Plan periods.
The Minister emphasized that conventional energy, such as coal, oil and natural gas, is finite. Around 289 million metric ton of coal, 3.44 million ton of oil, 11379 million cubic meter of natural gas and 1.99 million ton of naphtha were utilized for generation of power during 2003-04. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and small hydro are supplementing the country’s energy needs in furtherance of the aim of energy security.
Financial incentives apart from fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation, relief in taxes and duties and term loans from financial institutions are being provided apart from preferential tariff to grid interactive renewable power being available in several potential states. Further, Shri Muttemwar informed that SPV systems have been found to be competitive for small loads like home lighting systems etc. in remote applications, where grid extension is either not cost-effective or feasible. Over 25,000 villages have already been identified as remote where systems are being deployed alongwith other renewable energy technologies. Ministry is also setting up some test projects in selected remote villages to try out concept of providing energy for entire needs of cooking, lighting and motive through the biomass route in conjunction or otherwise with micro hydel power and other renewable technologies.
rcj/mnes-capacity as on 31-12-04
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