Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
Solar Energy India

India will launch $5 billion of transmission line tenders in various phases starting this June, under its ambitious vision to generate targeted 175 gigawatts (GW) of power from renewable sources into the country’s grid by 2022, the Secretary of Ministry of Renewable Energy said in a statement.

“India has awarded tenders for 12 GW of transmission lines since December, while bids for a further 16 GW will be launched by the end of June. Another 38 GW will be bid out before March 2020,” he said. Building transmission lines for 66 GW worth projects would need an estimated investment of 430 billion rupees, the secretary for renewables, Anand Kumar, said.

India has awarded tenders for 12GW of transmission line in December last year and will be announcing tenders for another 16GW transmission line by June 2019. Another 38 GW will be open for bid before March 2020, he said. He also said building lines for 66GW worth projects will require an estimated investment of 430 billion rupees.

India which is the third largest emitter of harmful greenhouse gases is trying to reduce its greenhouse gas emission and for this the government is taking various measures like focusing on solar power and wind power and pushing for the use of electric vehicles.

India has pledged to cut carbon emissions and to have clean energy account for at least 40% of its installed capacity by 2030, up from current 21.4%.

India has a geographic advantage over other nations as it receives more sunlight and to utilize this the Narendra Modi government has increased its focus on renewable sources of power generation, setting a target of 100GW solar power generation and 60GW of power through Wind.

Roadblocks and Red-Tapism-

The government may have set ambitious targets of power generation and carbon emission cuts but most of the analysts believe that it won’t to able to meet its goals due to red-tapism and various other roadblocks such as policy issues, cancellations of auctions of tenders, rights to land use and tariffs.

Earlier, the government cancelled the tenders with a capacity of about 5GW citing that the bid price was too high.

To this Anand Kumar said “The mandate of the government is that we should buy power at a competitive price which is affordable.” The government will be making efforts to reduce the roadblocks and red-tapism and will make sure that it meets its set targets.

Earlier in 2017, the government changed rules regarding the awarding of renewable energy projects which has led to more competition, lower prices and greater acceptance of renewable energy. “Earlier tariffs were about ₹6.17 per unit and now we are getting bids as low as ₹2.44 a unit,” Kumar said, adding that India was ahead of its internal target to award 135 GW of renewable energy projects by March 2019.

“Projects of 103 GW have been installed or are under implementation, and over 37 GW are under various stages of bidding,” Kumar said.

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