policy to move away early from the ongoing over-reliance on the conventional technology power sources? But sadly, there seems no focus on such a holistic and strategic policy initiatives in the country, as against the ongoing preference for empty rhetoric and ad-hoc measures without much considerations of long term consequences.Ĭan we hope there will be a paradigm shift soon in the Union govt. If that is so, the most troubling question should be as to why there is still a preference for conventional technology power projects, such as coal, hydro and nuclear power projects, which will most probably have much higher per unit electricity cost.Ī diligently prepared National Energy Policy should be able to deliberate on a number of such issues, including the much needed Demand Side Management (DSM). Spring Energy won 100 megawatts at Rs 3.99 per kilowatt-hour, while O2 Power secured 60 megawatts at Rs 4.27 per kilowatt-hour."Īt this low per unit rate of supplying round-the-clock electricity, these tenders prices seem to be less than the average cost of per unit electricity being charged by most DISCOMs. What is also unfortunate fact about almost all of such outlooks/ surveys/ projections into future is the abject failure to provide adequate focus to the much needed Demand Side Management (DSM).Ī number of recent Round-The-Clock Renewable Power tenders should indicate an unambiguous shift needed in our country's policy to adopt more of energy storage battery projects so as to make optimal usage of the humongous potential for RE in the country, and to take a resolute policy initiative to move way from conventional technology power sources much earlier than the stated target year of 2070, or even before 2050, which will only be in the true interest of our people.What should be of huge interest in some of these related tenders is a news report which states that: "Anaya Renewables secured rights to develop 500 megawatts and 300 megawatts capacity at a tariff rate of Rs 4.10 per kilowatt-hour. The World Energy Outlook 2023 by IEA indicates that "The energy world remains fragile but has effective ways to improve energy security and tackle emissions". And the ever increasing threats from Climate Change, to which the conventional technology power sources are recognised as the predominant causes, have always been a global challenge. There is probably not a single credible report to indicate that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE)which is a measure of the average net present cost of electricity generation for a generator over its lifetime, from any of the conventional technology power sources in India is even comparable to that from REs especially if all the direct and indirect costs, including the social and environmental costs, are objectively considered. Whereas, it is somewhat comforting to know that the Union government seem to have finally appreciated the humongous potential in REs to possibly address the calamitous threats of Climate Change, it is also a totally unanswered but a credible question to energy sector observers in India, why the country is still obsessed with throwing a lot of our financial and natural resources on conventional technology power sources such as coal, gas, nuclear and dam based hydel power. A recent statement attributed to R K Singh, Union Minister for Power and NRE - that renewable energy sources can meet 65% of world's power supply, 90% by 2050 - can be said to have not only surprised many in India, but also has thrown up many questions from the true welfare perspective of our country.
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