Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 05 2023

AsiaElec RENEWABLES AsiaElec

India’s second-largest refinery

thinks green

Rajasthan project first of 10 GW of renewables planned by 2040

INDIA INDIA’S Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd A press release issued by BPCL pointed to
(BPCL) will initiate a programme in conjunc- renewables installation goals by the company of
tion with the regional Government of Rajasthan “1 GW of renewable energy by 2025 and 10 GW
in north-west India towards setting up a 1-GW by 2040.”
renewable energy facility in the state. BPCL has also recently announced plans to
No immediate details on a suspected solar VS open electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at
wind breakdown in the eventual make-up of the more than 7,000 of its existing 20,000 petrol sta-
project were released, although analysts in the tions before 2028.
region point towards wind as bearing the brunt “BPCL’s Renewables business unit is steering
of final capacity generation given the current this voyage to help the global efforts to curb
energy mix. global warming, in line with the national cli-
Wind-generated power capacity across the mate commitments, and renewable energy has
state accounts for almost 18% of the total accord- a pivotal role to play in this endeavour” the same
ing to sources, with solar power contributing an missive announced.
additional 10%. Already the second-largest refinery in India
The deal is being seen as a major step forward with a capacity of 38mn tonnes by way of its
in implementing a wider renewables policy refineries in Mumbai, Kochi and Bina, BPCL
across India’s largest state. has further started to promote the development
Agreed between Shri Shelly Abraham, head of and use of biofuels in this regard, most notably
renewable energy at BPCL, and Shri Bhaskar A. in the form of ethanol blends in petrol produced
Sawant of the Indian Administrative Service and by the firm.
Principal Secretary at the Department of Energy Current figures indicate a 10% blend in BPCL
in the Government of Rajasthan, the project is petrol, with a target of 20% set by the middle of
part of BPCL’s net-zero by 2040 goal. the decade.™

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