Page 44 - CV April-May 2019 issue

‘ ‘

INDIA SEEKS

BID FOR

$5 BILLION

IN TRANSMISSION

LINES TO FUEL

RENEWABLES

GROWTH
"Earlier tariffs were about 6.17 rupees per ’’

ndia will launch $5 billion of transmission- 2022. The other 15 GW would come from prices and greater acceptance of renewable
line tenders in phases, beginning in June, biomass and hydropower. energy.
Ito route a targeted 175 gigawatts (GW) of
power from renewable sources into the Research analysts have been sceptical
country's grid by 2022, the secretary at the about India meeting its ambitious targets. unit and now we are getting bids as low as
ministry of renewable energy said. 2.44 rupees a unit," Kumar said, adding that
Consultancy firm WoodMac and research India was ahead of its internal target to
India, the world's third-largest emitter of firm CRISIL have said India would not meet award 135 GW of renewable energy projects
greenhouse gases, has pledged to cut its renewable energy target due to policy by March 2019.
emissions and have clean energy account issues, including cancellations of auctions of
for at least 40 percent of its installed tenders, rights to land use and tariffs. "Projects of 103 GW hav been installed or
capacity by 2030, up from 21.4 percent now, are under implementation, and over 37 GW
while looking to manage its energy appetite India has cancelled tenders for renewable are under various stages of bidding," he
as its population becomes more prosperous. energy projects with a capacity of at least 5 said, adding that bidding for the targeted
GW, saying the bid prices were too high. renewable energy addition would be
The renewable energy targets would require Solar and wind energy developers have also completed by March 2020.
investment in feeder lines and infrastructure complained about the difficulty of leasing
upgrades. land and duties on solar equipment imports. A renewable energy project typically takes
India has awarded tenders for 12 GW of two years to build. Kumar expressed
transmission lines since December, while But Kumar says the government must be confidence that bidding for the remaining
bids for a further 16 GW will be launched by careful not to buy power at any cost. projects would be finished by March 2020
the end of June. Another 38 GW will be bid and help India meet its 2022 target.
out before March 2020, he said. "The mandate of the government is that we
should buy power at a competitive price A shift to renewables could mean lower use
Building transmission lines for 66 GW worth which is affordable," he said. of coal and diesel-fuelled power.
projects would need an estimated The government is determine to overcome
investment of 430 billion rupees, the roadblocks, and is in talks with states to None of India's private power producers
secretary for renewables, Anand Kumar, ensure easy land availability. It has asked plans to invest in new coal-fired power plants
said. India, which receives twice as much distribution companies to borrow from the in at least the next five years, two industry
sunshine as European countries, wants to government-run Indian Renewable Energy sources told Reuters. Almost all of India's
make solar central to its renewable Development Agency to ensure timely new capacity addition is expected to come
expansion as part of the fight against climate payments to power producers. from renewable energy.
change.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government Modi's government changed rules for the Thermal power plants currently account for
has set a goal to raise solar power awarding of renewable energy projects in about three-quarters of overall generation
generation to 100 GW and wind to 60 GW by 2017, leading to higher competition, lower and about two-thirds of its installed capacity.

42 / CONSTRUCTION VISION / May June 2019