Question : Lack of Investment in Wind EnergyProjects

(a) whether the Government is aware that there is a lack of investment in wind energy projects due to high costs and non-payment of dues to renewable energy developers;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to attract investors and developers who are involved in wind energy projects;
(d) whether less than 2 GW of wind energy capacity was added during the last two years and
if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to achieve its target of 60 GW of wind energy capacity by 2022 and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (c) During the year 2019-20 (up to 29.2.2020) capacity of 2043 MW was added in the country as against, 1480 MW during the previous financial year 2018-19.
Government have received representations regarding non-payment of dues to renewable energy developers and following steps have been taken:
i. State Governments have been requested to pay outstanding dues to the renewable energy developers.
ii. Government have facilitated providing loans to various State DISCOMs through Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. to clear outstanding dues to renewable energy developers.
iii. In order to ensure timely payments to renewable energy developers, the Government has already issued orders regarding opening and maintaining of adequate Letter(s) of Credit (LC) as Payment Security Mechanism under Power Purchase Agreements by Distribution Licensees.
Further, in order to attract the investors and developers, the Government has instructed Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd and NTPC Ltd. not to prescribe upper cap in future bids for wind and solar power projects.
(d) The installed capacity of wind power in the country during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 (as on 29.02.2020) are 1865 MW, 1480 MW and 2043 MW respectively.

(e) The Government has set a target of installing 60,000 MW of wind power capacity to be commissioned by December 2022, out of which capacity of 37,669 MW has already been commissioned (as on 29.02.2020), with 9236 MW of projects under implementation and 1200 MW under bidding.
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