Question : Draft Policy for Wind and Solar Hybrid Plants

(a) whether the Government has released a draft policy for wind and solar hybrid plants;
(b) if so, the salient features thereof;
(c) whether the draft policy is restrictive as it puts a cap on the size of these plants and also suggests that hybrid capacity addition for existing plants must be limited to the sanctioned transmission capacity and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the draft policy is also not clear about the financial incentives for hybrid systems and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether a significant quantum of solar energy potential could be tapped in the wind farms with low turbine density which may require additional transmission capacity and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the steps being taken by the Government to achieve the targeted wind and solar hybrid plants capacity of 10 GW by 2022?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL, NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY & MINES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) & (b): Yes Madam.
Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued a draft policy for wind and solar hybrid plants in June 2016 with an objective to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar hybrid system.
The salient features of the draft Policy are as under:
(i) The goal of the policy is to reach wind-solar hybrid capacity of 10 GW by the year 2022
(ii) The Policy aims to encourage new technologies, methods and way-outs involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.
(iii) Different approaches suggested for integrating wind and solar depending upon the size & technology type.
(iv) Implementation strategy proposed for existing and new plants.
(v) Regulatory authorities to frame regulations for hybrid plants.
(vi) Provisions to provide incentives to encourage hybrid plants.
(vii) Provisions to provide support for technology development and development of standards.


(c): No Madam. The Draft policy doesn’t put cap on the size of hybrid plants. For existing wind/solar plants injection of hybrid power up to sanctioned transmission capacity is proposed to avoid requirement of transmission augmentation and levy of additional connectivity/transmission capacity charges.
(d): No Madam. The Draft policy proposes to encourage development wind-solar hybrid systems through various incentives including extending fiscal and financial incentives available to wind and solar power projects also to hybrid projects, low cost financing through IREDA and other financial institutions including multilateral banks, support for technology development and support for development of standards for hybrid systems.
(e): The initial results of a study undertaken to estimate the amount of solar power which can be integrated with existing wind farms indicates that solar power capacity equivalent to around 50% of wind farm power capacity could be integrated without any requirement of additional transmission capacity.
(f): After approval of the draft policy, the schemes and programmes will be formulated within the policy framework to achieve the stipulated targets.
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