THE MINISTER OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY(DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)
(a)&(b): Ministry through the Centre for Wind Energy Technology has taken up a wind
resource assessment programme to assess wind power potential in the country including
Uttarakhand. As a result of this exercise, 233 wind potential locations have been identified
so far. The state-wise break-up of wind potential locations is given at Annexure-A.
Regarding solar energy, the daily average solar radiation varies from 4-7 kwh per sq. met.
depending upon the location in the country. However, no specific assessment study has been
done for hilly regions so far.
(c) & (d): No, Madam. The cost of electricity per unit from solar energy is quite high as
compared to conventional sources. As per the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, the
tariff for 2010-11 for Solar Photovoltaics Power Projects is Rs. 17.91 per unit and that for S
olar thermal projects is Rs. 15.31 per unit. The cost of generation of electricity from wind
power projects varies from Rs. 2.75 to Rs. 3.50 per unit depending upon site, capital cost,
debt-equity ratio, and interest rate etc.
(e)&(f): Government is promoting commercial grid connected wind power projects
through private sector investment in wind potential states by providing fiscal incentives,
loan from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and other financial institutions.
Technical support including detailed wind resource assessment to identify further potential
sites, is provided by the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), Chennai. This apart,
preferential tariff is being provided to increase wind energy investment in the potential
States. Government has recently announced a generation based incentive (GBI) under which
Rs. 0.50 per unit generated from wind power projects is provided to the projects which do
not avail accelerated depreciation benefit.
The Government has recently announced Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which provides a
policy framework to support promotion and development of grid connected solar power projects
and also off-grid solar applications across the country including hilly regions. The
achievements so far under SPV programme are given at Annexure-B
