(a) whether the soaring oil prices have refocused the need to reduce the dependency of world economy on fossil fuel;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to search for alternatives of fossil fuels; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) to (d) In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s announcement at the recently concluded CoP26, the Government is committed to achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity by the year 2030 from non-fossil fuel sources including Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydro. This will reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has taken several steps to promote renewable energy sources in the Country. These include:
• Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route,
• Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025,
• Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity for evacuation of renewable power,
• Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2022,
• Setting up of RE parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis,
• Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PMKUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12000 MW CPSU Scheme Phase II, etc,
• Notification of standards for deployment of solar photovoltaic system/devices,
• Setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments,
• Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.
• Government has issued orders that power shall be dispatched against Letter of Credit (LC) or advance payment to ensure timely payment by distribution licensees to RE generators.
• Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) launched to facilitate procurement of RE power through power exchange in the country.
In addition, steps taken by other Ministries to reduce dependency on fossil fuels are given below:
(i) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) is implementing programmes through Oil Marketing Companies for blending of ethanol with petrol and biodiesel with diesel. MoPNG is also implementing Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative to promote use of compressed bio-gas (CBG) in the transportation sector.
(ii) Department of Heavy Industries is providing incentives for adoption of E-Vehicles.
(iii) Ministry of Power has set-up a National Mission on use of biomass in coal based thermal power plants.
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