(a) whether the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has launched projects to produce power through non conventional sources of energy to supplement power supply;
(b) if so, the projects under implementation and their capacities;
(c) whether the Government identified the areas for exclusive use of non-conventional sources of energy; and,
(d) if so, the details thereof and the quantity of additional energy produced during 2001-2002 and 2002-2003?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (SHRI M. KANNAPPAN)
(a)&(b): Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has been implementing a programme for generation of grid quality power from solar energy, wind energy, small hydro power, biomass power/ co-generation and urban and industrial wastes. Non-conventional energy based power projects of 3500 MW capacity have already been installed. A capacity of 1038 MW comprising small hydro power projects (540 MW); biomass power/bagasse co-generation projects (488 MW); and urban and industrial waste projects (10 MW), are under installation. In addition, the target for commercial wind power projects for the current year is 200 MW.
(c)&(d): About 80,000 villages in the country still remain to be electrified. Of these, about 18,000 villages are estimated to be in remote and difficult areas which cannot be electrified by extension of the conventional grid. It is proposed to electrify all such villages by the year 2012 through non-conventional energy sources. Electrification of 360 villages was carried out through non-conventional sources during 2001-02 based on solar photovoltaic projects (292); small hydro projects (51) and biomass gasifier projects (17).