Wind-Solar Hybrid Park: GoI introduces new Scheme

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed a new scheme to develop Wind-Solar Hybrid Parks. The scheme aims to address the key issues faced by renewable energy projects.

Key Features of the Scheme

The Wind-Solar Hybrid park will be a concentrated zone of power projects. It will provide an area with the required infrastructure. This will include evacuation facilities as well. The evacuation areas are important to minimise the risks of the projects. The sites to develop the wind-solar hybrid parks are to be selected by National Institute of wind Energy

About the parks

The capacity of each park is expected to be 500 MW and more. However, there are no restrictions to develop lower capacity park. In case of lower capacity parks, the capacity of the park should not be less than 50 MW.

Background

Wind energy and Solar Energy are emerging as alternative sources of energy to conventional energy sources in India. The estimated wind power potential of India is 695 GW and that of solar power is 749 GW. Wind power is mainly concentrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

Benefits

The park will help to fasten the development of wind power in the country. The scheme will help to minimise uncertainties faced by the developer such as clearances, land, transmission, etc. The development of wind power is scarce as it requires scattered land and thus the transmission cost is high. The scheme will help the DISCOMs to fulfil their non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).

What are RPO?

It is a mechanism under which the Open Access consumers, Discoms and Captive power producers are obliged to purchase certain quantity of power from renewable sources. They are categoried as solar RPO and Non-solar RPO.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020