Articles
Solar Magazine India
by Renewable Watch renewable energy news(All that you want to know about the solar sector, from
the leading magazine in India.) Karnataka has witnessed an unprecedented growth
in renewable energy installations over the past few years, fueled by the state
government’s initiatives for providing 24×7 power to all and improving
energy security in the long run. Karnataka has immense renewable energy
potential and the state government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring
maximum utilization of these resources. According to Karnataka Renewable Energy
Development Limited (KREDL), around 9,029.89 MW of renewable energy capacity in
the state has been commissioned as of January 2018, accounting for 41.74 per
cent of its total installed power capacity. (For more updates on the solar
sector, read the leading magazine in India).
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC)
has recently released draft regulations to increase the solar renewable
purchase obligation (RPO) for discoms, as per the Fifth Amendment to the KERC
(Procurement of Energy from Renewable Sources) Regulations, 2017. These
regulations propose an increase in the solar RPO from 1.25 per cent to 3.5 per
cent for 2017-18 and from 1.75 per cent to 6.75 per cent for 2018-19. Even with
solar costs declining, this would mean an increase in tariff for consumers, as
all the discoms have sought tariff hikes ranging from 82 paise to 162 paise per
unit, in their tariff petitions for the year 2018-19. The regulations proposed
no change in the non-solar RPO.
Karnataka’s Draft Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy
2014-20, covering all renewable energy sources accept solar, targets a minimum
renewable energy capacity addition of 4,000 MW during the period. It also aims
to attract private sector investments on a larger scale. The policy encourages
the repowering of old wind power plants and the hybridization of solar and
wind. In addition, it has also proposed to set up a centralized monitoring cell
for better coordination and improved planning of renewable energy projects.
Under the policy, a green energy fund called the Akshaya Shakthi Nidhi will be
set up to facilitate renewable energy financing and energy conservation in the
state by levying a green energy cess on electricity supplied to industrial and
commercial establishments. As per the policy, the wheeling, banking, reactive
and transmission charges will be applicable as determined by KERC from time to
time.
Karnataka is also one of the first few states in India to
introduce a specific policy for electric vehicles. The Karnataka Electric
Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy, 2017 directs discoms to permit the use of
renewable energy at low connection costs and zero wheeling charges for powering
electric vehicle charging stations. This is expected to further drive renewable
energy uptake in the state.
(For regular updates, subscribe to solar magazine in India)
Karnataka was the first state to introduce a solar energy policy and implement
a utility-scale solar project in the country. It has come a long way since then
with considerable capacity additions, owing to the state government’s
commitment to meet the aggressive renewable energy targets, and ensure energy
security for all consumers. While the state is aggressively expanding its solar
power capacity, the other resources need greater attention. The draft renewable
energy policy of 2014 has still not been approved, and discoms are shying away
from signing new wind PPAs. The state is yet to adopt the competitive bidding
process for project allocation in the wind power segment. (Read more about
solar sector from the leading magazine in India.)
Read it :https://renewablewatch.in/2018/02/27/solar-tilt/
Sponsor Ads
About Renewable Watch 
renewable energy news
0 connections, 0 recommendations, 9 honor points.Joined APSense since, April 19th, 2018, From Delhi, India.
Created on Apr 19th 2018 04:15. Viewed 319 times.
