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Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Industrial policy to align with renewable vision: Min
Patna: Industries minister Nitish Mishra on Saturday said the forthcoming Bihar Industrial Policy-2025 would be aligned with the state's energy vision to drive sustainable growth. Speaking at the launch of the Bihar Renewable Energy Policy 2025 and Pumped Storage Project Policy 2025, Mishra urged investors to look beyond perceptions. "Do not see Bihar through what you hear. See it with your own eyes," he said. "Bihar is a sunshine state where people worship the Sun god during the pious Chhath festival," he said, adding that both the new energy policies and the upcoming industrial policy would play a pivotal role in building a "Viksit Bihar", contributing to a "Viksit Bharat". Highlighting the state's renewable potential, Mishra said, "We received Rs 90,000 crore worth of investment proposals in the renewable energy sector alone out of a total of Rs 1.81 lakh crore during the Dec 2024 investors' meet." He also cited an integrated manufacturing cluster coming up on 1,700 acres in Gaya to boost both conventional and non-conventional sectors. A short film on the new policies was screened, followed by a presentation by energy secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, who detailed incentives such as exemptions in stamp duty, electricity duty, and land conversion fees, along with open access, energy banking, carbon credit support, and more. Singh said, "As per the Central Electricity Authority's Resource Adequacy Plan, Bihar will require 13GW of renewable energy by 2029-30. There is a huge market here."
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Govt races to build transmission firms amid push to meet 2030 clean energy goal
New Delhi: The government has accelerated efforts to upgrade India's electricity transmission backbone, which had been slacking amid a growing need to integrate the country's rapidly expanding green power capacity to the grid. In the first half of 2025, more than 30 power sector firms—mostly transmission companies and infrastructure investment trusts—were incorporated, ministry of corporate affairs data show. The number of power sector enterprises established this year by the Union government jumped from two in February to 10 in June. India has made rapid progress in adding renewable power capacity—its non-fossil fuel capacity of 242.8 GW accounts for about half of the total installed capacity of 484.8 GW—but the transmission infrastructure has not kept pace. India is targeting 500 GW of clean energy capacity by 2030. A wider and robust transmission network is required also because the addition of renewable power such as solar and wind energy increases chances of grid instability and largescale power outages as these are intermittent sources of power. In 2024-25, 8,830 circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission network was added, nearly 38% lower than the 14,203 ckm added in FY24, show data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). But in the first two months of this fiscal year (April-May), transmission capacity addition has gained pace—with 620 ckm of transmission lines added, up from 391 ckm in the same year-ago period. Overall, India currently has a power transmission network of 495,405 ckm, and as per the National Electricity Plan. An additional 191,000 ckm of transmission lines would be required by 2031-32. According to the National Electricity Plan for transmission released by the CEA in October, this will require a cumulative investment of ₹9.15 trillion in India's power transmission sector to ensure steady power supply as well as add battery storage capacity. The plan entails integration of 10 GW of offshore wind capacity, 47 GW of battery energy storage systems, and 30 GW of pumped storage plants. Additional transmission capacity would also cater to the needs of green hydrogen and green ammonia manufacturing hubs. As India's transmission capacity addition gains pace, the focus will shift from inter-state transmission systems to intra-state transmission systems, leading to greater role of state agencies and companies, said Alok Kumar, former secretary in the Union ministry of power. As the 100% waiver of ISTS (inter-state transmission system) charges for renewable energy ended in June, and there would be a gradual decline in the waiver, the focus would now be more on the intra-state transmission and expansion at the state-level," he said. Inter-state transmission system charges are fees payable by developers to transmit electricity from one state to another. Renewable energy projects completed by 30 June are being offered a 100% waiver in ISTS charges for 25 years. Developers who complete their projects on or before 30 June 2026 will be offered a 75% waiver for 25 years, and projects commissioned by 30 June 2028 will get a 25% waiver. Projects that remain incomplete beyond 30 June 2028 will not be offered any waiver. More power to state-run projects State-run power sector companies are allowed to spend ₹85,838 crore towards capital and operational expenditure this financial year, about 21% more than in FY25, Union Budget documents show. This includes debt and internal resources. The parent entities behind the 10 state-run power enterprises established this year include NLC India Renewables Ltd, which is the green energy arm of NLC India Ltd; NTPC Green Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of NTPC Ltd; Power Finance Corp.; Coal India Ltd; and Gail India Ltd, show data from the ministry of corporate affairs. In addition, PFC Consulting Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Finance Corp., set up multiple transmission projects, including Wagdari Transmission Ltd and Saswad Transmission Ltd. REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd, a unit of state-owned REC Ltd, established special purpose vehicles Rajgarh Neemuch Power Transmission Ltd, Ananthapuram II Power Transmission Ltd, and Davanagere Power Transmission Ltd to step up India's power transmission capacity. Earlier this month, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a special exemption for NLC India Ltd to invest ₹7,000 crore in NLC India Renewables Ltd. NIRL, in turn, would invest in various projects directly or through the formation of joint ventures without having to obtain approval. This investment is exempted from the 30% net worth ceiling stipulated by the Department of Public Enterprises for overall investment by central public sector companies in joint ventures and subsidiaries, allowing NLC India Ltd and NIRL greater operational and financial flexibility. The exemptions aim to support NLC India Ltd's ambitious target of developing 10.11 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and expanding this to 32 GW by 2047. NIRL Assam Renewables Ltd and NIRL Rajasthan Renewables Ltd, which were established in May and June, respectively, are focused on solar, wind, and hybrid renewable energy projects. NTPC-Mahapreit Green Energy Ltd, established in April, will focuson the development, operation, and maintenance of renewable energy parks, including ultra mega renewable energy power parks and other renewable energy projects in Maharashtra. These will comprise solar, wind, and hybrid technologies, with or without energy storage solutions, and have a cumulative capacity of up to 10 GW. NTPC-Mahapreit is a 74:26 joint venture between NTPC Green Energy and Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd.
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Explained: Tracking India's climate goals
India has said that non-fossil fuel sources now account for more than 50 per cent of its installed electricity generation capacity. This means one of the main promises that the country had made, as part of its international climate commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, has been achieved five years ahead of schedule. Government data released last week showed that installed electricity capacity had reached 484.82 GW at the end of June, of which 242.78 GW was being contributed by sources such as large hydropower, nuclear, and renewable energies like wind and solar. Attainment of 50 per cent share of non-fossil sources in the installed electricity capacity was one of the three climate targets India had set for itself for 2030. The other two promises were: reducing its emissions intensity, or emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), by at least 45 per cent from 2005 levels; and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from forest and tree cover. The target of creating an additional carbon sink is likely to be achieved this year, if not already achieved, though official data on that are yet to be released. There is good progress on the third target as well. Dependence on renewables The 50 per cent share of non-fossil sources in installed electricity capacity has been achieved through rapid growth in renewable energy in the last couple of years, particularly in solar energy. For instance, in 2024, almost 30 GW of renewable energy was installed, the maximum for any year. Of this, solar energy stood at nearly 24 GW. While this is impressive, China has been adding 10 times more renewable capacity for the last two years. India aims to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity by 2030. This is also a stated climate objective for India, though not an official target it has committed itself to. However, for it to materialise, significant contributions need to come from nuclear power as well. Many of the 10 nuclear reactors that India is currently building are expected to become operational during this timeframe, doubling the current capacity to about 17 GW by 2030. The Bharat Small Modular Reactors that India is developing are unlikely to fructify during this time. As a result, renewables would continue to form the bulk of new capacity additions from non-fossil fuel sources in the coming years. Capacity vs generation The 50 per cent share of non-fossil fuels in installed capacity does not mean half of India's electricity is clean. Electricity generation from renewable sources is intermittent and dependent on timing, seasonality, and climate. As such, the share of non-fossil fuels in electricity generation is lower than its share in installed capacity. Data from the Central Electricity Authority show that in May, non-fossil fuel sources, including large hydro and nuclear, accounted for 28 per cent of electricity generation in India. Electricity itself forms a small part of the energy basket. Less than 22 per cent of India's total energy consumption is done in the form of electricity. The rest happens through direct burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. Therefore, electricity forms about 22 per cent of India's total energy consumption, and non-fossil fuel sources account for about 28 per cent of electricity generation. This means clean energy from non-fossil fuel sources accounts for just about 6 per cent of India's total energy consumption. That might seem measly, but it is actually on par with the global average. Progress on forestry target Fresh data are yet to come in, but it is likely that India has already fulfilled its promise of adding 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon sink to the 2005 stock. According to official data, also submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), about 2.29 billion tonnes of additional sink had already been created by 2021. The India State of the Forest Report (ISFR) — the most authoritative official record of the state of forests and trees in the country — showed that India's carbon stock had grown by about 150 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year on average between 2017 and 2021. The next edition of ISFR, due later this year, will have data till 2023. If the trend continues, and another about 300 million tonnes CO2 equivalent of sink is added between 2021 and 2023, India's carbon stock would have surpassed the lower end of the 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes target. This would mean that the forestry target would have also been achieved well ahead of the 2030 deadline. Emissions intensity There is less information on the progress being made on the emissions intensity target. India has said that it will ensure its emissions per unit of GDP would decline at least 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. The latest data on emissions intensity are from 2020. By that time, India had already reduced it by 36 per cent from 2005 levels. There are no good estimates of emission intensity reductions after that, but considering India's progress so far, the 45 per cent reduction goal by 2030 is likely to be achieved comfortably. That India will achieve all its three climate targets was never in doubt. In fact, it is in the process of achieving them two times over. The original targets, set in 2015, were achieved by 2022 itself, allowing India to set revised targets. Those also are being achieved now. The international climate architecture, governed by the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement, allows countries to set their own climate targets. Not surprisingly, most countries have set modest targets for themselves. But even then, many developed countries have struggled to deliver on their promises, not just on emission reductions but also on climate finance. India has said that it can do much more if it gets international finance and technology that it is entitled to under the provisions of the Paris Agreement.
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Centre to assess green nod for Etalin dam in Arunachal, days after China breaks ground on world's largest hydel project
An expert panel of the Union environment ministry is slated to consider next week environmental clearance for the 3,087-MW Etalin hydel project in Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh, days after China officially kick-started work on the world's largest hydroelectric project (of 60 gigawatt) on the Yarlung Zangbo river upstream of India. The ministry on June 20 granted in-principle approval for the diversion of 1,175 hectares of prime forest land in Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, for the Etalin project. The forest area is classified as subtropical pine forest, wet evergreen, semi-evergreen, montane wet temperate, and moist alpine scrub. The area is also home to wide-ranging biodiversity of wildlife and plants. The forest area to be used is largely community-owned, and 2.7 lakh trees will be axed. Etalin has been proposed as a run-of-the-river project on the Dri and Talo rivers, involving the construction of concrete gravity dams to divert water through two separate waterway systems. A run-of-the-river project involves negligible or no water storage. The Dri and Talo rivers are tributaries of the Dibang river, which feeds into Brahmaputra's waters. China's project has raised concerns that it will affect the water regime and security in the Brahmaputra basin downstream. The Central Electricity Authority has concurred on 13 hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh, with a total planned installed capacity of 13,798 MW, as per the Union power ministry's reply to the Lok Sabha on April 3. Besides, the Subansiri Lower, Dibang multipurpose, and Lower Kopli (Assam) projects are under construction, totalling a planned capacity of 5,000 MW. The project developer, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd, has placed the project proposal for clearance before the environment ministry's expert appraisal committee (EAC) on river valley and hydroelectric sector. The EAC recommended the project for environmental clearance in 2017. However, since the in-principle forest clearance was received only last month, the committee will appraise the project again. This is based on clarifications issued by the ministry in three office memorandums regarding the process to be followed if forest clearance is given over three years after a proposal was initially recommended for environmental clearance. The ministry's office memorandums state that if the data collected for the preparation of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report is over three years old, the proposal has to be referred back to the EAC for a relook. An EIA report is a detailed pre-clearance study that assesses a project's impact on environmental, wildlife, ecology and communities likely to be impacted. The Etalin project's EIA report dates back to 2015. 'In such a situation, the EAC may get fresh data collected and, based on that and after due diligence, either reiterate its earlier recommendations or decide to reappraise the project proposal on valid grounds, as the case may be,' as per three previous office memorandums of the environment ministry. As far as a fresh public hearing is concerned, the ministry's expert panel can ask for a fresh one to be conducted as well as seek additional documents and information. In 2022, the environment ministry's forest advisory committee rejected forest approval for the Etalin project and asked for a fresh proposal on account of wildlife and biodiversity concerns. '18 villages and 216 households to be affected' SJVN has submitted baseline data from December 2024 for the winter season and April 2025 for the pre-monsoon period, documents submitted to the ministry show. 'To ensure that outdated baseline data does not hinder the EAC in reiterating its recommendation, fresh baseline data has been collected for two seasons and compared with the data collected in 2012,' the company said in documents filed with the ministry. SJVN has submitted an addendum to the 2015 EIA report and environment management plan for the committee's consideration. Eighteen villages and 216 households will be affected due to land acquisition for the project, as per this new submission. If approved, the Etalin project will be the largest run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in India. Even though the Upper Siang storage-based hydel project will be more massive, with a proposed capacity of 10,000 MW, it is yet to take off with a pre-feasibility report under preparation amid strong local protests on displacement concerns. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Bloomberg
21-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
India's Record Renewables Rollout Moves It Closer to 2030 Goal
India's renewable installations saw record growth in the first half of 2025, giving fresh momentum to its 2030 clean energy goal. The country added 22 gigawatts of capacity during the six months through June, 56% more than a year earlier, according to data from the government's Central Electricity Authority.
