Latest news with #PradhanMantriKisanUrjaSurakshaevamUtthaanMahabhiyan
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Irrigation pumpsets will get power supply during the day, says Shivakumar
The State government plans to provide power supply to irrigation pumpsets during the day, by installing solar plants in each taluk under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM), Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday. 'We plan to set up at least 20 megawatt solar power stations in each taluk. This will help farmers get power during the day,' he said at the launch of tank-filling schemes in Akki Alur of Haveri district. As of now, the power supply companies supply power to irrigation pumpsets for seven hours during the night. 'It was the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa who began the practice of providing free power supply to irrigation pumpsets. Later, as Power Minister in 2013, I extended the duration to supply three-phase power supply to seven hours at night, from six hours. This has helped farmers immensely. In future, we will supply power during the day,' he said. He said that the State government has released ₹665.75 crore for development of Hangal constituency. 'The tank-filling scheme being taken up at a cost of ₹534 crore will help farmers in 81 villages in Haveri district. We are also considering linking Varada river with Bedti river. The project might cost ₹2,018 crore. It has been presented before the Union government through the National Rivers Authority,' Mr. Shivakumar said. He said that the BJP is needlessly criticising the Congress government. 'Recently, we increased the price of milk by four rupees a litre to help farmers. Has the government taken anything from this amount? No. We have given it to the farmers. But the BJP cannot tolerate that as it is anti-farmers, obviously,' he said. 'The prices of all commodities from essential goods to tangible assets have increased. The price of 10 grams of gold, which was ₹30,000 a decade ago, has gone up to ₹1 lakh. But when the prices go up due to the wrong policies of the Centre, the State BJP does not raise its voice against it. But now, they are angry with the Congress, saying we are responsible for inflation. When the State BJP is planning its anti-price rise rally, the Centre increased the price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. It was done the same day. The BJP does not understand that those in power should stand with the poor and not try to pick-pocket them,' he said. He said that while the Centre collected over ₹4.5 lakh crore in taxes from Karnataka in a year, it returned only around 13% of the amount. 'Despite this injustice, we have presented a budget of over ₹4 lakh crore. We have fulfilled the guarantee promises made before coming to power. We have stood by you who have been shaken by the price hike,' he said. The BJP, which was opposing our guarantee schemes, later announced the same guarantees during the Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi elections. 'Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi ridiculed us saying that the schemes will bankrupt us. But the BJP copied our schemes. We have to realise that due to our guarantee schemes of over ₹52,000 crore per year, each family has been able to save around ₹5,000-₹6,000 per month,' he said. 'We have come here today to repay your debt in return for power you have given us. You have trusted our party and elected us. We are grateful to you for that,' he said. 'Hangal MLA Srinivas Mane is a very active MLA. He is doing work that is beneficial to the people not only in irrigation and public works but also in all departments. He is providing the necessary work to the farmers from the revenue and electricity departments. Even without the support of the community, he has been serving the people for the last two decades. You are the one who made him win in the by-election even when the BJP government was in power and put your trust in us,'he said. He recalled that it was Haveri district that helped former Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa get a political rebirth.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Why India needs a dedicated scheme on distributed-renewables-powered EV charging
India's clean energy transition is at a pivotal stage, with several initiatives underway to take the nation closer to its goals of installing 500 GW of renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2030 and attaining net-zero emissions by 2070 . The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced schemes such as the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme to decarbonise the residential and agricultural sectors, respectively, by incentivising large-scale adoption of renewables. However, decarbonising road transport, which accounts for almost 12 per cent of India's energy-related emissions and is a major source of urban air pollution, remains a critical challenge. Rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) offers a promising solution, but the true potential of EVs cannot be realised unless they are powered by clean energy. Under the EV30@30 campaign, India aims to reach a 30 per cent sales share for EVs by 2030. It is estimated that achieving this target will result in an additional electricity demand of 15–30 TWh annually, with a substantial rise in peak demand. Meeting this demand through grid-based power—more than 75 per cent of which is currently generated through coal and gas—will produce additional emissions of 11–22 MtCO2 per annum, thereby undermining the environmental benefits of EVs and straining India's power grid. Charging EVs through RE, especially distributed renewable energy (DRE), can be instrumental in reducing emissions by minimising the reliance on grid-based electricity. In this context, our analysis indicates that by 2030, around 10 to 20 GW of RE capacity dedicated to EV-charging infrastructure will be needed to meet the additional electricity demand accompanying the achievement of the EV30@30 target. This can be sourced primarily through DRE. In addition to the benefits that come with any RE source, DRE, by generating power closer to consumption points, reduces transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and alleviates grid congestion. As EV adoption increases, DRE can play a key role in meeting the anticipated rise in daytime peak demand caused by charging activities. Further, integrating DRE sources with smart charging and demand response systems can enable dynamic management of charging patterns, optimising grid stability and maximising green energy utilisation. For the large-scale adoption of DRE-powered EV charging , looking into its financial viability is crucial. While high upfront costs of DRE installations remain a barrier for many stakeholders, it still emerges as a potential alternative to grid-powered EV charging. To illustrate, a recent report by Deloitte India and GIZ says that the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for public EV charging through grid power is currently INR 13.97/unit in Bengaluru. This is expected to increase as the public EV-charging tariff of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM)—a prominent component of LCOE and considerably subsidised at present at INR 4.5/unit—is likely to increase over time. According to the report, the LCOE for solar-PV-powered EV charging under the self-financing model with net metering is INR 13.53/unit, which makes it cost competitive. To harness the potential of DRE for EV charging, MNRE can bring in a targeted scheme that pushes for DRE-based EV-charging infrastructure. The first key component of the scheme could relate to incentivising DRE-powered public charging stations through capital subsidies or viability gap funding to offset DRE installation costs, tax benefits for charging-infrastructure providers, and low-interest loans to facilitate affordable financing. Such government support can address the issue of high initial installation cost of DRE systems, ensuring their financial viability and encouraging widespread adoption. Additional subsidies could be considered for rural areas, where the grid infrastructure is often unreliable, and this can be leveraged to expand the EV-charging infrastructure along the highways. By providing additional subsidies for installations in these regions, the government can boost EV adoption, encourage entrepreneurial spirit, and foster inclusive growth. DRE-powered public charging would also shield consumers from the rising grid electricity tariffs, creating a win-win scenario for all stakeholders. The scheme's second component can look at incentivising residential and commercial consumers to install DRE-powered EV-charging facilities. This could include subsidies for integrating DRE solutions such as rooftop-solar systems with the EV-charging points at carports or commercial parking facilities. Further, tax benefits similar to those currently available to individuals for buying EVs can be considered for installing personal DRE systems for EV charging. Net-metering benefits can also be provided to enhance the scheme's financial viability, and emerging market mechanisms like vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and blockchain-based peer-to-peer (P2P) trading can also be included. Finally, for ensuring active participation of distribution companies or DISCOMs, the scheme could include a renewable purchase obligation (RPO) component on DRE for EV charging. The RPO targets would require increasing DRE installations, which would spur further investments. Transitioning to electric mobility is crucial for realising India's net-zero goals by 2070, but this transition needs to be fully green and sustainable. The proposed scheme for DRE-powered EV charging, when accompanied by diligent research and efficient implementation, can serve as a catalyst for this transition. (The authors work in the Renewables and Energy Conservation sector at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think tank. Suhas Sathyakiran is an analyst and Saptak Ghosh heads the sector.)
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Why India needs a dedicated scheme on distributed-renewables-powered EV charging
India's clean energy transition is at a pivotal stage, with several initiatives underway to take the nation closer to its goals of installing 500 GW of renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2030 and attaining net-zero emissions by 2070 . The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced schemes such as the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme to decarbonise the residential and agricultural sectors, respectively, by incentivising large-scale adoption of renewables. However, decarbonising road transport, which accounts for almost 12 per cent of India's energy-related emissions and is a major source of urban air pollution, remains a critical challenge. Rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) offers a promising solution, but the true potential of EVs cannot be realised unless they are powered by clean energy. Under the EV30@30 campaign, India aims to reach a 30 per cent sales share for EVs by 2030. It is estimated that achieving this target will result in an additional electricity demand of 15–30 TWh annually, with a substantial rise in peak demand. Meeting this demand through grid-based power—more than 75 per cent of which is currently generated through coal and gas—will produce additional emissions of 11–22 MtCO2 per annum, thereby undermining the environmental benefits of EVs and straining India's power grid. Charging EVs through RE, especially distributed renewable energy (DRE), can be instrumental in reducing emissions by minimising the reliance on grid-based electricity. In this context, our analysis indicates that by 2030, around 10 to 20 GW of RE capacity dedicated to EV-charging infrastructure will be needed to meet the additional electricity demand accompanying the achievement of the EV30@30 target. This can be sourced primarily through DRE. In addition to the benefits that come with any RE source, DRE, by generating power closer to consumption points, reduces transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and alleviates grid congestion. As EV adoption increases, DRE can play a key role in meeting the anticipated rise in daytime peak demand caused by charging activities. Further, integrating DRE sources with smart charging and demand response systems can enable dynamic management of charging patterns, optimising grid stability and maximising green energy utilisation. For the large-scale adoption of DRE-powered EV charging , looking into its financial viability is crucial. While high upfront costs of DRE installations remain a barrier for many stakeholders, it still emerges as a potential alternative to grid-powered EV charging. To illustrate, a recent report by Deloitte India and GIZ says that the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for public EV charging through grid power is currently INR 13.97/unit in Bengaluru. This is expected to increase as the public EV-charging tariff of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM)—a prominent component of LCOE and considerably subsidised at present at INR 4.5/unit—is likely to increase over time. According to the report, the LCOE for solar-PV-powered EV charging under the self-financing model with net metering is INR 13.53/unit, which makes it cost competitive. To harness the potential of DRE for EV charging, MNRE can bring in a targeted scheme that pushes for DRE-based EV-charging infrastructure. The first key component of the scheme could relate to incentivising DRE-powered public charging stations through capital subsidies or viability gap funding to offset DRE installation costs, tax benefits for charging-infrastructure providers, and low-interest loans to facilitate affordable financing. Such government support can address the issue of high initial installation cost of DRE systems, ensuring their financial viability and encouraging widespread adoption. Additional subsidies could be considered for rural areas, where the grid infrastructure is often unreliable, and this can be leveraged to expand the EV-charging infrastructure along the highways. By providing additional subsidies for installations in these regions, the government can boost EV adoption, encourage entrepreneurial spirit, and foster inclusive growth. DRE-powered public charging would also shield consumers from the rising grid electricity tariffs, creating a win-win scenario for all stakeholders. The scheme's second component can look at incentivising residential and commercial consumers to install DRE-powered EV-charging facilities. This could include subsidies for integrating DRE solutions such as rooftop-solar systems with the EV-charging points at carports or commercial parking facilities. Further, tax benefits similar to those currently available to individuals for buying EVs can be considered for installing personal DRE systems for EV charging. Net-metering benefits can also be provided to enhance the scheme's financial viability, and emerging market mechanisms like vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and blockchain-based peer-to-peer (P2P) trading can also be included. Finally, for ensuring active participation of distribution companies or DISCOMs, the scheme could include a renewable purchase obligation (RPO) component on DRE for EV charging. The RPO targets would require increasing DRE installations, which would spur further investments. Transitioning to electric mobility is crucial for realising India's net-zero goals by 2070, but this transition needs to be fully green and sustainable. The proposed scheme for DRE-powered EV charging, when accompanied by diligent research and efficient implementation, can serve as a catalyst for this transition. (The authors work in the Renewables and Energy Conservation sector at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think tank. Suhas Sathyakiran is an analyst and Saptak Ghosh heads the sector.)
