World Bank team to help state on renewable energy roadmap

The roadmap planned till 2022 will outline the roles of the energy department, Gridco and GEDCOL

A technical team of the World Bank will assist the state energy department to prepare a renewable energy roadmap.

The roadmap, planned till 2022, will outline the roles of the energy department, state owned bulk power purchaser Gridco and Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd (GEDCOL). The three main functions considered for GEDCOL are executing agency, executive role and advocacy role. The World Bank team would also help in preparing policy and actions for GEDCOL to promote captive generation and develop solar park type infrastructure as an immediate win strategy. The Bank team agreed to work in close coordination with International Finance Corporation (IFC) advisory which is active in developing a solar policy for the state with GEDCOL and the energy department.

In addition, the team will help develop a roadmap for energy conservation cell within the energy department. The team would assist in preparation of a climate change action plan for the energy sector with detailed activities and budget.

A World Bank team led by Muthukumara Mani visited the city on mission during June 1-7. They discussed with key officials in the departments of finance, energy, forest & environment, rural development, agriculture, urban development, water resources, Odisha Disaster Management Agency, Odisha State Pollution Control Board and Odisha Watershed Mission.

The key tasks of the mission was to review the progress report prepared by the climate change cell of ongoing activities undertaken by the Odisha government that directly correspond to the activities outlined in the Climate Change Action Plan conceived in 2010.

The onus is on the mission is to develop a technical assistance framework including institutional assessments and capacity development plans for Climate change Action Plan Cell, Green Energy Corporation and Energy Conservation Cell and State Pollution Control Board.

It may be noted that the renewable energy potential has been assessed at 11,820 Mw, with solar energy having the highest potential at 10,000 Mw among all green energy sources. Within solar energy, photo-voltaic source can contribute maximum at 8,000 Mw followed by solar thermal and wind power at 2,000 Mw and 910 Mw respectively. Potential for bio-mass paddy husk and bio-mass paddy straw has been assessed at 250 Mw each. Investments to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore are expected to flow to Odisha in the renewable energy sector during the 12th Plan Period (2012-17) as the state has targeted capacity augmentation of 350 Mw from solar, wind and bio-mass sources in this period.