CEA expects to complete study on ideal power mix

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is expecting to complete its study on the "total system cost" to figure out the best power generation mix by 2030 in terms of cost and grid stability within this month, an official said on Sunday.

"We are doing a study on the total system cost for 2030 of what the best (power) generation mix we should have. I guess we will be able to conclude the study this month," CEA Chairman Pankaj Batra said here.

He said the study would try to find out the cheapest power mix with grid stability and would facilitate regulators in determining tariffs.

India has a target of producing 175 gigawatt renewable energy by 2022 and currently, renewables account for around 20 per cent of the country's total installed capacity.

However, the CEA has been working with an objective to build a cost-effective power evacuation infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region which is considered to be the "best location in India" in terms of solar power generation.

"The region holds potential of generating about 35,000 megawatt of solar power. The problem lies in the evacuation of power in the region. Our objective is to build a cost-effective evacuation transmission network. We are trying that completion of transmission project should match with commission of solar projects," Batra said.

He also said there were "many options for laying power transmission" though it is a hilly region while helicopter cranes which carry towers can be used.

"Maybe, a part of the transmission lines can be of underground cables and a part can be of overhead transmission lines. Bids will be invited for building the transmission lines," he said, adding that a final roadmap was yet to be finalised about who would bear the cost for setting up the transmission lines.

--IANS

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