Government launches scheme for wind power projects

The central government has launched a scheme to set up grid-connected wind energy projects aimed at generating 1,000 MW clean power, an official statement said on wednesday.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has been designated the nodal agency for implementing the scheme, under which the wind power will be supplied to "non-windy" states at prices arrived at through competitive bidding.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has invited public comments by June 24 on the draft guidelines for the scheme's implementation.

"The ministry has launched a scheme for setting up 1,000 megawatt wind power projects connected to the network of the Central Transmission Utility to facilitate supply of power to non-windy states," an MNRE release said here.

"The scheme will encourage competitiveness through the scaling up of project sizes and introduction of efficient and transparent e-bidding and e-auctioning processes."

"It will also facilitate fulfilment of non-Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation requirement of non-windy states," the statement added.

The 1,000 MW capacity is envisaged for bidding in 2016-17. The project capacity will be determined by SECI for each tender, but will not be less than 25 MW for a single project developer at one site, the MNRE said.

Globally, India is at the 4th position in terms of wind power installed capacity after China, the US and Germany.

The Centre has set an ambitious target of achieving 175 gigawatt power capacity from renewable energy resources by 2022, out of which 60 GW is to come from wind.

Meanwhile, a report earlier this week said the currently weak coal and gas prices will not stop record investment of nearly $7.8 trillion in the world renewable energy sector over the coming decades as the cost of generating clean energy drops.

With renewables set to attract $7.8 trillion by 2040, the impact of cheap gas and coal will be offset by drops of 41 per cent and 60 per cent respectively, the Bloomberg New Energy Outlook 2016 said.

--IANS

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