Addressing industry body FICCI’s ‘Indian Energy Transmission’ conference, 2022, Power Minister RK Singh said that everyone (all ministries and concerned parties) is in favor of amending the electricity law.
“We (Ministry of Power) may place it in the monsoon session of Parliament,” he said.
The monsoon session is likely to begin in the second fortnight of July.
The Bill includes provisions to de-licensed the distribution business to promote competition, to include a legal person as a member in every commission, to strengthen the Electricity Appellate Tribunal and to determine the rights and duties of consumers.
Singh also said that there would be a separate Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) in case of wind power to promote clean source of electricity.
Under RPO, bulk buyers such as distribution companies and those who take power directly from power producers will be required to take some share of renewable energy. They can also source green energy directly from renewable energy producers to meet the RPO norms.
He also said that the ministry has finalized the plan to set up 30,000 MW capacity hydro projects in Arunachal Pradesh. Five hydroelectric projects have started in Jammu and Kashmir.
The minister indicated to give more incentives for the production of green hydrogen in the country.
He said that if the vision of green hydrogen, electric vehicles and all industries based on green energy becomes a reality, then India can achieve 700,000 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 against the target of 5,00,000 MW.
Singh said that now the power demand base is 2,05,000 MW and it will increase further in the coming days.
He asked the industry to be ready to join the energy transition in the country.
Union Power Secretary Alok Kumar talked about reducing dependence on imports through energy transformation.
He said that the government has planned to continue the grid expansion project on a large scale. Coal will continue to be the major source of electricity generation for the next 20 years or so.
The Secretary also informed that the Ministry of Power is working on inclusion of renewable energy along with thermal power in the PPA (Power Purchase Agreement).
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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