Central Electricity Authority (CEA), as part of its comprehensive monitoring and planning activities, has proposed to begin monitoring of mini and microgrids.
In a recent communication addressed to Principal Secretary (Energy), Additional Secretary (Energy) and Secretary (Power) of all Indian states, CEA has advised the addresses to direct the power utilities of their states to furnish information on sub-megawatt captive power plants. Such power plants would constitute the basis of mini and microgrids that CEA proposes to monitor.
The information sought includes, among other things, name of grid; type of grid (mini or micro); implementing agency; location; state; installed capacity (in kw); type of generation resource; voltage level; annual electricity generation; connected load; number of consumers; tariff, etc.
CEA is expecting that the required information is furnished before January 10, 2023.
Background
It may be mentioned that the second meeting of the Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Power) for setting up an Energy Data Management Unit (EDMU) in Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was held on November 16, 2022.
With respect to the supply side of electricity, it was highlighted, among other things, that captive power plants of less than 1 mw capacity were neither captured nor published by CEA. It was therefore decided that CEA would develop a database on decentralized mini and microgrids. The CEA communication discussed above is the body’s first step in this direction.
Also read: CEA Revises Transmission Capacity Targets For FY23
Current monitoring
CEA, an autonomous body under the Union power ministry, currently conducts exhaustive monitoring of both capacity and generation of power plants across all fuel types. Of late, CEA has also started reporting generation from renewable energy sources – a subject that falls under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. CEA also conducts detailed monitoring of other aspects of the value chain like power transmission and power distribution.
Featured photograph showing a biomass-based captive power plant is for representation only.
