The Union ministry of new & renewable energy (MNRE) is implementing the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) scheme across 10 states, it was informed in Parliament.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, said that for setting up of transmission infrastructure for evacuation of renewable energy, MNRE is implementing the Green Energy Corridor scheme in ten states — Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
There is a provision of Central Grant Assistance of up to 40 per cent of project cost in the intrastate transmission system (InSTS). Further, a project for setting up interstate transmission system (ISTS) for power evacuation and grid integration of the 13 GW RE projects in UT of Ladakh and dispatch of power from the UT of Ladakh to other parts of the country, is also being implemented. Under this project, the Central Grant Assistance is 40 per cent, the minister said.
As of October 31, 2024, India’s total non-fossil fuel power generation capacity was 203.22 GW, and this accounted for 46.5 per cent of the country’s total power generation capacity.
Discussing the various initiatives taken by MNRE to boost transmission of RE power, the minister observed that interstate transmission system (ISTS) charges have been waived for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by June 30, 2025, for green hydrogen projects till December 2030, and for offshore wind projects till December 2032.
Further, “Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022,” has been notified on June 6, 2022 with objective of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable green energy for all. Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) is allowed to any consumer with contract demand of 100kW or above through single or multiple single connection aggregating 100kW or more located in same electricity division of a distribution licensee.
Green Energy Open Access
In a reply to a related question, the minister said that so far GEOA Regulations have been issued by respective State Electricity Regulatory Commissions for following 30 states and UTs.
States: West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Haryana, Sikkim, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Manipur, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Nagaland and Goa.
UTs: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Delhi (NCT), Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.
The GEOA has helped in bringing the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) sector in solar basket and as reported by Grid Controller of India (GCI), the Central Nodal Agency maintaining the Central Registry for GEOA applications, the total energy scheduled in solar basket by the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) sector for the period October 1, 2023 to December 1, 2024 was 529.67 million kwh (MU).
Featured photograph (source: Apraava Energy) is for representation only
