Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Monday 30 April 2018

#SolarIndia #MNRE #SECI #RoofTopSolar


Transmission  Capacity is  the  Culprit  !



Economic Times ( 30 April ) carries following news :




Transmission Capacity Deficit may Cap Reach of Green Power


Lack of coordination between ministry, CEA and Power Grid seen as reason for under-capacity

·         The Economic Times
·         30 Apr 2018
·         Kaavya.Chandrasekaran @timesgroup.com




Renewable energy developers are worried that transmission facilities are not keeping pace with power generation even as 12,000 MW of solar projects are under construction...


Developers expressed fear that completed projects might not be able to start functioning because all bays at the nearest substations are already occupied and transmission lines already carrying their full capacity ….


The main reason is that so far there has been no coordination between Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ( MNRE ) , Power Grid Corporation of India ( PGCIL ), and Central Electricity Authority ( CEA )
………..

Solar Energy Corporation of India ( SECI ) , which is under MNRE, has been merrily holding auctions for both wind and solar projects without making sure that enough evacuation facilities are available




Read this in the context of another news just 2 days back , which said :


MNRE is about to come out with fresh tenders for 20 GW ( 20,000 MW ) of Solar projects


Now 1 GW of Solar needs approx. $ 1 Billion of investment


So , we are talking of $ 20 Billion ( approx. Rs 130,000 crore )


I am afraid the response would be very poor due to following reasons :


*   Non availability of Transmission Capacity , as mentioned above


*   “ Non Risk “ attitude of Private Sector finance ( due to falling tariff of Solar )


*   No bank wants to fund these projects when its own NPA are a huge concern


     Loans of Rs 1.77 Lakh*Crore to 75,000 MW of Coal based power plants have
     already turned NPA !


*   Uncertainty re Safeguard Duty on imported Solar Panels pushing up costs




In light of this , it would be much better for MNRE to encourage Roof Top Solar projects , which enjoy following advantage over Ground-Based projects :


Each residential building will produce / store and consume its OWN power , without having to depend upon DISCOMS


No need for metering /  transformers / substations / cables / transmission lines !


No need for DISCOM to maintain the infrastructure ! or worry about thefts ! or sign Power Purchase Agreements – and then worry about rescinding !



Now , recognizing that it is just not possible to switch-over to ROOF  TOP  SOLAR , overnight, we must appreciate what the government is doing


But what I fail to understand is :


Why is govt not going all out to encourage ROOF TOP SOLAR ?


I urge the Policy Makers to read :


Solar Roofs ?  Why not ?   [  06  Feb  2018  ]



For 
roof top installations , currently govt gives 30 % subsidy



Change this as follows :


#   30 % by way of subsidy


#   70 % by way of interest free loan , repayable over 10 years




Why not save all the funds required for the above-mentioned infrastructure and use for the interest free loans / subsidy for Solar Roof Tops  ?


01    May  2018

     www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

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