Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)

Renewable Energy

The increased use of indigenous renewable resources is expected to reduce India’s dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels. India has an estimated renewable energy potential of about 900 GW from commercially exploitable sources viz. Wind – 102 GW (at 80-meter mast height); Small Hydro – 20 GW; Bio-energy – 25 GW; and 750 GW solar power, assuming 3% wasteland.

Government’s Targets

• The Government of India has set a target of 175 GW renewable power installed capacity by the end of 2022.
• This includes 60 GW from wind power, 100 GW from solar power, 10 GW from biomass power and 5 GW from small hydro power.
• A target of 16660 MW grid renewable power (wind 4000 MW, solar 12000 MW, small hydro power 250 MW, bio-power 400 MW and waste to power 10 MW), has been set for 2016-17.
• Besides, under off-grid renewable system, targets of 15 MW eq. waste to energy, 60 MW eq. biomass non-bagasse cogeneration, 10 MW eq. biomass gasifiers, 1.0 MW eq. small wind/hybrid systems, 100 MW eq. solar photovoltaic systems, 1.0 MW eq. micro hydel and 100,000 nos. family size biogas plants have been set for 2016-17.

Green Energy Corridor

• Intra-State Transmission System is being implemented by eight renewable rich States (Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) with total project cost of Rs. 10141 crores, with funding mechanism consisting of 20% State Equity, 40% Government of India Grant (total 4056.67 crores) and 40% KfW loan (500 million EUR). The project includes about approx. 9400 ckm transmission lines and Substations of total capacity of approx. 19000 MVA to be completed by March 2020. The purpose is to evacuate approx. 20,000 MW of large scale renewable power and improvement of the grid in the implementing States.
• Projects worth Rs 6766 crore have been awarded and approx. Rs. 1400 crores have been disbursed to the States from the Government of India share.

Solar Power

Under National Solar Mission, the target for setting up solar capacity increased from 20 GW to 100 GW by 2021-22. Target of 10,000 MW, set for 2017-18 which will take the cumulative capacity over 20GW till 31st March 2018. Capacity of the scheme for “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” has been enhanced from 20,000 MW to 40, 000 MW. 35 solar parks of aggregate capacity 20,514 MW have been approved in 21 States.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, also known as National Solar Mission, is one of the eight key National Mission’s which comprise India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). NAPCC was launched on 30th June 2008 which identified development of solar energy technologies in the country as a National Mission. The mission was approved on January 11, 2010 by the government.

The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022, which was revised to 1,00,000 MW by 2022 during June 2015.

Objective and Targets

• The objective of the National Solar Mission is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.
• The Mission will adopt a 3 - phase approach, Phase 1 (up to 2012 - 13), Phase2 (2013 - 17) and Phase 3 (2017 - 22).The immediate aim of the Mission is to focus on setting up an enabling environment for solar technology penetration in the country both at a centralized and decentralized level.

Initiatives Under National Solar Mission

Several schemes namely (i) Defence scheme (ii) Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) scheme (iii)Bundling scheme (iv) Canal Bank/ Canal Top scheme(v) VGF Scheme (vi) Solar Park scheme (vii) Solar rooftops, have been initiated/launched by the Ministry under National Solar Mission which are under implementation.

Solar Rooftop

• The Government is implementing Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme which provides for installation of 2100 MW capacity through CFA/ incentive in the residential, social, Government/PSU and Institutional sectors.
• Under the programme, Central financial assistance upto 30% of bench mark is being provided for such projects in Residential, Institutional and Social sectors in General Category States and upto 70% of the benchmark cost in Special Category States. For Government sector, achievement linked incentives are being provided. Subsidy/CFA is not applicable for commercial and industrial establishments in private sector.

ISA

International Solar Alliance (ISA), which was launched by Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and Mr. François Hollande, former President of France on 30th November, 2015 in Paris, entered into force on 6th December, 2017.

• ISA is a coalition of solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and aims to specifically address energy needs by harnessing solar energy.
• Government of India has made a provision of Rs 100 crore as one-time fund for ISA Fund corpus.

Components of ISA

• Presently ISA has three programmes Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use, Affordable Finance at Scale and Scaling Solar Mini-grids.
• In addition, ISA plans to launch two more programmes on Scaling Solar Rooftops, and Scaling E-Mobility & Storage.
• Strategic and financial partnerships have been entered into with the UNDP, the World Bank, EIB, EBRD and the Climate Parliament to further the mandate of ISA.
• Another major initiative of ISA includes establishment of Digital Infopedia which serves as a platform to interact, connect, communicate and collaborate with one another.

Wind Power

Worldwide, wind energy is accepted as one of the most developed, cost-effective and proven renewable energy technologies to meet increasing electricity demands in a sustainable manner. While onshore wind energy technologies have reached a stage of large scale deployment and have become competitive with fossil fuel-based electricity generation, with supportive policy regimes across the world, exploitation of offshore wind energy is yet to reach a comparable scale. India has achieved significant success in the onshore wind power development, with over 23 GW of wind energy capacity already installed and generating power.

During the year 2016-17, wind power capacity addition of 5.5 GW was made, which is highest ever wind power capacity addition in the country during a single year.The present wind power installed capacity in the country is around 32.75 GW. Now, in terms of wind power installed capacity India is globally placed at 4th position after China, USA and Germany.

• India has a strong manufacturing base of wind power equipment in the country. Presently, there are 20 approved manufacturers with 53 models of wind turbines in the country up to a capacity of 3.00 MW single turbines.
• Wind turbines being manufactured in India are of international quality standards and cost-wise amongst the lowest in the world being exported to Europe, USA and other countries.
• The wind power potential of the country has been reassessed by the National Institute for Wind Energy (NIWE), it has been estimated to be 302 GW at 100-meter hub-height.

Why Wind Energy?

• The project is environment friendly.
• India has good wind potential to harness wind energy.
• A permanent shield against ever increasing power prices. The cost per kwh reduces over a period of time as against rising cost for conventional power projects.
• The cheapest source of electrical energy. (on a levelled cost over 20 years.)
• Least equity participation required, as well as low cost debt is easily available to wind energy projects.
• A project with the fastest payback period.
• A real fast track power project, with the lowest gestation period; and a modular concept.
• Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs are low.
• No marketing risks, as the product is electrical energy.
• A project with no investment in manpower.

Offshore Wind Power

India has long coastline where there is a good possibility for developing offshore wind power projects. The cabinet has cleared the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy and the same has been notified on 6th October 2015. Certain blocks near Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coast line have been identified. First LiDAR installed and commissioned off Gujarat coast for gathering wind resource data.

Offshore Wind Energy Policy

The Government in September 2015 gave its approval to the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy. With this approval, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been authorized as the Nodal Ministry for use of offshore areas within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country and the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has been authorized as the Nodal Agency for development of offshore wind energy in the country and to carry out allocation of offshore wind energy blocks, coordination and allied functions with related ministries and agencies.

• The approval paves way for offshore wind energy development including, setting up of offshore wind power projects and research and development activities, in waters, in or adjacent to the country, up to the seaward distance of 200 Nautical Miles (EEZ of the country) from the base line.
• Preliminary assessments along the 7600 km long Indian coastline have indicated prospects of development of offshore wind power. With the introduction of the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, the Government is attempting to replicate the success of the onshore wind power development in the offshore wind power development.
• The policy will provide a level playing field to all investors/beneficiaries, domestic and international. All the processes would be carried out in a transparent manner by NIWE.

Hydro Power

Hydropower is a renewable energy resource because it uses the Earth’s water cycle to generate electricity. Water evaporates from the Earth’s surface, forms clouds, precipitates back to earth, and flows toward the ocean. The movement of water as it flows downstream creates kinetic energy that can be converted into electricity.

In Hydro Power Sector, 11 hydro projects, having total installed capacity of1305 MW, are likely to be commissioned in the year 2017-18. Out of these projects, 7 projects with installed capacity of 465 MW have already been commissioned till 30.11.2017 and balance capacity is likely to be commissioned by March’18. The Hydropower Generation for the Financial Year 2017-18 (January’ 2017 to November’ 2017) is 120.87 BU.

Hydro Power: Basics Explained

What are the major components of a Hydroelectric Power Plant?

The major components of a Hydroelectric Power Plant are:

• Dam/Barrage: Head works i.e. power intake, head regulator and desilting chambers, etc.
• Head race tunnels/channels
• Surge shaft/surge chambers
• Pressure shaft/Penstock
• Underground and surface power house
• Tailrace channel or tailrace tunnel

How energy is Generated in Hydroelectric Power Plant?

A hydroelectric power plant consists of a high dam that is built across a large river to create a reservoir, and a station where the process of energy conversion to electricity takes place.

The first step in the generation of energy in a hydropower plant is the collection of run-off of seasonal rain and snow in lakes, streams and rivers, during the hydrological cycle. The run-off flows to dams downstream. The water falls through a dam, into the hydropower plant and turns a large wheel called a turbine. The turbine converts the energy of falling water into mechanical energy to drive the generator. After this process has taken place electricity is transferred to the communities through transmission lines and the water is released back into the lakes, streams or rivers.This is entirely not harmful, because no pollutants are added to the water while it flows through the hydropower plant.

Why Hydropower is called Renewable Source of Energy?

Hydropower is called renewable source of energy because it uses and not consumes the water for generation of electricity, and the hydropower leaves this vital resource available for other uses.

Which is the oldest Hydropower Plant in India?

The oldest Hydropower power plant is in Darjeeling District in West Bengal. Its installed capacity is 130KW and was commissioned in the year 1897.

What are the Different Types of Dams?

Different types of dams are Conventional Concrete Dam, Roller Compacted Concrete dam, rock fill dam, Concrete Faced Rock Fill Dam(CFRD), Earth Fill Dam, Arch Dam, Barrages, etc.

Do Hydropower Projects Cause Huge Destruction of Forests?

Due to the fact that hydropower projects are primarily located in hilly areas, where forest cover is comparatively better than plain areas, diversion of forest land is sometimes unavoidable. However, efforts are made to minimize the utilization of forests by hydropower developers. Compensatory Afforestation is mandatory in accordance with Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which has to be fulfilled along with other cconditions laid down by MOEF while according forest clearance to a project