C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Why is renewable energy yet to attain its potential in the State? It
is because of the insufficient infrastructure for transmission and
evacuation of power, according to industry players.
While grid infrastructure creation takes time, renewable energy projects – wind, solar and biomass – come up within a very short span of time. As a result, they suffer for want of evacuation and transmission facilities, according to a study by Power Research and Development Consultants.
To address the problem, the Union ministry of power has constituted a committee, which will look into the aspects related to renewable energy development through legislative and policy changes. Ministry officials agree they botched up planning because it was done keeping only conventional sources in mind. The committee has been tasked to make demand-specific mentions in the Electricity Act to factor in likely renewable energy capacity in transmission planning. In other words, after the Energy Act is tweaked, Tamil Nadu can evacuate renewable generation and import or export power from a wider pool, the study said.
Intelligent use of renewable energy can release pressure on conventional sources, the study suggested. For example, during the high wind season, Tamil Nadu can exploit wind energy and let some thermal plants take a maintenance break. That would also help conserve coal stocks in thermal units.
Going forward, the study suggested that the inter-regional corridor capacity be enhanced for easy power transfer from the southern grid to the northern grid, since the high wind-low demand situation in Tamil Nadu coincides with high-demand low-supply situation in the North.
A strong inter-regional power transfer capability would help Tamil Nadu sell excess renewable energy at profitable prices during renewable energy season and buy deficit power from a larger seller base at a more reasonable price during off-peak renewable energy season, the report stated.
While grid infrastructure creation takes time, renewable energy projects – wind, solar and biomass – come up within a very short span of time. As a result, they suffer for want of evacuation and transmission facilities, according to a study by Power Research and Development Consultants.
To address the problem, the Union ministry of power has constituted a committee, which will look into the aspects related to renewable energy development through legislative and policy changes. Ministry officials agree they botched up planning because it was done keeping only conventional sources in mind. The committee has been tasked to make demand-specific mentions in the Electricity Act to factor in likely renewable energy capacity in transmission planning. In other words, after the Energy Act is tweaked, Tamil Nadu can evacuate renewable generation and import or export power from a wider pool, the study said.
Intelligent use of renewable energy can release pressure on conventional sources, the study suggested. For example, during the high wind season, Tamil Nadu can exploit wind energy and let some thermal plants take a maintenance break. That would also help conserve coal stocks in thermal units.
Going forward, the study suggested that the inter-regional corridor capacity be enhanced for easy power transfer from the southern grid to the northern grid, since the high wind-low demand situation in Tamil Nadu coincides with high-demand low-supply situation in the North.
A strong inter-regional power transfer capability would help Tamil Nadu sell excess renewable energy at profitable prices during renewable energy season and buy deficit power from a larger seller base at a more reasonable price during off-peak renewable energy season, the report stated.
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