The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recently issued a monthly summary for the Cabinet for the month of October 2020.
Some important events and developments that took place during the month of are as follows:
1. A total of 406.22 MW of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity was added during the month, taking the cumulative installed RE capacity to 89.63 GW as on October 31, 2020. This includes 38.26 GW of Wind capacity, 36.32 GW of Solar capacity, 10.31 GW of Bio-power and 4.74 GW of Small Hydro capacity. Further, projects of 49.59 GW capacity are at various stages of implementation. Projects of 27.41 GW capacity are under various stages of bidding.
2. An expenditure of Rs. 1997.85 crore has been incurred up to October 31, 2020 which is around 35 percent of the Budget Estimate (BE) for the Ministry for the year 2020-21.
3. The evaluation of the pilot run of Component-A and Component-C of PM-KUSUM Scheme (for setting-up of small solar power plants by farmers on their barren land and solarisation of grid connected pumps respectively) was completed and a proposal for scaling up the Scheme (as approved by CCEA) and expansion of the Scheme (as announced in the Budget for 2020-21) was sent to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for approval. While agreeing to the proposal, the MoF has advised to implement the scaled up Scheme during 2020-21 and that further extension will be considered after another evaluation. As per the approved proposal, 5000 MW capacity small solar power plants, 7 lakh stand-alone solar pumps and solarisation of 4 lakh grid connected pumps will be sanctioned cumulatively by 2020-21. The States have accordingly been requested for demand.
4. The Ministry issued Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding for procurement of power from Grid Connected Wind Solar Hybrid Projects on October 14, 2020. This has the objective of promoting large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems for optimal & efficient utilisation of transmission infrastructure and land.
5. The Ministry proposed the Draft Policy Framework for developing and promoting Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) Livelihood Applications in Rural Areas. This has been circulated for comments of stakeholders on October 19, 2020.
6. The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) initiated a project for wind measurement in Ladakh. Four wind masts have been transported to the region after the completion of site visits. Installation will be carried out after the receipt of the requisite NOCs. In addition to the above, the NIWE will also carry out Solar Radiation Resource Assessment studies in Ladakh.
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