As part of a roadmap to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious vision of the country reaching 1,75,000 MW of renewable energy generation target by 2022, out of which solar energy is to contribute one lakh MW, the Centre is likely to come up with incentive-oriented schemes to attract greater participation from states as well as private entrepreneurs for setting up small hydro power projects.
The thinking within the ministry of new & renewable energy (MNRE), the nodal ministry for achieving the target, as well as the ministry of power is that as renewable power will be available for eight hours and more, the power supply for the remaining eight to 16 hours will have to be supplemented by a power technology like hydro power projects. Thermal power and nuclear power are required to be run round-the-clock, whereas hydro power can be stopped when solar power is available. Therefore, the balance can be generated with the help of small hydro projects.
Sources aware of the development said that mini-hydro projects need to be given priority. In this light, the government is likely to appoint a task force to draft an action plan along with a time-bound programme to settle pending issues related to setting up of mini-hydro projects.
Priority may be given to mini projects which are being planned on river or dam backwater areas, they added.
According to official sources, 28 such projects could be developed on such river or dam backwater regions. They could not be taken up earlier due to lack of coordination between states and MNRE.
Therefore, it is being felt that top priority should be given to such projects and all outstanding issues should be sorted out at the earliest. The Centre is likely to take up the initiative and motivate states and PSUs on setting up such projects.
In this light, sources informed, measures are being taken to attract more investment in the small hydro power sector from private entrepreneurs and states. The incentive schemes for the sector may be made more attractive through the introduction of single-window clearance for such projects.
