India’s ambitious goal to transition to clean energy is gaining momentum, driven by the pledge to achieve 50% of cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. In this transformative journey, the state of Gujarat has emerged as a trailblazer, demonstrating unwavering commitment to clean, sustainable energy.
Gujarat’s achievements in clean energy are nothing short of remarkable. With an impressive 20 GW of installed renewable capacity, over 11 GW of which has been added in the past four years, the state stands as a testament to the potential of clean energy sources, particularly wind, solar, and solar-wind hybrid technologies.
Gujarat’s Visionary Renewable Energy Policy 2023
In a bold move, Gujarat unveiled its Renewable Energy Policy in 2023, setting an audacious target to reach 100 GW of cumulative renewable energy capacity by 2030. To achieve this monumental goal, the policy aims to attract investments totaling approximately ₹5 lakh crores and leverage an expansive 4,00,000 acres of land. What makes this policy truly exceptional is its approach.
Vision: Shaping a Greener Future
Gujarat’s vision for clean energy is driven by several overarching goals:
- Harness Renewable Potential: The state aims to maximize its renewable energy potential to the fullest extent, tapping into the abundant resources available.
- Inclusivity and Participation: Gujarat envisions the active involvement of industries, MSMEs, organizations, and consumers in bolstering clean energy sources within the state.
- Sustainable Development: The policy is designed to accelerate the achievement of the state’s Sustainable Development Goals through a swift transition to clean energy sources.
- Accessible, Reliable, and Affordable Power: Gujarat is committed to providing quality, reliable, and cost-competitive renewable power to consumers, facilitated by a conducive policy framework.
- Ambitious Capacity Growth: The ultimate vision is to achieve a remarkable 100 GW of Renewable Capacity within the state by 2030, demonstrating the state’s unwavering dedication to clean energy.
Objectives: Transforming the Energy Landscape
The “Gujarat Renewable Energy Policy 2023” sets forth a comprehensive set of objectives to drive this transformative vision forward:
a) Tap Renewable Energy Potential: Exploit the abundant renewable energy resources available within the state to their fullest capacity.
b) Enhance Energy Security: Increase the share of renewable energy to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, ensuring a more secure energy future.
c) Empower Agriculture: Supply daytime power to agricultural consumers, contributing to the agricultural sector’s growth.
d) Cost Reduction: Reduce the overall cost of the energy basket in the state, making clean energy more accessible to all.
e) Promote Decentralization: Encourage decentralized renewable energy generation to enhance energy resilience and sustainability.
f) Boost Investment and Employment: Promote investment, employment opportunities, skill enhancement, local manufacturing, and the growth of startups in the renewable energy sector.
g) Foster Innovation: Encourage research and development, as well as the deployment of innovative technologies and pilot projects within the renewable energy sector.
h) Energy Awareness: Promote energy awareness and responsible energy consumption among all stakeholders.
Key Highlights of Gujarat’s Groundbreaking Policy
- Breaking Free from Capacity Constraints: Gujarat’s policy defies conventional wisdom by lifting capacity restrictions on renewable projects. It encourages projects for captive use or third-party sales as long as they align with consumer demand.
- Flexibility and Inclusivity: The policy empowers the development of solar and wind energy projects in designated parks, on government revenue land, and even on private land. This flexibility promotes inclusivity and innovation in the renewable energy sector.
- Revolutionizing Hybrid Projects: Wind Solar Hybrid (WSH) projects are given a prominent place in the policy, offering a two-fold approach – the conversion of existing standalone projects into hybrids and the development of entirely new, groundbreaking ventures.
- Mega Renewable Energy Parks: The policy focuses on Renewable Energy Parks, setting a minimum capacity of 50 MW while adhering to guidelines from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
- RECs for Sustainable Energy: Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) feature prominently in the policy, enabling projects to meet Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs) and ensuring that unused renewable energy attributes are considered in DISCOMs’ RPO calculations.
- Incentives for Distributed Solar and Small-scale Wind: DISCOMs are actively encouraged to procure power from distributed solar projects up to 4 MW capacity and small-scale wind projects up to 25 MW capacity at predefined levelized tariffs.
- Embracing Green Tariffs: To accelerate consumer transition to renewable energy, the policy introduces Green Tariffs. DISCOMs will readily supply 100% renewable energy at the Green Power Supply Tariff upon request.
- Real-time Monitoring: Renewable energy developers are mandated to install Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) for real-time data transfer to Load Dispatch Centers, ensuring effective project monitoring.
- Unlocking Carbon Credits: The policy recognizes the potential for carbon credit benefits, making renewable energy projects eligible for competitive bidding processes. Developers can obtain and retain these credits, offering powerful incentives for green initiatives.
Gujarat’s visionary policy is setting the stage for an energy revolution in India. With unparalleled capacity growth and a flexible project development approach, it marks a profound stride towards a sustainable energy future and solidifies India’s commitment to global climate action.