Over 80,000 MW power from renewable energy sources by 2032

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) Concerned over the rising petroleum import bill, the government plans to generate more than 80,000 MW power from renewable energy sources by 2032.

It was envisaged that by the end of the 15th Five-Year-Plan grid-interactive renewable power (wind, small hydro, bio-mass and bagasse) capacity could reach about 84,776 MW corresponding to a share of five per cent in the then electricity-mix, official sources said.

A budgetary support of Rs 1,500 crore had been proposed for research, design and development in new and renewable energy during the 11th Plan period.

The estimated potential to generate electricity from bio power (agro residues and plantations) was 16,881 MW, wind power 45,195 MW, small hydro power (up to 25 MW) 15,000 MW, cogeneration-bagasse 5,000 MW and urban waste to energy 2,700 MW.

However, at present only a small portion of this was being harnessed from these sources -- bio power (agro residues and plantations) 524.8 MW, wind power 7,092 MW, small hydro power (up to 25 MW) 1,975.6 MW, cogeneration-bagasse 615.83 MW and urban waste to energy 43.45 MW.

Apart from formulation of a draft New and Renewable Energy Policy, an expert committee on Integrated Energy Policy constituted by the Planning Commission had given its report covering all sources of energy, including new and renewable energy.

Installed capacity at the end of the Tenth Plan (March 2007) was 1,32,329 MW, which had 65 per cent (86,015 MW) share from thermal sources, 26.2 per cent (34,654 MW) from hydro sources, 5.9 per cent (7,761 MW) from wind renewable energy sources and 2.9 per cent (3,900 MW) from nuclear sources.

Capacity addition from conventional sources proposed during the 11th Plan period was of the order of 78,577 MW, comprising 74.6 per cent (58,644 MW) from thermal sources, 21.1 per cent (16,553 MW) from hydro sources and 4.3 per cent (3,380 MW) from nuclear sources.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy also planned to add 13,500 MW from non-conventional sources during the 11th Plan.

The ministry was also implementing several programmes to promote use of solar energy devices and systems in the country.

UNI