RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY OF WEST BENGAL

West Bengal, contrary to its name, is located in the Easter part of India and is one of the most populated stated in the country. The capital city of West Bengal os Kolkata, which was famously called as Calcutta in the time of British rule. West Bengal has about 23.07MW of connected solar power as of January 2017. Out of this more than 50%, 15.30MW to be exact was commissioned in the Financial Year 2016/17. In the year of 2016, more than 190 schools in West Bengal saw solar power systems installed. The state government has ambitious plans and more than 1300 government buildings, hospitals and schools have been identified to help install about 180MW of solar in the next couple of years. The target for the Financial year 2017-18 has been set at 120MW and the government in all is expected to spend about Rs 1000 crore overall on the project. Not just the villages and cities, but also the islands of Sundervans have been discussed as areas that are currently facing a shortage of power. Solar as a possible solution is attractive but the difficulty in land acquisition for projects has put the state behind. A new policy too is expected in West Bengal to help set up the action plan, helping the state to achieve the target of 4,500MW of solar power by the year 2022 that the state has set.

RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY OF WEST BENGAL

Objectives of the Policy

The objective of the Renewable Energy Policy for this State is to promote and facilitate the growth of generation of electricity from renewable energy sources by way of optimum utilization of the RE potential in the State.

Wind Farms

To exploit the wind potential of the State, the Nodal Agency shall initially undertake a comprehensive wind resource assessment and offer the identified potential sites for development. Government-owned wasteland in areas having minimum annual mean Wind Power Density (WPD) of 200 Watt/m2 measured at a hub height of 50 meters and using new generation wind turbine generators will be offered for setting up of wind projects.

Biomass Projects

An additional 224 MW of biomass power has been targeted for achievement by the year 2017. In West Bengal, rice husk is a primary feedstock for biomass projects. However, other forms of agricultural waste like wood, straw, maze, energy plantation, etc. are also being considered for generating biomass power in West Bengal. Feedstock availability and pricing are the critical determinants of success for biomass plants. In order to ensure feedstock availability, energy plantations will be promoted. For this, barren Government land, waste land, as well as degraded forest land shall be made available.

Solar Photovoltaic

There is a target to harness 82 MW of solar power through grid connected projects and 18 MW of solar power through rooftop and smaller solar installations by 2017. The State intends to encourage the development of solar power by providing favorable atmosphere for promising Solar Developers. Apart from grid-connected solar power, the State is targeting huge capacity addition through rooftop and smaller solar installations. The comprehensive solar Policy for cities. The byelaws shall be amended with due mandatory provisions for providing solar energy infrastructure, right at planning/building stage, both for residential and commercial categories. It shall be mandatory for all the public buildings to have solar devices to meet electricity requirements and other applications. All existing and upcoming commercial and business establishments having more than 1.5 MW of contract demand will be required to install solar rooftop systems to meet at least 2% of their total electrical load. Further, all the existing and upcoming schools and colleges, hospitals, large housing societies and Government establishments having a total contract demand of more than 500 KW will be required to install solar rooftop systems to meet at least 1.5% of their total electrical load. West Bengal has on an average 300-330 sunny days, with solar insolation 5-5.5 (kwh/m2/day). West Bengal has initiated a net-metering solar rooftop model to promote self-consumption. The system size limited to 2-100 kW, Connectivity is allowed at Low Voltage or Medium Voltage, or 6 KV or 11 KV, of the distribution system of the licensee. Policy targets 16 MW of rooftop and small PV installations by 2017.

MAIN FEATURES OF POLICY

•       WBGEDCL (West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Limited) will be the Nodal Agency and will facilitate investment and involvement in the RE sector of the State. WBREDA will promote new renewable energy technologies through demonstration projects. Allotment of Projects through Competitive Bidding

•       The Nodal Agency shall release in the public domain a Request for Proposal (RfP) for inviting prospective developers to submit their proposals.

•       Bidders qualified on fulfilling minimum requirements at pre-qualifying stage will be considered for next stage of technical and financial evaluation. The developer offering the highest discount on the WBERC (West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission) ceiling tariff for the concerned RE technology will be invited to negotiate for signing the PPA.

•       A developer can bid for full or part capacity/quantity of a specified RE Project.

Land for R.E. Project Development

•        For cases where Government vested land is available, the permission for use of such land will be given for 30 years or the project life whichever is less. Vested land will be allocated and transferred to the WBGEDCL, which will then lease the land to the renewable energy developers.

•        For projects on private land the developer will arrange the entire required quantum of land through direct purchase from / suitable agreement with the land owner. R.E. projects may not require conversion of private /agricultural land to non agriculture purposes subject to necessary government orders passed for these purposes.

•        The allotment of land, if any, shall stand cancelled if the power project is not started within the time frame in accordance with the time limits as stipulated in the Implementation Agreement.

Clearance

The Nodal Agency will act as a Single Window for obtaining assistance from all line Departments.

MORE DETAILS

SOLAR ENERGY  POLICY

TARGET

As per MNRE there is a target to harness 5336 MW of solar power through grid connected projects and through rooftop in the state.

LAND ALLOTMENT

•                    Government land, if available, permission for use will be given for 30 years or the project life whichever is less.

•                    Land to be allocated and transferred to WBGEDCL, which will then lease the land to the developers.

•                    For projects on private land developer to arrange the entire required quantum of land through direct purchase / suitable agreement with the land owner.

•                    E projects may not require conversion of private /agricultural land to non agriculture purposes subject to necessary government orders passed for these purposes.

•                    The allotment of land, if any, shall stand cancelled if the power project is not started within the time frame in accordance with the time limits as stipulated in the Implementation Agreement.

INCENTIVES

•                    Exemption of demand cut to the extent of 50% of the installed capacity assigned for captive use purpose will be allowed subject to the Regulations of the Commission.

•                    The host and obligated distribution utilities shall provide revolving Letter of Credit from a nationalized bank as a payment security mechanism for all RE projects.

•                    Developer/Government acquiring land to provide an amount not exceeding one percent (1%) of the project cost for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the persons displaced from the project area.

•                    In case of RE project construction in very remote areas, some infrastructural support including approach roads to the project site may be provided at Government cost.

SALE OF POWER AND TARIFF

•                    All the electricity generated from the renewable energy projects established within the State of West Bengal are to be preferably sold to the distribution licensees within the State of West Bengal.

•                    All transactions between W B S E T C / D i s t r i b u t i o n Licensee and the developer involving wheeling or sale of power will be settled on a monthly basis as per PPA and transmission service agreement executed. Power Evacuation and Grid Interfacing.

•                    The evacuation infrastructure cost beyond the inter-connection point to be borne by the licensees which is to be recovered from consumers as per suitable pricing framework developed by WBERC.

•                    Interfacing equipment and associated switchgear as well as their maintenance to be undertaken by developers at their own cost.

•                    West Bengal Solar Policy and it's Solar Highlights

APPLICABLE POLICIES

ROOFTOP

•                    Mandatory for all large housing societies having a total contract demand of more than 500 kW will be required to install solar rooftop systems to meet at least 1.5% of their total electrical load.

SUBSIDY

•                    30% subsidy on the cost of solar system from MNRE (Central Government) through State Nodal Agency subject to approval & availability of funds.

Vision

•                    Ensuring greener generation of electricity for future generations

•                    To promote generation of electricity from renewable energy resources available in the State,

•                    To create a conducive environment for participation of the public sector, private developers and smaller communities in the development of RE-based power projects in the State.

•                    To generate value for the stakeholders, as well as for the State.

WIND ENERGY POLICY MORE DETAILS

WBREDA installed 8 X 250 kW Wind Energy Generators at Freserganj. One machine is out of order but other machines are in operating condition. WBREDA is getting service charge from WBSEDCL by selling power to their grid. WBREDA has prepared a proposal for installation two more Wind Electric Generation Projects with capacity 1 X 250 kW each at Ganga Sagar & Beguakhali in Sagar Island under South 24 Parganas District.

Wind – Diesel Hybrid :

WBREDA is operating a Wind-Diesel-Gasifier Hybrid Power Projects having 4 x 50 kW WEG, 2 x 180 KVA DG Sets and 1 x 150 kW Biomass Gasifier (Duel Fuel type).  The project has been funded by MNRE, Govt. of India; ICEF & the State Government. The Project was conceived as a Technology Demonstration Project. 

Wind-Solar Hybrid :

WBREDA conceived a project proposal for installation of six numbers Wind-Solar Hybrid Projects for six different schools under Sagar Block in Sundarban. The main objective of the project is to provide power for operating Computers and Laboratory Equipments. Each hybrid system comprises of 3 kW Aero Generator and 3 kW PV with Battery Storage System. The total financial involvement for this purpose would be Rs.133.40 Lacs

Aero Generator :

WBREDA has installed four aero generators each of capacity 5 kW at two existing Solar PV Power Plants at Gayen Bazar 25 kW Solar PV Power Plant and at Moushuni 55 kW Solar PV Power Plant of Sundarbans. WBREDA is facing problem in maintain the Aero Generators. Three Aero Generators have been badly damaged due to Aila. WBREDA already informed the matter to MNRE Government of India for providing fund in restoring the systems. Performances of Aero Generators are found well particularly for the period from March to September.

New Projects of 2 MW capacity Wind Generation :

WBREDA has initiated a proposal for installation of 2 MW capacity Power Plant through Wind Energy.