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.
