Power Ministry

Coal India needs to raise prices, but caught between political constraints

The state-owned miner needs to raise prices but it is caught between the political constraints on its major buyer, electricity producers and close decision-making control by the coal and power

Power ministry seeks comments on draft carbon credit trading scheme

The power ministry on Monday issued a draft 'Carbon Credit Trading Scheme' with an aim to set up a framework for Indian carbon market and sought feedback from stakeholders. The comments on the draft scheme would have to be submitted with the ministry by April 14, 2023, an office memorandum stated. The parliament has passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and a notification for the same was issued in December 2022. One of the provisions of this amendment included empowering the central government to "specify carbon trading scheme", in consultation with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). Now the ministry of power is in the process to finalise the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). The CCTS provides that an 'Accredited Carbon Verifier' means an agency accredited by the BEE to carry out validation or verification activities in respect of the CCTS. The 'Carbon Credit Certificate' (CCC) means the certificate issued to the registered entity by the central government, or

India exploited 29% of hydropower potential: Power Minister to Parliament

India has exploited 29 per cent of its hydropower potential against over 80 per cent and 70 per cent developed by the US and European Union respectively, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. As per the Reassessment Study carried out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) during 1978-1987, the assessed hydropower potential in the country is about 1,45,320 MW (for projects with capacity above 25 MW), Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Singh said that 42,104.6 MW (29 per cent) out of 1,45,320 MW has been developed and 15,023.5 MW (10.3 per cent) is under construction. As per reports of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), the US has developed more than 80 per cent of its hydropower potential and the EU (European Union) has developed more than 70 per cent of its hydropower potential, he told the House. The main challenges in the development of hydroelectric potential in the country are remote location, unpredictable geology, natura

Smart prepaid meters to reduce power bills by up to 2.5%: Power Minister

Union Power Minister R K Singh on Monday urged electricity consumers to use smart prepaid meters, saying the device helps users bring down power cost by up to 2 per cent. Installation of smart prepaid meters reduces the operational and finance cost for electricity suppliers as consumers credit their account in advance, the minister said while releasing the 'Enabling a consumer-centric Smart Metering Transition in India' report here. "If you have a smart prepaid meter, your cost of electricity will come down by 2-2.5 per cent and the consumer gains (at benefit)," Singh said. Usage of smart meters will lead to digitisation of systems, automation and further efficiencies. It will help in energy accounting, which helps in identifying the areas which need attention. "Energy accounting system...is another challenge which we are still tackling," he said. According to the findings of the report released, the users of smart prepaid meters are having better experiences compared to conventio

Thermal plants had 33.5 MT coal on Sunday, enough for 12 days: Power Min

Thermal power plants monitored by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) had 33.5 million tonne of coal stock as on Sunday, which was sufficient to run them for 12 days at 85 per cent capacity utilisation, Parliament was informed on Thursday. This assumes significance in view of projection of an unprecedented high demand of electricity during this summer. Electricity demand is expected to touch 229 GW next month as per power ministry estimates. "As on 12.03.2023, the total coal stock available with coal-based thermal power plants monitored in CEA is 33.5 Million Tonne (MT), which is sufficient for an average of 12 days at a requirement of 85 per cent Plant Load Factor (PLF)," Union Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. In another reply to the House, Singh stated that as on January 31, 2023, coal (including lignite) based installed capacity was 51.27 per cent of the total installed capacity. The CEA has carried out generation expansion planning studies and

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PowerMin expects 20 million tonnes domestic coal shortfall in April-June

An earlier projection by the coal ministry had pegged the coal supply to be around 205 mt during Q1

Power Min mandates 40% renewable purchase obligation for thermal plants

The Ministry of Power has mandated new coal or lignite-based thermal plants to either set up renewable energy capacity equivalent to at least 40 per cent of the thermal plant's capacity or procure that much supply of green energy under renewable purchase obligation. Earlier this month the power ministry amended the Tariff Policy 2016 under Electricity Act 2003 to impose the renewable purchase obligation of 40 per cent for the new coal or lignite-based thermal power plants to be set up from April 1, 2023 onwards, showed a notification. "... any generating company establishing a coal/lignite-based thermal generating station and having the Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the project on or after April 1, 2023 shall be required to establish renewable energy generating capacity (in MW) i.e. Renewable Generation Obligation (RGO) of a minimum of 40 per cent of the capacity of the thermal generating station or procure and supply renewable energy equivalent to such capacity," it explained.

Power ministry seeks enquiry on DERC for not following statutory orders

The Ministry of Power has asked an appellate tribunal to conduct an enquiry on the grounds that provisions of the Electricity Act, and orders of statutory bodies and courts were allegedly not being followed by the DERC, sources said on Thursday. The ministry in a reference to the chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) on February 20 has also sought to build a case for the removal of a member of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on the ground of "proved misbehaviour" under Section 90 (2)(f) of the Act, they said. The DERC is a three-member body. Since the retirement of DERC chairperson Justice (retd) Shabihul Hasnain on January 9 and a member before him, the commission currently has only one member A K Ambasht. No reaction was immediately available from Ambasht, member (technical), on the development. However, a DERC source claimed that the move by the ministry was "irrelevant" as only the Delhi government can invoke Section 90 provisions agai

Over 1,100 participants attend post-Budget webinar on green growth

Over 1,100 participants on Thursday attended the post-budget webinar on green growth. The Power Ministry led the first post-budget webinar on Green Growth with discussions in six parallel sessions on 12 announcements made in the Union Budget 2023-24, an official statement said. Over 1,100 participants drawn from the industry, academia, PSUs, state governments and sector experts participated in the deliberations, which were aimed at seeking inputs for the finalisation of a time-bound action plan for the implementation of budget initiatives, it added. Addressing the stakeholders at the webinar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited global investors to invest in India, saying that the renewable energy sector in the country has the potential not less than a goldmine or an oil field. The first break-out session on Green Growth, led by Alok Kumar, Secretary, Power and co-led by BS Bhalla, Secretary, New and Renewable Energy, on Green Growth, focused on Energy Storage and Inter-State ...

PM Modi bats for more RE and less fossil fuel or gas-based economy

The PM addressed stakeholders and govt departments in the first of 12 post-Budget webinars by the Centre

Zero coal import remains elusive as Centre leans on foreign supplies again

Move to make it a must for units running on imported coal to remain fully functional comes amid 50-80% spike in global coal price

To quell shortages, govt mandates power plants to run in full swing

The power ministry has mandated all imported coal-based thermal plants to function with full capacity from March 16 to June 15 this year in order to meet the anticipated high demand of electricity. This order (under Section 11 of the Electricity Act) shall remain valid for generation and supply of power from March 16, 2023 to June 15, 2023, stated a notice sent to 15 thermal plants that use imported coal. Last year in May, the ministry had issued similar directions to such power plants to operate and generate power to their full capacity. The 15 imported coal-based power plants include Tata Power's and Adani Power's plants in Mundra in Gujarat; Essar power plant in Salaya; JSW Ratnagiri; Tata Trombay; Udupi Power; Meenakshi Energy; and JSW Torangallu. India's peak power demand is expected to touch 230GW in 2023. In December 2022, Union power secretary Alok Kumar had said that the government will take all possible measures to meet the 230 gigawatt (GW) single-day peak demand expect

Power stocks surge as govt orders coal-based plants to run at full capacity

The government has invoked emergency powers under Section 11 of the Electricity Act to impose the rule as it expects record surge in power demand this summer

Power ministry plans tax breaks for pumped storage hydro projects

To promote pumped storage hydro-power projects in India, the Ministry of Power has proposed giving incentives such as tax breaks, easy environment clearance and providing land at concessional rates. The ministry has released draft guidelines on pumped storage projects (PSPs) to seek comments from states and state-run companies as well as private firms within a fortnight till March 2, 2023. Keeping in view the immense utility of the PSPs in grid stabilisation as well as meeting the peaking power demand, a need for formulating separate guidelines to promote PSPs was felt to set the direction of its development, the minsitry said in the guidelines. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates regarding on-river pumped storage potential is 103 GW in India. Apart from this, a large number of off-river pumped storage potential is also available, the ministry added. As of now, eight projects (4,745.60 MW) are presently operational, four projects (2,780 MW) are under construction, and

Over 17,000 circuit km of transmission lines installed in 9 yrs: R K Singh

Over 17,000 circuit kilometers of transmission lines were installed in India in the last nine years to strengthen the electricity distribution system, Union Power Minister R K Singh said on Tuesday. He made the remarks while addressing delegates from the West African region at an event organised by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in collaboration with Grid Controller of India Ltd (Grid-India) and West African Power Pool (WAPP) in the national capital. The usage of renewable energy is cheaper compared to the conventional form of energy sources, Singh said, urging the participants to increase use of green energy in their countries. Besides making energy available to their people, these nations must also lay emphasis on the transmission as well as storage of power, he noted. "I want to share that we have set up 1,75,000 MW of renewable capacity from 2014 onwards. We have added more than 17,000 ckm of transmission lines to strengthen distribution systems...," he said. In Decemb

Lift 15-20% coal need via rail-ship-rail mode: PowerMin to Punjab utility

The power ministry has asked the Punjab power utility PSPCL to start lifting 15-20 of its domestic coal requirement through rail-ship-rail mode, while highlighting that the transport of dry fuel would be cheaper than the import of coal. The ministry in a letter to Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) stated that the transport of fossil fuel using the rail-ship-rail (RSR) mode is though costlier than all rail route, it is cheaper than importing coal. "The matter was further discussed in the meeting....chaired by secretary power with states/gencos in which PSPCL (Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd) also participated...It was decided to operationalise the RSR plan from January, 2023 onward by NTPC and all the state Gencos having TPPs in Northern and Western part of the country," the power ministry said in a letter to PSPCL. Central and state gencos were also advised to plan to cover 15-20 per cent of their total domestic coal requirements using RSR mode. The ministry asked PSPCL

India needs $10 trillion till 2070 for energy transition at G20 meeting

Policy on carbon capture likely in next 3 months

39 hydro projects under implementation; 9 stalled: Power ministry

As many as 39 hydro projects totalling 14,623.5 MW capacity are under implementation in the country while nine out of these are stalled, Parliament was informed on Thursday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Power Minister R K Singh said steps are being taken by developers/government for revival of the stalled projects. "39 Hydro Electric Projects (above 25 MW) aggregating to 14,623.5 MW are under implementation in the country. Out of these, 30 projects aggregating to 13,387.5 MW are under active construction and likely to be commissioned by 2026-27 and 9 projects aggregating to 1,236 MW are presently stalled (as on December 31, 2022)," Singh said. In order to fast-track the development of HEPs in northeastern region, a basin-wise indication of projects has been undertaken by CPSUs, he said. As on December 31, 2022, total 211 HEPs aggregating to an installed capacity of 46,850.15 MW were in operation in the country, he added. In another reply to the House, Singh said that at ..

PowerMin asks utilities to not retire old thermal units till 2030

The move considers expected demand scenarios and availability of capacity in the near future