Energy Framework

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set a target for Assam to generate 688 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy by 2022. Almost 99 per cent, i.e. 663 MW of this target is to be met with solar energy and the remaining 25 MW from small hydro power projects. Data for the month of January released by the Ministry reveal that the state is way behind in solar energy generation and meeting this target is a monumental challenge. Assam's current installed power generation capacity is 1724 megawatt of which 1191.77 MW is thermal (403.50 MW generated from coal-based projects and 788.27 MW from gas-based projects), 457.08 MW is hydropower and 75.34 MW is from renewable energy, primarily the solar power. According to Renewable Energy Project Monitoring Division of the Central Electricity Authority the state generated only 0.48 million units (MU) of solar power in January against 0.66 MU in January 2019. Small hydropower generation in January was 1.03 MU against 1.04 in January 2019. The Assam Solar Energy Policy, 2017 also set the state's own target of generating 465 MW of grid connected solar energy by 2019-20 which includes 200 MW coming from solar park, 200 MW from solar power plant for sale of power to Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), 15 MW from solar power plants for sale of power to entity other than APDCL. The target for generation set for grid connected rooftop solar power plant under the policy is 110 MW (residential 21 MW, government-26 MW, social and institutional -16 MW, commercial -22 MW, industrial 25 MW). The installed capacity of renewable energy in January 2017 was 45 MW against the total installed capacity of 1446 MW of the state. The State Renewable Energy Action Plan for Assam states that the state has a potential of generating 13 gigawatts of solar energy. While the targets were achievable, failure to pursue the policy prescription indicates that the solar energy generation is not in the list of priorities for the state government. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of 70 MW ground-mounted grid-connected solar park at Amguri in Sivasagar district in 2019. The solar park is coming up on 340 acres of land. It will have a span of 25 years. Assam Power Distribution Company Limited also signed an agreement with Dima Hasao Autonomous Council for another 70 MW solar power project in Dima Hasao hill district. Expediting the two projects will help the state increasing solar power generation. The Ministry has not allocated any target for Assam for generation of renewable power from wind or biomass on grounds of low potential. Off-grid solar power generation has huge potential in the state that has over two lakhs shallow tube wells and about 1500 deep tube wells for irrigating crop land. The farmers are dependent on grid electricity or diesel to run these pumps. Rising electrical tariffs and hike in diesel price pushes the input cost. Besides being eco-friendly, the solar photovoltaic water pumping system provides relief to the farmers from expenditure in using electricity or diesel to operate the pumps for irrigation. In the prevailing COVID-19 situation assessment of the financial capacity of the farmers seeking to install solar-powered pumps for irrigation will help the State Government formulate new policies for increasing use of solar power for irrigation. Increasing the subsidy for solar-powered pumps can help the state achieve twin objectives of doubling crop production and increasing off-grid solar power generation. Rooftop solar photovoltaic system is another focus area of the Ministry, but it has not been publicised much in Assam to attract individual households, industries, commercial unit to use their building rooftops for generation of solar energy. The NITI Aayog also identified "limited initiatives to promote rooftop solar" and "lack of capacity of the state agency to implement and manage large projects" among the challenges in augmenting solar power generation. The Central government has set a target of generating 40 GW from rooftop solar projects by 2022. The target set for the Northeast region is 350 MW. The ministry provides 30 per cent capital subsidy support to the residential and institutions like educational institutions, hospitals. The advantage of the rooftop solar power generation is that surplus power can be fed to the grid for use by the power distribution company in return of benefits. The Assam Solar Energy Policy, 2017 set the target of generating 110 MW from grid connected rooftop solar power plant by 2019-20. Availability of land for large solar power projects like such solar park is a challenge in the state and the policy, therefore, needs to be revisited to address the issue. Missing the targets and target deadlines reflect negatively on the state's performance and deprive the people from desired benefits. The remedies lie in strict monitoring and timely evaluation of policies and executive decision.