Punjab Participates in Re-Invest 2018

Punjab organised an impressive session on ‘Bio-Ethananol / Bio-CNG technology- a new era of green energy revolution in the State’, on the concluding day of the second Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo (RE’INVEST-2018) organised by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy at Greater Noida.

Facts :

• The three-day Conference included discussions on renewables, cleantech and future energy choices and an Expo of renewables-related manufacturers, developers, investors and innovators.
• The Punjab session was chaired by Mr. Anirudh Tewari, Principal Secretary, New and Renewable Energy and was co-chaired by Mr.Anil Dhussa, former Advisor MNRE, GoI.
• On the occasion, Mr. Tewari gave a presentation on Punjab Government’s Initiatives to Implement Clean & Green Energy in the state with a special focus on Bio-Ethanol and Bio-CNG technology for transition to a low carbon future.
• Punjab State produces more than 15 million tonne of rice straw. This crop residue is now being utilized for power generation in the biomass power projects and the same is now contributing to the farmer's income and the State economy.
• Punjab state NRSE Policy envisages a potential of 1100 MW generation from biomass based projects including co-generation by 2022.
• The total installed non solar RE capacity is 673 MW as on August 2018.
• In addition, the state is providing slew of incentives for setting-up of NRSE projects such as 100% exemption from payment of fee and stamp duty for registration/lease deed charges for the land required for the project,100% exemption from payment of CLU and EDC for the land required for Renewable Energy Power Projects and 100% Electricity Duty exemption for power consumed from state licensee during construction and testing of the project.
• Punjab is specially focusing on setting-up of Bio-energy projects (bio-CNG, bio-ethanol & biomass) and has taken major initiatives by signing of MOU's with various companies such as Hindustan Petroleum, Indian Oil Corporation, Verbio, Mahindra, Neway etc.

Analysis :

• Punjab has adopted adequate steps to create a conducive ecosystem to attract private sector investment in the area of New and Renewable Sources of Energy sector and facilitate broader participation by public community / civil society.
• Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) formed in September 1991 is the state nodal agency for promotion and development of Renewable Energy projects/programmes under the NRSE Policy notified by the Government of Punjab in 2001 and the state designated agency for the implementation of Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• Biomass, Small Hydro and Solar Energy are the key renewable sources in Punjab and with deployment of the efficient technologies for Biomass based Power projects and solar technologies in the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors combined with energy efficiency, the share of Renewable energy will be maximized in the total energy mix in the state.
• PEDA is making continuous efforts for integrated resource planning and deploying techno commercially viable and sustainable renewable energy technologies in the state. So far, NRSE Cap commissioned in the state is 1600 MW.

2nd Global RE-Invest :

• RE-INVEST is a global platform to explore strategies for development and deployment of renewables. It showcases India’s clean energy market and the Government’s efforts to scale up capacity to meet the national energy demand in socially, economically and ecologically sustainable ways.
• The 2nd Global RE-INVEST build upon the success of RE-INVEST 2015 and provided an international forum to establishe players as well as new segments of investors and entrepreneurs to engage, ideate and innovate.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India organised the 2nd Global RE-INVEST India-ISA Partnership Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo from 3-5 October 2018 at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, National Capital Region of Delhi.
• The 2nd Global RE-INVEST hosted the First Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Meeting of the Energy Ministers of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) countries.
• India today is the world’s largest clean energy market, with exponentially increasing demand and supply and proactive policy support, including 100% foreign investment in renewable energy development.

By: Harman Sandhu