Mumbai: To promote power generation through non-conventional sources, the Maharashtra government has plans to generate 14400 MW power from the non-conventional sector in the next five years. The state government is expected to announce its new renewable energy policy on May 12 which is likely to give thrust to solar and wind energy. Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target to generate 175 Giga Watt (Gw) power from conventional and non-conventional sectors. Of this, it has decided to produce 100 Gw from solar power sector only.
One Giga Watt is equal to 1,000 megawatts. "In Maharashtra, there are several non-conventional power projects in operation with capacity of 6155 MW. The state has set a target to generate 14,400 MW power through non- conventional sector within next five years," Bawankule said. Non-conventional energy is green and pollution free and hence, the new policy which will promote all non-conventional methods for power generation, the minister said.
The state government had approved its previous solar policy in 2008. The policy term has ended in 2013 and since then there is no policy existing in the state for non- conventional energy. According to Bawankule, out of targeted 14400 MW power generation, highest of 7500 MW will be produced through solar and 5000 MW through windmill. Bagasse in sugar mill will produce 1000 MW power whereas 400 MW will be produced by small hydropower projects. Wastage from agriculture will produce 300 MW.
The land, to be acquired for windmill project, will obtain the status of non-agriculture land. The windmill project will be exempt from No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The policy has suggested no electricity bill will be charged to the sugar mill if the mill will consume the power units generated from its own Bagasse power generation project. Small hydro projects will allow subsidy of Rs 50,000 per kilo watt to a maximum of Rs 1 crore to attract private partners in this field.
