Enabling 500 GW of Renewable Power

Points

1. Renewables are required for the Grid & the Green hydrogen mission.

2. Mega Renewable Energy Zones will generate the bulk of power.

3. High Voltage Transmission corridors would be developed and the highest capacity lines of 800 kV & 400 kV would be installed.

“HVDC is the most efficient, long-distance transmission system. High capacity minimises transmission lines, so land acquisition delays are reduced.”

4. Battery Energy Storage, Pump Storage Hydropower and Hydrogen-fired power plants will provide power when renewables are off-line.

Renewable capacity

PV for Green Hydrogen

Initially, almost all green hydrogen will be produced from solar PV. 

Hydrogen is used in transport (e.g. shipping, fuel cells for EV), power, heating & heavy industries (cement, steel, aluminium, paper, food) and as feedstock (e.g. ammonia, fertiliser, pharma, plastics, oil refining, glass).

Green hydrogen developers will make their own separate renewable energy arrangements.

Adani Group' s 20 GW Hybrid Renewable Park At Khavda In Gujarat/

Up to 125 - 200 GW capacity could be built for 5 - 8 MT hydrogen by 2030. Government agencies would realise the remaining capacity (for targeted 500 GW by 2030).

Rooftop Solar PV

Rooftop PV installations have not taken off as expected. Household PVs are subdued. Strong demand exists in the industrial sector, but it has not been converted due to policy disagreements with state-owned discoms, among others. Gross metering should reduce friction points.

Industrial PV projects can now use the open-access mechanism to connect directly to the national grid. Open-access surcharges for state cross-subsidy are now limited to 20% of total supply. 

Time-of-day tariffs (TOD) will boost solar PV while reducing demand for expensive peak hour (conventional) capacities. It is a win-win for solar PV and consumers. TOD tariffs for solar hours are lowered by ~20% and peak hour tariffs are costlier by 10-20%. As a result, industry may shift consumption to daytime grid power and reduce dependence on captive coal-fired plants. As solar is the most cost-competitive, all solar PV will be bought, existing or newly built. Captive PVs will be able to sell excess power to the grid.“

TOD to ensure better grid integration of Renewable Energy and faster energy transition for India

"Since solar power is cheaper, tariffs during the solar hours have been reduced, so the consumer benefits. During non-solar hours thermal and hydro power as well as gas based capacity is used – their costs are higher which is reflected in Time of Day Tariff. 

Now consumers can plan their consumption in order to reduce their power costs – planning more activities during solar hours when power costs are less." Link

https://pwonlyias.com/current-affairs/time-of-day-todtariff-system/

PM-KUSUM (Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan)

Interested farmers or FPOs can set up stand-alone solar agri-pumps, solarisation of existing agri-pumps and medium-sized grid-connected PV systems (500 KW to 2 MW). Grid-connected PVs should be located within 5 km of the substation and on barren or uncultivable land. DISCOMs buy power at a fixed, relatively high rate.

Renewable Energy Sector Makes rapid Strides in 2019

Floating Solar Park & Canal Top Photovoltaic system

Floating solar PVs are valuable where land is expensive or scarce. It has high growth potential given the large number of water reservoirs in most states. It benefits from better PV efficiency & reduced water evaporation. However, system installation & maintenance costs are higher due to safety, corrosion & access issues. MP & Telangana have installed FPVs. Gujarat, UP & Maharashtra have plans in progress.

Canal top PV has similar advantages but steel frames increase costs. Given the costs, captive CTPV from local industries is worthwhile due to transmission cost savings.  

“Floating solar costs less than Rs. 3 per unit, whereas CTPV power costs over Rs. 4-4.5 per unit. As discoms pay the same rate for both, why would a developer invest in CTPV?”

A study calculated CTPV potential at 131 GW. Floating solar has a potential of 280 GW from 18,000 sq km of reservoir surface area. Both will play a role as future solar PV demand soars. Emerging techniques and low-cost materials can boost this sector.

https://india.mongabay.com/2023/07/solar-canals-prove-to-be-good-for-the-environment-but-not-for-business/

Mega Renewable Energy Zones

1. Mega Renewable Energy Zones offer large tracts of barren land or sea to project developers. These can be solar, wind or hybrid. Storage can be set up as required. REZ will make it easier to build highly efficient transmission lines to the grid. REZs attract global capital, reputed developers and among the lowest bids in the world.

2. Government has earmarked 10 GW off-shore wind from Gujarat & Tamil Nadu. It is creating an ecosystem, eg. large vessels & jetties for handling the super-sized turbines & shafts. Gujarat project is approved. TN projects are in the works. For TN projects, the private sector can select sites and bid according to their wind studies.

3. Ladakh (13 GW). Ladakh has low-value barren land in plenty. It is also the best region in India for solar PV due to high irradiation, low external temps and low-dust atmosphere. Ladakh’s potential is upwards of 100 GW!

4. Vighakot, Kutch district, Gujarat (30 GW). A gigantic wind-solar hybrid project over 72,000 hectares is under-construction with deadlines of 2023 & 2025.

5. Utility-scale solar PVs. India already has several projects of 25 MW to over 500 MW. New sites are being developed and old sites are undergoing phased expansion. They are found mainly in Southern states (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka) excluding Kerala and Western states (Gujarat, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh). 

Green transmission corridors

CII report (2019) stated that a huge Rs 5 lakh crore in transmission was required by 2025 for 1800 TWh consumption. It said delays due to land acquisition or forest clearances, rapid urbanisation, shifts in economic activities and renewables created an “extraordinary burden” on the transmission system. 

Renewable energy projects were developing rapidly in non-conventional locations. Challenges presented by their intermittent nature were i) grid reliability ii) low utilisation & lower return on investment.

Successful transition

Larger capacities have been built. High voltage transmission lines (HVDC & HVAC) are deployed under MII. The grid now works as one and can shift large volumes of power between regions. Power generators have open access and fast grid connections. Green transmission corridors are being built. Large renewable capacities have been connected.

Green Energy Corridor Projects: These were to facilitate renewable power evacuation and reshape the grid for future requirements. As of October 2022, 8651 km of intra-state transmission lines have been constructed and 19,558 MVA intra-state substations have been charged. link

High Voltage Transmission corridors

The government will connect emerging mega renewable energy zones (REZs) to the national grid by high voltage transmission corridors. Rs 2.5 lakh crore will be needed in transmission for 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.

High Voltage Transmission corridors: The plan proposes construction of additional transmission systems of 8120 ckm (circuit kilometre) of HVDC transmission corridors, 25,960 ckm of 765 kV AC lines, 15,758 ckm of 400 kV AC lines, and 1,052 ckm of 220 kV cable.

Also included is the setting up the transmission system required for the evacuation of 10 GW of offshore wind located in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. This is expected to increase the inter-regional capacity to around 1.50 lakh MW by the end of this decade from the current 1.12 lakh MW capacity. Link

Storage

India plans to use battery storage and pump storage hydro (PSH). The cost of storage is high and expected to drop. As of now, pump storage costs Rs 5/unit and is the cheapest storage method. The government has identified 30 GW of pump storage sites and wants India's energy companies to build two projects each. The capital cost of battery storage is Rs 10 per unit. It is very high as suppliers have not invested in economies of scale production. India is leading by tendering for 1 GW of battery storage. It plans to add much more but is also waiting for another solution to emerge such as hydrogen-based storage.

DeMentalists

"Do as we preach," cries Germany

India can't do it all with renewables; it must add thermal as power demand soars. Western climate activists demand action against coal.

"When in need we don't do what we preach."

Germany reopened its thermal plants to escape gas shortages.

Headlines

India’s power demand grew fastest in over three decades caused by unseasonal weather and a sharp economic recovery. It has forced India to ramp up coal and solar output to avoid power cuts.

The government hopes to add 16 GW of renewable energy in the next fiscal year, a 13% increase in installed capacity in 2022-23 (Jan 23).

India expects to burn about 8% more coal in 2023-24. Coal thermal power will contribute 1,255 terawatt-hours (tWh) in 2023-24, compared with 1,180 tWh this fiscal (Apr 23). 

Nitin Gadkari during the 'Industrial Decarbonization Summit 2022’ (IDS-2022)

"Energy security is a serious concern. We are determined to raise living standards so we will not shut down our industries for lack of energy. Even if global pressure is on us and protests are held inside the country. 

"Our energy needs are growing very fast. However, we face difficulty increasing our power and energy capacities due to environmental pressure groups. Funds for upcoming thermal projects have dried up thanks to global climate change lobbyists.

"Solar or renewable energy is already 38% of total capacity - which can go to 50%. 50 GW of hydro projects are stopped or delayed because of legal cases filed by NGOs at every stage, from forest clearances to land acquisition.

"Should we be happy with power shortages in the next few years? No, our approach will be to care for both power and the environment."

 Manned rail level crossings

UMLCs were removed from BG in 2019

MLCs are a cause of traffic jams on busy routes

3980 MLC eliminated in 2019-23

~17360 MLC as of 3/2023

Target all 2429 MLC on Quadrilateral & Diagonals by 3/2025

It may take 15-20 yrs & few lakh crores to remove all.

Priotising MLCs for RUB/ ROB

All railway zones have completed field surveys of the LCs and stations to identify “bottlenecks”

Surveys used satellite-based train location tracking data & data analytics:

Report found:

➣ 477 MLCs delayed trains by 1 hour per day ➣ 250 congested stations or station yards which delayed trains for 4 hour ➣ Loss of over 4% section capacity

https://t.co/KzDS83OBlL

 

Towards higher farm productivity   Link

February 2020

The Green Revolution had a stellar impact on staple grain productivity, food grain availability, lower food prices, and poverty reduction. However, it left out large parts of the country that were unirrigated or grew low yielding crops. It encouraged the unsustainable use of inputs, e.g., “injudicious use of chemicals that damaged soil fertility” and high extraction of water that lowered water tables and caused salinity. Land degradation and such are discussed here.

Institutional factors such as land size and access to land, credit, effective markets, technology, and infrastructure such as irrigation influence smallholders’ ability to commercialize and diversify. Governments have worked on strengthening these factors to improve farm productivity. It is now also looking for climate change resilience and sustainability in terms of resource utilization (e.g., irrigation that uses more water for higher production is not sustainable for a water-stressed India).

HIGHER CEREAL YIELDS, RABI and MAIZE

Higher cereal yields reduce the water footprint (water use per unit of production) of all cereals. Production not only meets the demands of a growing population (up 235% in the last 60 years) but allows enough land and water for other crops and land uses. For example, India achieved a 26.4% increase in total cereal production (between 2005-14) without additional water (down 6.6%) or land (up 1.8%). However, inputs like irrigation (up 51.4m ha to 58.2m ha), fertilizer (up 20 mt to 24 mt) and pesticides (40 kt to 53 kt) have fostered higher yields.

Shift from Kharif to Rabi is one of the hidden causes for higher cereal crop yields, as both high yielding (up 64%) & traditional varieties (up 36%) show higher productivity during Rabi or the dry-season (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, 2017). Rabi's lower temperatures and less cloud cover favour photosynthesis, reduced water loss and better pest control.

Yield growth (helped by a shift to dry season & irrigation) has lowered the water footprint, as both irrigation water (blue) and plant uptake (green) have fallen. 

Changing dietary preferences has meant more land is required for horticulture, livestock, pulses, vegetable oils, etc., though cereals remain significant as calorific food grains. In view of groundwater depletion (up 23% between 2000 and 2010 in one study), a shift toward much higher maize production is likely. Maize has the ideal combination of low water use, high and fast-growing yields and rising demand from the industry and livestock sectors. (Edit: GM maize can yield up to 10t/ha, up from 3.05t/ha in 2019).

Millet and sorghum, nutrient-dense coarse cereals, are promoted for health reasons. However, low yields make them less popular among farmers. Millet production has stabilized at around 10.5-11mt due to rising urban demand, high yield accretion (up from 1.03t to 1.26t/ha between 2008-19) and the government’s millet scheme (distributed in PDS & school meals, as millets boost child growth by 50%).

Yields for corn, rice and wheat are high and increasing. Millet and sorghum yields are low. Millet yields are increasing fast, while sorghum yields are stagnant.

SHIFTS IN CROPS AND REGIONS

Production, productivity and sustainability are relevant to crop patterns and regional shifts.

Rice production is surplus. Due to the water-stressed nature of North India, it makes sense to shift paddy (except basmati rice) to East India, where water is plentiful and productivity is expected to rise. The area vacated in the North can be cultivated for low-water-intense crops like oilseeds or profitable horticultural crops. Covered horticulture minimizes water loss.

Wheat is a Rabi crop and the preferred crop for farmers in North & Central India. This is due to high MSP and predictable production. Yield growth has been excellent (e.g., 3.14 t/ha to 3.42 t/ha between 2014-19). Lack of domestic demand slowed wheat production from 2015 onwards but rising export uptake has once again boosted sown area and production.

Maize is grown in South India where superior yields are achieved due to improved irrigation. Demand from poultry and industry contributes to higher production. Maize production in Bihar will be used for biofuels. Significant area under the nutrient-cereals (particularly sorghum) has shifted to other crops. Pulses area was expanded to achieve self-sufficiency. Likewise, the government has identified rice fallow lands to achieve partial oilseed self-sufficiency. 

Coastal regions are ideal for export-oriented production of premium horticulture & processed foods (e.g., bananas, processed fruits, dry milk powder). Micro-irrigation coupled with high-yielding sugarcane varieties in UP and South India has the potential to significantly increase production with reduced water use.

DECENTRALISED QUALITY SEED PRODUCTION

Potatoes are one of the most cultivated horticultural crops. Yet, the potato yield in Gujarat is 31 t/ha and in Assam, it is only 10 t/ha. This is because quality seeds, which make up 40-50% of the total production cost, are not cost-effectively transported to East and South India from Punjab producers. Apical Rooted Cuttings is a low-cost, low capital-intensive method that should decentralize potato seed production. APC facilities are being trialed in Bengaluru in collaboration with the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS). It can easily be set up in East India.

New regional oilseed seed hubs are being set up that will boost yields by providing farmers with high yielding, drought- and pest-resistant varieties. It targets 14m ha of total rice fallow, particularly in the East and NE states, such as Jharkhand, Odisha, WB, Eastern UP, and Assam. Value chains will also emerge for processing and marketing. ICAR stated, “Private mustard seed companies are already active in West, North & Central India, so 20 seed hubs will be set up in the East, exclusively for mustard, by the next financial year.”

ICAR says farmers in major mustard growing regions in MP, Haryana, UP and WB have shifted to wheat, but oilseed area has risen in eastern parts to a similar extent. MSP hike also played a crucial role in boosting oilseed acreage in non-mustard growing areas. “Last year, the average mustard yield was 1.49 t/ha and is expected to remain the same in 2019-20. But in some areas of eastern UP, it’s reaching a record 1.9 t/ha!

Soil health initiative weaning farmers off fertiliser overuse

SOIL HEALTH CARD

Soil health cards have been a success so far. The scheme was examined in two studies. The second study does not mention SHC uptake, but this only highlights the importance of proper uptake for SHC’s success.

1. The National Productivity Council study, with a sample of 1700 farmers, found a 10% cut in chemical fertilizer usage and a 5-6% increase in farm productivity (higher incomes & time savings for farmers).
2. The NAIEM or Hyderabad study among growers of cotton, paddy and soybean, found those who followed recommendations of SHC had lowered costs by 4-10%, and increased incomes by 30-40%.

Issue with the blind use of fertilizers

India consumes 25.6 mt of fertilisers, with 17 mt of N, 6mt of P and 2.5mt of K. The ideal ratio of NPK (4:2:1) has been skewed towards nitrogen (6.7:2.4:1). Started during the Green Revolution in the 1960s, farmers over-sprayed subsidised chemical fertilisers on crops, imperilling public health, degrading soils and upending crop yields. Urea, in particular, was used in doses several times above recommended levels. It accentuated deficiencies in other elements (P, K & micro-nutrients) and caused soil imbalance.

Health impact

The “chemical health epidemic” describes high incidences of cancers and other diseases found in states with excessive per-hectare chemical use. For example, fertilizer chemicals have entered Punjab’s food chain, groundwater and soil.

SHC, its implementation and the way forward

At the farmers’ level, SHC is meant to reduce input costs, increase crop yields, increase hybrid seeds use, encourage different types of crops and increase farmers’ incomes. On a broader scale, its aim is to restore severely degraded soils and promote the balanced chemical use.

While soil deficiencies in a region are well-known, SHC gives specific recommendations for farmers. A former ICAR member says testing can’t be a “one-time affair” and routine testing is required for better results.

SHCs are renewed every two years and offer local farmers specific recommendations on fertilizer use, based on tests for main elements and micro-nutrients. Sampling, testing and reporting are done through a nationwide network of laboratories built up under the SHC scheme by the Central govt in 2015. 

250 million cards have been sent to farmers so far! Nitrogen shortages were found in Punjab, Haryana, UP, Raj, Guj and Mah. Phosphorous-depleted soil was found in HP, Haryana, UP, Raj, Guj, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Focus on farm mechanization to cope up with increasing food demand

FARM MECHANISATION

It is known that higher farm mechanisation and power availability increase farm productivity. Power availability for production and post-harvest operations will be increased from 2.02 kW per ha (2016-17) to 4.0 kW per ha by 2030. India (at 40-45% mechanisation) is advancing mechanisation towards levels seen in China (57 per cent), Brazil (75 per cent) and the USA (95 per cent).

The government provides farmers assistance through the states for procuring agri-machines, agri-equipment and setting up Custom Hiring Centres (see Farm Mechanisation - NABARD link). The thrust of funding in the last 4 years was on machinery like laser levellers, happy seeder technology, combine harvesters and small equipment like power weeders. Tractors sales have steadily grown at 7.5% pa.

Role of farmer producer organization (slide 17+)

FARMER PRODUCER ORGANISATIONS, LAND LEASING and KISAN CREDIT CARD link

FPO: Economic clout to marginal farmers

Despite the many government schemes, for 86% of farmers with small and marginal farms, credit remains difficult and farming support mechanisms are inadequate or non-existent. Yet, experts state that small Indian farmers are highly efficient and more so than larger farmers. The central government realized that proper support at the grassroots would boost farm productivity and contribute significantly to doubling farmers’ incomes.

Marginal farmers are not well-organized or powerful. Their produce is often the last to be sold so it is likely to be underpriced and undersold. Farmer Producer Organizations were set up by the central government that combined marginal farmers into local units of around 20 and aggregated them into thousands. FPO helps farmers with generating value at the local level where the farmer and his family have a financial stake in it.

FPOs are designed to provide margibal farmers with economic, institutional and political clout. As an example, FPOs can get easier financing under PM KUSUM to buy solar PVs. FPO can make independent and optimal choices, e.g. planning of water bodies (under Jal Shakti Abhiyan) and piped water (under Jal Jeevan Mission).

One distinct benefit is that FPO needs to be market-oriented and encourage farmers to produce only what can be sold in terms of quantity & quality. Farmers’ cooperatives must plan for selecting crops, improving yields and establishing quality standards. Careful thought is given to storage, processing, branding, packaging, the use of chemicals, traceability, etc. FPO can deploy experts and technologies to assist them in estimating markets, understanding distribution & buyers preferences, pricing and export opportunities

Importance of sublease agreements

Benefits are usually given in the name of the farm owner and not the active farmer. In this situation, the worker or landless farmer (i.e. those without an officially recognised title) miss out on government entitlements and remains poor and prone to suicide. A sub-leasing agreement that is officially certified would benefit the leasor through ownership surety and the leasee through government entitlements. As such, govts and institutions like banks can identify each relevant party and support their activities. 

Kissan Credit Card (KCC)

The vast majority of marginal farmers were not able to access credit through official channels, be it commercial banks, co-operative banks or rural development banks. Govt's measures on farmer credit, such as the interest subvention scheme were entirely wasted as they failed to reach the people they are designed for! 

Kissan Credit Card (KCC) is a cash-paying credit card with low interest rates (~4%). KCC is not limited to land-holding farmers as is also available to tenanted farmers, tribal farmers, livestock farmers and fisheries farmers. KCC gives credit not only for production but also for personal use. NABARD officials say NPA risk on credit is the same.

FARMER WATER MANAGEMENT and LAND USE IN HILLY TERRAINSains link

WB worked on a model scheme for improving HP’s water management and land use.

1. Better hydrological information: Hydrological monitoring stations will be set up in uplands to monitor water quality and flow quantity.

2. Better water infrastructure: Catchment area treatment (CAT) plans were devised to create sustainable water sources. Construction of micro-watersheds in the upper catchment areas was done to increase the year-round supply of water for uplands and to control the discharge of water for lowlands. Irrigation facilities were created for cultivable land (which were downstream), and rationing of water through water charges was introduced.

3. Better land-based resource management: A shift was made from low-value cereal production to climate-resilient varieties and higher-value fruits, vegetables, and aromatic & medicinal plants. This improved the ability of farmers/ lowland citizens to pay for water infrastructure via water charges. State land plans helped in respects of infrastructure, training, land acquisition, distribution, and marketing.

Videos: https://youtu.be/mUpoKBpUgoA

             https://youtu.be/Kt_tQ9iqb8U