Ministry notifies renewable energy purchase, storage norms

The Ministry of Power (MoP) has issued the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and Energy Storage Obligation (ESO) until the financial year 2029-2030. A committee under the co-chairmanship of the secretaries of the Ministry of Power (MoP) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) was constituted in December 2020 to recommend the RPO trajectory beyond 2021-22. Based on the recommendations of the committee and discussions with the MNRE, MoP has specified the following RPO trajectory beyond 2021-22. Renewable Power Purchase Obligation (RPO) Trajectory up to FY 2029-30; Wind RPO will be met only by energy produced from wind power projects commissioned after March 31, 2022. Hydropower purchase obligation (HPO) will be met only by energy produced from large hydro projects (LHP), including pumped hydro, commissioned after March 8, 2019, and up to March 31, 2030. Other RPO may be met by energy produced from any renewable energy power project. An expert said that Wind RPO had been specified to boost the wind installations and bring down the cost of power generated from wind projects; and that specific solar RPO had been taken out because the cost of power generated from solar had reached the desired level. See also: Govt’s $10-bn plan to curb emissionsDVC unveils roadmap worth Rs 500 billion