Uttarakhand is richly endowed with natural renewable resources for generating electricity. Most of this could be harnessed through environmentally clean Medium & Large Hydroelectric Projects (i.e. projects with capacity in excess of 25 MW); it is estimated that a capacity of more than 20,000 MW is yet to be tapped through these sources. In addition, the State has significant Renewable Energy (RE) Sources that includes sites for developing Micro (up to 100 KW), Mini (100KW-5 MW) & Small (5-25 MW) Hydropower projects) as well as sources for generating electricity through Biomass/Agro residue, Wind power, Solar energy, Cogeneration etc. This policy aims at expeditiously harnessing these sources of energy that are nonpolluting and are useful for electrification of isolated and remote habitations in Uttarakhand. It is felt that more than 1,000 MW electrical power could be tapped through these sources before 2020.
Objectives of Uttarakhand Solar Policy
To create conditions conducive to Private Sector/Community participation in power projects based on RE Sources in the State. In particular,
2.1 To harness the environment friendly RE resources and enhance their contribution to the socioeconomic development of the State.
2.2 To meet and supplement minimum rural energy needs through sustainable RE projects.
2.3 To provide decentralized energy supply to agriculture, industry, commercial and household sector.
2.4 To improve the quality of grid power through such projects, as a consequence of tail-end generation and feeding.
2.5 To enhance the use of energy sources that assist in mitigating environmental pollution.
2.6 To support efforts for developing, demonstrating and commercializing new and emerging technologies in the RE sector and, to this end, help establish linkages with national and international institutions for active collaboration.
2.7 To create conditions conducive to the involvement of private investors in RE projects.
2.8 To create public awareness and involve users/local community along with their capacity building in establishing, operating and managing RE projects.
2.9 To create direct and indirect employment opportunities in the State.
3. MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED
In order to fulfill the above, the following measures are proposed to be adopted:
• Power generation through Hydro projects
• Co-generation in industries such as Sugar, Paper, Fertilizer and Chemical etc.
• Power generation from Biomass / Agricultural residue.
• Power generation from urban, municipal and industrial waste.
• Power generation from solar energy.
• Power generation from wind energy.
• Power generation from geothermal energy.
• Energy conservation in domestic, agriculture, industrial, commercial and transport sectors through induction of administrative/statutory/legislative/ technical solutions and imposing stringent conditions for all categories of consumers.
4. POTENTIAL PROPOSED TO BE HARNESSED:
Given the geographical conditions of the State of Uttarakhand, and availability of various sources of energy, the State proposes to harness the resources with active involvement of private/public sector/ community participation in the following manner:
4.1 Hydroelectric Power:
By virtue of its topographic location, the State has a number of perennial streams where water is available throughout the year. The untapped potential that could be harnessed before 2020 through Micro/Mini/Small Hydro projects is about 600 MW. The State Government is committed to exploiting this potential.
4.2 Co-generation:
Uttarakhand has an established industrial base which is expanding. The Sugar, paper, fertilizer, chemical, textile and other industries have an estimated potential of about 220 MW that could be tapped by co-generation. This would not only augment the State’s grid but would also help captive generation. This potential would also be exploited by the year 2020.
4.3 Biomass/Agro residue and waste :
It is estimated that about 20 million Metric Tons of agro residues and agro industrial/ processing waste is produced annually in Uttarakhand. It holds promising potential for generating decentralized power of about 300 MW. The State Government would support and facilitate harnessing this potential by 2020.
4.4 Urban, Municipal and Industrial Liquid /Solid Waste :
At present about 1000 Metric Tons of Municipal, Urban and Industrial solid/ liquid waste is being produced every day in the State. Introducing scientific processing and treatment of this waste would lead to power generation along with abatement of environmental pollution. Initially a small number of such projects would be supported.
4.5 Solar Energy :
The State is endowed with vast potential of solar energy and the Government of Uttarakhand (GOU) is keen to tap this resource; the State would support efforts for setting up Solar based power projects.