It is a green leap in every sense of the term. Telangana is the youngest state in India but the first in the country on several fronts, more so in renewable energy space. From a power deficit state in 2014, the year Telangana was formed, to a power surplus state in 2021, it has been a big leap forward and renewable energy has played its part. In 2014, solar energy was 34 megawatts which touched 3900 megawatts in 2021. The total renewable energy in the state from wind, solar, biomass, mini hydel and solid waste management is 4300 megawatts.
The turnaround can be attributed to investor friendly policy, akin to the one that the Government of India took in 1991 with the New Economic Policy. The several steps that Telangana took includes: speedy clearance aided by a single window, 100 per cent refund on VAT and GST, refund on stamp duty, exemption from Land Ceiling Act, exemption from electricity wheeling charges and not running around to get approval from the State Pollution Control Board.
Another unique feature of the state is the adoption of a decentralised model as opposed to a solar park model. The state encouraged projects in more than 180 locations.
While the solar and wind policy, the former in 2015 and the latter in 2016 gave assurance, it was the proactive stand by Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TSREDCO) that paved the way for proper implementation by facilitating incentives, subsidies, technical assurance and necessary support for projects.
On the Energy Conservation Building Code in commercial buildings too, Telangana has the distinction of being the first state in the country to implement the code. Energy Efficient Street lighting Programme in 12,753 villages has been carried out.
As far as the rooftop segment is concerned, the state will add 50 mw capacity to the existing 250 mw solar rooftop capacity. It may be noted that seven years ago, it was just 2 mw. By 2024, the state intends to achieve 5,000 megawatts.
The most visible area of the state’s renewable energy push has been in public transport system. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) for instance teamed up with TSREDCO to install solar rooftop systems on the bus stations, bus depots and workshops. In all, 97 bus depots and 364 bus stations have been covered and the savings are over Rs 2 crore per annum. What is more! It resulted in reduction in carbon emissions by 7,300 tonnes a year.
The winds of change are blowing not just in the districts where wind mills are erected but also in the busy metropolis in Hyderabad. Over 220 traffic signals are connected with solar panels. The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) is another example of going green. The 30,000 solar panels installed over an area of 45 acres of the sprawling airport is reaping benefits as it is help meet 50 per cent of the energy requirement. The airport aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. According to airport officials the dependency on power from the Telangana State Electricity Board has reduced resulting in saving Rs 90 lakh per month.
If the airport has managed to save cost in power, the Hyderabad Metro Rail too jumped the bandwagon by installing solar power plants. Hyderabad Metro Rail has installed 8.35 MWp of captive solar plants. Installations of solar panels at the open space within its two metro depots and on the rooftop of 28 metro stations are completed and 50 electric vehicle charging points at 17 metro stations is changing the way people travel.
The adoption of renewable energy is easier said than done and awareness among people though is growing (read youth) the return on investment and other issues are challenges. Storage technology, making people aware about one grid, convincing people to go for rooftop solar, customs duty imposed on imported solar cells and modules are challenges.
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