To promote hybrid renewable energy technologies, Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) has brought out tenders, viz. solar-wind hybrid projects, with assured supply during peak hours and round-the-clock (RTC) renewable power. As of 25.11.2021, SECI has issued tenders for 10,100 MW of hybrid/ RTC/ Peak power capacity, out of which 5350 MW has already been awarded. In addition, a bid for 500 MW capacity of wind solar hybrid project has been issued by Maharashtra DISCOM.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy issued National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy on 14th May, 2018. The main objective of the policy is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land. A scheme for setting up of 2500 MW inter-state transmission system (ISTS) connected wind-solar hybrid projects was sanctioned on 25.05.2018. Ministry issued bidding guidelines for wind solar hybrid projects on 14.10.2020.
The Government has taken several steps to promote renewable energy, including wind-solar hybrid renewable energy, in the country. These include:
- permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route,
- waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and
- wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025,
- declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2022,
- setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to RE
- developers on a plug and play basis,
- laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity for evacuation of
- renewable power,
- setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments,
- Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of
- Power from Grid Connected Solar PV, Wind and wind-solar hybrid Projects.
- Government has issued orders that power shall be dispatched against Letter of Credit (LC) or
- advance payment to ensure timely payment by distribution licensees to RE generators.
- Conducting skill development programmes to create a pool of skilled manpower for
- implementation, operation and maintenance of RE projects.
Under the Ministry’s Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme, various research institutions and industry are provided financial support for carrying out renewable energy research including development of new technologies like hybrid solar-wind technologies. The Ministry encourages research and technology development proposals in collaboration with the industry and provides upto 100% financial support to Government/non-profit research organizations and upto 50% to Industry, Start-ups and Private Institutes.
A research project entitled “Integrated Wind and Solar Resource Assessment through Mapping and Measurements” has been sanctioned to National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai with a total cost of Rs 17.99 crore. Under this project, integrated wind solar measurement stations at 23 locations have been commissioned and Solar Wind hybrid map has been prepared.
This information was given by Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
