Making a significant stride to generate Green Power, Odisha is all set to produce more than 1000 Mega Watt from Non Conventional Renewable Energy sources in 2020-21.
Being happy with the progress Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy has directed to enhance Green Power generation to 1500 MW level by 2021-22.
Power generation from non-conventional renewable energy (RE) sources increased from 664 MW in the year 2019-20 to 1,079 MW in the year 2020-21.
It may be pertinent here to mention that Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission has set RPO obligation of the State at 11 Percent for the year 2021-22.
With achievement of the targeted 1500 MW from Renewable Energy sources, the total production from renewable sources will cross this RPO obligation of the State.
Reviewing the progress in power production from different sources, Chief Secretary Mr.Tripathy directed to “ensure uninterrupted quality power supply to rural and industrial sector”.
Mr.Tripathy also directed GRIDCO to “adopt more effective commercial strategies for sale of available power”. Industry and Energy departments were asked to motivate newly coming up industries to source power from GRIDCO with assurance of timely and quality power supply.
Further, Mr.Tripathy directed Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) to “explore the possibilities of producing more hydro power from existing dams having no submergence, land acquisition and displacement issues”.
Presenting the updates Managing Director GRIDCO Trilochan Panda said, “the total power generation reached 3489 MW during FY 2019-20 including 2468 MW from thermal, 854 MW from hydro and 167 MW from non-conventional renewable sources”.
Sources say, the average yearly demand of the State comes around 3200 MW.
Of course, with current expansion in rural electrification and industrialization, the power demand is likely to increase in coming years.
Keeping that in view, Odisha is all set to generate around 4300 MW of power during 2020-21.
Development Commissioner, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Chairman GRIDCO, Saurabh Garg, Principal Secretary Energy, Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Chairman and Managing Director OHPC Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary Finance, Ashok Kumar Meena, Director Finance GRIDCO Gagan Swain along with senior officers from concerned departments participated in the deliberations.