MNRE Intervenes to Assist RE Developers, Holds Discussions with State Governments

MNRE has announced that it has conducted discussions with state governments to ascertain how much land they are ready to set aside for renewable energy parks.

This trails a recent announcement by the ministry that it will guarantee that land and transmission facilities are in place for developers who win wind and solar projects in auctions conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), its nodal agency.

Also, MNRE officials held deliberations with their counterparts in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the central government official said. Meetings with Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka are in the offing, the official further.

“We want the states to identify actual parcels of land where projects can be set up,” the official told ET. “Developers can bid comfortably knowing they won’t have to hunt for land. We will make sure Power Grid Corporation of India provides connectivity in these places too. PGCIL is already working on extending its transmission.”

As per reports, Gujarat has settled to provide land to accommodate 10,000 MW; Andhra will be giving space for 8000 MW, while Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have presented land for 19,000 MW and 5,000 MW, respectively.

“The broad areas of land have been identified. In around a month, SECI will start floating more tenders,” the official cited earlier said.

Gujarat, in specific, had been reluctant to provide land for centrally-auctioned renewable energy projects, since the power produced would not necessarily go to Gujarat, but could be provided anywhere in the country through the inter-state transmission network.