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Round-the-clock power from renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydro

MNRE has come up with a draft plan to revive and boost both thermal and solar power. Whereby power generated from thermal power plants and renewable projects like solar, wind and hydro shall be bundled at optimal rates. Earlier in JNNSM bundling mechanism was introduced, which aimed at boosting solar adoption in the market, when prices of solar power generation were at higher side. Over the period of time, advancement in technologies resulted in bringing down the tariffs of solar and wind power to ₹3.00 per unit. Per unit cost of power generated from solar energy is now cheaper than thermal energy, which have made it feasible for faster adoption across the country and globe.

One major bottleneck allied with solar power is its intermittent nature which raises concern on the grid stability. Government has mulled out reverse bundling mechanism where high-cost thermal power is bundled with cheaper renewable energy to provide round-the-clock power supply. Generator under this mechanism has to generate power at  80% PLF with 51% total power provided annually from renewable sources. Duration of power supply under this arrangement shall be for life of project ie. 25 Years.

This mechanism is poised to cater its objective of filling gaps of intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and to provide round the clock supply to consumers to meet their base-load and enhance renewable penetration at DISCOMs. Bundling of power would still be a challenge, as thermal power plants have to augment technologies that could ramp up and down in minimal times or bundle generation with other gas based power plants which have minimal response time.