While appreciating the various efforts of the Bihar government, Samit Aich, Executive Director, Greenpeace India said, "Bihar has enormous energy deficit which is a major challenge for the growth of the state. However, it has the potential to become a power surplus state with strong focus on development of renewable energy. What it needs is the right incentives, enabling environment and effective implementation."
The business conclave brought together the industry leaders, policy think-tanks, investors and energy experts from across the country to suggest the various ways and means to bring state out of the power crisis. The conclave witnessed discussions on innovative and implementable models of decentralised renewable energy. It also suggested a strong and enabling regulatory framework to attract investment in the renewable energy sector in the state.
Manish Ram, Analyst- Renewable Energy & Co-author of the report, Greenpeace India said "Microgrids can offer reliable and cost competitive electricity services, providing a viable alternative to the conventional top down approach of extending grid services. The microgrid approach is "smart" because it can facilitate the integration of renewable energy, thereby contributing to national renewable energy uptake. In addition it can reduce transmission targets due to generation being close to where demand is." He added further, "This report demonstrates Bihar as a case study on how this bottom-up approach with microgrids would take the state out of darkness."
Greenpeace urged the Bihar government to focus on integrated energy planning based on cluster based development. The energy planning should promote the establishment of a council for rural industrialisation and establishment of related coordination committees at district level with strong financial support. Institutionalise supportive regulatory structures and encourage governance support through the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
While speaking at the conclave, Ramapati Kumar, Head-Renewable Energy, Greenpeace India advocated for a strong policy based on the state-wide network of decentralised energy plants (stand alone and micro-grids), developed with the support from the state government agencies in collaboration with the private entrepreneurs for a high impact and accelerated economic development of the state. "The government should work towards a strong feeding tariff support mechanism (FTSM) policy to support a large scale deployment of renewable energy in Bihar," he added further.
For further information:
Ramapati Kumar, Head Renewable Energy, Greenpeace India
Ph: +91 98455 35414,
Manish Ram, Analyst-Renewable Energy, Greenpeace India
Ph: +91 9741 936701,
Seema Javed, Sr Media Officer, Greenpeace India
Ph: +91 99100 59765,
Notes to Editor:
1) http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/report/Bihar-Smart-Energy-Access.pdf
2) The microgrid can operate both in island mode and grid-connected mode, making operation flexible and can also offer grid support features