The Maharashtra government under its new policy has proposed a slew of sops such as waiver in the electricity duty, subsidy for evacuation arrangement, 100% expenditure for construction of approach roads to attract investment for renewable projects. By promoting renewable projects, the new policy aims to address challenges posed by the climate change.
Currently, Maharashtra which has a total installed capacity of 14,546 mw, has a renewable potential 7,852 mw. So far the renewable generation capacity of 2,523.135 mw has been achieved of which over 1,948.76 mw is generated from wind power.
The government is keen on utilising untapped potential of 5,328.865 mw which entails an investment of Rs 26,770.075 crore. Of the 5,328.865 mw, about 2,635.24 mw to be added by wind power projects, 388.75 mw by small hydro, 988 mw by bagasse based co-generation projects, 686 mw by biomass and agro-waste, 287 mw by municipal solid waste and 343.875 mw by industrial waste.
State energy secretary Subrat Rathod told FE on Wednesday that no electricity duty would be levied for first 10 years from the date of commissioning of the renewable projects for captive consumption and third party sale. For evacuation arrangement of wind, bagasse cogeneration, biomass, small hydro projects, 50% amount would be given as a subsidy through Green Energy Fund and 50% amount to be repaid by MahaVitaran and MahaTransco after commissioning and transferring the ownership of evacuation arrangement to the companies in five equal yearly installments. Ratho, who was speaking on the sidelines of an infrastructure summit said 100% expenditure for construction of approach roads for wind energy projects would be met through Green Energy Fund.