The ministry of new and renewable energy has proposed an outlay of Rs 10,460 crore for the 11th Plan period for development of new and renewable energy in the country.
According to the ministry, renewable energy sources exploited so far in the country are solar, wind, small hydro and bio energy.
While the estimated potential of grid interactive renewable power is 84,776 mw, the cumulative achievement till September 30 was only 10,985.36 mw.
The ministry, in its recent note, said that though the potential is based on surplus agro residues, in practice there are several barriers in collection and transportation of such agro residues to the generation site and biomass power generation units prefer to use fuel wood for techno economic reasons. A potential of 45,000 mw from around 20-million hectares of wastelands assumed to be yielding 10 million tonne per hectare per annum of woody biomass having 4,000 kilo calories per kg with system efficiency of 30% and 75% plant load factor has not been taken into account.
As far as wind power potential is concerned, preliminary surveys do not at this juncture suggest a sizeable grid interactive offshore wind power potential. The ministry has made it clear that not all of this renewable energy potential may be suitable for grid interactive power for technical or economic reasons.
Further, estimate excludes potential for solar power, which is dependent on future developments that might make solar technology cost competitive for grid interactive power generation applications.