Green power is cheaper than ever; so why are discoms chasing coal?
₹6.64 a unit, even though solar and wind power come for ₹2.5-4. The key reason is the 'infirm' nature of renewable power - lack of generation when the sun doesn't shine, and the wind doesn't blow.Even those renewable projects with combined solar and wind generation, plus battery storage, are not finding takers despite being available at ₹5 a unit or lower, as discoms remain wary of battery supply chains. Meanwhile, thermal provides the necessary base load.
According to four people aware of the growing problem in India’s green energy space, this signals a continued weakening in demand for renewable power in the days to come.While Assam Power Distribution Co. Ltd has signed up for 3.2GW of thermal power at ₹6.64 a unit, Bihar State Power Generation Co. Ltd has signed a PPA at ₹6.08 a unit for 2.4GW.
Also, MP Power Management Co. Ltd (800MW), West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (1,600MW), and Uttar Pradesh Power Corp.
Ltd (1.5GW) have signed PPAs for coal power at ₹5.85 per unit, ₹5.81 per unit, ₹5.45 per unit, and ₹5.38 per unit respectively, tariff petitions and orders showed. The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission is yet to approve the 1.5GW PPA.“We are not sure about the viability of these proposed (green power) projects, with tariffs being quoted very low for standalone battery projects," an official at a state power distributor that has signed up for thermal power said. "Further, there is an 18% GST on battery services, which would increase the cost of power.
Batteries are currently imported, and there remain supply chain concerns. Thermal, on the other hand, is reliable with assured fuel supply and its baseload availability. Also, batteries currently can supply power for up to seven hours,
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