The World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), a not-for-profit institute based in Pune which works towards promoting sustainable energy and sustainable development (with special emphasis on renewable energy) is undertaking a major project to develop State-level Action Plans for Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan for climate mitigation, based on clean energy technology. Funded by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and supported by the British High Commission in India, the project aims to enhance capacity building at the state level to tackle climate mitigation through accelerated deployment of clean energy technologies, strengthen public-private partnerships and develop suitable policy and implementation mechanisms.

In order to finalise the draft Action Plan which is to be presented to the Government of Maharashtra in March 2010, WISE will be organizing a series of workshops to present the draft Action Plan to senior administrators from the state government to elicit their views and suggestions. The first interactive workshop in this series is being held in Mumbai on 26 October 2009 at Forum & Capitol Hall, Taj President Hotel, Cuffe Parade at 10:30 am. Mr  V P Raja, Chairman, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) will be the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Session. The British Deputy High Commissioner in Mumbai Ms Vicki Treadell, Mr G M Pillai, Founder Director General, WISE, and Mr Sanjeev Ghotge, Project Coordinator and Senior  Fellow, WISE, will also attend.

Participants at the workshop will include senior officials from MERC, Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Ltd (MSPGCL), Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (MSETCL), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and  Maharashtra State Financial Corporation (MSFC). The Action Plan will be finalized after the workshops.  It will be presented to the Maharashtra government in March 2010.

The draft Action Plan aims at strengthening Maharashtra’s renewable energy capacity and providing energy security. It spans the entire range of energy, climate, fuel and sustainability issues that need to be addressed through forthcoming actions in three phases – upto 2012, from 2012-2020 and from 2020-2030. The topics covered include renewable power technologies (wind, solar, bioenergy, etc.), biofuels, off-grid applications, as well as conservation and substitution possibilities. The Plan also deals with policy and regulatory issues and methodologies needed for successful implementation. It is hoped that the pioneering approaches developed in this project will spread to other states, and that such state level Action Plans will aid the  successful implementation of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

While there is action taking place at the national level in India with the promulgation of the NAPCC, complementary action is required at state level (and even at the level of individual cities) as the states are at the cutting edge of the implementation of development projects. Quick adoption of climate-friendly policies and choices needs the involvement of the state. The initiative to develop Clean Energy Technology Action Plans for Climate Mitigation in Indian states is seen as the first step in this direction.

Maharashtra has always been a pioneer in the development of renewable energy and has a well defined policy and\ regulatory framework for the promotion of renewables. On the regulatory front, for the first time in developing countries, Maharashtra conceived and piloted the introduction of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) a system of prescribing mandatory purchase of green power by all utilities. The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) issued the Renewable Portfolio Obligation (RPO) order in September 2004, which initiated renewable energy development in the state. At present, MERC has prescribed an RPS percentage of  5% and 6% for 2008-09 and 2009-10. Besides distribution licenses, the Commission has also included open access consumers and captive users under the RPS obligation. MERC is also the only Commission in India to have issued tariff order for all renewable energy technologies including wind, solar, biomass, bagasse co-generation, and municipal solid waste.

Maharashtra has also pioneered the creation of a Clean Energy Fund by levying a green cess of four paise per kWh (unit) on conventional power production for industrial and commercial establishments which would generate approximately Rs.100 crore annually. This green cess is converted as seed money for the ‘Urja Ankur Nidhi’, a corpus fund solely utilised for the development of renewable energy in the state.

The current installed renewable energy capacity in Maharashtra is 2543.37 MW, of which wind contributes the highest capacity i.e. 1969 MW (Source: MEDA). While the current potential for renewable energy is estimated at around 7852 MW (excluding solar), fresh preliminary assessments made by WISE in the draft Action Plan show that Maharashtra has the potential to develop grid-connected renewable projects in the range of 35,185 MW to 1,36,709 MW. While wind power alone can contribute upwards of 14,260 MW to 23,140 MW, solar photovoltaic and thermal sources together can contribute between 15,077 MW to 1,05,539 MW, depending on land availability assumptions.

Notes for Editors

• The workshop will be held on Monday, 26 October at Forum & Capitol Hall, Taj President Hotel, Cuffe Parade at 10.30 am. You are requested to depute a representative to attend and cover the event. 
  
• For further information please contact Mr Sanjeev Ghotge, Project Coordinator, WISE, Tel: +91 020 26613832 / 26613855
  
  22.10.2009
  
  Dan Chugg
  Director, Press and Communications
  British High Commission
  Chanakyapuri
  New Delhi 110021
  Tel: 26872161; Fax: 26870065

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