The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) is in discussions with the ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) to combine the exploration of offshore hydrocarbon blocks with offshore wind farms for better synergies.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Ministry of Power (MoP) have proposed a scheme for setting up of three manufacturing zones for renewable energy and power equipment—two brownfield manufacturing zones, and a greenfield manufacturing zone in a coastal area with a total financial outlay of Rs 1,000 crore.

The Centre has approved 23 new inter-state transmission system projects worth Rs. 15,893 crore, comprising 13 projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 14,766 crore to be developed under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding and 10 projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,127 crore to be developed under Regulated Tariff Mechanism.

The MNRE has approved the allocation of Rs. 454 crore for three programs to foster the growth of renewable energy. This includes the continuation of the Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development programme from the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26 at an estimated cost of Rs. 228 billion crore.

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has sought the support of the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh to sort out the land issues in setting up a 10 GW of renewable energy project in the Pang area, where 20,000 acres of land would be provided. The MNRE will soon send a team to Ladakh to thrash out issues.

A Parliamentary panel has asked the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to set up a pilot tidal power project in the country, preferably at a cost-effective location like the Gulf of Kutch. There are three main types of ocean energy - wave, tidal and ocean-thermal. The estimated potential of tidal and wave power in India are 12,455 MW and 41,300 MW respectively while the potential for ocean-thermal has not been estimated to date, it notes.

Strengthening the clauses in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to boost investor confidence, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set up Renewable Industry Facilitation & Promotion Board to facilitate investment in the sector and is getting in touch with trade commissioners/representatives of various countries inviting them to invest in India.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has written to various state governments and various port authorities to identify land parcels of 50-500 acres for setting up renewable energy equipment manufacturing parks to meet both domestic and global demand for silicon ingots and wafers, solar and wind power equipment and ancillary items.

Expression of Interest (EOI) is invited from reputed consultants and experts to undertake an evaluation of Component-C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme. Component C includes solarization of 10 lakh existing grid-connected agricultural pumps of pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.