Government sets renewable purchase targets for states

NEW DELHI: The government has set possible renewable purchase targets for all states for the next five years.

The Forum of Regulators, a statutory body of electricity regulators, has completed a study drawing up possible renewable purchase obligation ( RPO) trajectory for states.

RPO casts an obligation on distribution companies, open access consumers and captive power producers to procure part of their energy needs from green energy sources, an official statement said.

The study has projected likely capacity addition during the 12th plan period and suggested RPO trajectory for states after considering the impact on power purchase cost.

Incremental impact on power purchase cost as a result of increasing level of RPO is not significant, the study has concluded.

In the business as usual scenario, renewable energy capacity addition during the 12th plan period is likely to be 35,715 mw and if issues and constraints, including evacuation infrastructure are addressed the capacity addition could be to the tune of 40,659 mw, the statement said.