‘India can earn ₹600 cr more from existing hydropower’
There is scope for additional peaking support of 3,000-5,000 MW from all existing hydropower stations, according to a joint study by the Forum of Load Dispatchers and the Power System Operation Corporation.
The report, titled ‘Operational Analysis for Optimisation of Hydro Resources & Facilitating Renewable Integration in India’, was released by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, and Mines, Piyush Goyal, at a meeting with the Forum of Regulators on Friday.
The report also notes that the country’s existing hydropower stations have the ability to equally back down power in off-peak hours from the existing generation.
“The gain from the optimised despatch on annual basis is estimated to be 5 paisa per unit, which is equivalent to earning of the order of ₹600 crore per year at all-India level,” it says.
Goyal also launched the POSOCO-IMD weather portal for the power sector, and web portal MERIT (Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency).
New portals
The weather portal will help State discoms better predict short- and medium-term management processes and supply planning requirements.
MERIT will help them optimise power procurement in a more efficient way, leading to lower cost of power for consumers.
It will also facilitate must run status for hydro and renewables and will promote use of green and clean power more transparently.
Source: THB
