India’s northeast, which accounts for just 8 per cent of India’s total land area, possesses a remarkable renewable energy (RE) potential of 129 gigawatt (GW), the Union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) said, even as it pointed out that the region has a long way to go before this potential was realized as currently, the utilization of RE resources in the region stands at less than 4 per cent. The per capita energy consumption in the northeast is the lowest in the country, with figures amounting to one-third of the national average (488 kWh in 2021) and this “energy poverty” resembles the situation in some African countries and necessitates immediate action towards developing climate-resilient programmes that incorporate renewable energy.
This was the focus of discussions at a national seminar organized here today by the New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in association with the Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS), under MNRE. The Meghalaya Non-conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency (MNREDA) hosted the seminar, which was titled ‘Promotion of Clean Energy Access in Northeast India’.
In his address, Jaychand Shiv, programme director, renewable energy, CSE, said, “Through this seminar, we aim to shed light on the various technologies, policies, and challenges involved in transitioning the northeastern states towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. We will explore the existing energy mix in the states and emphasize the importance of shifting towards a decentralized and distributed RE deployment. The focus will be on biogas, compressed biogas, and hybrid mini-grids as key components of this transition”.
Meghalaya’ Power Minister, Abu Taher Mondal emphasised on the significance of the recently launched Chief Minister’s Solar Mission, the objective of which is to promote self-sufficiency in electricity, thereby reducing dependence on the grid and resulting in substantial power savings.
Mondal said that relying solely on power purchases was not a viable long-term solution. “Instead, the key lies in power generation,” the minister underscored.
Acknowledging Meghalaya’s considerable potential for generating energy from renewable sources, MNREDA Chairman, Rupert M Momin pointed out that Meghalaya could produce around 400 MW from small hydro energy projects.
Noting that the state relies on hydroelectric projects for its power supply, but recent changes in rainfall patterns have posed a challenge, leading to power shortages, Momin said, “To tide over this crisis, the state is actively pursuing the exploitation of solar energy”.
“This approach not only contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions but also enhances the region’s energy supply, generates income for rural communities, and improves the overall resilience of local societies,” Jaychand Shiv said.
State government representatives participating in the seminar pointed out that the government of Meghalaya is diligently considering implementation of various decentralized renewable energy projects.
Source: PTI
