Need To Create Special Zones For Green Energy To Achieve Net Zero Emission: Manohar Lal
Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal chaired the regional power ministers’ conference (Western Region) on May 13 where he made underscored the importance of cooperation between central and state governments in achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat, a self-reliant India, by 2047. The meeting was also attended by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Naik, Minister of Power of Goa Ramkrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar, Gujarat Minister of Energy Kanubhai Mohanlal Desai, Madhya Pradesh Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar and Minister of State for Energy for Maharashtra Meghana Sakore Bordikar.
Mr Lal said that a future-ready, modern and financially viable power sector played and important role in a country’s growth.
Maharashta CM Devendra Fadnavis, who was also in attendance, commented on Maharashtra’s endeavour to reduce the AT&C costs, thereby reducing the cost of supply.
Mr Manohar Lal laid stress on adequate power resource and ways to ensure it. He talked about power purchase tie-ups, as well as developing necessary storage capacities through pumped storage projects and battery energy storage systems, as well as increasing nuclear generation capacity.
Mr Lal said special economic zones needed to be created for green energy to achieve net zero emissions.
Mr Lal commended on the role of energy distribution sector, saying it is the most critical link in the power sector value chain. However, he said, it faces challenges due to poor tariff structures, sub-optimal billing and collection, and delayed payments of Government department dues and subsidies. He said for the distribution sector to become viable, the AT&C losses need to be reduced and the gap between average cost of supply and average revenue realised. The tariffs, he said, should be cost-reflective and government due and subsidies to DISCOMs should be paid on a timely basis.
Mr Lal said that distribution utilities should strive to improve efficiency through implementation of infrastructure and smart metering works under RDSS. In this direction, the Ministry has also facilitated ease for fund flows for smart metering works. He also emphasized that the pre-paid smart meters should be prioritized for installation in government establishments including government colonies and should be completed by August 2025. The Smart meter has huge potential to transform the way consumers interact with utilities using the data analytics based on AI/ML tools.
