Punjab Aims to Increase Share of Renewable Energy to 43% by 2030

Chandigarh: Punjab's New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister, Aman Arora, announced on Thursday that the state government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in electricity generation to 43 percent by 2030. Arora made this statement while addressing the second edition of the Monaco Hydrogen Forum in Monaco.

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Punjab's Current Power Generation Capacity

Arora highlighted that Punjab is a power surplus state with an installed capacity of 15,000 MW, of which 20 percent (3,000 MW) is being generated by renewable energy projects. He expressed the state's eagerness to set up a pilot project for producing green hydrogen from paddy straw.

Incentives for Green Hydrogen Projects

To promote green hydrogen projects from biomass, the Punjab government is offering several incentives to industries. These incentives include 100 percent electricity duty exemption, no change of land use charges and external development charges (EDC), 100 percent stamp duty exemption for land registration, and 100 percent stamp duty exemption for land lease.

Paddy Straw-Based Compressed Biogas Projects

Arora mentioned that the Punjab government is encouraging paddy straw-based Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects in the state. Currently, four projects with a total capacity of 85 tonnes per day of CBG are in operation, consuming about 0.28 million tonnes of paddy straw per annum at full capacity. Additionally, six more projects are likely to be operational in the next six months, and 28 other CBG projects are at various stages of execution. Once commissioned, these projects will consume about 1.6 million tonnes of paddy straw annually.

Collaboration with Public Sector Undertakings

Arora revealed that two leading public sector undertakings, Gas Authority of India (GAIL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation of India (HPCL), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) to establish 20 CBG plants with a capacity of 10-15 TPD each.

Biomass-Based Power Projects

The state has already allotted 11 biomass-based power projects with a total capacity of 100 MW, which are in operation and consuming about 1.2 million tonnes of biomass annually.

Punjab's commitment to increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity generation to 43 percent by 2030 showcases its dedication to promoting clean and sustainable energy sources. By providing incentives for green hydrogen projects and supporting paddy straw-based CBG projects, the state is taking significant steps toward reducing its carbon footprint and ensuring energy security for the country.