West Bengal‘s progress in clear electrical energy era has been slower than different states, because it harnessed simply 8 per cent of its renewable vitality potential until February this 12 months, in response to a brand new examine.
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The jap state’s share of renewable vitality consumption out of the overall electrical energy consumption inside West Bengal accounted for simply 10 per cent, the joint examine by US-based analysis organisation, Institute for Power Economics and Monetary Evaluation (IEEFA) and clear vitality assume tank, Ember mentioned.
Karnataka and Gujarat, the highest performers in 2023, maintained their sturdy efficiency in 2024, whereas jap states and Chhattisgarh lagged, it mentioned.
“West Bengal has utilised simply 8 per cent (roughly 636 MW) of its renewable vitality potential (excluding massive hydro), as of February, 2024,” the examine mentioned.
“Regardless of the sluggish progress, the state has important untapped potential for harnessing clear vitality, which might be a golden alternative for West Bengal. By investing in and selling the event of renewable vitality infrastructure, the state can cut back its carbon footprint, create employment alternatives and foster financial development within the renewable vitality sector,” it mentioned.
West Bengal, officers mentioned, has taken steps to reinforce its renewable vitality era.
In 2023, it invited bids for establishing a 900-MW pumped hydro storage venture, along with the 900-MW Purulia Pumped Storage Undertaking operated by the West Bengal State Electrical energy Distribution Firm Ltd.
By 2030, the state goals to generate 20 per cent of its electrical energy from renewable sources, they mentioned.
“Whereas the state waits so as to add capability, it could possibly procure extra clear electrical energy from short-term energy markets. Our evaluation discovered that solely 18 per cent of its whole energy buy and captive era have been traded within the short-term electrical energy market within the fiscal 12 months, 2023. Of this, a mere 0.3 per cent (round 38 million items), is traded within the inexperienced day forward market,” IEEFA mentioned.
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One other space of alternative is distributed renewable vitality, significantly rooftop photo voltaic.
“The state has solely roughly 4 per cent (round 80 MW) of its renewable vitality put in capability within the distributed photo voltaic vitality class. Nevertheless, officers have recognized it as an space of potential development and have began to ask tenders to “solarise” the rooftops of presidency buildings,” the report mentioned.
India has not too long ago give you a scheme to advertise rooftop photo voltaic that subsidises 60 per cent of the associated fee.
The report, famous that West Bengal has additionally adopted progressive insurance policies just like the Inexperienced Open Entry Guidelines, which eases the method for business and industrial shoppers to supply renewable vitality, instantly. As well as, the state is taking measures in direction of the electrification of its transport infrastructure.
“With 318 public charging stations as of February, 2024, and 67,756 whole electrical car gross sales as of January, 2024, the West Bengal Authorities is actively looking for investments in electrical car infrastructure,” it mentioned.
Amid West Bengal’s journey in direction of a greener vitality panorama, lies the numerous problem of fossil gasoline dependency, a hurdle that have to be addressed for a profitable transition, IEEFA mentioned.
The state’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel-fired electrical energy poses a twin risk, each to its environmental sustainability and its long-term financial resilience, it mentioned.
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By embracing a simply transition method, West Bengal can mitigate the environmental impacts of fossil gasoline dependency and foster social fairness and inclusive financial development, the report added.
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