In a big leap from a power-deficit situation of the 1990s, Odisha is now a power-surplus State, which has also made significant strides in production of green energy.
This was known from a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy here on Tuesday wherein GRIDCO Chairman Dr Saurabh Garg outlined the issues for discussion.Tripathy directed to "ensure uninterrupted quality power supply to rural and industrial sector". He also directed the GRIDCO to "adopt more effective commercial strategies for sale of available power".
The Industries and Energy Departments were asked to motivate newly-coming up industries to source power from the GRIDCO with assurance of timely and quality power supply.
Tripathy directed the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) to "explore the possibilities of producing more hydropower from existing dams having no submergence, land acquisition and displacement issues". GRIDCO Managing Director Dr Trilochan Panda said, “The total power generation reached 3,489 MW during FY 2019-20 including 2,468 MW from thermal, 854 MW from hydro and 167 MW from non-conventional renewable sources”.
Sources said the average yearly demand of the State comes around 3,200 MW of power. With the current expansion in rural electrification and industrialisation, the power demand is likely to increase in coming years. Keeping this in view, the GRIDCO is all set to generate around 4,300 MW during 2020-21.
Similarly, the State has made significant strides in production of green energy. The power production from hydro sources has increased from 695 MW in FY 2010-11 to 854 MW in FY 2019-20.
In addition, the power generation from non-conventional renewable energy (RE) sources increased from 664 MW in 2019-20 to 1,079 MW in 2020-21.
The Chief Secretary directed to enhance the power generation from RE sources to 1,500 MW during 2021-22.
Notably, the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission has set RPO obligation of the State at 11% for the year 2021-22.
With achievement of the targeted 1,500 MW from RE sources, the total production from renewable sources would meet this RPO obligation.