The Resource Adequacy Plan will help in providing reliable and adequate power 24 hours a day at affordable rates to the power consumers.
In September and October last year, there was difficulty in power supply across the country. It is hoped that after the implementation of this plan, such difficulties will not be faced in future.
Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar said this in the workshop of Western Region States on ‘Resource Adequacy-Need and Way Forward’ by Central Electricity Authority at Courtyard Marriott. Energy Minister Tomar virtually joined the workshop.
Energy Minister Tomar said that this plan will enable better assessment of power requirements. Madhya Pradesh will implement it on priority.
Tomar informed that at present 24 hours electricity is being provided to domestic consumers and 10 hours for agriculture in the state. Shri Tomar said that I am confident that the workshop of the states of the western region organized in Bhopal will yield fruitful results. Along with this, proper use of conventional and non-conventional energy resources will be ensured.
Chairman Central Electricity Authority and ex-officio Secretary to the Central Government Shri Ghanshyam Prasad said that after the implementation of Resource Adequacy Plan, it can be given where there will be shortage of electricity wherever there is power surplus in the country. Its guidelines have been prepared. He said that work is being done in the form of pilot project in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Punjab. It will be completed by March 2023.
Resource Adequacy Plan will be beneficial for the state distribution companies for optimum utilization of generation capacity, harnessing the diversity associated with power demand and sharing of generation assets among different states. The scheme will also help the states in optimum capacity planning and power procurement. This will reduce the cost of power supply to the consumers.
Principal Secretary Energy Sanjay Dubey gave information about power banking implemented in Madhya Pradesh. He said that the power requirement is assessed every 15 minutes. Now efforts are being made to provide adequate electricity even in peak hours by matching all the resources like solar, wind, gas, thermal, hydro. He said that there is more variability in solar and wind energy.
It will be available enough during the day but will decrease at night. To meet out this shortcoming, work is being done on a plan to provide electricity from other resources. In relation to these objectives, a workshop has been organized for discussion and policy making.
Managing Director MP Power Management Company Vivek Porwal, while taking part in the discussion, spoke on various aspects including resource adequacy plan and availability of power during peak hours.
Apart from Madhya Pradesh, officers of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Daman Diu also gave important suggestions in the workshop.