Roadmap for Clean Energy Transition in Jharkhand

ISEP report outlines pathway for creating a renewable energy ecosystem to make Jharkhand a champion state in clean energy

A farmer in Simdega district in Jharkhand stands next to a solar panel. Photo: Anand Pathanjali/Power for All

Ranchi 22 April 2021 : The Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP) today released a report, Clean Energy Transition in Jharkhand. The report focuses on creating a renewable energy ecosystem in the state to accelerate the growth of renewable energy, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

The report, conducted through multiple stakeholder interviews and input from experts, outlines two frameworks to accelerate the growth of renewable energy in the state focused on improving existing grid connectivity and promoting off-grid energy; and effecting a smooth clean energy transition for energy-intensive and polluting industries by integrating renewable energy technologies and fostering innovation in the decentralized renewable energy (DRE) sector.

Broadly, the report recommends:

• Enacting the state’s draft mini-grid policy to enable integrated energy access planning with grid and off-grid solutions in unserved and underserved pockets of Jharkhand.
• Promoting rooftop solar in urban and semi-urban areas under Jharkhand’s solar policy and encouraging models based on both capital expenditure (CAPEX) support and operational expenditure (OPEX).
• Scaling-up Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) interventions for agricultural as well as commercial applications in villages.
• Integrating new thermal power plants with hybrid solar thermal generation technology and transforming retiring thermal power units to biomass generating units where feasible.
• Encouraging the adoption of renewable energy-driven process heat systems in energy intensive and polluting industries.
• Strengthening coordination among intermediary agencies, thereby enabling a single window clearance mechanism for subsidies and streamlining project implementation to support developers.
• Creating training and capacity development centres based on a cluster approach to reach all sections of the community.
• Promoting clean cooking energy solutions in biomass rich villages.

Overall, it is necessary to ensure a concrete framework exists that can help develop, install, and operate renewable energy systems in the state, which can offer simplified policies and regulatory mechanisms that will attract public and private investors who play an integral role in clean energy development.

“The framework approach proposed in the report along with the strategic actions and recommendations provided will support Jharkhand in effecting a clean energy transition allowing for a better renewable energy ecosystem in the state,” says Mr. Aklavya Sharan, Director of Decentralized Energy Systems Pvt. Lrd (DESI Power), and the lead researcher and author of the report.

Speaking at the launch webinar, Mr. Bishnu C Parida, Chief Operating Officer, Jharkhand State Livelihoods (JSLPS), said, “Energy is the backbone of all livelihood activities in the state and with the plentiful availability of solar energy, we should aim to integrate it in every aspect wherever possible. The JOHAR project has helped over 18000 women farmers in the state by installing over 900 solar-powered lift irrigation systems. We have also seen successful pilot projects and viable business models that have been able to switch completely to solar”.

Elaborating on the findings and recommendations of the report, Prof. Johannes Urpelainen, Founding Director, ISEP, said, “Jharkhand was one of the first states to sign the central government’s memorandum of understanding for the 24x7 Power for All plan (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, 2015–16) that aimed to deploy an additional 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of generation capacity by 2022. 1.5 GW of this was allocated to solar energy. As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Jharkhand has a potential for 18.2 GW of solar generation and 4.5 GW of biomass generation (MNRE 2020). Despite this, the uptake of renewable energy in the state has been quite slow. As per our analysis major challenges included reliability of grid power, unaffordability of cooking gas refills, and a lack of coordination among policy implementation agencies. To effectively develop and implement a set of proactive renewable energy programs in Jharkhand, there is a need for a coherent action plan that outlines a roadmap for achieving the development efficiency of renewable energy projects”.