The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy with an aim to boost renewable power generation. The policy seeks to promote new projects as well as hybridisation of the existing ones.
The government has set an ambitious aim of achieving 175 GW of installed capacity from renewable energy sources by 2022, which includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind power capacity.
The policy provides for a comprehensive framework to promote large grid-connected wind-solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid system for optional and efficient utilisation of transmission infrastructure and land, thereby reducing variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability.
The policy also provides for integration of both the energy sources i.e. wind and solar at AC as well as DC level on technological front.
It also provides for flexibility in share of wind and solar components in a hybrid project, on a condition that rated power capacity of one resource be at least 25 percent of the rated power capacity of other resource for it to be recognised as hybrid project.
Besides, the policy also provides for procurement of power from a hybrid project on tariff based transparent bidding process for which government entities may invite bids.
The policy also permits use of battery storage in the hybrid project for optimising output and further reduce variability.
The policy also mandates the regulatory authorities to formulate necessary standards and regulations for wind-solar hybrid systems.
The government is also shortly expected to announce a scheme for new hybrid projects under the policy.