The ambitious target set by Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) to harness power from non–conventional sources, by 2012, indeed has proven to be an ambitious one.
The State Renewable Energy Policy, mentions Haryana government’s aim of achieving 10 per cent of the total capacity addition of 5,000 Mw of conventional power to be generated through renewable energy power projects by 2012.
However, till date 164.10 Mw of electricity has been generated in the state through the use of non–conventional sources, while projects harnessing another 86.42 Mw are under execution.
It is interesting to observe that HARDEA, nodal agency for renewable energy projects in the state, for the last four years has been receiving awards for energy conservation, but has failed to harness the targeted energy through non–conventional sources.
P Krishna Kumar, President, The India Biomass Power Association, says low tariffs in Haryana for players setting up renewable power projects are a major stumbling block for biomass projects in the state.
Another stumbling block, according to private players in the renewable energy area has been the absence of single window clearance mechanism.
Also, with the failure of the state to capitalise on the wind-based power projects has impeded the growth of renewable power projects.
While HAREDA managed to rope in two players, Enercon and Suzlon for setting up wind power projects in the state, the players pulled out due to lack of desired wind velocity in the state.
Costlier land in Haryana is another challenge for private players to set up their renewable energy projects in the state.
Another Achilles point for HAREDA has been biomass power projects . HAREDA had calculated potential of generation of 1400MW of power through biomass in the state.
Sources says even as two players have completed their biomass based power projects in the state ,they are facing are facing procedural delays thus impacting execution of their projects .
One of the players whose biomass project is completed and is awaiting grid connectivity says he had got license to set up 5 biomass projects across Haryana , but having witnessed the procedural delay, he has dropped rest 4 projects.
