HP to award renewable energy certificates

Director (Energy) Tarun Kapoor has been appointed as the authority to issue RECs to the agencies engaged in the generation of renewable energy from alternative sources like wind,sun and non-conventional resources. Kapoor is also the Managing Director of Himachal Power Corporation,an energy generation agency for power and renewable energies.

The HP State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) finalised the draft notification last week for regulating the concept of issuing RECs and trading by renewable energy generators.

HPSERC Chairman Yogesh Khanna said the REC entitled its holders to sell power to states,individuals or other trading companies and earn credits for promoting renewable energy generation technologies without causing harm to the climate.

The Central government is learnt to have already set up a national registry under the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) where certificate holders can register themselves for future trading. “The agency will also monitor the supply of power to various states. This system will gradually create a market (demand and supply mechanism) for the sale of power across the geographical boundaries of states,” said Khanna.

The Union Ministry of Power has already given its go-ahead to the states for introducing RECs. Till now,only a few states like Maharashtra and Gujarat have taken the lead in this direction. Himachal will be first northern hill state to set up the agency,according to a senior official in the regulatory commission who is working on climate change initiatives.

The commission proposes to fix floor rates for the sale of renewable energy to the buyers outside Himachal. To facilitate the system,the Indian Energy Exchange and the Power Exchange of India have already become operational. The National Thermal Power Corporation is reportedly planning a third exchange.

Principal Secretary (Power) Deepak Shanan said: “The initiative will put Himachal in the category of those select states that are promoting renewable energy and are conscious about climate change and carbon neutrality issues. There is not much awareness on the issue at present but things will gradually change.”

Last month,Dr Rajan Kapoor,a Himachal-born leading alternate energy expert based in the US,had met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and top power department officials to help the state draw a roadmap to encash on the renewable energy sources. Kapoor,who runs “invVEST”,an organisation founded in Colorado (US),told The Indian Express: “Our vision is to promote sustainable energy on a massive scale through people’s involvement and create a vibrant economy without adverse affects on the climate and global warming.”