DRAFT RENEWABLE ENERGY LAW FOR INDIA
 
Click here and log on to the REEEP website for a report on the 'Draft RE Law prepared by Josh Carmody, Expert, Renewable Energy and International Law Project (REIL), and member of WISE's Working Group on the Draft Law.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WISE recently drafted a Model Renewable Energy Law for India, which it opened for discussion at a one-day seminar held at The Imperial, New Delhi, on 25 August 2005. Supported by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES), Government of India, the seminar was organised in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad.

Is there a need for a Law on Renewable Energy? Does not the Electricity Act, 2003 sufficiently empower the renewable energy sector? Although the power of appropriate legislation to bring about change is amply demonstrated by the Electricity Act, 2003 – thus setting in motion a process of reform in the power sector – the Act addresses issues related to renewable power only marginally. The barriers to the development of renewable energy run across a wide spectrum. A comprehensive legislation aimed at removing these barriers and accelerating the development of renewable energy technologies is thus necessary. Although the government is committed to promoting the use of renewable energy sources, the commitment is not backed by legislation; it has remained confined to articulation of policy. It was this conviction and the institutional philosophy of striving for concrete action that spurred WISE to undertake the task of preparing a 'Model Renewable Energy Law for India', and pursue it to its logical conclusion viz. adoption by the Indian Parliament. To complement its in-house expertise in renewables with that in jurisprudence, WISE sought the help of the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, particularly of CEERA, the law school’s Centre for Environmental Law, Education, Research and Advocacy, to prepare the Draft Renewable Energy Law for India.

Some of the Highlights of the draft Renewable Energy Law are:
Increasing the target for electricity generation from renewables to 10% by 2010 (as against 2012 currently) and 20% by 2020, of the total electricity generated in the country (and not as a percentage of installed capacity).
Making solar water heating mandatory throughout the urban areas of the country by 2012 in a phased manner.
Demonstration of solar rooftop lighting systems in 10,000 government buildings by 2010 in a time-bound manner, also incorporating building integrated photovoltaics.
Conversion of fossil fuel-based industrial heating to solar thermal heating using new solar concentrator technology or its hybrids.
India has at present about 30,000 MW captive generating units (industrial units) of which about 18,000 MW are diesel based. The draft law proposes time-bound conversion of these captive units to biofuel-based generation, thus saving large amounts of diesel.
Accelerating biofuel development and transportation energy to displace fossil fuels. A time-bound Renewable Fuel programme covering ethanol and biodiesel has been proposed.
Charting a definite road map for developing a hydrogen and fuel cell economy.
Establishing Renewable Energy Development Funds in all states (on the pattern of Maharashtra).
The outcome of the seminar was the constitution of a special working group who would work towards refining the draft law, based on the suggestions of the speakers at the seminar, individuals and organisations. The working group will also work out a strategy for advocacy of the legislation for its subsequent adoption by the parliament. The members comprise eminent personalities who were part of the seminar, including Dr Pramod Deo, Chairman, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) as Chairman; G M Pillai, Director General, WISE, as Member Secretary; Dr Anil Kane, Chairman, Indian Wind Energy Association (InWEA); Ramesh Kymal, MD, NEG-Micon (I) Pvt. Ltd; Josh Carmody, Expert, Renewable Energy and International Law project (REIL); Yogesh Mehra, MD, Enercon (India) Ltd; K Krishan, Chairman, Malavalli Power Plant (P) Ltd, Bangalore; and Chintan Shah, GM, SenergyGlobal, New Delhi.