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Advancing Power Sector Reforms in Maharashtra

Advancing Power Sector Reforms in Maharashtra

Featured Projects, Latest Reports, Policy and Regulation, Projects

This project resulted in the development of a power sector vision document for Maharashtra and the preparation of an IT roadmap for the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), highlighting past digital initiatives and recommending future areas of thrust. The project was undertaken by WISE in association with KPMG Advisory Services Limited, Mumbai, and supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi.

WISE and KPMG worked directly under the guidance of the Principal Secretary, Energy, Government of Maharashtra to develop the Power Sector Vision 2030 document. The final report was launched by the Honourable Energy Minister of Maharashtra, Chandrashekhar Bawankule. In the second major initiative on the study of the technology evolution of MSEDCL, the project team worked under the direct supervision of the CMD, MSEDCL. A booklet detailing MSEDCL’s IT initiatives and recommendations on key future interventions was submitted to the CMD, MSEDCL.

The Power Sector Vision 2030 document advocates a strategic view of the future, specifically in the context of emerging disruptions: digitilization, decentralization and decarbonization. The report provides guidance on specific actionable strategies that the state power sector could initiate and highlights trigger events that could lead to market strategies or technology-forcing for precipitating actions.

See Report Link

Upscaling Institutional Capacities For Strengthening The Power Sector

Upscaling Institutional Capacities For Strengthening The Power Sector

Policy and Regulation, Projects

Supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi, the project aims to upscale and enhance WISE’s institutional capacities and leverage it towards benefitting and strengthening power sector utilities, especially in meeting the emerging disruptive technological innovations and challenges in the sector.

WISE developed three research documents/approach papers under this project.

  1. The direct benefit transfer study focuses on the agricultural sector in Maharashtra and aims to develop an approach paper on new DBT power supply models that would transfer the agricultural subsidy directly to the farmers while utilising the benefits of government schemes.
  2. The second approach paper on regulatory models for energy storage aims to review and analyse the challenges related to definition and asset classification of energy storage in grid applications and suggest new regulatory models to allow bulk energy storage providers to monetize multiple value streams, in addition to claiming fixed capacity payments under specific service types.
  3. In continuation with its interest and focus on the state of Maharashtra, WISE also prepared a primer that provides potential opportunities for digitalization in the state. The reports were peer reviewed by key experts having vast experience in the electricity sector. The final project report, after incorporating the suggestions received, was successfully submitted during the year under review.

Following two peer reviewed research papers were prepared.

  • Regulatory approach to energy storage for India.
  • Managing direct benefit transfer for energy subsidies to the agricultural consumers in Maharashtra.
Development of RE-based Mini-grid regulations for Odisha

Development of RE-based Mini-grid regulations for Odisha

Featured Projects, Policy and Regulation, Projects

With the objective of accelerating the development of decentralized electricity generation in the country, WISE supported the regulatory commission of Odisha to develop RE-based mini-grid generation and supply regulations for improving energy access to remote communities in the state.

WISE worked in association with the state nodal agency, OREDA, to prepare an initial approach paper highlighting the key parameters for consideration in generation and supply regulations. The approach paper was put up for public consultation and the inputs were incorporated in finalizing the mini-grid regulations which were subsequently notified by the state regulatory commission in 2019. The project helped the state to advocate, promote and deploy RE-based mini-grid projects on scale and enhance energy access and socio-economic development of the underserved/un-electrified rural areas within its boundaries.

The project received support from Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi, and the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA).

Achieving 12% green energy in Indian Grid by 2017

Achieving 12% green energy in Indian Grid by 2017

Projects

The project awarded by the Climate Works Foundation, USA looked at the pathways for achieving the NAPCC target of 15% RE by 2020. The main objective of the project was to see how the national RE target specified in the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) can be achieved – not whether it can be achieved – by contextualizing the ambitious target with practical implementation goals that would be needed and identifying specific barriers to integration of the proposed capacity.

To contextualize the NAPCC target of 15% RE, by 2020, different RE capacity addition scenarios were considered, keeping in mind the availability and commercial potential of each RE resource in India. For each of these scenarios, the state level technology-wise RE integration targets were estimated with an interim target of meeting the national RPO of 12% and 15% renewable energy by 2017 and 2020, respectively. The study also prepared a detailed roadmap highlighting key policy, regulatory and technology interventions to support the 12% and the 15% RPO target.

The report helped in better understanding of the feasibility of the 15% NAPCC target by contextualizing capacity requirements across different states having different renewable resource potential. The findings emerging from the study helped in better understanding of the key challenges and in optimizing the target-setting process across different states.

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WISE-UN Capacity Building for Policymakers from Western Africa

WISE-UN Capacity Building for Policymakers from Western Africa

Featured Projects, Projects

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) associated with WISE to design, support and coordinate a capacity building and study tour for senior policymakers from West Africa. Senior-level officials from Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman and Sudan participated in the study tour.

WISE designed and supported the entire programme in consultation with UN-ESCWA. It comprised lectures over two and a half days and one and a half days was set aside for site visits. The training programme provided detailed study resources and expert lectures from WISE staff and external experts. The site visits allowed the participants to look at the technology in operation, understand operational aspects and assess the benefits of the system. Baseline assessment and post study tour evaluation was then conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of the programme.

See Report link

Study Tour Report

Energy Strategy for the Indo Tibetan Border Police Outposts

Energy Strategy for the Indo Tibetan Border Police Outposts

Featured Projects, Projects

WISE extended support to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for preparing DPR on integrating renewable energy solutions to meet the power generation requirements of various border outposts of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The main objective was to assess the feasibility of an RE based energy system for the border posts located in extreme climatic conditions at 67 border outposts spanning across 4 states, at altitudes varying from 3000 to 6000 m with a minimum temperature -40C during winters.

WISE assessed the potential and site feasibility for solar, wind and diesel-based backup solution and initiated the feasibility analysis for solar PV, and wind power, and optimized the capacity as per expected load profile. Since these sites are located at isolated places, battery-based storage was proposed for round-the-clock power availability. In addition, DG sets were also proposed to meet the backup power requirements and improving the reliability of the system. Along with power, solar thermal systems for hot water have also been designed for meeting the border outposts’ hot water and room heating needs. The interventions proposed by WISE are 100% automatic, with minimum human intervention required.