Indian state plans $777M for renewable energy

The Indian state of Haryana announced plans to spend Rs 3,777 crore ($777 million USD) to increase its renewable energy contribution to 10 percent.

Haryana is one of India's 10 states to adopt the renewable energy requirement. Nineteen have not.

Haryana has signed agreements for 714.8 megawatts of renewable energy projects by the end of 2009.

The government plans to spend Rs 240 crore for 12 MW of projects, which include two 3-MW solar photovoltaic projects by New Delhi-based RS India Wind Energy and Kolkata-based Astonfield Renewable Resources. New Delhi-based Epuron Renewable Energy and Azure Power India are both planning 2-MW projects, and Omax Auto and Selecto Systems are expected to develop 1-MW systems.

Thirty-seven other renewable energy projects worth Rs 3,537 crore are still being finalized but are expected to be completed in the next two years.

Those plans include 24 biomass plants to contribute 258 MW for an investment of Rs 1,060 crore. Four wind projects totaling Rs 2,205 crore are expected to have a capacity of 440 MW, and three small hydropower projects are planned with a total 4.8 MW capacity.

In addition to renewable energy projects, the state is looking to traditional energy sources to meet a 15 percent to 17 percent energy shortfall during peak demand (see India to remove cap on wind incentives). 

In all, the state plans to add 5 gigawatts of power by 2012 at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore. Current capacity is 4.6 GW using no renewable energy.