Kerala seeks viability gap funding, faster clearances from Centre for hydro and pumped storage projects
Kerala has sought financial support as well as environmental concessions and faster clearances from the Centre for hydro projects, pumped storage projects (PSP), and energy
Kerala has sought financial support as well as environmental concessions and faster clearances from the Centre for hydro projects, pumped storage projects (PSP), and energy storage systems in the State. Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph placed the State’s requirements before the Centre during meetings with Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Joseph sought relaxations in the conditions for implementing hydro and PSP schemes in the villages listed as ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) of the Western Ghats. He also wanted environmental and forest clearances required for such projects from the Centre to be fast-tracked. He also sought financial support in the form of viability gap funding (VGF) for hydro projects, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and PSPs.
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has projects under way or as active proposals under all three categories. Further, the State also wanted the Centre to speed up the BESS projects that are being implemented through NTPC Ltd. On the supply side, Kerala wanted the Centre to extend the supply of 262 MW from power plants in the southern region up to June 2028.
The State also requested the Centre for additional allocations from the unallocated and surplus power with the central generating stations. The requests were placed before the Centre as part of the State government’s efforts to improve infrastructure in the power sector and ensure long-term energy security, according to Mr. Joseph.
The BriefWire