Great event and panel put together by @livemint @UtpalBhaskar converging diverse views from financing, #fossilfuel generation, #energytransition #technology and business operations in the #electricity value-chain! 1/n
As Power Minsiter @RajKSinghIndia rightly said, problems of capacity and #energyaccess has been solved, and the next problem to be solved is reducing #India's #carbonfootprint - #electrification of #mobility and #cooking is one pathway.
Increasing domestic and international demand for #electricity will lead to more #RenewableEnergy capacity installation; new connections and usage will ⬆️domestic demand, integration & #export (neighbors inc #Myanmar #SriLanka) will ⬆️cross-border demand, which India can supply.
Although there are immediate and long-term issues in going beyond current capacity; #coronavirusus has disrupted #solar #module shipments from #China (accounts for 90% of procurement by developers in 🇮🇳) @pfclindia Chairman hinted at relaxed CoD time guideline for developers.
Role of #naturalgas in #EnergyTransition revealed diversity of views about gas price and #storage price projections and feasibility of both as combination technology for larger share of #RenewableEnergy integration into the #grid. @SECI concluded one such auction recently.
@debasish_mishra talked of #naturalgas combined with #solar wind (hybrid) out competing #energystorage till prices for #Batteries are ⬆️$100/kWh, and @rejipillai projects prices to drop to $50/kWh by FY25! Current prices for #batterypacks are upwards of $150/kWh.
Another persistent long-term issue is the financial feability of Discoms - 🐘 in the room! @pfclindia Chairman gave some details of the new scheme (ADITYA) under consideration; may include mandatory DBT (direct cash transfer) of #subsidy to #electricity consumers! HUGE step.
and replacement of all existing faulty meters with pre-paid #smartmeters; choice for increasing #competition in supply via full privatization or franchisee route. In any event, no more disbursal of loans from @pfclindia in case of Discomfort not meeting improvement trajectory.
Bringing financial discipline in the sector (from consumers, up to the utilities and suppliers) is a MAJOR challenge; and as @UtpalBhaskar summed it up, a political problem rather than a technical/financial problem. n/n
