Odisha Emerges A Power-Surplus State With Rise In Green Energy

Bhubaneswar: From power deficit situation of 1990s, Odisha has emerged a power surplus state with significant contribution from production of green energy.

This was revealed at a high-level meeting held on digital mode with chief secretary Asit Tripathy reviewing the progress in power production from different sources. He directed to ensure uninterrupted quality power supply to rural and industrial sectors.

He also told GRIDCO to adopt more effective commercial strategies for sale of available power. Industry and Energy departments were asked to motivate newly coming up industries to source power from GRIDCO with assurance of timely and quality power supply. GRIDCO Chairman Dr Saurabh Garg was present at the meeting.

Tripathy directed Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) to explore the possibilities of producing more hydro power from existing dams having no submergence, land acquisition and displacement issues.

Managing Director, GRIDCO Dr Trilochan Panda said, “The total power generation reached 3489 MW during 2019-20 financial year including 2468 MW from thermal, 854 MW from hydro and 167 MW from non-conventional renewable sources”.

The state’s average annual demand of the power is around 3200 MW. With current expansion in rural electrification and industrialisation, the power demand is likely to increase in coming years. Keeping this in view, GRIDCO is all set to generate around 4300 MW of power during 2020-21.

In production of green energy, the production from hydro sources has increased from 695 MW in 2010-11 to 854 MW in 2019-20. The power generation from non-conventional renewable energy (RE) sources increased from 664 MW in 2019-20 to 1,079 MW in 2020-21. The chief secretary directed to enhance the power generation from these sources to 1500 MW during 2021-22.

It may be noted that Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has set RPO obligation of the state at 11% for 2021-22. With achievement of the targeted 1500 MW from unconventional sources, the total production from renewable sources is expected to cross this RPO obligation.

Additional chief secretary and Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, principal secretary, Energy Nikunja Bihari Dhal, principal secretary and Chairman OHPC Bishnupada Sethi, principal secretary, Finance Ashok Kumar Meena and Director, Finance GRIDCO Gagan Swain along with senior officers from concerned departments participated in the deliberations.