Ladakh

Within a week, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will dispatch a team to Ladakh to assist the government in resolving land-related challenges in constructing a 10-gigawatt (GW) renewable energy project there. On Monday, a high-level meeting convened by Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh decided.

“Union Minister for Power and Minister of New and Renewable Energy, R K Singh, evaluated the implementation of a 10-GW renewable energy project here yesterday (Monday),” the power ministry said in a statement.

The conference was attended by Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur of Ladakh and Minister of State for Power Krishan Pal Gurjar. The meeting also included representatives from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), PowerGrid Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and Border Roads Organisation, as well as the Secretary (Power), Secretary (MNRE), and representatives from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), PowerGrid Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and Border Roads Organisation.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to build a 7.5 GW solar park in Ladakh (later increased to 10 GW), the power minister sought the support of Ladakh’s lieutenant governor to resolve land issues in the establishment of a 10 GW renewable energy project in the Union Territory at identified Pang areas.

The Ladakh government has pledged to assist in providing land for a 10 GW renewable energy project. The necessary transmission system, as well as the battery energy storage system, for providing round-the-clock electricity, were also examined. “MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) will send a team to Ladakh within a week to hash out issues with the cooperation of the UT administration,” the ministry said in a statement regarding the meeting’s outcome.

The UT of Ladakh has agreed to give 20,000 acres of land at Pang for the establishment of a renewable energy park right away, while the availability of another 20,000 acres of land at Pang will be investigated depending on SECI’s inputs. The leasing of the land granted for the establishment of the renewable energy project would generate cash for Ladakh on an annual basis. The power ministry’s CPSEs would engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities for the region’s development. The 5GW transmission link between Pang (Leh) and Kaithal (Haryana), combined with 12 GW/h of battery energy storage, will allow for 76 percent transmission capacity utilization.

It will shut down 13 GW of renewable energy capacity (9 GWp solar and 4 GW wind). About 1- 2 GWh of the 12 GWh battery energy storage will be created as part of the transmission element to maintain the line charged during periods of no generation, while the remainder could be developed as part of the generation element. PowerGrid will amend their DPR (detailed project report) to build a 5-GW transmission link in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, including two GWh of battery energy storage and AC system strengthening, to offer RE both within Ladakh and to Jammu & Kashmir.

As part of the Green Energy Corridor, the MNRE will move a proposal to provide a central subsidy for the establishment of the above transmission link. Within five years, the transmission link should be completed. Singh concluded the meeting by reiterating the Indian government’s commitment to the development of Ladakh.