Renewable Energy Laws

This article has been written by Khan Mahe, Rizvi Law College. Picture credits to Digital trends

Introduction

A Brief Analysis of Renewable Energy Laws and it ‘s Importance for the Betterment and Development of Society at Large

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable Energy is Referred to as Clean Energy, which comes from Natural Resources or Processes that are Constantly Replenished.or from a source that is not depleted when used ,In simple terms, Renewable Energy is an Energy that Never Finishes and Can be supplied to the consumers For a lifetime ,However The most essential renewable energy implied Solar (photovoltaic, solar thermal) ,Wind,Biogas (e.g., landfill gas/wastewater treatment digester gas)

Geothermal, Biomass ,Low-impact hydroelectricity, Emerging technologies – wave and tidal power Or It Can all be an amazing alternative for non-renewable energy like coal, petroleum etc.

Importance of Renewable Energy in India

In the modern world having efficient energy infrastructure is vital for a country to find social and economic success. Lack of a proper energy infrastructure is one of the major factors that can hinder a developing country’s economic development. Many countries in the developing world at this moment are suffering from frequent power outages and insufficient power supply access, which are having negative consequences for their populations however, The Government now have Assess to the availability of local renewable resources which Can Generates the energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution moreover, it Diversifying the energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels which results into economic development and jobs in manufacturing, installations of more plants for the benefit of the people, To look after such work The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have been formed, Which makes Committees and Laws for the betterment of the society.

Laws Related

Energy laws usually govern the use and taxation of energy, both renewable and non-renewable which are the primary authorities ,However

Renewable energy law is a distinct kind of energy law, and relates in essence to the transactional legal and policy issues that confine the development, implementation, and commercialization of renewable sources of energy in India .

In India The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal agency of the GOI for promotion of renewable energy, both grid-connected and off-grid. Relating to new and renewable energy. The broad aim of the ministry is to develop and deploy new and renewable energy for supplementing the energy requirements of the country. As per the GOI (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961.Moreover, It has designated different institutes or agencies to implement the schemes such as Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) and NTPC Limited in various states.

The Electricity Act, the National Electricity Policy 2005 and the Tariff Policy 2016 (Tariff Policy) encourage private sector participation in renewable energy in India

1) The Electricity Act 2003

It is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to transform the power sector and provides a framework for the comprehensive extension of the electricity sector. It further makes provisions for preferential tariff and quotas for opting for renewable energy. Which are obligated procurement of renewable energy for distribution licensees and facilitation of grid connectivity were incorporated. additionally It has provide Electricity Market across all National geography to remain same and you finds statutory status rather than driven by policy guidelines it open ups avenue market which expect the contract imposition or made the payment security mechanism easy.It shall also provide a more vibrant ecosystem for other technologies including hydro-power and energy storage.

Work towards the Promotion of Renewable Energy :

1.Inclusion of National Renewable Energy will now find special attention compared to a paragraph importance within National Electricity Policy and Tariff Policy

2.RPO(Renewable purchase obligation) and HPO(Hydro power purchase obligation) is mandatory compliance with specified enforceable Penalty.

3.Central Government specifying HPO and RPO may lead to avoid inconsistency across states, however, the challenge would be to assess

Assured PSM, Contract enforcement authority to deal with contract violation, facilitative open access framework will be positive for grid decarbonisation

4.Statute driven RGO(Renewable Generation obligation? and bundling of RE with thermal will give another push for RE and improved stranded asset utilisation

It further Strengthened legal framework for Electricity and is Mandatory legal member in regulatory bodies.

2) National Electricity policy 2005

The National Energy Policy (NEP) aims to chart the way forward to meet the Government Audacious achievement for India’s energy sector developments.The policy allows preferential tariffs for power produced from renewable energy sources. It aimed to provide access to electricity to all and increase the minimum per capita availability to 1000 kWh per year by 2012.It further looked forward to Energy Conservation and addressed the Environmental Issues, Supply of Reliable and Quality Power of specified standards in an efficient manner and at reasonable rates.

3) Tariff Policy 2006

The Ministry of Power announced the Tariff Policy, in continuation of the National Electricity Policy of 2005 and it provides for penalty for unscheduled power cuts, except in the case of technical faults or act of God (natural calamities). The government intends to provide ’24X7 Power to All’ at affordable rates and included certain provisions regarding renewable energy and cogeneration.Thus ,Therefore, there is a provision in the tariff to cap transmission and distribution losses.

4) Integrated energy policy 2006

The Government has formulated an Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) document which gives a roadmap to develop energy supply options and increased exploitation of renewable energy sources further addresses all aspects of energy, including energy security, access and availability, affordability and pricing, efficiency and the environment. The broad vision behind the energy policy is to provide safe and convenient energy at the lowest cost in a technically efficient, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable manner -thereby reliably meeting the demand for energy services of all sectors, including the energy needs of vulnerable households in all parts of the country.

Conclusion

Energy is fundamental to the existence of society, as without it industry, commerce, and society cannot function ,and Renewable Energy and Law have benefitted the society so far, However, the renewable energy industry is still a developing industry and renewables only contribute less than 2% to the nation’s consumption.

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