Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot approved the draft of Hydrogen Policy – 2023 in order to generate clean energy, future needs and mitigate issue of climate change. ‘ Rajasthan Green Hydrogen Policy-2023 ' is being launched to promote investment in the area of green energy. The Energy Department will soon release the notification.
With this decision, companies generating green energy in the state will get a large number of subsidies and sops. Apart from that the state will generate employment opportunities. Huge sources of renewable energy are available in Rajasthan. The state has favourable circumstances for the generation of green hydrogen.
Rebates to be given, investments to increase
Various facilities will be given to promote investors under the policy of the state government. These include 50 percent rebate for 10 years in transmission and distribution charges on installation of 500 KTPA renewable energy plants on the state's transmission system and complete exemption on additional and cross subsidy surcharge for 10 years on purchasing renewable energy from the third party.
Priority will be given in the land allotment for the generation of green hydrogen from treated or brackish water and subsidy of 30 percent (maximum of Rs 5 crore) will be given on setting up a research centre.
There will be no prohibition on the capacity of captive power plants and on banking of generated electricity. Besides this, ban on release of electricity during the peak hours has also been removed in this new policy.
In the new policy, there will be 100 percent reimbursement/waiver on wheeling and transmission charges under the Rajasthan Green Hydrogen Policy-2023. Along with this, banking charges for power plants will be reimbursed/waived for 7 to 10 years.
Green Hydrogen to be included in Thrust Sector under RIPS-2022
The green hydrogen sector under the Rajasthan Green Hydrogen Policy-2023 will be included in Thrust Sector in Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme-2022. Besides this, benefits of manufacturing standard package will be given by including it in the Sunrise sector.
Target to generate 2000 KTPA Energy by the year 2030
The State Government in the policy has fixed a target of generating 2000 KTPA energy by the year 2030. Projects will be set up in 4 categories. In this, release of renewable energy through the network of power grid, generation of renewable energy and hydrogen (700 KTPA) from the same place and extraction of renewable energy (500 KTPA) through the network of RVPN.
Green Hydrogen is a new and emerging sector of renewable energy. Hydrogen is generated from water electrolysis using renewable energy. Therefore, it is called Green Hydrogen. Hydrogen is mainly used in refineries, steel plants and in making ammonia. The total demand for hydrogen in the country is 60 lakh tonnes, whereas in Rajasthan the demand is 2.5 lakh tonnes. Its manufacturing is pollution free. The central government has released the National Green Hydrogen Policy-2022 and Mission. In this, a target has been fixed to generate 50 lakh tonnes of Green Hydrogen by the year 2030.
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