Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Wednesday approved amendments to the Odisha Renewable Energy Policy (OREP), 2022 to accelerate clean energy development, enhance investor confidence and ensure affordable green power for consumers.
The OREP, 2022 was notified on November 30, 2022 to create a conducive ecosystem for renewable energy investments and facilitate transition to clean energy. Based on implementation experience and stakeholder feedback, the government has now approved several refinements to improve operational efficiency and strengthen renewable energy deployment across the state.
Key amendments :
Electricity Duty Exemption Extended: 50 paise per unit electricity duty exemption to eligible net-metering consumers on energy consumed from renewable energy projects set up within the state. The exemption will be applicable for 10 years from the date of commissioning of the project.
STU Charge Exemption for BESS: 20 paise per unit State Transmission Utility (STU) charge exemption for Standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) commissioned in the state, provided input energy is sourced from RE projects and output energy is used to meet the state’s demand.
Wind Power Allocation Rationalised: Removal of the existing cumulative cap of 500 MW for allocation of wind power projects under the first-come-first-served mechanism.
Wind Power Parks: Provision for promotion of Wind Power Parks in the state.
Right of First Refusal: Right of first refusal (RoFR) of up to 25% of capacity for RE Captive projects. Operational Guidelines: Harmonization of operational guidelines for smoother implementation.
GRIDCO as Nodal Agency: GRIDCO to act as the Nodal Agency for implementation of legacy SHEP projects. Officials said the amendments are expected to provide a significant boost to renewable energy development in Odisha and further reinforce the state’s position as a leading destination for clean energy investments.
The government added that the policy changes are aimed at making renewable power more affordable for consumers while creating a stable and attractive environment for investors in solar, wind, storage and other green energy sectors.
