MNRE to seek cabinet nod to classify hydro power as renewable energy

New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday that his ministry will seek cabinet approval for such a reclassification status to help India achieve renewable power capacity of 230 gigawatt (GW) by 2022.

“I have a study carried out by the Power Secretary and his team which demonstrates that except 4-5 countries almost universally in the world, hydro power (large project) is considered renewable. We are almost on the verge of finalising that report, which should shortly be taken up to the Cabinet,” Goyal told reporters here.

“I think we will go to 230 GW after adding large hydro to renewable energy. I do believe that hydro power of all sizes and shapes should be considered part of renewable energy,” he said.

“I am not trying to cut corners and now say 175 GW will include large hydro and therefore scale down my ambition. When I add large hydro to renewable, I would add that much capacity to renewable energy,” he added. 

The central government has set a target of adding 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022.

The minister also said that of the country’s 306 GW installed power generation capacity, 43 GW comes from large hydro projects and around 44 GW from other renewable power generation capacities.

Goyal earlier laid the foundation stone here of the Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, which will be the integrated headquarters for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.