According to officials, Arunachal Pradesh is counting on its micro, mini, and small hydropower plants to earn carbon credits. The initiative, according to Arunachal government officials, will contribute to India's attempts to reach net-zero emissions by 2070.
According to a top government official, "out of the entire hydropower facilities in the state, 98 micro, mini, and tiny hydropower plants with a combined installed capacity of 50.295 MW have been examined for carbon credits registration and assets management for the year 2014-2020."
These are run-of-river hydroelectric plants, which qualify for carbon credits. Micro-hydro projects have a capacity of up to 200 KW, mini-projects have a capacity of up to 2 MW, and small projects have a capacity of up to 25 MW.
The state Hydro Power Development Department will claim Carbon Credits from the Universal Carbon Registry, which are awarded to renewable energy suppliers. Chowna Mein, the Deputy Chief Minister and Department Head, was important in obtaining the Carbon Assets Management (Carbon Credits Trading) for hydropower projects.
The Dept has power worth 74.88 million units, which is equal to 54,410 Carbon Credits annually and may earn almost Rs 1.15 crore at the current rate, thanks to its 135 state-owned facilities. The state has completed the first stage of the three-part procedure of registration, credit realisation, and trading. Prashant Lokhande, commissioner of hydropower and planning, said the government expects to receive credits in three to four months, with a maximum of six months. After then, he explained, trading can be done at any moment.
Arunachal Pradesh has been catering to its villages spread across the mighty Himalayas with small, micro, and mini-hydropower projects on smaller springs and rivers, even as it aims to sell power from mega hydropower plants on bigger rivers. It was once ordained as the nation's powerhouse for its vast potential of 50,000 MW plus hydropower.
Arunachal Pradesh govt recently revealed the phased implementation of 50 micro and mini-hydropower projects as part of the Golden Jubilee Border Village Illumination initiative. 17 micro and mini-hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 1,255 KW are proposed in the first phase.
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