Green Energy In Focus For Odisha's New Renewable Energy Policy, 2022-30

With Odisha set to draft its new Renewable Energy (RE) policy for 2022-30, the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST)  initiated a dialogue on preparing a roadmap with a focus on the generation of green energy and jobs. The present RE policy introduced in 2016 will lapse by the end of this year. 

Under central government's guidance, Odisha has been importing renewable energy, from other states to meet its Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO). Though the present policy had set a modest target of installing 2,750 MW of RE capacity by 2022, only 617 MW was installed, which is less than 25 per cent (pc) of the target, by end of March. The RPO target of the State for 2022-23 is 11.5 percent, the target will increase to 43.33 pc by 2029-30. So far, the clean energy sector has not grown in Odisha due to a number of challenges, which needs to be addressed through stronger policies, innovative land use, stronger incentives and procurement techniques.