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Haryana, the northern state often referred to as India’s food bowl, is now harnessing its abundant sunshine for more than just agriculture—it’s powering its energy needs as well. The state is rapidly advancing the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s initiatives, leaving no stone unturned to ensure effective implementation and the achievement of ambitious renewable energy goals.

The state has a long list of pioneering achievements, including being the first state in the country to promote the procurement of energy-efficient appliances in government purchases.

The total installed power capacity in the state is 12,828.52 MW (including the state’s share in central and joint projects). Renewable energy sources (RES, MNRE) contribute approximately 1,580 MW. Over the last decade, around 2,100 MW of conventional power generation has been added to the state due to energy conservation measures.

Haryana has undertaken several regulatory and promotional initiatives. These include mandatory energy-efficient lighting for all electricity consumers with a connected load of 30 kW and above, compulsory energy audits, mandatory energy-efficient street lighting, and the requirement of 4-star rated pump sets for the agriculture sector.

“The state of Haryana is yet to come out with its Green Hydrogen Policy, but I am pleased to note that 8 MW of Green Hydrogen capacity is under development. Without a formal state policy, we are the first in the country to move ahead with a Green Hydrogen Power Plant, which is expected to be operational by December 2025,” said A K Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Haryana, during his address at the State Energy Conservation Awards 2024 in Chandigarh.

The Department of New & Renewable Energy, Haryana, was established in March 1995. It is responsible for formulating policies and programmes to promote the state’s use of renewable energy sources. The department implements various schemes related to solar energy, biogas, micro-hydel, biomass energy, and more. To further these efforts, the Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) was set up in May 1997 as the nodal agency for implementing centrally and state-sponsored renewable energy projects.

Delivering his special address at the State Energy Conservation Awards 2024, Director General of HAREDA, S. Narayanan, said, “Haryana has an annual per capita electricity consumption of 2,167 units, one of the highest in the country. This reflects the state’s advanced development. Though primarily rural, Haryana has significant
potential for biomass production.”

The state has consistently earned national recognition for its strides in renewable energy. From securing first place in the country for implementing the Solar Urban Programme in 2006-07 to receiving the prestigious National Excellence Award for solar rooftop power projects in the State Nodal Agencies (SNA) General Category States on 7 June 2016, awarded by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, the state has been a standout performer in promoting rooftop solar power and other renewable initiatives.

Harayana has been doing exemplary work in the state. In January 2020, the state topped the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2019 rankings released by the Ministry of Power, Government of India, both overall and within its group of states categorised by primary energy consumption. The index recognises the policy and regulatory reforms of the Haryana government for effectively implementing the Energy Conservation Act 2001 in collaboration with all central line departments.

For its outstanding performance in promoting and enforcing energy conservation in the building sector, Haryana New & Renewable Energy Department and HAREDA were awarded the ‘Special Award’ for SDA (State Designated Agency) – Category-II by the jury at the NEERMAN Awards 2022.

The state government has taken several initiatives for energy conservation:

• Energy Efficient Building Programme: The Department is promoting solar- passive and ECBC-compliant buildings in the State. Such buildings have the potential to save up to 40% in their energy bills/operational costs. Also, such buildings provide a better work environment, which results in higher productivity. HAREDA offers technical assistance to interested building owners. HAREDA has constructed its office building, a 5-Star Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) building, to demonstrate the concept.
• Energy Conservation Activities & Promotion of Energy Efficient Devices: Under the “Promotion of Energy Efficient Devices” component, Haryana is conducting LED Village Campaigns as part of its “Common Area LED Lighting Campaign for the Rural Sector.” As part of this initiative, 240 LED bulbs are being provided to each village for installation in schools, Panchayat Ghars, community centres, and other public spaces at no cost.

A total of 35 lakh has been allocated for this effort, including 21.52 lakh as committed liabilities from 2022-23 for 176 villages. With the remaining funds, approximately 110 villages were covered during 2023-24. For the upcoming year, 2024-25, an additional 40 lakh has been earmarked to further expand this initiative.

• Implementing energy-saving measures in Government schools: Haryana Renewable Energy Department & HAREDA are actively implementing energy-saving measures in government schools across rural areas. With an estimated expenditure of 42,000 per school, the project aims to replace conventional appliances with energy-efficient alternatives, funded entirely by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). As part of this initiative, each government school receives 30 LED bulbs, 30 LED tube lights, and 30 BLDC fans free of cost. To date, over 570 schools have benefited from this program, contributing to significant energy savings and promoting sustainable practices in the education sector.
• Establishing Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) Cell in the HAREDA: The industrial sector accounts for approximately 40% of total energy consumption. To address this, the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), a key initiative under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, has been launched. As part of NMEEE, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) introduced the PAT scheme, targeting energy- intensive sectors such as textiles, cement, pulp and paper, thermal power plants, buildings, discoms, and railways, collectively referred to as Designated Consumers.

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These Consumers are assigned energy-saving targets based on sector- specific energy consumption benchmarks calculated from their past three-year performance. The Ministry of Power awards consumers who exceed their targets Energy Saving Certificates, while those failing to meet their goals must purchase these certificates from power exchanges to offset the shortfall.

In the first PAT cycle, seven Designated Consumers were included. The scheme has expanded to cover 23 Designated Consumers, including Haryana’s Discoms and thermal power plants, fostering greater energy efficiency in the state.

Edited by Abhineet Kumar, Senior Sub-Editor | Elets News Network (ENN)

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