Frequently Asked Questions

1What is CRESPAI?
CRESPAI is a non-governmental body of Industries and Service Professional engaged in the area of Clean energy and Environment such as Wind, Solar, Bio-mass, Water resources etc.
2What is objective of CRESPAI?
CRESPAI is objectively an association for multi-lawyer engagement with Industries, Government Agencies, Ministries and other Socio-Civic organisations/NGOs for the promotion and upliftment of clean initiatives and to address the issues of the Industries working to provide clean energy.
3What will you provide do in your endeavour?
We will be organising, Seminar, Workshop, Conference of various stakeholders and other Scientific/Technocratic delegation. Our research paper/ magazine will be made available to the members and other stakeholders.
4Who can seek the membership of CRESPAI?
Industries working in Solar, Wind, Biomass, Thermal and Service providers, Educational Institution, Research Organisation, NGOs working in Environment are immensely benefitted being a member. What is a Grid Connected Solar Rooftop System? In grid connected rooftop or small SPV system, the DC power generated from SPV panel is converted to AC power using power conditioning unit and is fed to the grid depending on the capacity of the system installed at institution/commercial establishment or residential complex and the regulatory framework specified for respective States. These systems generate power during the day time which is utilized fully by powering captive loads and feed excess power to the grid as long as grid is available. In case, where solar power is not sufficient due to cloud cover etc., the captive loads are served by drawing power from the grid.
5What is the average cost of grid connected rooftop solar systems?
The average cost of grid connected rooftop solar systems is about Rs. 80 per watt or Rs. 8.0cr per MW capacity.
6What is the Financial Assistance provided by the Ministry?
There is a provision of Central Financial Assistance of 15% of the total cost or Rs. 12 per watt or Rs. 1.20 cr per MW under the Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Plants Programme of the Ministry. This CFA has been reduced from 30% to 15%.
7What are the other fiscal incentives are available for Solar Rooftop Systems?
  1. Electricity generation at the consumption center and hence Savings in transmission and distribution losses
  2. Low gestation time
  3. No requirement of additional land
  4. Improvement of tail-end grid voltages and reduction in system congestion with higher self-consumption of solar electricity
  5. Local employment generation
8Which organizations are setting up the projects for end users?
  1. State Nodal Agencies (SNAs)
  2. Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
  3. Channel Partners:
    1. Renewable Energy Service Providing Companies (RESCOs)
    2. System Integrators
    3. Manufactures of any component of the Solar Plants
    4. Project developers
    5. Vendors/ suppliers of solar equipment
    6. Reputed and relevant NGOs of National level
    7. Financial Institutions/Financial Integrators The Financial Institutions like NABARD, National Housing Banks, Other Banks, IREDA, SECI etc.
  4. Other Govt. Departments/Agencies
The other Govt. Departments/Agencies i.e., Railways, Defence /Para Military Forces, Local Government Bodies including Municipal Corporations/Municipalities, PSUs, Institutions, Development Authorities, DMRC, State Departments interested in directly implementing the programme.
9What is the gross potential of solar power in the country?
India is endowed with vast solar energy potential. About 5,000 trillion kWh per year energy is incident over India’s land area with most parts receiving 3-5 kWh per sq. m per day. Based upon the availability of land and solar radiation, the potential of solar power in the country has been assessed to be 750 GWp
10What is a wind turbine?
A wind turbine is a system which transforms the kinetic energy available in the wind into mechanical or electrical energy that can be harnessed for any required applications. Mechanical energy is most commonly used for pumping water. Wind electric turbines generate electricity that can be utilized locally or transported to the desired location through grid.
11What is a wind farm?
The most economical application of wind turbines is in groups of large machines. They are called ‘Wind farms’ or’ wind power plants’. Wind plants can vary in size from a few Mega Watts to hundreds of Mega Watts in capacity.
12Where does the power generated from a wind turbine go?
Normally, the powers produced by large wind turbines are connected to the state / central electricity grid whereas smaller wind turbines normally charged into a battery. Now a day lots of encouragement steps are being initiated to couple small wind turbine into grid. The power concentrated to the grid can be sold to the state utility / any private party / can also be used for captive use by paying wheeling charges alone.
13What is ‘availability factor’?
Availability is a measure of the reliability of a wind turbine or other plant. It refers to the percentage of time that a plant is ready to generate (that is, not out of service for maintenance or repairs). Modern turbines have an availability of more than 98%higher than most other types of power plant. After two decades of constant engineering refinement, today’s wind turbines are highly reliable.
14What is the energy payback time for a wind turbine?
The ‘energy payback time’ is a term used to measure the net energy value of a wind turbine or other power plant. i.e., how long does the plant have to operate to generate the amount of electricity that was required for its manufacture and construction? Several studies have looked at this question over the years and have concluded that wind energy has one of the shortest energy payback times of any energy technology. A wind turbine typically takes only a few months to “pay back” the energy needed for its fabrication, installation, operation and retirement.
15What are the advantages of wind energy?
The following are the advantages of wind energy
  • No fuel cost
  • Environment friendly and pollution free
  • Potential exists to harness wind energy
  • Lowest gestation period and capacity addition can be in modular form
  • Cost of generation reduces over a period of time
  • Limited use of land
  • Accommodation of other land uses
  • Employment
  • New market
  • Local Infrastructure & economy development
16What are the environmental benefits of wind power?
Wind energy system operations do not generate air or water emissions and do not produce hazardous waste or deplete natural resources such as coal, oil, or gas, or cause environmental damage through resource extraction and transportation. Wind's pollution free electricity can help reduce the environmental damage majorly caused byconventional power generation.
17In what other ways does wind energy benefit the economy?
Wind farms can revitalize the economy of rural communities, providing steady income through lease to the landowners. Farmers can also grow crops or raise cattle next to the towers. Wind farms may extend over a large geographical area, but their actual "footprint “covers only a very small portion of the land, making wind development an ideal way for farmers to earn additional revenue.
18What are the details of Central Financial Assistance for setting up of wind power projects?
There is no capital subsidy for setting up of wind power projects. The capacity additions has been achieved through commercial projects by private investors. The government provides fiscal incentives such as 80% accelerated depreciation, 10 years tax holiday on income from generation from wind power projects, concessional custom duty on import of specified components, excise duty exemption for manufacture of wind electric generators and parts thereof, etc. This apart, preferential tariff is being provided to increase wind energy generation in the potential States. Recently, a generation based incentive (GBI) scheme has been introduced.

What is the (i) capital cost of the wind power project, (ii) cost of electricity generation and (iii) average capacity utilization factor of wind power projects.

The average capital cost of wind power project varies from around Rs. 5.5 cr. to Rs.6 cr. per MW. The cost of generation of wind power projects varies from Rs. 3.00 to Rs. 4.00/unit depending upon site, capital cost, interest rate, etc. The average utilization factor in the country is about 21% which varies from 17% to 26% depending upon the wind power density, the type and size of turbines and the availability of grid.
19What are the advantages of Small / mini / micro hydel projects?
The small hydro projects normally do not encounter the problems associated with large hydro projects such as construction of dams, deforestation and resettlement. The projects have potential to meet power requirements of remote and isolated areas. The plants have long useful life and the generation cost is almost inflation free. The plants help in conserving fossil fuels and are beneficial to environment as they substitute thermal power thereby reducing carbon emissions. These factors make small hydro power as one of the most attractive renewable source of grid quality power generation.
20What are the incentives available to the Government Sector to set up small hydro projects?
The Government provides a financial support of Rs.7.50 crore per MW limited to Rs.20 crore per project to in the North-Eastern States & Special category states of J&K, HP and Uttarakhand and Rs.3.5 crore per MW limited to Rs. 20 crore per project for projects in the other States being set up in the Government Sector.
21What are the incentives available to the private sector to set up small hydro projects?
The Government provides a financial support of Rs.1.50 cr. per MW limited to Rs.5 cr. project to in the North-Eastern States & Special category states of J&K, HP and Uttarakhand and Rs.1 cr. per MW limited to Rs. 5 cr. per project for projects in the other States being set up by the private sector which commenced their construction work after 1st April, 2013.
22What is financial support provided by the Government for setting up Micro Hydro Power projects?
The Government also provides financial support for installation of Micro Hydro Power projects up to 100 KW capacity in the country set up by Government dept., agencies, co-operative societies, local bodies, tea gardens, NGOs, entrepreneur etc. for the benefit of villagers living in the remote & inaccessible hilly areas to meet their local electricity needs in decentralized manner. A support of Rs.1,25,000/- per KW is provided for installation of these projects.