NEW DELHI, Apr 16: Government will soon finalise a policy making it mandatory to feed power generated through various off-grid solutions, like mini transmission network, to the national grid once it reaches the hinterland.
The move aims at making make off-grid power supply more viable in the future.
A Power Ministry official said that as and when the grid reaches a place that has an off-grid option, there will be a “must-run status” for feeding its electricity into the grid.
A mini transmission network or mini grids can carry 65-75 kilowatt hour (units) of power and cater to about 250 households with some 1,000 people.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of Power Minister Piyush Goyal saying that the government is planning to provide power to every household at an affordable rate.
Stakeholders have expressed concerns over off-grids becoming redundant when the grid connectivity is achieved at villages or remote areas.
At the same time, the government has asked companies to establish micro or mini transmission grids, particularly in rural parts of India.
Earlier, this week, The Rockefeller Foundation pledged USD 75 million financing to provide electricity to 1,000 villages through mini-transmission grids.
The foundation would provide bridge loan financing to the four energy service companies (ESCOs) — Tara Urja, OMC, Desi Power and Free Spans — for supplying power to the hinterland. (PTI)
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