JK to be power surplus in coming years

Jammu, Mar 31: Rapid urbanization and industrialization has increased the demand of electricity expeditiously across the Jammu and Kashmir.
To meet this requirement, the government is working tirelessly to ramp up the electricity production. Contemporary problems like pollution and global climate change have pushed us to switch on to green renewable energy resources. The current budget pushes for solar and hydroelectric power generation in order to fulfill sustainable development goals.
Solar Energy
Jammu & Kashmir has a good potential of solar energy and the renewable energy capacity would help to bridge a part of its power requirement. Under the new budget in PM KUSUM Scheme, 375 number of Solar Water Pumps will be installed in 2022-23 providing electricity benefit to 47159 souls, direct agriculture benefit to 18750 souls, and indirect agriculture benefit to 160000 souls.
Under Jammu Solar City Mission, Grid tied Rooftop Solar Power Plants of aggregate capacity of 200 MW in residential sector will be provided to 50000 households in 2022-23 benefitting a population of 2 lakh souls. Also, under Jammu Smart City Project, grid tied Rooftop Solar Power Plants of aggregate capacity of 12 MW are to be provided to 200 number of Government buildings in 2022-23 absolving hydropower Sector of 48000 KWh.
Similarly, through Srinagar Smart City Project, grid tied Rooftop Solar Power Plants of aggregate capacity of 4 MW will be provided to 70 number of Government buildings in 2022-23 absolving hydropower Sector of 16000 KWh. Solar power projects can be setup in a much shorter timeframe when compared to conventional power projects and the cost of solar power has become more economical today. Solar power can also help meet energy requirements for both grids connected as well as off-grid applications such as solar powered agricultural pump sets.
Hydroelectric Power Projects
Jammu & Kashmir is bestowed with an estimated hydro-power potential, out of which 14,867 MW has already been identified by Central Electricity Authority. The J&K is all set to double the Hydropower Generation Capacity in next 3 years from existing capacity of 3500 MW.
In this direction, 5 Mega Hydro-power projects viz Ratle (824 MW), Kirthai-II (930 MW) Sawalakote (1856 MW), Dulhasti-Stage II (258 MW) and Uri-I Stage-II (240 MW) having total capacity of 4134 MW have been taken-up for execution in collaboration with NHPC. The likely investment in these projects is Rs 34882 crore and on completion will make J&K power surplus.
Transmission & Distribution Sector
The transmission capacity of Jammu and Kashmir is expected to reach to 12655 MVA by March 2022 and the transmission capacity at 220/132 KV level and 132/33 KV level is expected to be increased by 520 MVA and 580 MVA respectively in 2022-23. About 160 Circuit kilometers of existing ACSR (aluminum conductor steel reinforced) is being replaced by HTLS (high temperature low sag) to increase the carrying capacity by 1.75 times besides installation of towers at various locations for ground clearance.
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), a new reforms-based and results-linked scheme introduced by Ministry of Power (GoI) aimed at reduction of Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses, 100% prepaid metering, reduction of Average cost of Service- Aggregate Revenue Realised (ACS-ARR), developing modern DISCOMs and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence besides focus on Operational Efficiency will be rolled out and made operational during 2022-23. Reliable and Quality Power supply is to be provided to consumers by way of creation/augmentation of 11/0.33 KV critically overloaded substations and improvement/modernization of HT/LT lines.
6 lakh Smart Pre-paid meters to be installed (3 lakh each in Jammu & Kashmir Divisions) for preventing human intervention in billing/collection and subsequent reduction in Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses.
Our mission is to become one of the largest clean energy producing UT in the country and to reduce dependency on the conventional sources of energy and enable J&K in attaining self-sufficiency in its energy needs. The government recognizes that renewable energy can also significantly increase J&K’s and the Nation’s energy security. The budget 2022-23 focuses on to evolve new technologies in renewable energy generation and its application through participation of farmers, industries and public at large to boost the economy of J&K.