According to experts, in order to achieve the OSOWOG project, neighbouring countries and regions must be physically connected to the wiring, including some expenses.
New Delhi: India will have to go through several protocols and institutional agreements between the countries participating in the global solar grid scheme before it can ensure deep connectivity according to industry experts.
He said that necessary conditions, such as inter-governmental treaties, require the expansion of geographical areas of the existing power exchange, and to decide on how the electricity markets would operate.
Danish De, National Head and partner of Energy & Natural Resources said that “It is not just an engineering challenge, but a political and economic one. This will require large-scale solar and transmission asset builds. Electricity markets and regulations have to be aligned. Inter-governmental treaties should be in place to ensure that flows occur and contingency arrangements should also be made for occasions where arrangements are not adequate".
He said the initiative would test the leadership of the International Solar Alliance and India, but said this was a worthy cause to be tried.
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According to experts, in order to achieve the OSOWOG project, neighbouring countries and regions must be physically connected to the wiring, with some costs involved.
Jyoti Parikh, Executive Director, Action for Integrated Research and Development (IRADe), said the project would also require political will and a push to the highest level of participating countries.
“Effective implementation of the OSOWOG project will require multiple systems, protocols and institutional agreements between participating countries. Factors such as shared grid codes, themes and viable contracts of payment need to be determined and agreed upon, ”she said.
A recent study by IRADe stated that multilateral energy trade has the potential to benefit all members. It said that such trade of electricity between BBN countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal would lead to more efficient use of regional energy resources, lower capital investment and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
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Since electric power is not simple to stock, there is always unused capacity that can be used at night or Others can be shut down - achieving maximum investment as a result of peak time. Every country has the unutilized solar capacity ..., "said Parikh.
Globally, all regions have regional power integration in one way or the other. However, almost half of the world is covered from South Asia to Southeast Asia, integrating various regions such as Africa through the Middle East, which the project has attempted to pull off.
European electricity markets, Gulf countries, Mekong region, etc. have varying degrees of power pool. Power trade is growing and strengthening in South Asia, especially between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
Bhutan and Nepal have good hydroelectric potential and can export surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh during summer. The region has a turnover of around 3,500 megawatts of electricity, which is a fraction of the huge potential for the region.
“China, too, has been thinking along these lines for the past few years. But, this is a plan done on their terms. I think we need a consultative approach that develops with a common understanding and a shared vision. Parikh said that it takes longer but perhaps it is necessary so that no member nation realizes that it is at their expense and they are worse off.
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Last month, the Ministry of Forest and Forest Renewable Energy began the process of engaging a consulting firm to develop a mutual power transmission grid across nations to supply clean energy under the One Sun One World One Grid program.
Leading consulting firms were approached to consult with NaturalEnergyNews on whether they would bid, however, most of them remained fit and declined to comment on the project. Only one firm confirmed its participation in the bids.
Under the plan, it will be divided into two broad areas - the Far East and Far West. The Far East will include countries such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, etc. and the Far West will cover the Middle East and Africa.
It will consist of three phases. In the first phase, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia will be interlinked. In the second phase, areas rich in solar and other renewable energy resources will be connected and in the third phase, there will be a global interconnection of power transmission grids.
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