UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves ₹1.86 lakh crore Green Energy Corridor

Q1. With reference to the planning and regulation of electricity transmission networks in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Under the Green Energy Corridor, the intra-state transmission component is executed by the respective States, while the inter-state component is executed by a Central transmission entity.
  2. The tariff for inter-state transmission of electricity is determined by the Electricity Regulatory Commission of the State in which the line originates.
  3. Since electricity is a Concurrent List subject, both Parliament and the State Legislatures can make laws on it.
  4. State Electricity Regulatory Commissions regulate intra-State transmission, including the determination of transmission charges within the State.
  • A. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q2. In a grid with a high share of solar and wind power, which of the following measures would tend to reduce the curtailment of renewable energy?

  1. Building additional evacuation capacity from renewable-rich zones to load centres
  2. Charging storage systems during the midday solar surplus and discharging them in the evening
  3. Improving day-ahead and real-time forecasting of wind and solar output
  4. Replacing fast-ramping gas units with baseload units that must run at a fixed output
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q3. A grid-scale battery installation is rated at 500 MW / 2,000 MWh. Which one of the following correctly describes its capability?

  • A. It stores 500 MWh and can release it at a peak rate of 2,000 MW
  • B. It can supply up to 500 MW at full output for about 2,000 hours
  • C. It can supply up to 2,000 MW at full output for about fifteen minutes
  • D. It can supply up to 500 MW at full output for about four hours

Q4. A national transmission scheme aims to integrate up to 135 GW of renewable capacity and, separately, to fund 50 GWh of battery energy storage. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from these figures?

  1. If the batteries are designed for a four-hour discharge, their combined power rating would be about 12.5 GW.
  2. The batteries could absorb the full output of all 135 GW of renewable capacity for one hour.
  3. The 50 GWh figure alone does not indicate how fast the stored energy can be delivered to the grid.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q5. With reference to grid-scale energy storage in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Pumped storage hydro, unlike battery storage, can be set up almost anywhere because it does not depend on local topography.
  2. A pumped storage plant uses surplus grid power to lift water to an upper reservoir and generates electricity from it during peak demand.
  3. Both battery storage and pumped storage can provide ancillary services such as frequency control and peak shifting.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Over a complete pumping-and-generating cycle, a pumped storage hydro plant consumes more electricity from the grid than it returns to it.
  2. A pumped storage hydro plant stores energy as the gravitational potential energy of water raised to an upper reservoir.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q7. With reference to India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) communicated to the UNFCCC in 2022, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It commits India to installing 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030.
  2. It commits India to about 50 per cent of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
  3. It commits India to non-fossil sources supplying about 50 per cent of electricity generated by 2030.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 only

Q8. Consider the following assertion: 'A country whose non-fossil sources make up over 40 per cent of installed power capacity may still get under a third of its electricity from them.' Which of the following statements support the above assertion?

  1. Solar and wind plants operate at lower average capacity utilisation than coal-based plants.
  2. Installed capacity measures the maximum rate of output, whereas generation measures the energy actually produced over time.
  3. Non-fossil capacity counts nuclear and large hydro as well as solar and wind.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3