UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves PM-DHARA (PM-Developing Harmonized and Accelerated Renewable-energy Access) Scheme for Development of Intra-State Transmission System with Battery Energy Storage Systems

Q1. Government projections for 2031-32 envisage battery energy storage of about 47 GW paired with about 236 GWh. What does the ratio of the second figure to the first (about 5) represent?

  • A. The multiple by which storage raises the grid's peak power capacity
  • B. The number of hours the fleet can discharge at its full rated power
  • C. The number of years the battery cells last before needing replacement
  • D. The number of full charge-discharge cycles each battery completes daily

Q2. Green Energy Corridor Phase-III pairs intra-State evacuation capacity for up to 135 GW of renewable energy with 50 GWh of battery energy storage. In this context, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 50 GWh figure by itself specifies the maximum power the storage fleet can inject into the grid at any instant.
  2. If the 50 GWh fleet had an aggregate rated output of 25 GW, it could, starting fully charged, sustain that output for about two hours.
  3. At the full 135 GW evacuation level, 50 GWh of storage could substitute for all renewable output for more than an hour.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2 only

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Renewable capacity in a resource-rich State can remain stranded or be curtailed even when there is unmet demand for electricity elsewhere in the country.
  2. Central financial assistance under the Green Energy Corridor programme is meant to offset intra-State transmission charges and so keep delivered power costs down.
  • 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

Q4. With reference to the procurement models adopted for new intra-State transmission lines under Green Energy Corridor Phase-III, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding, the transmission tariff is discovered through competing bids rather than computed by the regulator from the project's audited cost.
  2. Under the Build-Own-Operate-Maintain model, the winning transmission service provider retains ownership of the asset and is responsible for running and maintaining it.
  3. Under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding, the tariff payable to the transmission service provider is periodically revised to pass through its actual construction cost overruns.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. Under the intra-State track of the Green Energy Corridor programme, central financial assistance was 40% of project cost in Phase-I and 33% of a ₹12,031 crore cost in Phase-II. Phase-III has a total outlay of ₹1,86,405 crore, with central support of ₹54,082 crore. In each phase, the assistance is meant to offset intra-State transmission charges. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. States and their consumers bear a larger proportion of project cost in Phase-III than in Phase-I.
  2. The Centre's absolute financial commitment in Phase-III is smaller than its commitment in Phase-II.
  3. Other things being equal, a smaller central share leaves a larger part of project cost to be recovered through transmission charges.
  4. The Centre has deprioritised renewable-energy transmission relative to other infrastructure sectors.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q6. Consider the following assertion: Pairing battery storage with transmission expansion can reduce the transmission capacity needed to evacuate a given quantity of solar energy. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Storage at the generator end can absorb output during the midday peak and release it when the lines have spare capacity.
  2. Solar generation is concentrated in daylight hours, so lines sized for the midday peak remain under-used at night.
  3. Battery storage capacity is expressed in GWh, whereas transmission capacity is expressed in GW.
  4. Green Energy Corridor Phase-III places battery storage exclusively at the generator end of renewable projects.
  • A. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only