TNERC has increased the solar purchase obligation from current 0.5 per cent to one per cent
As per the proposal, Tangedco should meet 11 per cent of its total energy consumption from renewable sources, including 1 per cent from solar energy
Chennai: In an effort to promote renewable energy, including solar power, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has proposed to increase the renewable purchase obligation (RPO) to 11 per cent from 9.5 per cent for 2015-16. According to the draft amendment of TNERC (renewable energy purchase obligation) regulations, 2010, as part of the RPO, the commission has increased the solar purchase obligation from the current 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent. Interestingly, the commission had proposed to fix solar obligation at 2 per cent last year but it was dropped and it was maintained at 0.5 per cent of the total RPO of 9.5 per cent.
According to sources in the commission, the proposal to increase solar purchase obligation to 2 per cent was dropped considering the high cost of solar power. The guideline issued by the Union ministry of new and renewable energy has set a target of achieving 3 per cent solar purchase obligation by 2018. “To achieve the target, we will revise the solar obligation every year till 2018,” the source said. As per the proposal, Tangedco should meet 11 per cent of its total energy consumption from renewable sources, including 1 per cent from solar energy.
However, the increased obligation is applicable only for the distribution licencee — Tangedco — for the time being, as the open access and captive consumers had obtained a stay from the Madras high court against the RPO. The draft amendment of TNERC states the distribution licencee, open access consumers and captive consumers are the obligated entities under the above regulation.
A stay was granted by the Madras high court on a batch of writ petitions filed by open access and captive consumers, restraining the operation of the regulation to them, pending court approvals. “With the writ petitions filed by open access and captive consumers pending before the Madras HC, the distribution licensee alone has to fulfil the RPO as specified in the regulations,” stated the TNERC document.
The enforcement of RPO on captive and open access consumers is subject to the outcome of the cases filed in the relevant judicial forums, said the commission. Any comments/objections with regard to the proposed amendment should be submitted to TNERC before May 25.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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