The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission has included virtual net metering provisions in the Grid Interactive Rooftop Renewable Energy Generating System (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2024. The virtual net metering provisions will help consumers of multistorey residential buildings who find installing rooftop solar in common spaces difficult. The Commission has provided the provision of Open Access Charges and Losses for sourcing renewable energy under virtual net metering.

Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has allowed Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL) an extension for the Scheduled Commercial Operation Date for its 510 MW wind-solar hybrid power project. TPREL filed the petition seeking relief due to delays in operationalizing the Inter-State Transmission System substations at Koppal-II and Gadag-II, critical for evacuating power from its project in Karnataka. TPREL requested an extension of the SCOD from March 7, 2025, to 60 days after the ISTS substations become operational.

The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) ruled that as per Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Captive and Renewable Energy Generating Plants) Regulations, 2019, banking of energy up to 100% requires an agreement between the renewable energy generator and the distribution licensee. The tribunal held that neither the generator nor the Commission could insist on the distribution licensee banking of energy beyond what has been agreed to. APTEL allowed a petition by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation and set aside the order passed by UPERC regarding the banking of renewable energy.

The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has dismissed a petition filed by Sarda Metals & Alloys seeking postponement of its Renewable Power Purchase Obligation (RPPO) and capping of RPPO rates. Sarda Metals, which operates an 80 MW captive power plant in Vizianagaram, had sought to carry forward its RPPO for FY 2017-18-FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25-FY 2029-30. The company cited financial distress and operational challenges as reasons for non-compliance with RPPO requirements.

The Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) has issued a detailed draft procedure for verifying the captive status of generating plants and their users in Telangana. The initiative is part of the regulatory framework under the Electricity Act of 2003 and aligns with the “Terms and Conditions of Open Access” Regulation, 2024. The draft aims to ensure compliance with the statutory requirements for captive power generation, offering a structured approach to verification. TGERC is inviting objections and suggestions from stakeholders with a submission deadline of September 21, 2024.

A consortium of engineering and consulting firm, Gensol Engineering and Matrix Gas & Renewables, a natural gas aggregator and hydrogen infrastructure developer, has won an engineering, procurement, and construction contract from a power generation company to develop India’s first bio-hydrogen project. The project, valued at ₹1.64 billion (~$19.53 million), aims to convert 25 tons of bio-waste into 1 ton of green hydrogen daily. It is slated for completion within 18 months, Gensol said in a bourse filing. Gensol has formed a strategic partnership with U.S.-based Westinghouse, which holds patents for the technology and has successfully commissioned similar plants globally.

Mumbai-based Epic Energy, a solar EPC solutions provider, announced it is setting up a 35 MW solar park near Solapur in Maharashtra with Niva Ecotech, a solar park developer. The company, which aims to reach a total installed capacity of 140 MW in the next two years, has identified several sites in and around Solapur to set up the solar park. Epic is negotiating with blue-chip corporates to set up solar projects under the group captive open access arrangement at the proposed solar park.

Rooftop solar is gaining significant traction among commercial and industrial companies in India, primarily due to its potential for substantial energy cost reduction. Additionally, businesses can profit by selling excess energy back to the grid through net metering arrangements. The result has been that India added 1.1 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first half of the calendar year 2024, which is the highest half-yearly installation to date, according to Mercom India’s newly released Q2 2024 India Rooftop Solar Market Report. States like Tamil Nadu, with its large industrial base, stand to benefit greatly from this surge in solar installations.

Researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China have developed an all-perovskite tandem solar cell with a record power conversion efficiency of 28.49%. The research paper, ‘Surface chemical polishing and passivation minimize non-radiative recombination for all-perovskite tandem solar cells,’ was published in Nature Communications. The all-perovskite tandem solar cells combine two materials to capture a broader range of sunlight, making it more efficient. Besides increased efficiency, the researchers also note that the cell demonstrated durability, performing optimally after 550 hours of continuous operation.