The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has ordered the distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the national capital to enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) for procuring power from Tehkhand Waste to Electricity Project.

The commission was examining a petition filed by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). BSES Rajdhani Power Limited, BSES Yamuna Power Limited, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. and New Delhi Municipal Council were the respondents in the petition.

In 2018, the Delhi commission had directed these DISCOMs to sign PPAs to procure power from the Tehkhand Waste to Electricity Project. Then, SDMC submitted the copies of the PPAs executed between Tehkhand Waste to Electricity Project and BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. (TPDDL).

After examination, the DERC found the PPAs to be in order and gave its due approval. However, it also found that the PPA copy of the one executed between Tehkhand Waste to Electricity Project and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had not been submitted for approval.

Therefore, the commission has now directed the NDMC to enter into a PPA with Tehkhand Waste to Electricity Project without any delay.

This order will be a relief for project developers involved in setting up waste to energy projects in Delhi and can serve as a reference point for similar orders in other states and union territories of India.

In 2018, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) approved a program called “Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Waste/Residue” with modified terms and conditions from 2017-18 to 2019-20. The program aims at creating conducive conditions and environment with fiscal and financial regime to develop, demonstrate, and disseminate utilization of wastes and residues for recovery of energy.