The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has issued draft regulations for solar and wind power for 2017. The objective of these regulations is to facilitate large-scale grid integration of solar and wind generating stations while maintaining grid stability and security, through forecasting, scheduling, and implementing a commercial mechanism for deviation settlement of the generators.

The regulation will be effective from the date of announcement and the commercial mechanism of these regulations shall come into force after six months from the date of notification in the Gazette of Gujarat.

These regulations will apply to all wind and solar generators connected to the State grid, including those connected via pooling stations and selling generated power within or outside the state, or consuming power generated for self-consumption, stated the GERC.

For wind projects commissioned prior to January 30, 2010, the wind power generators will pay deviation charges for shortfalls or excess generation. The GERC has regulated that if there is deviation of less than 12 percent in each 15-minute time block, the power generator shouldn’t pay any deviation charges. As deviation increases payable charges increase.

For wind projects commissioned on or after January 30, 2010, the GERC has asked the wind power generators to not pay for deviation below 8 percent in a 15-minute time block. As the percentage deviation increases the payable deviation charges will rise.

The accounting for these will be done by state load dispatch center.

In the event of actual generation of a solar power station or a pooling station, the deviation charges for shortfalls or excess generation will be payable by the solar generator to the State DSM Pool only if deviation in a given 15-minute time block crosses 7 percent. After that as the deviation increases so does the payable deviation charges. For deviation below 7 percent there are no deviation charges.

These regulations are expected to bolster wind and solar in the state of Gujarat.