The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) recently approved the power sale agreement (PSA) submitted by the Haryana Power Purchase Center (HPPC) to procure 800 MW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind-solar hybrid power (Tranche IV) from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) at a levelized tariff of ₹2.34 (~$0.029)/kWh for 700 MW and ₹2.35 (~$0.03)/kWh for 100 MW.

The Commission also approved the trading margin of ₹0.07 (~$0.0009)/kWh.

It directed HPPC to submit a copy of the signed PSA within seven days from the signing of the PSA.

HPPC had filed a petition seeking approval of the draft PSA to procure 800 MW ISTS-connected wind-solar hybrid power.

Background

SECI had invited bids to set up 1,200 MW ISTS-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects (Tranche-IV) on a build, own, operate basis across India. On being offered by SECI, HPPC agreed to procure 1,200 MW of wind-solar hybrid power at ₹ 2.34 (~$0.029)/kWh in February this year.

Later, SECI informed HPPC that it could only supply 800 MW of power out of the total capacity of 1,200 MW since it had already consented to supply the rest of the power to other buyers. It was also stated that the applicable tariff, including the trading margin under the PSA, will be ₹2.41 (~$0.031)/kWh for 700 MW and ₹2.42 (~$0.031)/kWh for 100 MW.

Subsequently, HPPC consented to procure 800 MW of hybrid power at ₹2.34 (~$0.029)/kWh for 700 MW and ₹2.35 (~$0.03)/kWh for 100 MW plus a trading margin of ₹0.07(~$0.0009) /kWh.

HPPC, in its submission, said that the Commission had approved 1088.1 MU and 2901.8 MU from non-solar and solar sources for compliance with a renewable power purchase obligation (RPO) for FY 2021-22. The Commission had allowed carrying forward the RPO backlog of FY 2020-21 to FY 2021-22.

HPPC noted that the existing solar power capacity available with the Haryana distribution companies (DISCOMs) through long-term agreements was 618.8 MW, with a rooftop solar capacity of about 384 MW. At the same time, 617.2 MW was currently available from non-solar renewable sources.

With the above arrangements, the total installed capacity of 2,050 MW solar (including about 450 MW from rooftop solar) and 1,565 MW non-solar (including 1,300 MW wind generation) will be available with the Haryana DISCOMs by the end of FY 2022-23. Considering the anticipated upward revision of solar RPO targets beyond 10.5%, additional solar power would be required for the fulfillment of solar RPOs of DISCOMs for FY 2022-23 and beyond.

Commission’s analysis

The Commission observed that HPPC has to meet the solar RPO targets. The shortfall in fulfillment of RPO solar targets by HPPC for the FY 2021-22 was 1,246 MU. Considering the backlog of shortfall in RPO compliance by HPPC for the FY 2020-21, the cumulative shortfall in compliance of solar and non-solar RPO, as of March 31, 2022, was 2,505 MU and 605 MU, respectively.

The Commission approved the PSA to procure 800 MW of wind-solar hybrid power. It said that the draft PPA would be construed as an essential part of the PSA as approved by the Commission.

The Commission noted that the trading margin considered in the present case is ₹0.07 (~$0.0009)/kWh of scheduled energy, per the trading margin regulations.

Last November, HERC set a levelized tariff of ₹2.86 (~$0.038)/kWh for a 50 MW solar project in Haryana’s Sirsa district following a petition by Avaada Green HN Project Private.

Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time Regulatory Updates to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.