In a major relief for the renewable energy sector, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved time extensions for projects delayed due to the prolonged case in the Supreme Court over power transmission lines in the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The time extension will be calculated from the later of the date on which the developer applied for approval under Section 68 of the Electricity Act, 2003, or March 21, 2024, up to December 19, 2025, the date on which the Supreme Court delivered its final judgment.

Developers seeking relief must apply to the renewable energy implementing agency concerned, along with documentary evidence demonstrating that the delay was due to the pendency of Section 68 approval.

Where the transmission line route, or any portion of it, falls within a GIB area, developers must also provide an undertaking to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court and the technical or expert committee, or any other entity authorised by the Court.

The order clarifies that renewable energy projects with scheduled commissioning dates before March 21, 2024, are not eligible for the relief. It also excludes projects whose developers did not apply for Section 68 approval before December 19, 2025.

In cases where a project has already received time extensions under other orders or arrangements, any overlapping period will be deducted to avoid duplication of relief. Implementing agencies have been instructed to objectively examine each claim and, where applicable, extend intermediate project milestones in line with the overall extension granted.

MNRE said the delay in granting approvals under Section 68 during the pendency of the Supreme Court’s final judgment was beyond the reasonable control of renewable energy developers and must be treated like a force majeure event.

Accordingly, MNRE has directed renewable energy implementing agencies, including Solar Energy Corporation of India, NTPC, NHPC, and SJVN, to extend the scheduled commissioning date or scheduled commencement of supply date for affected projects.

The move follows the Supreme Court’s final disposal of a long-pending wildlife conservation case that had stalled statutory clearance. The case originated from a writ petition highlighting the adverse impact of overhead power transmission lines on the critically endangered GIB.

In April 2021, the Supreme Court constituted a three-member expert committee to provide case-specific approvals. This committee was discontinued in March 2024 and replaced with a broader, multidisciplinary expert committee tasked with formulating comprehensive recommendations on balancing wildlife protection with infrastructure development.

During the period from March 21, 2024, to December 19, 2025, renewable energy developers were unable to secure the mandatory approvals required to lay overhead transmission lines. As a result, several renewable energy projects, despite being otherwise ready, remained stalled.

In its final judgment, the Supreme Court broadly accepted the expert committee’s majority recommendations and permitted overhead transmission lines, subject to compliance with conservation safeguards for the GIB.

The MNRE order said developers who receive time extensions must pass on similar relief to downstream stakeholders, including EPC contractors, equipment suppliers, and original equipment manufacturers, to align contractual timelines across the project value chain.

In addition, MNRE has requested the Ministry of Power to issue corresponding directions for similar relief, including the provision or extension of grid connectivity and general network access without penalties, and the continuation of interstate transmission system charges waiver for the extended project duration.

It also requested the Central Electricity Authority, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Central Transmission Utility of India to take appropriate action in this regard.

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