The Ministry of Power has instructed state electricity regulatory commissions (SERCs) to comply with the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules and align their states’ Open Access Regulations with the notified rules and all the amendments.

SERCs have been directed to submit their compliance status by February 27, 2024.

In May last year, the Ministry of Power amended the green energy open access rules to enable consumers with a total contracted demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or above to avail of green energy open access. This applies to consumers with single or multiple connections that add up to 100 kW or more within the same electricity division.

Under the new rules, captive consumers can use green energy open access without any load limitations.

The ministry notified the Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022 in June last year. It stated that consumers would be eligible for green energy open access if they have a contracted demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more. However, it did not clarify the number of connections allowed.

The amendments allowed consumers with multiple small-capacity connections to avail power under open access with a minimum of 100 kW capacity.

The ministry also specified that offshore wind projects commissioned by December 2032 and supplying electricity to open access consumers would be exempt from additional surcharges.

The ministry earlier amended the rules to add provisions for the banking settlement cycle, introducing new charges and exempting offshore wind projects from paying additional surcharges. It also allowed consumers to purchase green energy based on their consumption.

India saw a surge in solar open access installations with the addition of 907 MW in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, a 36.1% increase over 666 MW in the previous quarter, according to the recently published Q3 2023 Mercom India Solar Open Access Market Report.

The installations showed a growth of 20.6% from the 752 MW installed in the same quarter in 2022. The top five states accounted for 72.8% of cumulative open-access solar installations.