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					</table><p>The <a href="https://powermin.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Power</a> has clarified that power stations must always be available and ready to dispatch power according to the Tariff Policy 2016. Power generators can sell surplus power in the power market to best use unutilized generation capacity.</p>
<p>The clarification, sent to energy departments of all states and generating companies, comes amid concerns that some power generators are not offering surplus power in the power market, leading to unused capacity.</p>
<p>In October 2021, the Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/guidelines-optimum-utilization-power-generation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> guidelines for operationalizing the optimum utilization of generating stations as per the requirements of the electricity grid. These guidelines aim to ensure that power generators can effectively utilize their capacity by selling surplus power in the market.</p>
<p>Section 9(5) of the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules of 2022, later amended in 2024, empowers generators to sell surplus power within their declared generation capacity, even if distribution companies do not requisition it.</p>
<p>Despite these provisions, the Ministry of Power has received feedback from power utilities highlighting certain restrictions in existing agreements. For instance, Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) and agreements under SHAKTI B (ii) for independent power producers restrict linkage coal solely for fulfilling long-term power purchase agreement obligations with distribution companies.</p>
<p>In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Power clarified that generating companies, including those with long-term coal linkages under FSAs, can offer surplus power in the market.</p>
<p>This clarification, under the provisions of the Tariff Policy of 2016 and the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules, aims to promote a more dynamic and responsive electricity market by utilizing power generation capacity efficiently.</p>
<p>By allowing power generators to sell surplus power, the government aims to minimize wastage of resources.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom&#8217;s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates </a>to stay informed about critical updates from the renewable industry.</p>


Ministry Says GENCOs Can Sell Surplus Power in the Market   


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					</table><p>The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (<a href="https://arena.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ARENA</a>) has invited expressions of interest (EoI) for the first round of Community Batteries Funding of up to AU $120 million (~$81.2 million) to deploy community batteries across Australia.</p>
<p>The Community Batteries Funding Program is expected to facilitate the installation of community batteries nationwide to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions and alleviate strain on the power grid.</p>
<p>ARENA had invited proposals for the first round of the program, which involved a funding allocation of up to AU $20 million (~$13.5 million) to deploy at least five community batteries.</p>
<p>To qualify for funding, every community battery should have a capacity between 50 kW and 5 MW and be connected to the distribution network.</p>
<p>The first round of funding will be divided equally between two separate streams:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Stream A:</strong> This stream is designated for Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs), entities responsible for managing the local power distribution network.</li>
<li><strong>Stream B:</strong> The second stream is for all eligible applicants other than DNSPs, such as community groups or businesses.</li>
</ul>
<p>The federal budget announced in October 2022 included a A$200 million (~$134.98 million) allotment for the implementation of the Community Batteries for Household Solar initiative with the goal of installing 400 community batteries in Australia.</p>
<p>ARENA was allotted A$171 million (~$115.41 million) in funding to oversee the deployment of at least 342 of these batteries.</p>
<p>After completing the first round, the remainder of the funds will be utilized for a second round that would cater to projects with longer development timelines.</p>
<p>Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (<a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DCCEEW</a>), which conducted the first round of applications for a similar program under the Business Grants Hub, is expected to deliver the first set of 58 batteries. The department is currently assessing the applications received.</p>
<p>Community batteries are designed to store excess solar energy in the distribution network, which can be used later. By doing so, they help to reduce household electricity costs and alleviate pressure on the local electricity grid.</p>
<p>According to ARENA CEO Darren Miller, community batteries are crucial in continuously optimizing distributed energy resources in the electricity grid.</p>
<p>Deploying such batteries will reduce network costs and alleviate constraints in areas with high solar penetration, leading to lower electricity costs for all consumers.</p>
<p>According to the latest Australian Energy Market Operator (<a href="https://aemo.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AEMO</a><u>)</u> data, the total number of distributed energy resources is over 2.7 million. These resources include solar panels, batteries, wind turbines, and other technologies that generate or store electricity on a small scale, often for individual homes or businesses.</p>
<p>Over 190,527 new solar PV systems were registered across Australia in 2022, representing the largest share of new additions. Other technologies, such as batteries, wind turbines, and electric vehicles, also grew significantly.</p>
<p>As of the most recent update, the cumulative total of registered resources across Australia has reached over 12.8 million. Solar photovoltaic systems represent the largest share of cumulative registrations, followed by batteries, small wind turbines, and other technologies.</p>
<p>The data helps us understand the increasing adoption of distributed energy resources in Australia and the need for community batteries to support the integration of these resources into the grid.</p>
<p>In December last year, ARENA also <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/australia-provide-118-million-battery-projects-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> A$176 million (~$118 million) in conditional funding to support eight grid-scale battery projects nationwide.</p>
<p>Recently, the agency also <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/australia-au29-5-million-university-solar-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded</a> AU$29.5 million (~$19.5 million) to the University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) for research in solar technologies.</p>


Australia Announces $81 Million Funding for Community Battery Deployment

<p>In a major boost to the Tunisian renewable energy sector, African Development Board (<a href="https://afdb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AfDB</a>) has sanctioned €138 million (~$153.5 million) for the Tunisian Company of Energy and Gas (<a href="https://www.steg.com.tn/en/accueil.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">STEG</a>) to develop an electricity transmission network.</p>
<p>The allocated amount includes €108 million (~$120 million) as a loan, and the remaining €30 million (~$33.4 million) will be raised from Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF).</p>
<p>The project, which will incur a total cost of €290 million (~$323 million), is jointly financed by the Islamic Development Bank and STEG, which will provide €121 million (~$135 million) and €31 million (~$34.5 million), respectively. The project includes the construction of nearly 250 km of transmission network and high and medium voltage transformer stations.</p>
<p>This latest move is expected to help grow the renewable energy sector in Tunisia and facilitate stability of the electricity grid.</p>
<p>Speaking about the project, Mohammad El Azizi, AfDB’s managing director for the North African region, said that this is an important project, and its impact will be huge on the quality of energy supplied throughout the country. As a result, the STEG will be better equipped to cope with the continued rise in demand and evacuate a higher amount of electricity, including that which will be generated by future solar and wind power plants, which are under development, he added.</p>
<p>Tunisia, a North African country, has witnessed increased activity in the renewable energy sector lately.</p>
<p>Last year, the International Finance Corporation (<a href="http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/corp_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IFC</a>) said that it would <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ifc-40-million-loan-tunisia-renewables/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">provide</a> a €40 million (~$46.2 million) subordinated loan to Attijari bank Tunisia, which is a private bank and part of the Attijariwafa Bank Group. The loan was aimed at strengthening its capital base, grow its lending operations, and increase its volume of long-term financing for climate-related projects and smaller businesses.</p>
<p>Tunisia also released a list last year consisting of <a href="https://mercomindia.com/tunisia-500-mw-solar-16-companies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">16 bidders</a> to develop 500 MW of solar projects across the country. In May 2018, the country <a href="https://mercomindia.com/tunisia-500mw-solar-tender/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">floated</a> a tender for 500 MW of solar projects to be developed on a build, own, operate model at five locations.</p>
<p>Earlier, the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies of the Republic of Tunisia <a href="https://mercomindia.com/tunisia-tender-70-mw-solar-pv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tendered</a> 70 MW of solar projects to be developed across the country. The capacity tendered was divided into two batches. One batch consisted of six 10 MW solar PV projects, and the other comprises ten 1 MW solar PV projects. The power generated from these projects will be sold to the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas.</p>


AfDB Extends $153.5 Million for Developing Tunisia’s Power Transmission Network

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