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Daily News Wrap-Up: APTEL Criticizes MERC for Denying Petitioner Relief


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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has issued operational guidelines to set up one model solar village in every district of the country under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.</p>
<p>An amount of ₹8 billion (~$95.2 million) has been allocated for this component, with a provision of ₹10 million (~$119,110) in central financial assistance for each model village.</p>
<p>The primary objectives of the model solar villages are to facilitate access to clean and green energy in rural areas through rooftop solar systems and to reduce dependency on utilities. The program will also promote solar-based home lighting, water systems, agricultural pumps, and streetlights.</p>
<p>To be eligible, a village must be a revenue village with a population of over 5,000. Special category states have a threshold of 2,000.</p>
<p>The state renewable energy development agency or another nominated entity will implement the program. The model solar villages will be selected in a challenge mode, where villages compete based on the total distributed renewable energy capacity installed under PM Surya Ghar, and other programs like PM Kusum.</p>
<p>The implementing agency will develop a detailed project report (DPR) to transition the village to a solar-powered model, leveraging various renewable energy technologies.</p>
<p>In this DPR, the agency can choose any mix of renewable energy technologies based on local context and potential to utilize the Central Financial Assistance available under the program. It can maximize the deployment of renewable energy in the government buildings in the village.</p>
<p>Public projects can be supported up to 100% of the project cost. However, if the projects support collectives like self-help groups, primary-level cooperative societies, dairies, and fisheries, a contribution from the beneficiary collective of at least 10% will be taken for the CFA benefits to be extended to them.</p>
<p>Projects that may be included in the DPR may consist of:</p>
<ul>
<li>Community solar plants (with or without battery storage)</li>
<li>Solar-powered equipment for livelihood generation by SHG groups under NRLM</li>
<li>Government building rooftop solar systems</li>
<li>Solar-based public lighting</li>
<li>Solar agri-PV pumps</li>
</ul>
<p>A district-level committee will oversee the implementation and ensure the completion of projects within one year of approval. The funds will be released in installments based on project milestones.</p>
<p>The committee may opt to identify potential candidate villages from among the eligible villages based on the feasibility of implementation of rooftop solar, community mobilization, and interest. These potential candidate villages will then compete for selection as the model solar village of the district.</p>
<p>The MNRE has <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-to-residential-rooftop-solar-installations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allocated</a> ₹10 billion (~$119.5 million) to incentivize Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions to actively promote and facilitate the adoption of residential rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar program. The program aims to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pm-surya-ghar-to-offer-%E2%82%B978000-for-3-kw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">install</a> rooftop solar systems in 10 million households by 2026-27.</p>


PM Surya Ghar Targets One Model Solar Village Each in 800 Districts


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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has invited comments and suggestions on the draft guidelines for implementing the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana in the residential rooftop solar segment. The last date for receiving the comments/suggestions is April 30, 2024.</p>
<p>The Government of India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pm-surya-ghar-to-offer-%e2%82%b978000-for-3-kw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> the program on February 13, 2024. It aims to install rooftop solar projects in ten million households at a cost of ₹752.01 billion (~$8.9 billion).</p>
<p>The previous Phase II of the grid-connected rooftop solar program will be subsumed under the current program, along with the remaining financial outlay and liabilities, effective from the program&#8217;s launch.</p>
<p>The financial outlay for the program <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/housing-societies-new-rooftop-solar-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">includes</a> nine sub-components.</p>
<p>The program would be implemented through the National Portal.</p>
<p>The breakdown of central financial assistance (CFA) is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Residential sectors with a tender capacity of up to 2 kW or part thereof will receive 60% of the benchmark cost of 2 kW.</li>
<li>Additional tender capacity in the residential sector (up to 1 kW) will qualify for 40% of the benchmark cost of the additional kW.</li>
<li>No additional CFA will be provided for residential sectors beyond 3 kW.</li>
<li>Group housing societies and residential welfare associations (GHS/RWA) for shared facilities, including EV charging, up to 500 kW [@₹3 (~$0.035)/kW per house], are eligible for 40% of the benchmark cost of additional kW.</li>
</ul>
<p>Based on the benchmark cost for FY 2023-24, rooftop solar projects up to 2 kW in households receive ₹30,000 ($361.85)/kW or part thereof, while additional capacity between 2 kW and 3 kW is eligible for ₹18,000 ($217.12)/kW. GHS/RWA will receive ₹18,000 ($217.12)/kW as central financial assistance.</p>
<p>The funds for the CFA and other disbursements related to the program will originate from the budget designated for the rooftop solar phase II program until a separate budget is allocated for it.</p>
<p>The program will be implemented until March 31, 2027, when all claims must be settled.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility </strong></p>
<ol>
<li>For the purpose of CFA, a residential rooftop solar project must be the grid-connected solar power system tagged to a particular residential power connection of the local DISCOM. It will only include installations on a roof/terrace/balcony/elevated structures.</li>
<li>The CFA should be irrespective of the size of the inverter installed. If a consumer installs a rooftop solar project with a higher/lower-rated inverter capacity than the number of modules, the CFA provided will be as per the rated DC capacity of the module system (according to the CFA structure) and not as per the inverter capacity.</li>
<li>To be eligible for the CFA, solar modules used in the installation must satisfy the Domestic Content Requirement condition, i.e., domestically manufactured modules manufactured from domestically manufactured cells.</li>
<li>A rooftop solar installation by residential consumers/RWAs that have availed CFA under the prior/current program for rooftop solar by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and have subsequently increased the RTS installation size will be eligible for additional CFA under the current program only the balance capacity up to 3 kW of overall RTS project size.</li>
</ol>
<p>Suppose a household previously installed a rooftop solar system of 1 kW capacity under the Phase 2 grid-connected rooftop solar program and received a subsidy of ₹14,588 ($174.26) and later increases the total capacity to 4 kW. In that case, it can claim additional subsidy only for the additional 2 kW capacity under the current program, amounting to ₹48,000 ($573.42).</p>
<p>Similarly, suppose a household initially installs a 1 kW system and receives a subsidy of ₹30,000 ($358), subsequently expanding the total capacity to 4 kW. In that case, it can claim additional subsidy only for the additional 2 kW capacity, totaling ₹48,000 ($573).</p>
<p>A rooftop solar installation can receive CFA only once after installation. If an already installed rooftop solar system is relocated to a new location, it will not be eligible for CFA under the program.</p>
<p>The program aims to assist in installing grid-connected rooftop solar projects in the residential sector by providing central financial support from the government. However, no CFA will be extended to non-residential segments of consumers, including the government, commercial, and industrial sectors.</p>
<p>Vendors must register on the National Portal, where they can specify their operational states and districts.</p>
<p>Upon registration, vendors must submit a bank guarantee according to the type of registration:</p>
<p>For state-based vendor registration, each state or union territory requires a bank guarantee of ₹250,000 (~$2,989).</p>
<p>For national vendor registration, a bank guarantee of ₹2.5 million (~$29,892) is required for all States/Union Territories.</p>
<p>As vendors install capacity through the National Portal, the bank guarantee requirement will be adjusted based on the installed capacity:</p>
<ul>
<li>For installations ranging from 0 to 200 kW, the existing initial bank guarantee will apply.</li>
<li>For installations between 200 kW and 1,000 kW, a bank guarantee of ₹1.5 million (~$17,933) will be required.</li>
<li>For installations between 1000 kW and 5,000 kW, a bank guarantee of ₹5 million (~$59,773) will be required.</li>
<li>For installations exceeding 5000 kW, a bank guarantee of ₹10 million (~$119,547) will be required.</li>
</ul>
<p>Vendors can respond to beneficiaries&#8217; expressions of interest, manage their project portfolios, showcase offered rooftop solar systems with pricing details, display their history of completed projects, and provide other relevant information for the beneficiaries&#8217; benefit.</p>
<p>The implementing agency (State DISCOM or designated agency), MNRE officials, or any other authorized agency may conduct inspections of ongoing installations or installed plants.</p>
<p><strong>Technical Specifications</strong></p>
<p>A rooftop solar system should include components such as solar photovoltaic modules, inverter/microinverters, module mounting structures, energy meters, array junction boxes, DC distribution boxes, AC distribution boxes, protections—earthing, lightning, surge, cables, drawings and manuals, and any other necessary components based on site requirements.</p>
<p>Projects must be commissioned according to technical specifications published by MNRE.</p>
<p>Vendors will be responsible for any deficiencies or negligence/malpractice leading to bank guarantee encashment, profile deactivation, vendor blacklisting, or other disciplinary actions.</p>
<p>Vendors must rectify any deficiencies in the system that result in non-disbursal of CFA or non-commissioning by the DISCOM due to quality/component issues.</p>
<p>A prerequisite for CFA eligibility is using domestic modules manufactured from domestic cells as per domestic content requirements. No CFA will be disbursed if this requirement is not met.</p>
<p>MNRE may periodically notify the approved list of modules and inverters eligible for CFA based on specified technical criteria to prevent vendors from supplying poor-quality equipment.</p>
<p>Vendors must use one of these approved modules and inverters in all projects installed under the scheme.</p>
<p>Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) of enlisted inverters must share generation data reporting from their systems via API integration with the National Portal.</p>
<p>Data generated and transmitted by these inverter systems should be integrated with the National Portal to enhance services for beneficiaries.</p>
<p>Registered vendors must provide repair/maintenance services free of charge for five years from the commissioning date.</p>
<p>Consumers undertaking installations by bearing the capital expenditure, either by themselves or through the assistance of a bank loan and the upfront payment made to a registered vendor, will be considered projects undertaken in CAPEX mode.</p>
<p>All CFA requests for such projects must be made on the National Portal.</p>
<p>Non-performing/under-performing PV panels will be replaced free of charge during the warranty period. Beneficiaries will receive specified warranties from OEMs on system components for any future replacement of malfunctioned components.</p>
<p>Both beneficiaries and vendors have the option to raise grievances through the National Portal. These grievances will then be directed to the State Implementation Agency for resolution via a two-tier escalation matrix.</p>
<p>(The article is updated with the revised deadline from April 23 to April 30, 2024)</p>


MNRE Seeks Feedback on Guidelines for PM-Surya Ghar Rooftop Solar Program


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/almm-exemptions-leave-solar-industry-guessing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulation will be back in force from April 1, 2024, with exemptions for projects set up under open access solar and those in advanced stages of</strong></a> construction and rooftop solar projects with no subsidy. Most stakeholders, however, have raised questions on the ambiguity around the definition of ‘advanced stages of construction,’ the phrase used by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in the notification reviving the ALMM mandate. The MNRE has specified that the ALMM regulation will be relaxed for solar projects in advanced stages of construction that have placed module orders before March 31, 2024.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/p2p-solar-energy-trading-fraught-with-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Consumers of electricity in a few Indian states could soon become ‘prosumers’ by installing rooftop solar and selling excess power generated directly to other consumers, but questions remain.</strong></a> The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) recently released a draft proposal to enable peer-to-peer solar energy trading in the state using blockchain technology. KERC aims to implement this framework after consultations and has invited comments from stakeholders within 30 days. Karnataka isn’t alone; Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have also released draft proposals to facilitate peer-to-peer solar trading.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pm-surya-ghar-to-offer-%E2%82%B978000-for-3-kw" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A new program to install rooftop solar systems on 10 million households across India will be called ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ and will have an outlay of ₹750 billion (~$9.04 billion), Prime</strong></a> Minister Narendra Modi announced in a post on the microblogging site X. The Prime Minister added in the post that the Union government will ensure there is no cost burden on the people and substantive subsidies with heavily concessional bank loans will be offered. “All stakeholders will be integrated into a National Online Portal, which will further convenience,” he said.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solarsquare-consultancy-firm-pv-diagnostics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mumbai-based rooftop solar company SolarSquare has acquired PV Diagnostics, a company with expertise in the utility-scale solar power sector, to significantly enhance the quality and efficiency of</strong></a> its residential solar installations throughout India. PV Diagnostics is a consultancy solutions provider in the solar industry, offering a range of services across the photovoltaic value chain. The company boasts an industry experience of 8 GW, having collaborated with leading renewable energy developers such as Tata Power, Adani, and Renew Power.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/kerala-consultancy-100-mw-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Renewable Power Corporation of Kerala, a joint venture of Kerala State Electricity Board and Solar Energy Corporation of India, has invited bids to select a project monitoring unit to assist</strong></a> in developing a 100 MW grid-connected ground-mounted solar power project at a proposed solar park in Kasaragod, Kerala. The last day to submit the bids is February 29, 2024. Bids will be opened on March 5. Bidders must submit ₹270,000 (~$3,250) as a bid bond. The selected bidder must submit 5% of the contract price as performance security within 14 days of issuing the letter of award.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mahanagar-gas-forays-into-ev-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Natural gas company Mahanagar Gas Limited has announced the acquisition of 30.97% shareholding in 3ev Industries, a three-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, for ₹960 million (~$11.56</strong></a> million). The equity infusion, which is a part of the share subscription agreement between the companies, will be made in tranches, with the first tranche expected before the end of this month. 3ev is an EV original equipment manufacturer, which is based out of Bengaluru, offers end-to-end micro-mobility solutions, including hyperlocal services such as small-parcel deliveries and freight.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/himachal-pradesh-floats-rooftop-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency has invited bids to empanel vendors for the rate contract to design, manufacture, supply, erect, test, and commission rooftop solar power projects of</strong></a> capacities ranging from 1 kW to 500 kW under the net metering and net billing program. The solar systems will be installed on the rooftops of domestic, government, institutional, or other buildings throughout the state of Himachal Pradesh. The scope of work also includes warranty, operation, and maintenance of the systems for five years.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/thdc-consultancy-tender-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>THDC India has invited bids from consultants to prepare a detailed project report to develop the 1,292 MW Phase-I ultra mega solar power park within a 2 GW solar park in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.</strong></a> The project’s estimated cost is ₹10.17 million (~$122,416). The DPR should be submitted within 90 days of receiving the work order. The last day to submit the bids is February 20, 2024. Bids will be opened the next day. Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹102,000 (~$1,227). Selected bidders must submit 5% of the contract value as a performance bank guarantee within 15 days after issuance of the letter of award.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/airtels-nxtra-to-procure-140-gwh-clean-energy-for-data-centers-in-three-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telecommunications service provider Bharti Airtel’s data center subsidiary Nxtra will procure 140 GWh of renewable energy every year for its data centers in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha</a></strong>. The company has partnered with AmpIn Energy and Amplus Energy to set up captive solar and wind power projects totaling 72.3 MWdc capacity to power its data centers under 25-year agreements and reduce carbon footprint by around 99,547 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/fluence-energy-reports-record-billion-in-fy24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Energy storage technology and solutions provider Fluence Energy recorded a revenue of $364 million in the first quarter (Q1) of the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, registering a 17% year-over-year (YoY)</strong></a> increase. This was attributed to the company’s contracted backlog and project pipeline. The recent quarter made it the ninth consecutive quarter where the volume of order intakes outpaced revenue due to the growth in utility-scale energy storage. The company reported a record intake of new orders amounting to $1.1 billion this quarter, with its solution business contracting 2.7 GWh, service business adding 2.3 GWh, and digital business adding another 400 MW of new contracts</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: ALMM Exemptions Leave Solar Industry Guessing

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