RECPDCL Invites Bids for 223 MW ISTS-Connected Solar Projects

Clean Energy Tech Firm Ecozen Raises $30 Million for Global Expansion

SJVN Green Energy Invites Bids to Source Land for 200 MW Solar Projects in Assam

Avaada Inks ₹45 Billion Refinancing Deal for Four Solar Projects in Rajasthan

Daily News Wrap-Up: Application Process for ALMM Inclusion and Renewal

Australia Adds 5.9 GW of Renewable Capacity to the Grid in 2023

POWERGRID Wins Contracts to Evacuate 18 GW of Renewable Energy

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

Apple Partners with CleanMax to Power India Operations with Renewable Energy

Explainer: Application Process for ALMM Inclusion and Renewal

<p>The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://www.cercind.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CERC</a>) has approved the revised guidelines for the grant of interstate transmission system (ISTS) connectivity to renewable energy projects.</p>
<p>The Commission had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/cerc-blueprint-ists-renewable-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> draft amendments to the earlier procedure on July 24, 2020, and invited suggestions from the stakeholders on the proposed changes.</p>
<p>As per the revised guidelines, the procedure will apply to central transmission utility (CTU), regional load dispatch centers (RLDCs), state load dispatch centers (SLDCs), state transmission utility, concerned distribution companies (DISCOMs), and implementing agencies.</p>
<p>Applicants whose generation capacity is already connected to the grid (ISTS or intrastate transmission system) or for which connectivity is already granted cannot apply for additional connectivity for the same generation capacity.A new application for additional generation capacity should be submitted.</p>
<p>Applicants who have been granted connectivity to ISTS for the generation projects based on a particular renewable energy source may, for the same generation capacity, change to another renewable source after intimating the CTU.</p>
<p>According to the revised procedure, in cases where subsidiary companies have been allowed to utilize the connectivity granted to the parent company, the connectivity grantee will be responsible for the generating station&#8217;s operational and commercial obligations.</p>
<p>The CTU will grant Stage-I connectivity within 60 days of the month&#8217;s last date in which the application was submitted. If capacity at the location where Stage-I connectivity has been granted becomes unavailable at a later stage, an alternative location will be allocated at the time of grant of Stage-II connectivity.</p>
<p>Stage II connectivity will be granted to an entity that has been issued the Letter of Award (LOA) or has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a renewable energy implementing agency or a distribution licensee consequent to tariff-based competitive bidding.</p>
<p>The Commission also said that renewable hybrid generating projects, including round-the-clock hybrid projects, will be eligible for separate stage-II connectivity for each location based on the same PPA.</p>
<p>After grant of Stage-II connectivity, the grantees must achieve the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ownership or lease rights or land use rights of the land</li>
<li>Financial closure with sanction letter from a financial institution</li>
<li>Proof of release of funds supported by auditor&#8217;s certificate</li>
</ul>
<p>Stage-II Connectivity grantees will be required to complete the dedicated transmission lines and generator pooling sub-stations on or before:</p>
<ul>
<li>The project&#8217;s scheduled commercial operation date or as extended or delayed commissioning permitted by the implementing agency or the distribution licensee</li>
<li>Six months after the scheduled commercial operation date as intimated at the time of applying for the stage II connectivity</li>
</ul>
<p>If the grantee fails to complete the dedicated transmission lines or generator pooling stations within the timeline stipulated, Stage-II connectivity will be revoked.</p>
<p>As per the revised regulations, the generator pooling station&#8217;s planned capacity should be less than the dedicated transmission line&#8217;s capacity required to be provided as per the grant of connectivity. The minimum aggregate evacuation capacity of the generator pooling station should not be less than 100 MVA.</p>
<p>In case the CTU finds that the dedicated transmission infrastructure is under-utilized, it may seek an explanation from the Stage-II connectivity grantee. If the CTU believes that the spare capacity is not being used without reasonable justification, it will result in denial of opportunity to other renewable energy generating stations. In that case, the matter should be brought to the notice of the Commission.</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 ensure you don&#8217;t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.</p>
<p>Availability of power transmission infrastructure synchronized with the commissioning of projects is crucial but challenging for renewables. An added challenge with ISTS projects is the deadline on the waiver of charges and losses. Mercom has <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ists-waiver-extension-inevitable-other-pressing-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on this issue and will also be discussing this in detail with the relevant government officials at the Mercom Solar Summit to be held on April 8-9, 2021. The Summit has interesting topics on the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/events/agenda/">agenda</a> and you can register <a href="https://mercomindia.com/events/register/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/rakesh-ranjan-parashar/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Rakesh Ranjan</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Rakesh-Headshot-crop-2.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Rakesh Ranjan,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/rakesh-ranjan-parashar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Rakesh Ranjan.</a></p>
</div>
<div class="authorboxn">
<p><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Rakesh-Headshot-crop-2.jpg" width="77" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/rakesh-ranjan-parashar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong style="color: #00b451">Rakesh Ranjan</strong></a> is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Prior to joining Mercom, he worked in many roles as a business correspondent, assistant editor, senior content writer, and sub-editor with bcfocus.com, CIOReview/Silicon India, Verbinden Communication, and Bangalore Bias. Rakesh holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). <a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/rakesh-ranjan-parashar/" rel="noopener noreferrer">More articles from Rakesh Ranjan.</a></p>
</div>
</div></div><div class="clearfix"></div></div></div>

CERC Revises Grant of Connectivity Guidelines for ISTS-Connected Renewable Projects

stage-ii-connectivity

Get the most relevant India solar and clean energy news.

RECENT POSTS