The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has approved the part commissioning (14 MW) of a 20 MW solar project. It said that separate wheeling and banking agreements should be signed for each part of the capacity of 14 MW, 4 MW, and 2 MW.

AMP Solar Green Power had filed a petition seeking approval for part commissioning of the 20 MW solar project at Payagpur in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh.

Background

AMP Solar Green Power was to set a 20 MW solar power project to supply the energy generated to its consumers and captive users within the area of supply of Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (MVVNL). The company entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with RCCPL Private Limited and Birla Corporation (captive users) for 25 years.

On October 25, 2019, the company applied for a grant of long-term access (LTA) to transfer 14 MW capacity from the Payagpur substation to the Bachhrawan substation and 6 MW capacity from Payagpur substation to Tripula substation. The Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Company Limited (UPPTCL) granted LTA to the petitioner’s solar power project. Later, the company entered into a bulk power transmission agreement on February 14, 2020, for transmission of electricity under open access with UPPTCL.

Later the petitioner said that only 13 MW to 14 MW out of the installed capacity of 20 MW was generated because of harsh winter months.

Commission’s Analysis

The Commission agreed that the company could not supply electricity to its consumers despite having signed the PPAs because of weather conditions.

It said that it took a pragmatic view and allowed part commissioning to promote open access to small solar projects in the state.

Further, the Commission added that the developer could declare the commissioning of 4 MW and 2 MW for two other open access consumers as and when it happens.

Regarding the wheeling and banking agreement, the state regulator said that the petitioner could approach Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) to sign the agreement for 14 MW and subsequently separate agreements for the capacity of 4 MW and 2 MW.

In December last year, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) rejected a solar developer’s petition to extend the project’s commissioning date but approved the commissioning of 50 MW out of the total capacity of 100 MW.

Mercom had reported that UPERC had come up with open access regulations in 2019, which gave long-term open access customers the highest priority, followed by the medium-term open access customers and short-term open access customers.

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