Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has announced the generic tariff for solar, solar thermal, and grid-interactive rooftop and small solar projects to be commissioned in FY 2022-23.

The Commission approved the benchmark capital cost of ₹9.08 million (~$480,198)/MW and ₹13.70 (~$0.178)/kWh for solar and solar thermal projects commissioned on or after April 01, 2022.

It also set the benchmark capital cost of ₹49,442 (~$638)/kW, ₹45,322 (~$585)/kW, ₹42,583 (~$549)/kW, and ₹41,035 (~$529)/kW for grid-interactive rooftop and small solar projects having installed capacity up to 10 kW, above 10 kW and up to 100 kW, above 100 kW and up to 500 kW, and above 500 kW and below 1 MW, respectively.

Background

Through a suo motu order, the Commission had reconsidered the benchmark capital cost and levelized tariff for solar projects from April 1, 2019. However, due to the non-availability of data on module price because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Commission extended the benchmark capital cost and levelized tariff for solar projects commissioned up to September 2020, which was further extended until March 2021.

Capital cost and generic tariff of solar projects

The Commission approved the benchmark capital cost of solar projects to be commissioned on or after April 01, 2022, at ₹9.08 million (~$480,198)/MW. It retained the gross tariff of ₹4.49 (~$0.058)/kWh but reduced the accelerated depreciation to ₹0.19 (~$0.0025)/kWh from ₹0.24 (~$0.003)/kWh in FY 2019-20.

Capital cost and generic tariff of solar thermal projects

The Commission set the benchmark capital cost of solar projects to be commissioned on or after April 01, 2022, at ₹120 million (~$1.54 million)/MW. It determined the gross tariff of ₹13.70 (~$0.178)/kWh for solar thermal projects commissioned on or after April 01, 2022.

Capital cost and generic tariff for grid-connected rooftop and small solar projects

The Commission approved the benchmark capital cost of ₹49,442 (~$638)/kW, ₹45,322 (~$585)/kW, ₹42,583 (~$549)/kW, and ₹41,035 (~$529)/kW for grid-interactive rooftop and small solar projects having installed capacity up to 10 kW, above 10 kW and up to 100 kW, above 100 kW and up to 500 kW, and above 500 kW and below 1 MW, respectively.

The Commission also set the net tariff of grid-connected rooftop and small solar projects.

UERC had issued a draft amendment to its Deviation Settlement Mechanism and Related Matters Regulations, 2017.

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