The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has complained to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) that some discoms are not fully evacuating the solar power available to them, resulting in losses for solar developers. Discoms have been arbitrarily shutting off power from solar projects, for varying lengths of time, often during peak consumption hours.
Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, MNRE in a letter to Shubha Sarma, Secretary, CERC opines that some load dispatch centres are asking solar projects to back down due to various reasons.
Among the companies affected in Rajasthan are SunEdison, Mahindra, SolaireDirect, Fortum, and Reliance Power.In Tamil Nadu, solar developers are considering approaching the Supreme Court for relief.
Kapoor’s letter noted that the CERC ought to emphasize solar energy’s ‘must run’ status. He also stated that solar developers must be paid full tariff if they are forced to back down in rare cases. At the same time it is requested that this issue is placed before the Forum of Regulators so that some consensus can be reached on the issue.
By EB Bureau
