KERC Issues Clarification on Transmission Charges for Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Plants
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has clarified transmission charges for co-located wind-solar hybrid power plants. Charges for existing projects will be limited to the contracted capacity, while for new projects, charges will apply to the higher of the wind or solar installed capacity.
November 26, 2024. By Mrinmoy Dey
The commission referred to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy which deals with the transaction charges in the wind-solar hybrid projects. The policy outlines incentives for hybridising existing wind and solar power projects to encourage efficient utilisation of infrastructure and grid resources.
For existing power plant(s), if solar or wind capacity is added, the charges shall be limited to the existing transmission capacity contracted with the transmission licensee, subject to the condition that the installed capacity of either solar or wind is not more than the existing transmission capacity contracted, stated KERC.
However, for an existing power plant, if solar or wind capacity is added and if the solar or wind capacity is higher than the existing transmission capacity contracted, then the charges shall be limited to higher of the capacity of either wind or solar installed capacity, subject to the condition that the generator obtains evacuation approval for the additional capacity.
For new hybrid power plants, the transmission charges shall be levied for higher of the capacity of either wind or solar installed capacity, duly obtaining the evacuation approval.
KERC further clarified that a wind-solar plant will be recognised as a hybrid plant if the rated power capacity of one of the resources is at least 25 percent of the rated power capacity of the other resource.
In case capacity margins are available at the receiving transmission sub-station of the respective transmission entity, at which the existing wind/solar projects are connected, additional transmission capacity/access may be allowed subject to its technical feasibility. “In such a case, any transmission augmentation required up to the receiving transmission sub-station including the cost shall be the responsibility of the project developer,” noted the KERC order.
For non-co-located projects, the charges shall be paid for solar and wind separately corresponding to the installed capacity of solar and wind respectively.
“The generation from wind-solar hybrid plant(s) should not exceed the contracted capacity. Notwithstanding the above, the SLDC shall have all the rights to curtail the additional injection, keeping in view the security/reliability of the grid operation,” noted the order.
The order from KERC came in response to clarifications sought by a few of the stakeholders including Fourth Partner Energy, who approached the Commission seeking clarification regarding the applicable transmission charges for wind-solar hybrid projects.
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