Rajasthan Issues New SOP to Speed Up Approvals for Captive Solar Projects

Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL) has rolled out a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at speeding up approvals for captive solar projects and third-party power sales in the state.

The SOP introduces a single-window system with fixed timelines for issuing No Objection Certificates, signing Power Purchase Agreements and commissioning projects, making the entire process more predictable for developers.

The framework clearly separates captive, group-captive and third-party sale models to streamline coordination among developers, discoms and agencies such as RVPN. For solar plants above 5 MW capacity, the SOP makes Battery Energy Storage Systems mandatory. Projects must include storage equivalent to 5 percent of capacity in general cases, while plants generating beyond 100 percent of their contracted demand will need to add storage up to 20 percent.

Projects equipped with BESS will receive exemptions from registration fees, transmission charges and wheeling charges. A compliance committee will oversee adherence to the guidelines, and plant owners are required to submit annual declarations by April 30 each year. The SOP also reiterates that captive units must keep at least 26% equity with the power-consuming entity and ensure that 51 percent of the electricity generated is utilised for captive consumption.

RRECL has warned that any project failing to meet these conditions may be reclassified as a third-party sale unit, which would subject it to higher cross-subsidy and surcharge liabilities. The new rules are expected to bring more clarity and efficiency to captive solar development across Rajasthan.