Now, general consumers having rooftop projects will get more money for injecting surplus power to the grid. While they were till now getting the rates discovered through competitive bidding for any project in the country, they will get 25% more on the discovered price, as per the latest order.
Fixed limits done away with
For example, last year the discovered price considered was Rs 2.24 a unit. This year, it is Rs 2.61. Now, the surplus power given to discoms will fetch an additional 25% on Rs 2.61.
Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RREC) managing director Anil Dhaka said, “RREC has removed all the hurdles for Rajasthan to emerge as one of the top states in the rooftop segment in the country. Steps like increasing rates for injecting surplus power, allowing more projects at distribution transformers, removing cross-subsidy, and additional surcharge will fuel growth.”
Among other measures, Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) increased the limit to 80% of the transformer capacity from 50% earlier for accommodating more rooftop projects. It would translate to a greater number of rooftop projects under the respective transformers.
Again, rooftop solar projects were penalised for producing more power due to high efficiency systems than the fixed limit. Now, such limit has been done away with as the commission has allowed calculation of the output instead of the installed capacity.
There is a breather for the industry as well. Earlier, rooftop projects on government buildings used to attract cross-subsidy and additional subsidy, which could increase up to Rs 3.50 a unit, making the projects unviable. Now the commission has removed the charges, making it lucrative for developers who want to invest and supply power to these buildings at cheaper rates.
“The new rules are expected to revitalise the sector. Rajasthan has been the number one state in ground mounted projects, but we have lost out on the rooftop segment. RERC’s measures will again put the rooftop industry back on track,” said Rajasthan Solar Association president Sunil Bansal.
By the end of July, Rajasthan had a total rooftop capacity of 996.71 MW against Gujarat’s 2,842 MW. Maharashtra and Karnataka have installed capacities of 1,667 MW and 1,562 MW, respectively.
