Government allows commissioning date extension of solar PV, hybrid power projects

In a bid to provide relief to renewable energy players, the government has allowed the implementing agencies to extend the commissioning date of solar PV and solar PV-wind hybrid power projects till March 31, 2024.

"Solar PV power developers/associations have represented to MNRE that there is a supply chain disruption in the solar PV sector and have requested appropriate reliefs to tackle the same," the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said in a notification on Thursday.

"This issue has been examined in the Ministry and it has been decided that implementing agencies SECI/NTPC/NHPC may extend the scheduled commissioning date (SCD) till March 31, 2024 and commensurately extend other associated intermediate milestones of such solar PV/Solar PV-wind hybrid power projects, wherein the last date of bid submission was on or after April 10, 2021 and whose SCD, including time-extensions, already granted, if any, is before March 31, 2024, and who wish to avail such time-extension," it said.

This extension would not be available to those projects which did not sign the  power purchase agreement (PPA) before October 1, 2022.

The decision has been issued with the approval of the Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, the notification said.

Supply chain disruptions, changes in tariff regime and the pandemic were among the reasons for the shortfall in meeting the targeted 60 GW of wind energy in the country by 2022, MNRE Minister RK Singh informed the Parliament on December 13.

He also said that till October 31, 2022, only 7.2 GW of rooftop solar capacity has been achieved.

The minister cited "apprehension of possible revenue loss by DISCOMs, delay in getting approvals from different agencies, delay in installation of net/gross metres by DISCOMs, lack of uniform regulations, lack of awareness among the prospective beneficiaries, etc" as the major reasons for the shortfall of rooftop solar installation.  The government has set a target of having 175 GW of renewable energy capacity, including 100 GW of solar, 60 GW of wind energy, 10 GW of bio-power and 5 GW from small hydropower projects, by 2022.