Latest news with #NSEFI
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Solar body urges govt to extend transmission fee waiver for delayed projects
The National Solar Energy Federation of India ( NSEFI ) has urged the government to protect the viability of numerous renewable energy projects facing risks from delays beyond the control of developers, according to a person familiar with the matter. In the letter to the advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, the federation urged that the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges waiver be extended to projects getting commissioned by June 2026 and meeting a specific criterion relating to connectivity application status, financial closure, land acquisition beyond the 50 per cent threshold, and if orders for equipment have been made. The federation, representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders across the solar value chain, stated that while the ISTS waiver, originally announced by the Ministry of Power (MoP), has played a "pivotal role in making renewable power more competitive", its delayed implementation by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) in February 2023 left many developers in a limbo. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Container Homes in North Cotabato - Prices You Won't Believe! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Also Read: NTPC Group starts Nokh Solar PV Project, total capacity reaches 80,708 MW ISTS charges are the fees levied for using the transmission infrastructure to move electricity between states. They are imposed to cover the costs relating to building and maintaining transmission lines and other infrastructure required for interstate electricity transfer. According to an energy expert, industry estimates state that renewable energy projects of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore would be impacted if the waiver of ISTS charges is not extended. Live Events "Several RE developers made early investments, securing land, achieving financial closure, and signing definitive agreements based on the original MoP notification," the federation said. However, due to aspects like the nearly two-year lag in CERC's ratification and other uncontrollable factors, these developers are now at risk of missing the commissioning deadline of June 30, 2025, making them ineligible for the waiver. The federation flagged multiple aspects, including prolonged approvals under Section 68(1) of the Electricity Act due to an ongoing Supreme Court case on Great Indian Bustard conservation, delay in transmission planning and connectivity effectiveness, and delayed commissioning of critical transmission infrastructure. "Several developers applied for ISTS connectivity well before June 2023, in line with the ISTS waiver policy timelines. However, the effectiveness dates for granted connectivity are being issued much later, often in 2026 or 2027, due to delays in transmission system planning and execution," the federation said. The federation has proposed a milestone-based eligibility framework for the waiver. It has recommended that projects that had applied for transmission connectivity on or before June 30, 2023, achieved financial closure, acquired at least 50 per cent of the land required for their development, and placed orders for wind turbine generators and/or inverters must be considered for the purpose of availing the ISTS waiver. It argued that the approach is consistent with CERC's regulations and recent Ministry of Power notifications granting waiver flexibility to pumped storage and battery storage projects. "The proposed eligibility criteria will ensure that only serious and committed renewable energy developers, who had factored the ISTS waiver into their project design and commercial commitments, benefit from this extension," the federation said.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
NSEFI seeks extension of ISTS waiver till June 2026 for qualifying green energy projects
New Delhi: The National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) has written to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) requesting a one-year extension in the inter-state transmission system (ISTS) charges waiver, from the current deadline of June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026, for renewable energy projects that have met specified development milestones. The federation has flagged multiple delays faced by developers despite early investments and timely actions, and proposed a milestone-based mechanism to ensure targeted relief. In its letter dated June 3, 2025, NSEFI highlighted that the waiver of ISTS charges had been a key enabler in attracting large-scale private sector participation in renewable energy, following the Ministry of Power's announcement in November 2021. However, regulatory support through the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) only came in February 2023, delaying the effectiveness of the scheme. The federation said that developers who had made significant financial commitments based on the initial announcement are now impacted by delays in grid connectivity, pending statutory approvals, and unavailability of transmission infrastructure. It cited several instances, including the delay in Section 68(1) approvals linked to ongoing litigation over the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard. It also mentioned the delay in operationalisation of connectivity for many developers who had applied on time, and the non-readiness of key transmission lines like Narendra–Pune, Khetri–Narela, and Koppal–Gadag. In the letter, NSEFI argued that despite securing connectivity through applications submitted before June 30, 2023, many projects are facing setbacks beyond the developers' control. These include law and order challenges and delays in obtaining permissions at the state level. The federation urged the PMO to provide targeted relief to developers that had followed the rules and made progress on their projects but are now at risk of missing the waiver deadline due to extraneous reasons. NSEFI proposed that the ISTS waiver be extended by one year for projects that had applied for connectivity on or before June 30, 2023, and had achieved certain measurable milestones. These include reaching financial closure, acquiring at least 50 per cent of the required land, and placing purchase orders for wind turbine generators or solar inverters. The letter also mentioned that such milestone-based relief would not significantly impact the overall transmission pool or increase the burden on distribution companies, since it would only apply to a specific subset of projects that were originally planned to be commissioned before June 2025. According to the federation, this proposal aligns with the intent of the Green Open Access Rules and recent Ministry of Power notifications for Battery Energy Storage and Pumped Hydro Storage projects, which also follow milestone-based eligibility criteria. Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, Chief Executive Officer of NSEFI, stated in the letter that this approach would ensure that projects already in an advanced stage of development do not suffer due to procedural and infrastructure-related delays. He emphasised that the requested extension would help maintain investor confidence, provide continued access to affordable renewable power for consumers, and support India's goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Solar federation to govt: Extend transmission waiver charges by a year
The National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) has written to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), seeking an extension to the waiver on the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for projects that are set to be commissioned within the next year, specifically until June, for those that have made significant progress. This is to protect the viability of various renewable energy projects that are at risk due to delays beyond the control of developers. The waiver aims to promote the transition to renewable energy by lowering generation costs and assisting India in reaching its goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030. Currently, the charges are waived for a period of 25 years for green power projects, including solar, wind, and hybrid projects, as well as battery energy and pump storage projects that are commissioned before 30 June 2025. In a letter dated 3 June, NSEFI, which represents stakeholders across the solar value chain, stated that while the ISTS waiver announced by the power ministry has been crucial in making renewable power more competitive, its delayed implementation by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission in February 2023 has left many developers in uncertainty. The current ISTS waiver helps renewable energy developers avoid charges ranging from ₹0.40 to ₹1.80 per unit for transporting electricity from producing states to consumer centres. According to sources, this amount constitutes a significant portion of the total tariff. If the ISTS waiver is not extended, there will likely be a substantial increase in tariffs, making power generated from renewable sources less competitive compared to other sources such as coal. This situation will also lead to higher procurement costs for electricity distribution companies. Industry players expressed concern that many Letters of Award (LoAs) would not convert into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) if the waiver is rescinded in June 2025. On the other hand, the cost of extending the waiver is minimal compared to the potential benefits. It would enable distribution companies (discoms) to finalise the pending 40 GW of PPAs, allowing them to save between 60 to 90 paise per unit. Moreover, industries would be encouraged to decarbonise and pursue renewable energy projects, aiding the country in achieving its 500 GW mission. According to official data, the annual transmission charges (without the waiver) amount to approximately ₹52,691 crore, while the total ISTS waiver is only around 7 per cent of this, equivalent to ₹3,602 crore. India faces transmission constraints in its quest to meet renewable energy targets. Currently, only Madhya Pradesh is expected to have spare capacity in the future, while Rajasthan and Gujarat will not. States need to plan their renewable and other power procurements according to the resource adequacy framework.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nextracker crosses 10 GW solar tracker deployment milestone in India; opens new R&D facility in Hyderabad
New Delhi: Nextracker has crossed 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar tracker deployments in India and announced the opening of a new 80,000 sq. ft. office and R&D facility in Hyderabad to support its expanding operations in the country. According to the company, 1.8 GW of solar tracker projects were added in the last quarter alone, taking its cumulative deployments in India to more than 10 GW. Recent project wins include a 305 MW installation with ReNew in Anantapur and 1.5 GW of projects secured through partnerships with various engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies. Rajeev Kashyap, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Nextracker (Middle East, Africa, and India), said, 'This region is one of the world's fastest-growing solar markets, and our Hyderabad expansion reflects our deep commitment to supporting that growth. With 10 GW of projects commissioned or under delivery, we are equipping developers with best-in-class technology optimized for the country's diverse needs, while investing in local talent, infrastructure, and innovation to meet the country's renewable energy goals.' The new Hyderabad facility is Nextracker's largest office outside the United States. It houses a 13-acre Center for Solar Excellence (CFSE), including a testing and R&D lab, backed by a USD 1 million investment. The company plans to expand its workforce beyond its current 400 employees to support ongoing projects and skill development initiatives in advanced solar technologies. Nextracker said 95 per cent of tracker components used in its Indian projects are locally manufactured under the ' Make in India ' initiative. Sanjay Varghese, Group President – Solar Projects & Manufacturing, ReNew, said, 'We welcome Nextracker as a partner in supporting our solar projects. As we continue to expand our footprint in renewable energy, such collaborations help in driving project efficiency and contributing to the sector's broader goals.' Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO, National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), said, 'This kind of technology-driven, future-forward collaboration exemplifies what we need to achieve our national clean energy goals . By localizing the production of intelligent solar tracking systems and integrating advanced automation with domestic expertise, Nextracker is making a meaningful contribution to India's Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision in the renewable energy sector.' He added, 'At NSEFI, we believe India's next phase of solar growth will be driven by innovation, resilience, and self-reliance. Partnerships like Nextracker's—linking global technology with domestic manufacturing—are key to scaling our energy transition while ensuring quality and sustainability.' Nextracker's expansion includes increased hiring across engineering, manufacturing, and customer service functions, with the new facility serving as a hub for product development and local innovation.
