Latest news with #RenewablePurchaseObligation
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
12 firms file applications for small hydel projects, five under evaluation: TNGECL
CHENNAI: A couple of months after the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) invited applications to develop Small Hydel Projects (SHPs) in the state, the agency has so far received 12 proposals from private developers, officials said. The capacities of each of these SHPs, which can be set up across canal systems, rivers and streams without having to build any structures for storing the water, can range from 100 kilowatts (KW) to 10 megawatts (MW), with each unit in an SHP not exceeding 5 MW. TNGECL managing director Dr Aneesh Sekhar told TNIE that the government is encouraging private participation in SHPs to boost renewable energy production. 'Of the 12 proposals, five are currently under evaluation. However, no project has been finalised yet. Approvals will be granted after detailed evaluation and site inspections,' he said. While TNGECL has not completed any SHPs so far, a 20 MW project is nearing completion in Namakkal district. 'Most of the work is over and the plant will begin power generation soon,' Sekhar added. Tamil Nadu had released a policy for SHP late last year. 'Based on the policy, we are now processing applications. Private firms with access to water sources can apply to set up these plants,' another senior official said. He said the firms can generate power for their own use (captive use), sell it to third parties within the state, or supply to distribution companies to help meet the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets set by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC). While the RPO set for 2024-25 was 29%, Tamil Nadu managed only around 26 %. The state has an installed hydropower capacity of 2,321.90 MW, but SHPs have so far received limited focus. In contrast, neighbouring Karnataka is actively promoting such projects, the official added.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
RENEWABLE POWER OBLIGATION: Regulator reprimands UPNEDA for data laxity
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has strongly reprimanded the state's designated nodal agency, UPNEDA (Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency), for gross non-compliance and delays in furnishing Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) data. The power regulator has warned that the agency's laxity could invite penalties for defaulting power entities and undermine clean energy goals. RPO is a regulatory mandate requiring large electricity consumers to purchase a fixed share of their power from renewable sources like solar, wind, or biomass. It is aimed at cutting carbon emissions and promoting clean energy in the state. However, most entities are not meeting this obligation or the date on their meeting the obligation is not available. In a suo motu order last week, the commission expressed dissatisfaction with UPNEDA's handling of its responsibilities under the UPERC (Promotion of Green Energy through Renewable Purchase Obligation) Regulations, 2010. 'Despite repeated directions, the agency has failed to ensure timely and complete reporting from obligated entities—distribution licensees and large power consumers required to purchase a portion of their electricity from renewable sources,' it noted. According to the order, UPNEDA has so far submitted compliance data for only 378 out of 509 obligated entities, that too only from 2019-20 onwards. This is despite the Commission's earlier directive that data from 2010-11 onwards must be submitted, in line with statutory provisions. 'The compliances by UPNEDA have been really pathetic,' the order reads, underscoring that UPNEDA is still struggling to provide even the annual compliance data for all obligated entities, while the regulations mandate quarterly and yearly reporting The commission also criticised UPNEDA's inability to enforce compliance, revealing that nearly 35%-40% of the obligated entities are either non-compliant or only partially compliant. In such cases, UPNEDA should have filed petitions and ensured that show cause notices were issued for deferment or purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), it said. The commission reminded UPNEDA that its role as the State Nodal Agency is crucial for driving renewable energy adoption. The agency was supposed to monitor compliance and generate timely reports—functions that have been severely compromised due to data gaps and administrative inertia. During the hearing, UPNEDA's director Inderjit Singh appeared in person and informed the commission that data collection for the remaining entities was underway. However, the commission found the progress unsatisfactory and directed UPNEDA to submit a comprehensive compliance report covering all obligated entities from 2010-11 onward within a month. In a move aimed at modernising the compliance process, the commission advised UPNEDA to launch an online portal to collect yearly, quarterly, and estimated RE requirement data. It also instructed the agency to update its website with information on registration and accreditation of renewable energy generators. The commission has fixed July 8, 2025, as the next date of hearing. However, the personal appearance of the UPNEDA director has been dispensed with till further orders.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
TN grid curtailment wastes 70 million units of renewable energy amid falling demand, rising RPO targets
CHENNAI: Amid increasing push by centre and state governments to produce more renewable energy (RE), grid curtailment has led to 70 million units of renewable power not being evacuated by the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (Tantransco) over the past one week, power producers said. State authorities said decrease in power demand due to change in weather led to the drop in evacuating renewable power. According to REPA (Renewable Energy Producers Association), the TN Load Dispatch Centre, which is the grid manager and Tantransco have been reducing power intake by curtailing the grid for three to five hours a day in substations, including Theni, Surandai, Veeranam and Aralvaimozhi, in the last one week to 10 days. This has resulted in eight to 10 million units of generated renewable energy going to waste every day, REPA said. The non-utilisation of RE has come amid an increase in Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for Tamil Nadu set by the Union Ministry of Power. As per the RPO for Tamil Nadu in 2025-26, 33.01% of the state's power demand must be met through renewable sources. It is noteworthy that TN could not meet even last year's RPO target of 29.91% as renewable power generation fell short by 3%. REPA's chief advisor K Venkatachalam told TNIE that the wind season has begun early in Tamil Nadu this year and will continue until September. 'It is disappointing that the state-run power utility has started cutting off the grid and refusing to accept wind power from producers from the beginning of the season itself,' Venkatachalam alleged.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation to ramp up solar power to meet 50K MW target
CHENNAI: In a significant move towards a greener future, the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) is planning to increase solar power generation and introduce Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to meet its Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) by 2030. TNGECL Managing Director Aneesh Sekhar told TNIE that Tamil Nadu currently has an installed solar power capacity of nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW). 'We have enough land to add about 12,000 MW more. However, even that will not be sufficient. Our target is to reach at least 50,000 MW of solar power capacity by 2030,' he said. However, land acquisition has emerged as a major hurdle. 'For every 1 MW of solar power plant, nearly three acres of land is needed. Tamil Nadu has very little wasteland left, as most areas have been converted for housing, farming or industrial use,' Sekhar explained. He also pointed out the limitations of wind power, which is not available throughout the year.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Green power goal up, but TN has not even met last year's target
CHENNAI: Signalling the centre's strong push towards clean energy adoption, the Ministry of Power has revised the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target for Tamil Nadu to 33.01% for the financial year 2025-26, marking a jump from last year's target of 29.91%. However, the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) has failed to meet the previous year's RPO target, as it managed to achieve only around 26% in FY 2024-25, sources said. According to officials, the final figure will be confirmed after an audit. Speaking to TNIE, a senior official said the increased target reflects the centre's commitment to encourage green energy use. 'The state is required to source nearly 33% of its total electricity consumption from renewable sources,' the official said. The official, however, pointed out that TNGECL depends entirely on private wind and solar projects to meet the RPO targets as it does not have its own power generation facilities. 'We have received applications for wind power projects totalling approximately 7,000 MW. Additionally, a few ongoing projects are expected to be completed soon,' the official noted. TNGECL is also planning to enter into new agreements with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to buy solar power during the current fiscal year. Last year, the corporation procured 1,000 MW from SECI. Highlighting the progress in solar rooftop installations and hydro power, another TNGECL official said, 'Solar rooftop capacity has grown significantly from 54.93 MW in 2022 to 404.18 MW in 2025. We plan to gradually add another 200 MW this year to support the RPO goal,' the official said. On the hydro front, the corporation has increased its total installed capacity from 2,321.90 MW to 2,323.90 MW by upgrading the Moyar Power House in the Nilgiris from 12 MW to 14 MW. 'With these steps, we are hopeful of reaching this year's RPO target,' the official added.
