BESCOM To Purchase Additional Solar Energy At INR 4.11/Unit From Walwhan Renewables, Says KERC

Recently Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) had filed a petition for relief from purchasing extra power from a 50MW solar project.

BESCOM had suggested two options a. Redetermine the tariff for purchase of additional energy at Rs. 2.36 per unit; or b. Relief from its obligation to purchase additional
energy beyond the contracted capacity specified in the PPA’s dated 14.01.2015.

The petition was filed against Walwhan Renewable Energy Limited previously known as Welspun Solar Kannada Private Limited.

Walwhan entered into a Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) dated 14.01.2015 with BESCOM for the sale of solar energy from its Solar Photo Voltic (PV plants) of 50 MW each established at Kushtagi Taluk in Koppal District. As per PPA, the maximum energy to be purchased by the Petitioner was 91.980 MU with a maximum of 21%.

Walwhan generated power over and above the said CUF and injected the same into the grid, sought for payment for such power.

As per an earlier case for the same project, the Commission partly allowed the petition and directed BESCOM to purchase the additional energy injected at a tariff of Rs. 4.11 per unit via a supplemental PPA.

However stating major shifts in the solar industry and stating current low-level tariffs, BESCOM was seeking either redetermination of the Tariff or relieving the Petitioner from its obligation to purchase additional energy beyond the contracted capacity specified in
the PPA which was denied by the commission.