The government granted the implementing agencies permission to extend the date for solar PV and solar-wind hybrid power projects’ commissioning until March 31, 2024 in an effort to alleviate the burden on renewable energy companies.
“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.
“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 31.03.2024 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 10.04.2021 and whose SCD, including time-extensions, already granted, if any, is before 31.03.2024, and who wish to avail such time-extension,” it said.
The extension is not available for projects that did not sign the PPA before October 1, 2022.
The notification stated that the decision was issued after approval by the Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy.
The shortfall in reaching the 60 GW target of wind energy in India by 2022 was due to disruptions in supply chains, changes in tariff regime, and pandemic, MNRE Minister RK Singh told Parliament on December 13.
He stated that rooftop solar capacity of 7.2 GW was not yet reached by October 31, 2022.
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.
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