The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has released a draft for the Second Amendment to the Green Energy Open Access Regulation, 2024. The proposed changes are aimed at bringing more clarity to Renewable Hybrid Energy Projects in the state. The amendment explains how such projects will be defined, connected, metered, and managed within Andhra Pradesh’s power grid.
Under the draft, a Renewable Hybrid Energy Project is defined as a power generation facility that produces electricity using a combination of renewable energy sources. These sources can be connected either at the same interconnection point or at different locations across the state. To qualify as a hybrid project, the rated capacity of one renewable energy source must be at least 25 percent of the other. In the case of wind-solar hybrid projects, the amendment requires a minimum Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of 40 percent for every megawatt of contracted capacity.
A key highlight of the proposal is the treatment of non-colocated hybrid projects, where different renewable energy components are located at separate physical sites. According to the draft, such projects will be treated as a single generating project. However, each individual component must submit its own generation schedule for operational purposes. The combined total of these schedules cannot exceed the total sanctioned capacity of the hybrid project. If the total generation goes beyond the approved capacity, the excess power will be classified as inadvertent energy.
The draft also clarifies that connectivity for different components of a hybrid project can be granted anywhere within Andhra Pradesh, provided they meet the technical feasibility standards set by the respective transmission and distribution utilities, including TRANSCO and DISCOMs. For non-colocated projects, interface meters must be installed at the grid substations where each component is connected to ensure accurate measurement and monitoring.
On the financial side, the amendment proposes exemptions from distribution and wheeling charges for eligible clean energy and renewable manufacturing projects that achieve financial closure or are commissioned within specified timelines. These benefits apply when power injection and withdrawal occur at the same voltage level within the state, even if they cross DISCOM boundaries. However, if different components of a hybrid project are connected at different voltage levels, wheeling charges and loss allocations will be calculated separately for each component.
Through these proposed changes, APERC aims to align the regulation with the state’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy and promote flexible and diversified participation in the open access renewable energy market, while maintaining grid discipline through clear scheduling and metering rules.
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