The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) issued an important decision on March 2, 2026, addressing petitions filed by renewable energy developers Serentica Renewables and ReNew Green Energy. The companies had challenged the decision of the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) to revoke connectivity for several renewable energy projects. The dispute mainly relates to the transition from the earlier 2009 Connectivity Regulations to the newer 2022 General Network Access (GNA) Regulations.
The developers argued that CTUIL revoked connectivity for hundreds of megawatts of wind and solar projects too early. According to Regulation 24.6 of the GNA Regulations, connectivity can be cancelled if a project fails to commission within six months of its scheduled date. However, the developers claimed that the six-month grace period should be counted from the date when connectivity actually became operational under the GNA framework, not from earlier dates mentioned in their original project applications.
Serentica Renewables explained that this created an unusual situation for one of its projects. The company stated that connectivity for the project became operational on December 31, 2024, but the project was considered eligible for revocation from January 1, 2025, which effectively gave the developer no realistic time to complete commissioning activities.
The renewable energy companies also highlighted several challenges that caused delays in project development. One of the major issues involved regulatory approvals and land-related processes. The developers reported significant delays in obtaining micro-siting approvals from the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA). In addition, there were pending approvals for converting agricultural land into non-agricultural land required for project development.
Environmental factors also played a role in slowing progress. The companies stated that heavy and unprecedented rainfall in areas such as Osmanabad and Beed halted construction and civil works for more than 100 days. Social challenges were another concern, including serious Right of Way issues caused by farmer protests and local political interventions, which further delayed infrastructure development.
Despite these difficulties, both companies informed the Commission that they had already made substantial financial investments and progress in project development. Serentica Renewables reported that it has invested around ₹1,187.86 crore, acquired all the required land for the project, and installed 29 out of 63 wind turbines. ReNew Green Energy also stated that it has already commissioned its 100 MW solar project on March 13, 2025, and has invested more than ₹2,600 crore across different phases of its projects.
After reviewing the matter, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission directed CTUIL to maintain the current status regarding the allocation of transmission bays until a final decision is made. The Commission also allowed the developers to continue their commissioning activities, but clarified that the final outcome will depend on the Commission’s decision in the pending petitions.
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