CERC Lays Down Process For Scheduling of Infirm RE Power After COD

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) published the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC) Regulations, 2023, which came into effect on October 1, 2023. Amendments and orders have been issued to address difficulties in implementing certain provisions. The commission has the power to issue Removal of Difficulties order where it feels the intent of the rules are facing issues on the ground. Accordingly, it has come up with specific guidelines for the scheduling of infirm power, after getting feedback on the same from stakeholders.  In its latest suo moto order on December 22, the commission notes that while finalising the abovesaid amendment for DSM Regulations, a number of stakeholders made submissions about scheduling of power to be continued prior to COD for various reasons. Further, during the visit of the officers of the Commission to various RE projects in Karnataka and Rajasthan on 30.11.2024 and 11.12.2024 respectively, certain issues were highlighted by the representatives of RLDC and RE developers, which have been considered.

It was observed that scheduling of infirm power is being carried out but the modalities of scheduling of infirm power need to be explicitly specified in the Grid Code through amendment to the Grid Code which may take some time. Since the scheduling is already being carried out there is a requirement to specify the modalities of such scheduling till the time amendments are carried out in the Grid Code for clarity of the stakeholders.

For Solar Power 

Accordingly, as per the above, the trial run of the solar project shall be performed for a minimum capacity aggregating to 50 MW and in case the project has a capacity of more than 50 MW, the trial run for the balance capacity shall have to be performed in a maximum of four instalments.

During the public hearing on the draft first amendment to the Grid Code as well as during the visit of the officers of the Commission to various RE projects in Rajasthan and Karnataka, the RE developers suggested that in the case of projects with higher Installed capacity, the restriction on the number of instalments leads to difficulty in achieving successful trial run in a short span of time and, accordingly, the number of instalments may be reviewed.

Therefore, the CERC has directed that  in the case of a project covered under Regulation 22(3)(a) of the Grid Code, having installed capacity of 250 MW or more, the trial run may be performed in instalments, with a minimum capacity of 50 MW in each instalment without any limit on the number of instalments.

Also, the Generating Station is required to give at least a seven-day prior notice to the concerned RLDC, and the beneficiaries of the generating stations, including intermediary procurers.

Hence, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the PPA, any scheduling of power shall be allowed only after issuance of a successful trial run certificate by the RLDC. Prior to issuance of such a certificate, a generating station would be required to seek prior permission of RLDC on each occasion of interchange of infirm power with details such as those relating to the specific commissioning activity, testing, and full load testing, its duration and the intended period of interchange (as per Regulation 19(7) of the Grid Code).

RLDCs are directed to maintain such information for each such occasion and specific testing carried out by the generating station as per the said Regulation.

However, post issuance of successful trial run certificate, there may not be any testing and commissioning activities and the injection of power for a period after successful trial run shall be dealt with as per the code. Once successful trial operation is achieved, a generating station should declare COD at the earliest. In case a generating station is not declaring COD post successful trial operation, reasons for the same should be recorded in writing. Since most PPAs have explicit provisions for treatment of power post successful trial operation, the same shall be treated as per provisions of the PPA. In all other cases, for a generating station with identified beneficiary(ies), the first right of refusal for such power shall be with beneficiary(ies) with whom the generating station has entered into a PPA directly or through REIA/Intermediary Procurer. In such cases, the power post successful trial operation shall be first offered to such beneficiary(ies) with advance notice of at least seven days. In case there is an intermediary procurer such as REIA, REGS shall give advance notice to such REIA/Intermediary procurer who in turn shall give notice to beneficiaries. In case beneficiary (ies)/ REIA do not respond within such a notice period whether it wishes to offtake the power or not, it shall be considered as a deemed refusal of the beneficiary(ies)/REIA. In that case, the generating station shall be allowed to sell such power in the market. REIA/Intermediary procurer shall furnish details of consent of beneficiary to offtake the power and whether beneficiary did not respond to the offer of such power.