Except Two, All Union Territories and Goa Fail to Meet RPO Targets FY21, Shows JERC’s Analysis

Except Chandigarh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, all other union territories and Goa have failed to achieve their solar renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets, shows the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC)’s analysis of RPO targets for 2020-21 based on the data received from the regions under its jurisdiction.

The full analysis can be accessed here.

The commission received data on RPO compliance for FY21 and plans to meet targets for FY22 from six union territories: Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Goa, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. The commission’s findings regarding each of them are as follows:

GOA:

• While the state achieved its non-solar RPO target for FY20, it was 66.94 MU short of attaining its solar RPO targets. It explained that it had established a long-term contract with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to supply 25 MW solar power and a medium-term agreement with NTPC Vidhyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) to supply 6 MW solar power. The state would fulfill short-term solar obligation through solar renewable energy certificates (RECs) and Green-Term Ahead Market.
• The commission directed the state to achieve full compliance for solar and non-solar RPO in FY 2021-22. However, due to the Covid-19 crisis and nationwide lockdown, the commissioning of these projects has been delayed.

PUDUCHERRY:

• The union territory didn’t meet its solar and non-solar RPO targets for FY 2020-21 and had a backlog of 472.15 MU and 561.37 MU, respectively. The Puducherry Electricity Department submitted that it had signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with SECI and NTPC for 490 MW. Of this, 250 MW is for solar RPO compliance and 240 MW against its non-solar RPO target. The department claimed that once all power projects would be operational, they would be able to generate around 1,000 MU per year that could help clear the total backlog of its solar and non-solar RPO.
• The commission directed the union territory to expedite the process of purchasing actual power available and warned that appropriate legal action for non-compliance would be taken if the backlog is not cleared.

DAMAN & DIU:

• It did not meet its solar and non-solar RPO target for FY 2020-21. Only 36.64 MU of its 311.85 MU solar RPO targets and 192.88 MU of its 436.93 MU non-solar RPO targets were met. The electricity department of Daman & Diu explained that RECs were not available since July 2020. As a result, the union territory was able to purchase only 192.88 MU of RECs for non-solar RPO compliance.
• The commission directed the electricity department to procure physical renewable energy power in every quarter of 2021-22 to reduce the cumulative shortfall in FY 2021-22. The department was also asked to ensure total compliance of RPO target for FY 2021-22, including backlogs.

DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI:

• There is a 1,319.3 MU shortfall in the state’s RPO for FY 2020-21, including backlogs. The solar RPO target was 577.44 MU, but only 54.90 MU was met. Likewise, only 26.28 MU of its 823.04 MU of non-solar RPO target was fulfilled.
• The power distribution corporation said that the shortfall in RPO compliance was due to the unavailability of RECs since July 2020. The corporation informed that it had signed a PPA for 50 MW solar capacity with SECI, but the installation was delayed due to land acquisition issues. The commission believed that union territory could comply with its RPO targets if the action plan is successfully executed.

CHANDIGARH:

• It overachieved its solar RPO target by 33.70 MU for FY 2020-21. However, there was zero compliance for the non-solar RPO target, due to which solar RPO fulfilled the entire non-solar target of 24.02 MU. The electricity department said the reason was the unavailability of RECs since last year. It also informed that it had signed a PPA with Adani through SECI for non-solar power generation, which has started in May 2021.
• The commission reviewed the action plan submitted by the department and concluded that if executed successfully, the union territory would be able to achieve its entire target for FY 2021-22.

ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS:

• It had also overachieved its solar RPO targets by 3.24 MU, but there was a non-solar RPO target shortfall of 19.59 MU.
• The commission said that the department would not be able to achieve its RPO target for FY 2021-22 and directed it to increase its efforts to achieve its solar and non-solar RPO targets for FY 2021-22.

LAKSHADWEEP:

• It could not achieve its solar and non-solar RPO targets for FY 2020-21 and has a cumulative shortfall of 16.72 MU. The electricity department informed that it had signed PPAs with SECI for solar energy. However, the installation of solar projects has not been completed due to the nationwide lockdown because of Covid-19 related limitations.
• The commission directed the department to submit its action plan within a week from the issue of this order.