Rajasthan Set To Bring Guidelines To Expedite PSP Growth

MERC Offers Compensation To SJVNL On Delayed Payment From MSEDCL

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) in its latest order has allowed extension of time period for the state government authorities to frame guidelines for the growth of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) in the state.

The order came to the fore when RVUNL (Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Limited) & IT Service Limited moved the State Power regulator on the matter. RERC, meanwhile, also lauded the initiatives of the RUVNL to take a lead in framing guidelines for storage systems especially related to tenders. The state commission asked the state to work on the Resource Adequacy Plan (RAP) and also allowed time for brining State Policy on storage.

“In view of the specific request from the petitioner to extend the timeline till finalisation of RAP & State Policy for storage, the Commission deems it appropriate to dispose the petition with liberty to the petitioner to approach the Commission once the RA plan and the State Policy for development of PSP plants is finalized,” it said.

The Commission also said that for renewable rich states like Rajasthan, storage had been an important issue. “The Commission observes that for managing intermittency of the RE Power being injected in the Grid and to manage grid stability, Energy Storage based solution like Pump Storage, is one of the most suitable option and more emphasis should be put by the RE rich states like Rajasthan. Needless to say that RUVITL took a commendable and progressive step by planning to tie up for 1000 MW Pump Storage Power but at the same time it is also important to execute it in time bound manner,” it added.

As per the RERC order, the contracted capacity for storage is 100 MW from the 1000 MW PSP of THDC India which is under the execution and another 490 MW solar with storage executed with SECI which is expected to be commissioned in FY2025-26.