India’s central power regulator, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), has admitted petitions filed by ACME Solar and AMPIN Energy, who are seeking compensation for financial losses caused by delays in setting up transmission infrastructure.
The outcome of the case could set an important precedent for renewable energy developers grappling with transmission bottlenecks as India pushes ahead with its clean energy transition.
According to regulatory filings released over the weekend, the CERC is assessing whether Power Grid Corporation of India and the Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL) should compensate developers for the resulting losses. Both entities have been asked to respond within six weeks.
In their petitions, ACME Solar, based in Gurugram, has sought over Rs 210 million in compensation, while AMPIN Energy has not specified the amount of its losses.
The developers claim that delays in commissioning the transmission network prevented them from evacuating power from their solar projects.
The CERC has directed Power Grid and CTUIL to provide detailed information on project timelines, system commissioning, and reasons for the delays. The petitions are scheduled for hearing on 27 November.
India has increasingly faced solar curtailment issues, as rapid growth in renewable capacity outpaces grid infrastructure development.
In Rajasthan, the country’s leading green power-producing state, nearly 4 gigawatts of clean energy have been curtailed, resulting in estimated losses of up to Rs 250 crore (USD 28 million), according to the Rajasthan Solar Association. |
