Power ministry issues green energy open access rules for 2022 in India

According to the new rules issued by the Ministry of Power (MoP), the consumers will be eligible for green energy open access if they have a contracted demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more. For captive consumers, there will be no load limitation.

All applications for open access to green energy will be allowed by the nodal agency within fifteen days.

The rules will be applicable for the generation, purchase, and consumption of green energy, including the energy from the waste-to-energy projects.

Reasonable conditions such as the minimum number of time blocks, which should not be more than 12, for which the consumer should not change the quantum of power consumed through open access, may be imposed to avoid high variation in demand to be met by the distribution licensee.

The new rules will feature there will be a uniform renewable purchase obligation on all obligated entities in the area of a distribution licensee from the date of commencement.

There is no capacity limit for installing power plants from renewable energy sources by entities for their consumption. Such projects may be set up at any location in India. Power will be transmitted using open access.

Renewable energy can be procured using open access from any developer either directly or through a trading licensee or power markets.

Any entity may purchase green energy either up to a certain percentage of the consumption or its total consumption. The entity may place a requisition for this with its distribution licensee, which shall procure such quantity of green energy and supply it.

The consumer will have the flexibility to give separate requisitions for solar and non-solar. Any requisition for green energy from a distribution licensee will be for a minimum period of one year.

The green energy purchased from the distribution licensee or renewable energy sources other than the distribution licensee above the RPO target of the obligated entity will be counted towards the RPO compliance of the distribution licensee.

Earlier, the MoP has issued the draft electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules in August 2021.