Preference for transmission facilities for wind projects
In order to achieve the target of 60 GW of wind energy by 2022, the government has told the central power regulator that preference in transmission facilities to be given to the winners of wind project auctions. Anand Kumar, secretary at the ministry of new and renewable energy, has communicated this to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission days before the quasi-judicial body hears the matter. The ministry’s plea to the regulator cites the experience in the recent past, where wind developers have sought connectivity at specific sites expecting that they will be able to leverage it to secure a power purchase agreement or PPA. Some developers subsequently received connectivity in existing sub-stations while others got approval for future sub-stations. According to industry executives, this move is a rare official intervention in a regulatory matter. Officials said the government is keen to ensure wind and solar energy projects are implemented quickly post auction. “The renewable energy secretary has written this was essential to ensure timely completion of the wind projects and achieving the government’s target to add 60 GW of wind capacity by 2022,” said one official.
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