New Delhi: Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs), including Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), have proposed auctioning renewable electricity capacity that already has transmission connectivity but does not have a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in place. According to an official document, around 45.34 GW of capacity is yet to be contracted. This includes 31.80 GW that has already secured transmission connectivity and 13.54 GW that is currently at the application stage.
The capacities are spread across Rajathsan with 18.749 GW, Gujarat with 2.330 GW, Maharashtra with 3.764 GW, Madhya Pradesh with 4.854 GW, Karnataka with 6.992 GW, Andhra Pradesh with 7.113 GW and 1.540 GW across other states.
Of these projects, SECI has 11.470 GW, NTPC 8.381 GW, NHPC 19.787 GW and SJVN 5.454 GW.
On Monday, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi said the government is conducting a “case-by-case” analysis of uncontracted capacity in renewable energy projects. Joshi said the future of such capacities is expected to become clear by early January 2026, as the assessment is likely to take “30-45 days”.
The REIAs have recommended allowing the use of connectivity for other letters of award (LoAs) issued to the same connectivity grantee by the same or another REIA where a PPA or PSA has been signed.
They have also suggested permitting the same grantee to use the connectivity for any customer or agency renewable project where a PPA or PSA is signed and where 50 percent of the land is available for project development at either the same or another location. They propose that the project should be commissioned within 24 months or by the date of General Network Access (GNA) operationalisation, whichever is later.
They further said that “once the original connectivity grantee is permitted to exit, then vacated connectivity should be allocated through the following procedures and a fresh application for the grant of this vacant connectivity should be invited through any of the identified modes in the regulation (i.e., LOA/ Land/ Land-BG route) within a period of 21 days through the auction method.”
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They added that auction should be allowed only for developers who agree to commission their projects within 24 months or up to GNA operationalisation, whichever is later, and who agree to bear any liabilities of the earlier grantee. The auction should select the applicant offering the highest premium for the connectivity grant.