New Delhi: Commercial and industrial consumers in Delhi with a sanctioned load of 100 kW or more can now buy green energy through open access, whatever voltage they are connected at. The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has removed the 11 kV condition from its green energy open access regulations, officials said on Wednesday.
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Until now, a consumer had to be connected for supply at 11 kV or above to use the route, which kept it limited to large power consumers. According to officials, this held back commercial and industrial consumers who wanted to shift to renewable energy. With that technical requirement gone, the change is expected to widen the use of renewable energy in Delhi, particularly solar power.
The commission made the change through a notification amending the Terms and Conditions for the Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2024.
Under the amended regulations, contracted demand or sanctioned load decides eligibility, and connectivity voltage no longer plays a part. That load can also be spread across more than one connection. “The Consumer who has a contracted demand or sanctioned load of 100 KW or more, either through a single connection or through multiple connections located in the area of the same discom, will be eligible for Open Access for sourcing Green Energy under these Regulations,” the amendment notified by the DERC said.
The amendment also loosens the rules for captive green energy projects. For captive use, the size of a green energy project will no longer be tied to the consumer’s sanctioned load with the distribution company (discom), according to the notification. The same relief extends to consumers with captive generating plants who seek green energy open access. Their load limitation linked to their sanctioned load with discoms has also been removed.
Green energy open access lets businesses step outside their discom for renewable power. Under the Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022, commercial and industrial consumers can buy renewable electricity directly from generators instead of depending on their discom. The route is meant to help businesses meet their sustainability goals and reduce their dependence on conventional energy. It also contributes to efforts to cut carbon emissions.
The DERC regulations cover several other ways of sourcing green electricity for one’s own use. Consumers can buy from eligible suppliers or the government, or draw on their own captive generation plants. They can also source it through other entities authorised to supply electricity under the Electricity Act, 2003.
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The changes are aimed at bringing wider participation into the green energy market and making renewable electricity more accessible to eligible consumers, officials said.
