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					</table>The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (<a href="https://energy.rajasthan.gov.in/rrecl/#/home/dptHome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RREC</a>) has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the development, approval, and commissioning of renewable energy projects developed under captive and third-party sale modes.
The SOP covers key processes, including project registration, power evacuation planning, captive status verification, installation of battery energy storage systems (BESS), and various compliance requirements mandated under Rajasthan’s energy regulations.
The procedure aims to enhance regulatory transparency and ensure smooth integration of renewable projects with the state’s transmission and distribution network.
Project Registration
Renewable energy project developers must submit online applications, along with all required documents, and a net worth certificate demonstrating a minimum net worth of ₹10 million (~$112,806)/MW. After verification, RREC will issue a letter of registration to the applicant per the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Policy.
Power Evacuation Plan and Technical Feasibility
Developers must submit their Power Evacuation Plan to RREC for approval, which should include a Single-Line Diagram of the plan and detailed information about the power-generating project and the consumer drawal point.
For projects within consumer premises, RREC will forward the application to the respective power distribution company (DISCOM) for examining technical feasibility. If the consumer is directly connected to the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (RVPN) network, the request will also be sent to RVPN for its approval.
For projects outside consumer premises, RREC will share the power evacuation plan with DISCOMs or the RVPN for technical evaluation and forward the drawal end plan to the respective DISCOMs.
RVPN/DISCOM will review the Power Evacuation Plan for the proposed power-generating project by evaluating factors such as available spare capacity at the designated grid substation (GSS), bay availability, voltage level, and other relevant technical parameters. They will issue their technical feasibility assessment within the stipulated timeframe as per the prescribed procedure.
The DISCOMs will also assess the technical feasibility at the consumer’s drawal end, taking into account the consumer’s contract demand and the capacity of the existing evacuation system. Following a site inspection, the DISCOM will provide a feasibility report, addressing the status of project commissioning, the consumer’s drawal pattern and the physical condition and captive status of the project, the Chief Electrical Inspector to the Government (CEIG) approval status, and site photographs.
Project Clearance
Upon receiving the power evacuation approval from RVPN/DISOMs and after submission of the detailed project report, land documents, and technical feasibility report, along with the shareholding agreement of the consumer or a chartered accountant certificate (for captive consumers), and a copy of the power purchase agreement (PPA) or an undertaking in the case of third-party sale, the project will be deemed to have obtained in-principle clearance.
Developers must submit a security deposit of ₹100,000 (~$1,128)/MW to RREC. The final approval will be issued to the developer per the Rajasthan Integrated Clean Energy Policy (RICEP) 2024.
The developer must commission the project within the validity period of the power evacuation approval granted by RVPN/DISCOM/Central Transmission Utility (CTU).
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Per RICEP 2025, renewable energy projects exceeding 5 MW and seeking grid connection through STU or DISCOM networks are <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rajasthan-mandates-5-ess-for-renewable-energy-projects-above-5-mw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required</a> to install a 5% BESS capacity without any extra charges of registration. If the developer is interested in installing BESS beyond 5% of renewable capacity, it  must pay applicable registration charges.
Captive renewable energy projects with capacities exceeding 100% of the contract demand and up to 200% must install a BESS with a minimum storage capacity equivalent to 20% of the energy generated from the renewable capacity beyond 100% of the contract demand.
Registration charges, transmission, and wheeling charges for renewable projects with BESS will be exempted as per the prevailing policy and regulations, as amended from time to time.
Project Commissioning
Once the project is installed, the developer must submit a formal request to RREC, accompanied by the CEIG approval and all documents required to verify the captive status of the consumer, in cases of captive consumption.
After RREC verifies the captive status of the consumer, the proposal will be forwarded to the DISCOM concerned for the formation of a Commissioning Committee. This committee will oversee the commissioning of the project and issue the commissioning certificate. If the consumer fails to meet the required captive criteria, the corresponding project capacity will be classified as a third-party sale. The consumer will be liable to pay the applicable cross-subsidy surcharge and additional surcharge to the DISCOM, as well as renewable energy development and facilitation charges to the RREC.
The consumer must execute the transmission agreement with RVPN or CTU and also enter into the wheeling and banking agreement with the respective DISCOMs.
Once the project is commissioned, the developer will request RREC to refund the security deposit. RREC will process and refund the security deposit in proportion to the commissioned capacity.
Annual Verification
The consumer must submit an annual verification of the project’s captive status to RREC. This verification must confirm compliance with the eligibility conditions, which include consuming at least 51% of the power generated and maintaining a minimum equity stake of 26% in the project. If the consumer fails to submit the required documents or does not meet the prescribed captive criteria, the project capacity will be reclassified as a third-party sale, attracting applicable charges.
Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates</a> to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.

Rajasthan Issues Norms to Develop Captive, Third-Party Renewable Energy Projects

Amplus Energy Solutions has decided to make the most of the waiver provided to open access solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in Haryana.
The company has secured an approval from the Haryana State government for two of its solar PV projects totaling 150 MW to supply solar power under open access route to industries in the state.
In <a href="https://mercomindia.com/haryana-solar-policy-amended-waivers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">March 2019</a>, the Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (<a href="http://hareda.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HAREDA</a>) amended its guidelines for megawatt-scale ground-mounted and rooftop solar projects meant for captive consumption or third party sale.
Amplus will make a capital investment of ₹7.5 billion (~$0.11 billion) for these two solar PV projects. Amplus had signed an MoU with the state’s Department of Renewable Energy in 2016 to invest ₹10 billion (~$0.14 billion) in the solar sector in line with the Haryana Solar Policy that has a target of 3,200 MW of solar projects. This approval granted to the company was based on the same.
Amplus will set up these projects under a group captive model in Sirsa and Bhiwani districts where it has acquired 575 acres of land under a long-term lease. The construction of the solar PV projects is expected to begin soon, and the solar PV projects will be operational this year, according to a communique by the company.
“Haryana is in the forefront of development with the inclusion of clean energy to power the growth. The state hosts a large number of multi-national commercial and industrial conglomerates. These companies are enthused with this support from the state government for the adoption of green energy. These projects also provide a steady flow of income to the local populations during the construction and operation of the plant. We essentially are creating a clean technology-based ecosystem to support the local population for a better livelihood for the current as well as the future generation,” said Sanjeev Aggarwal, CEO &amp; MD, Amplus Solar.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/petronas-acquires-solar-company-amplus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Recently</a>, Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas company, <a href="https://www.petronas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PETRONAS</a>, acquired <a href="https://amplussolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amplus Energy Solutions Pte Ltd</a>. This has infused more capital into the firm.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/haryana-solar-open-access-charges-waiver/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">In 2018</a>, HAREDA had issued guidelines stating that wheeling charges, cross-subsidy charges, transmission and distribution charges, and additional surcharges will be completely waived for third-party sale or open access consumers of energy from ground mounted or rooftop solar projects commissioned during the control period.
Image credit: Amplus

Amplus to Develop 150 MW of Solar Projects in Haryana as State Waives Open Access Charges

In a remarkable feat, the Visakhapatnam Port recently announced that since May 2016, it has been running on 100 percent solar energy. According to the officials, it is by far the first and only port in the country to have achieved this milestone.
A Visakhapatnam Port Trust official informed Mercom, “The 10 MW captive solar project was commissioned on May 17, 2016, and since then the port has become energy self-sufficient.”
“The captive solar PV project generates enough electricity to meet our demands and also allows us to sell the extra power generated to private operators (third-party) in the port,” added the official.
The official also told Mercom that Jakson Engineers has completed the project at the port.
Talking about revenue generation from the sale of power from this project, the official said, “In the first half of 2018, we sold power to third-party consumers at a tariff of ₹5.53 (~$0.078)/kWh. This tariff is mutually beneficial, because if we supply to distribution companies, the tariff will be about ₹3.50 (~$0.049)/kWh. Now, if these private operators procure from DISCOMs, they will have to pay around ₹7 (~$0.098)/kWh. By selling our power we are benefited by ₹2 (~$0.028)/kWh and the third-party is also benefited by nearly the same amount.”
“Currently, we are selling 50 percent of our generation to third-party buyers. For instance, we recently tendered 750,000 units of banked electricity (generated from solar project) to be procured by third-parties,” the official added.
When asked if the port was eyeing further expansion of solar, the official said, “We do not have more land for the solar project. But yes, we have identified many rooftop spaces that are vacant and can be utilized for setting up rooftop solar PV projects. Soon, even those will be operational.”
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/bosch-commissions-4-mw-mangalore-port-trust-solar-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom previously reported</a>, Bosch, a supplier of technology and services, commissioned a 4 MW solar project at the New Mangalore Port Trust.

Visakhapatnam Port is the First of its Kind in India to Run on 100% Solar Power

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