SECI is now a procurer for wind-solar hybrid projects

As per the newly launched amendments of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the bidding procedure guidelines for grid-connected wind-solar hybrid projects, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) would be managed like a procurer but not a nodal agency. In the previous bidding guidelines, SECI was appointed as a nodal agency. Before the registered commissioning date, as long as the transmission connectivity and long-term, medium-term, or short-term access are available, the hybrid power generator would be permitted to partly or completely commission the project. As per the revised guidelines, long-term, medium-term, or short-term access can be submitted by the generator even before commissioning the project. Though, a hybrid power generator should have long-term access from the registered commissioning date. According to the amendment guidelines, a long-term or medium-term or short-term access agreement should be submitted by the generator before commissioning the project. However, hybrid power generators should have long-term access from the sale of power to procurers from the Scheduled Commissioning Date (SCD). discoms can directly get power from hybrid power generators. This provision will benefit discoms to obtain power at a lower tariff by eliminating the trading margin they had to pay to SECI. They should also have a payment protection fund to support payment for at least billing of three months of every project attached with the fund. Discoms can also decide to provide State Government Guarantee, in a legal form, to make sure that there is sufficient security to the hybrid power generators for the energy charges and termination fee if any. In October 2019, the ministry published its draft guidelines for the competitive bidding process to get power from grid-connected wind-solar hybrid projects. In October 2020, final guidelines came out. Image Source Also read: Hybrid, solar and wind energy projects of 9 GW to be set up soon