NEW DELHI: Wind power producers could find themselves bound to give generation schedules if the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has its way. The regulator feels that if the producers give the exact schedule, give or take 30 per cent, it will help in keeping continued supply of electricity.
A senior official told Business Line that to understand the issues being raised by the wind energy industry and implement the proposal of the Commission, a task force has been constituted by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. The committee has been given three months time to submit its report.
When asked what was the provocation for this, the official said that though the power producers have to give schedules in case of wind energy, it has been noted that the flush of power into the grid is sudden and so is the withdrawal. This creates an uncertainty in supplies, the official added. If the schedule is known, then it would be easier to ensure continued supply, the official said. The proposal is that if the producers do not give schedule they would be penalised and the money will be deposited in Renewable Regulatory Fund. The officials agree that it may not be easy to work out exact scheduling of generation as is the case with thermal power. Of the total renewable energy capacity of 23,000 MW, wind energy is 17,000 MW in the country. The projects for which power purchase agreements has been signed on or after May 3, 2010 are required to do scheduling as mandated by the Indian Grid Code.
Raising certain issues the players say there are various projects at a single connection point, with and without mandatory scheduling, making it difficult to monitor them.
Then there are implementation issues relating to captive and third party, different contract rates at single connection points. Besides, there is ambiguity in dealing party — generator, wind farms, developers — mentioned in the grid code.