Source：,solarquarter

The Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission is making updates to its Renewable Energy Purchase Obligation (RPO) regulations, which were originally introduced in 2018. The amendments, prompted by a notification from the Ministry of Power, will take effect on April 1, 2024, and remain active until further changes are made. These regulations apply to the entire state of Meghalaya.

One of the key updates relates to the way obligated entities, such as power distribution companies or large consumers, are required to source a minimum percentage of their electricity from renewable energy. The amendments emphasize that certain renewable energy sources, such as wind and hydro, must meet specific criteria before being counted toward the RPO targets.

For wind energy, the amendments specify that only energy generated from wind power projects that are commissioned after March 31, 2024, will count toward the renewable energy consumption targets. Similarly, hydro energy must come from projects commissioned after this date. These projects may include large and small hydropower projects, as well as pump storage facilities. Additionally, the energy from hydro projects that provide free power to the state electricity distribution company will also count toward meeting the renewable energy targets. It’s also stated that, in certain cases, energy from hydropower projects located outside India may be eligible, as long as they are approved by the central government.

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Another focus is on distributed renewable energy. This refers to energy generated from renewable projects smaller than 10 megawatts. These projects may include solar installations that are configured in different ways, such as net metering or behind-the-meter setups. The regulation recognizes the difficulty some consumers may have in reporting generation data from these installations. In such cases, the energy generation is calculated based on a standardized multiplier.

There is also flexibility in how different types of renewable energy are used to meet the targets. For example, if there is a shortfall in wind energy consumption in a given year, the excess hydro energy generated during the same period may be used to make up the difference. The same applies if there is excess wind energy and a shortfall in hydro energy. Any remaining excess wind or hydro energy may also be counted under other renewable energy categories.

Additionally, excess renewable energy consumption in general may be used to meet shortfalls in either wind or hydro energy targets. Obligated consumers, such as those using open access systems or captive power plants, must meet their renewable energy targets regardless of the specific type of non-fossil fuel source. The targets set for renewable energy consumption can be achieved either by directly using renewable energy or by purchasing renewable energy certificates. These certificates are issued under the terms established by the central electricity