Question : Purchase of Renewable Ennergy

(a) whether the Ministry is asking States to mandatorily purchase renewable energy for reducing the Plant Load Factor for existing thermal power projects;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Union Government has asked the Government of Telangana to purchase solar power despite having surplus hydro power generation and if so, the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of the States which have been given Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets and their achievements till date, State-wise; and
(e) the details of penalties imposed for non-compliance of RPOs, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (d) The Electricity Act, 2003 mandates State Commissions to specify Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) in their States and also ensure its compliance. Further, the revised Tariff Policy, 2016 notified under Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003 provides for prescribing long term growth trajectory of Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) by the Ministry of Power (MoP) in consultation with Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). In pursuance of these provisions, MoP on 22nd July, 2016 notified the long term growth trajectory of RPO for solar and non-solar energy , uniformly for all States/Union Territories, initially for three years i.e. 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. Subsequently, MoP notified RPO trajectory for the duration FY2019-20 to 2021-22. Recently, MoP vide order No. 09/13/2021-RCM dt. 22.07.2022 notified the long term RPO trajectory and Energy Storage Obligation Trajectory for a period till FY 2029-2030. This trajectory specifies a percentage of total consumption of electricity in the area of distribution licensee from renewable energy sources.

In order to achieve the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030, it is necessary for the obligated entities to comply with the RPO trajectory set by the Central Government. Accordingly, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has been regularly following up with the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions and State Governments including Government of Telangana to align their RPO trajectory with the one issued by the Ministry of Power and enforcing penal provisions against defaulting obligated entities as per provisions of the Electricity Act-2003.
State-wise details of RPO targets and their achievements for FY 2020-21 is placed at Annexure.

(e) Penalties for non-compliance of RPO are not imposed by Government of India. However, under Section 142 of the Electricity Act-2003, the Appropriate Electricity Regulatory Commissions have power to penalize any person for contravention of any of the provisions of the Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder, or any direction issued by the Commission.

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