The petition under Section 86 (1) (c) & (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003, seeks an extension for the commissioning of the evacuation line, bays, and metering system for a 100 MW Wind Solar Hybrid Project in Gujarat. The petitioner, a renewable energy developer, had been given Stage-I connectivity in April 2023 and Stage-II connectivity in July 2023. However, delays in finalizing agreements for sharing bays with other developers have caused setbacks. The petitioner approached the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation (GETCO) for clarification, but due to unforeseen delays, the project may face penalties if not commissioned by January 2025.
The petitioner argues that, under the provisions of the Wind Solar Tariff Order, extensions are possible in cases of unforeseen delays. The project’s progress was stalled due to missing details from GETCO regarding the substation bays and delays in finalizing agreements with lead generators like Morjar Renewables Pvt. Ltd. The petitioner’s request to GETCO for status as a lead generator was delayed by a legal dispute between GETCO and Morjar Renewables. Meanwhile, discussions with Suzlon Global Services also failed to progress, and the project faced delays due to these issues.
During the hearing, GETCO was asked to provide crucial information related to the energization of the Kalavad 220 KV substation, including available power transformation capacity, the number of bays, and the procedures followed for sharing bays with developers. Other points raised during the hearing included the specifics of GETCO’s allocation of bays to private renewable energy developers and whether approval from the Commission is necessary for such allocation.
The respondent agreed to provide further submissions on these issues by January 22, 2025. The petitioner also filed an interlocutory application requesting interim relief, asking the Commission to prevent GETCO from taking coercive actions, such as revoking connectivity or encashing the bank guarantee, until the matter is resolved. The next hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2025. The case remains under review, with both parties expected to submit additional documents to clarify these issues.
