On June 6, 2022 Union Government has notified the Green Open Access Rules 2022, that will accelerate India’s renewable energy programmes.
What are Green Open Access Rules 2022?
- These rules are notified to promote generation, purchase and consumption of green energy including the energy generated through waste-to-energy plants.
- The rules also enable a simplified procedure for open access to green power.
- They also accelerate the renewable energy programmes, with the aim of ensuring access to affordable, sustainable, reliable, and green energy for all.
- These rules will help consumes in demanding green power from DISCOMS (power distribution companies).
- The rules will provide certainty on open access charges, that will be levied on green energy open access consumers.
Green Open Access
According to the rules, green open access is allowed to any consumer. Limit of open access transaction has also been decreased from 1 MW (megawatt) to 100 kW for green energy. This will also enable small consumers to purchase renewable power by means of open access. There will be transparency in approval process of open access applications. According to the rules, approvals are required to be granted in 15 days, otherwise it deemed to have been approved subject. It will be done through a national portal.
Tariff for green energy
Tariff for the green energy will be determined by appropriate commission. It will consist of average pooled power purchase cost of renewable energy, service charges covering prudent cost of distribution licensee and cross-subsidy charges, in order to provide the green energy to the consumers. These rules will streamline overall approval process to grant open access, including improve predictability and timely approval of cash flows for renewable power producers. It will bring uniformity in the application procedure.
Cap on increasing the cross-subsidy surcharge
Rules provides for cap on increasing cross-subsidy surcharges and do away with additional surcharge. It will incentivise the consumers to go green as well addresses the issues pressing the growth of open access in India. Consumers will receive certificates if they consume green power.
