(ET)
Solar developers are up in arms over Tamil Nadu’s decision not to pay for power they produce by achieving higher efficiencies, which they claim has already cost them over Rs 100 crore.
In a memorandum to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Co (Tangedco), the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) has protested its decision not to pay for the excess power generated by any solar plant which exceeds a capacity utilisation factor (CUF) of 19%. CUF is the ratio of the actual output from a solar plant to the maximum possible output from it under ideal conditions. Most solar plants in India achieve an average CUF of 15-19%, depending on the quality of the plant and the strength of the solar radiation, but have on occasions, especially in sunshine-rich states like Rajasthan, crossed 20%.
Tangedco officials maintain their decision is based on two orders passed by the state’s power regulator, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC), relating to solar tariffs. “The limit prescribed by TNERC for solar tariff is 19%,” said M Sai Kumar, chairman and managing director, Tangedco. “Developers who want relief can only get it from TNERC.”
