Power ministry redesigns renewable energy certificate mechanism
01 Oct 2021
The power ministry announced redesigning of the renewable energy certificates (REC) mechanism which would pave the way for removal of floor as well as forbearance price limits for these instruments. "Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh has given his assent to amendments in the existing Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism," the ministry said in a statement. The intent behind this decision is to align the mechanism with the emerging changes in the power scenario and also to promote new renewable technologies, it added. The proposed changes will provide some flexibility to the players, additional avenues, rationalisation and also address the RECs' validity period uncertainty issues, the ministry stated. Extensive stakeholder consultations have been held towards drawing up these changes. The ministry had circulated a discussion paper on redesigning the REC mechanism on June 4, 2021. Under the redesigned mechanism, the validity of the REC would be perpetual, that is till it is sold. Besides, the floor and forbearance (maximum) prices are not required to be specified. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) will have a monitoring and surveillance mechanism to ensure that there is no hoarding of RECs. The renewable energy (RE) generators eligible for RECs will be eligible for the period of the power purchase agreement (PPA) as per the prevailing guidelines. The existing RE projects that are eligible for RECs would continue to get them for 25 years. A technology multiplier can be introduced for promotion of new and high priced RE technologies, which can be allocated in various baskets specific to technologies depending on maturity, it added.
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