CERC revises transmission norms to give greater access to green power plants

With a view to provide grid access to more and more hydro or renewable energy-based power projects, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has amended its regulations on the "Grant of Connectivity, Long Term Access and Medium-Term Open Access in Interstate Transmission", issued in August last year. 

•  The amended regulations has relaxed the installed capacity requirement of 250 MW and above for the hydro power stations or those using renewable sources of energy to get hooked up to the interstate transmission system. Accordingly, these power plants with minimum capacity of 50 MW can seek inter-state connectivity, while thermal power plants will continue to require a minimum of 250 MW capacity for the same. 
•  Besides, the apex regulator has made a special provision that the hydro or green power stations, which individually have less than 50 MW installed capacity, but collectively have an aggregate installed capacity of 50 MW and above, may seek connection from Power Grid Corporation at a single connection point.
•  The Commission has also provided that there will be no requirement of constructing dedicated transmission lines for any renewable power generating station of minimum 250 MW capacity as power evacuation from such stations will be taken care under the coordinated transmission planning of Power Grid and CEA. 
•  In the original version of these regulations, this facility was only given to thermal and hydro power stations, having a minimum of 500 MW and 250 MW capacities, respectively.