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The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has issued the final version of its Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) Regulations, 2025, following a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process. These regulations aim to promote the use of renewable energy and provide a structured framework for consumers to access green energy through open access. The process began with the release of the draft regulations and an explanatory memorandum on October 1, 2024. Public comments were invited through advertisements in major newspapers, and the deadline for submissions was extended to October 28, 2024. In total, 38 stakeholders submitted their suggestions, which were carefully reviewed and incorporated where appropriate. One of the significant changes introduced was the inclusion of detailed definitions for terms such as green energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia. The commission broadened the scope of green energy to include wind, solar, hydro, and hybrid sources, along with energy storage systems that use only renewable energy. The definition also encompasses technologies that produce green hydrogen or ammonia using renewable sources. The eligibility criteria for GEOA have been clearly defined. Consumers with a contract demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more within a distribution licensee’s division are eligible, and there is no lower limit for captive consumers. The regulations also allow for aggregated connections and clarify that there is no upper limit for captive use, subject to system feasibility. The commission has mandated the use of energy storage systems for new renewable energy projects over 5 MW and for captive plants with capacities above 100% of contract demand. Projects above 200% of the contract demand must have battery storage for at least 20% of the excess capacity. This step aims to enhance grid reliability and support the state’s renewable energy goals. The commission addressed concerns over the renewable purchase obligation (RPO). It clarified that any excess green energy purchased beyond an obligated entity’s RPO, and not utilized otherwise, will count toward the distribution licensee’s RPO. This adjustment ensures that voluntary green energy commitments and carbon trading potential for consumers are not compromised. The regulations categorize GEOA into long-term, medium-term, and short-term access, with terms ranging from less than a month to up to 25 years. A provision was added allowing these terms to be revised by the commission through a separate order. The commission also emphasized that preference would be given to GEOA consumers over traditional open-access consumers, supporting the national agenda for renewable energy promotion. Stakeholders requested clarity on the role of nodal agencies and the application process. The regulations specify that all applications must be submitted through a central portal and routed to the State Nodal Agency for processing. The Rajasthan State Transmission Utility and State Load Despatch Centre will serve as the nodal agencies for long/medium-term and short-term GEOA respectively. Existing consumers with open access agreements were given the option to convert to GEOA for the remaining period of their agreements. Additional capacity beyond existing agreements must be treated as a new GEOA application. These provisions ensure a smooth transition while maintaining regulatory certainty. Overall, the RERC’s GEOA Regulations, 2025, aim to facilitate the use of green energy by ensuring regulatory clarity, accommodating technological advancements, and supporting consumers’ sustainability goals. |
