India- National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy – 14th May 2018

Hybrid = Solar PV systems and Wind turbine generators at one point (rated power capacity of one source of energy must be at least 25% of the rated power capacity of the other resource)

Hybrid Benefits:

• minimize the variability of power output leading to grid security and stability

• have found significant areas in India where both solar and wind have a high to moderate potential

• common land, transmission system to evacuate power would lead to lower costs overall

• battery storage can be added as an option which would give an option of round the clock green energy

Power Usage:

• Captive purpose,

• Sale to third-party through open access

• Sale to Discoms either at tariff determined by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERC) or at tariff discovered through a transparent bidding process

• Sale to Discoms at average power purchase cost (APPC) under Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism and avail RECs

Procurement:

Procurement of power from a hybrid project on tariff-based transparent bidding process for which government entities may invite bids

Policy/Regulations:

• Draft Policy in June 2016 – and now final one in May 2018. Original draft policy had targeted 10GW of hybrids by 2022, but no target has been set in the final policy (may depend on response of bidders)

• CERC shall deliver standards and regulations for hybrids

• Seeks to promote new hybrid projects as well as hybridisation of existing wind/solar projects (though it is very silent for existing ones)

• All fiscal and financial incentives available to wind and solar power projects will also be made available to hybrid projects.

• State or Central entities can also bid out projects for the hybridisation of existing projects connected to the Interstate Transmission System (ISTS)

• On technology front, the policy provides for integration of both the energy sources i.e. wind and solar at AC (alternate current) as well as DC (direct current) level.

Source: Policy Excerpts, pv-tech, ET,