NTPC to assume control of long-term access and connectivity

National Thermal Power (NTPC) has been designated as the agency responsible for connectivity and long-term access to India's interstate transmission system (ISTS) network by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission said developers interested in renewable generation projects with a minimum capacity of 50 MW could apply for ISTS connectivity. NTPC has 875 MW of large-scale solar capacity, 2.1 GW under development and recently requested bids for 1.2 GW of ISTS-connected solar projects.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has designated National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) as the renewable energy implementing agency to facilitate the application of connectivity and long-term access (LTA) in the interstate transmission system network.

According to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), a renewable energy implementing agency is a company or an entity designated by the central or state government to act as an intermediary procurer to select and buy power from renewable energy generating stations and sell it to one or more distribution licensees. The agency can act as a facilitator for those projects which are based on standalone storage sources of installed capacity of 50 MW or above.

Earlier, the CERC released procedural regulations for granting ISTS connectivity to renewable energy projects. It was stated that the connectivity application would be processed in two stages. Those developers who were interested in setting-up renewable generation projects and had a minimum capacity of 50 MW were asked to apply for connectivity.

Previously, the central body also issued regulations to lay down the broad principles, procedures, and processes to be followed for the planning and development of the ISTS network for the smooth flow of electricity from generating stations to the load centers. These regulations were expected to help in the timely development of ISTS in India. ISTS is of utmost importance for the growth of solar and wind as all areas do not have the same solar potential or land availability. ISTS is required to realize the potential of solar-rich states.