Electricity Supply Companies (Escoms) in Karnataka will have to increasingly reach for the sun — literally — in the next few years to achieve the new Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) fixed by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC).
In the draft of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Procurement of Energy from Renewable Sources) (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 2018, the commission has proposed a solar RPO of 10.5% by 2021-22 for all Escoms. The RPO for 2018-19 is 6%, indicating that Escoms will have to strive towards fulfilling more and more energy demand using solar energy. The existing rules had specified RPOs only up to 2018-19. The proposed amendment has fixed percentages of solar RPO required for the subsequent years: 7.25% for 2019-20; 8.5% for 2020-21; and 10.5% for 20121-22.
The KERC’s move follows a Ministry of Power order that fixed the long-term growth trajectory of RPOs for solar and non-solar uniformly for all States and Union Territories for three years from 2019-20 to 2021-22 this June. The uniform growth trajectory — which excludes consumption met from hydro sources of power — requires the RPO to go up from 17% during the ongoing financial year to 21% in 2021-22.
The KERC has kept the non-solar RPO under the amended regulations in the range of 7% (Gescom) to 13% (Mescom) in 2018-19 to 8% (Gescom) to 13% (Mescom). The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), which accounts for nearly half the State’s consumption, is required to adhere to a 12% non-solar RPO through the period.
KERC Chairman M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda said the trajectory indicated by the commission is in tune with the Government of India trajectory. “The solar trajectory keeps increasing while the non-solar trajectory remains the same. The emphasis is on solar. So all Escoms should have around 22% RPO by 2022,” he said. As for compliance, Mr. Gowda said the State’s Escoms had more or less been adhering to the RPO norms in recent years. “All of them will be able to fulfil the RPO,” he added.
Karnataka became the leading State for renewable energy in India this year, overtaking Tamil Nadu, with 27% of its power generation reported to be coming from renewable sources of energy.