The government of Karnataka has issued Solar Policy vide Notification No. EN 21 VSC 2014 dated: 22-05-2014.
In recent times, solar energy has witnessed rapid growth in the segment with significant technological advancement and increase in market competition and a reduction in solar tariffs. Govt. of India has issued the Tariff Policy dated: 28-01-2016 under the Electricity Act, 2003. As per the Tariff policy and target fixed by MNRE to the State, the solar renewable purchase obligation has been revised to a minimum 8% purchase of solar energy of the total consumption of energy of the State, excluding Hydro energy by March 2022. The policy of the Govt. of India also envisages that 40% of the solar generation should be through rooftops. As per the new Tariff Policy and targets fixed by MNRE to the State, the minimum generation required by 2022 is 6000 MWs.
In view of new Tariff policy, targets fixed by MNRE to the State and the experience over the last two years, it is necessary to make amendments in the Solar Policy. The total target has to be increased to a minimum of 6,000 MWs by 2021. Government of Karnataka has issued amendments to Solar Policy 2014-21 vide notification No EN 49 VSC 2016 dated 12.01.2017
1. Preamble.
The Government of India’s objective of achieving 100,000 MW of solar power capacity by 2022 is a concentrated effort to tap India’s naturally available energy sources and contribute to low carbon sustainable growth in the country, while overcoming its ecological and energy security challenges. Karnataka is rich in solar resources and solar energy will complement the conventional sources of energy in a large way. The State of Karnataka is blessed with about 240 to 300 sunny days with good solar radiation of 5.4 to 6.2 kWh/m2/day. Karnataka was the first southern state to notify its solar policy in 2011 and was the first state to commission utility scale solar project in India. The solar energy potential in Karnataka is estimated in excess of 24,700 MW. However, the actual potential for solar energy is significantly higher than the estimated capacity, considering the recent technological advances and increasing efficiencies brought in solar energy segments.”
The Government of India’s objective of achieving 100,000 MW of solar power capacity by 2022 is a concentrated effort to tap India’s naturally available energy sources and contribute to low carbon sustainable growth in the country while overcoming its ecological and energy security challenges.
Karnataka is rich in solar resources and solar energy will complement the conventional sources of energy in a large way. The State of Karnataka is blessed with about 240 to 300 sunny days with good solar radiation of 5.4 to 6.2 kWh/m2/day. Karnataka was the first southern state to notify its solar policy in 2011 and was the first state to commission utility-scale solar projects in India.
The solar energy potential in Karnataka is estimated in excess of 24,700 MW. However, the actual potential for solar energy is significantly higher than the estimated capacity, considering the recent technological advances and increasing efficiencies brought in solar energy segments.”
To harness the potential of solar resources in the state, GoK had issued a Solar Policy for the period 2011-16. In light of changes unfolding in the sector and achievements made by Solar forefront States, it is felt necessary to go aggressively for higher targets to achieve 8% contribution from Solar Source out of total energy consumption, excluding Hydro energy, by March 2021 in line with the objectives of Tariff Policy dated 28 January 2016 and targets fixed by MNRE to the State. The advantages of Solar energy are that the grid parity is realized in near future, lower transmission losses, environmental benefits, energy sustainability, lower gestation period, off-set of day time peak load etc. Going forward, GoK is planning to implement the solar projects under the distributed generation approach in which the electricity generated at or near a point will be consumed at or near the point only; and such projects will be implemented through rooftops and/ or ground mount systems to be connected to the local grid of the respective ESCOMs. This will facilitate to off-set the peak electricity, and stabilize the local grid of the ESCOMs.
2. Title. The policy shall be known as “Karnataka Solar Policy 2014-2021”.
3. Operative period.
The policy has come into effect from 2014 and shall remain in force until 2021 or till such time any changes are made by the State Government. However, in order to bring in course corrections based on the load growth study and also evaluate the impact of policy, GoK will undertake an evaluation of this Policy in the year 2019. The evaluation will assess the impact of this Policy on the sector and the achievements against the growth targets and in case of a requirement, issue amendments to the Policy with the suggested changes.
Objectives of Karnataka Solar Policy
• To add solar generation of minimum 6,000 MW by March 2021 in a phased manner by creating a favorable industrial atmosphere.
• To translate Karnataka into an investor-friendly state.
• To encourage public-private partnerships in the sector.
• To promote Solar Roof Top Generation and Technologies.
• To encourage decentralized generation & distribution of energy where access to grid is difficult.
• To establish a “Solar energy center of excellence and incubation center” at the State level for promoting innovation in technology, skill development, and Research & Development.
• To implement the solar projects with a distributed generation approach, spread across taluks of the State to facilitate in off-setting the peak electricity, and stabilize the local grid of the ESCOMs.
• To introduce inter-state open access-based business models viz. captive models and third-party models through concessional banking and wheeling facilities.
• Set up a dedicated “Project Monitoring Cell” enabling improved project planning, coordination and monitoring.
• Introduce gross metering under solar rooftop generation for various categories of consumers.
• Introduce solar-wind hybrid under rooftop generation for various categories of consumers.
DISCOM links are below:
Sir,
Where can I get the regulations / policy details for Net metering and Gross metering schemes eligibility criteria (details such as to whom net metering will not be applicable, minimum and maximum loads etc.,)? Is this information state / DISCOM related or it is a national directive (MNRE / CEA)?
Can the prosumers (resiential & commercial) who are eligible for net mering, can use On-grid type Hyrbid inverters (with battery storage)? I am aware that for gross metering scheme, storage is not allowed, and hence they have to use Pure Grid-Tied type Inverters only (without storage).
Harsha Vardhan, please read this blog: https://solarismypassion.com/solar-blogs/what-is-virtual-net-metering/