The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has allowed Tata Power arm TP Saurya Ltd to continue injecting infirm power from the 100 MW solar component of its 600 MW wind-solar hybrid project and sell it to third parties until partial commissioning.
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has allowed Tata Power arm TP Saurya Ltd to continue injecting infirm power from the 100 MW solar component of its 600 MW wind-solar hybrid project and sell it to third parties until the project achieves partial commissioning under its power purchase agreement (PPA).The order settles a dispute involving TP Saurya, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and power buyers MPSEZ Utilities Ltd (MUL) and CESC over the sale of electricity generated by the project’s solar component before the hybrid project is commissioned.Delay in wind component triggered disputeThe project comprises 400 MW of solar and 200 MW of wind capacity. While the 100 MW solar unit at Bikaner in Rajasthan was ready, the wind component was delayed due to the postponement of connectivity at the Gadag-II substation. As the hybrid PPA does not permit declaration of commercial operation for a standalone solar component, TP Saurya sought an extension to continue injecting infirm power beyond the period permitted by the Grid Code.The company argued that Clause 10.2 of the request for selection (RfS) specifically allows a developer to inject power from a project component that is ready and sell it outside the PPA when the remaining component is delayed due to transmission connectivity issues. It also contended that both buying utilities had rejected its commercial proposal to buy the power at a mutually agreed tariff, following which SECI issued a no-objection certificate permitting third-party sales.MUL and CESC did not oppose the extension of the infirm power injection period but argued that the electricity should instead be supplied to them at the contracted PPA tariff. They maintained that they had a first right of refusal under the PPA and alleged that TP Saurya was seeking to earn higher revenues by selling power outside the contract.CERC upholds contractual right to sell powerThe Commission rejected these arguments. It held that the PPA prohibits commissioning of only one component of a hybrid project, but the RfS separately provides for the sale of power from a ready component when the remaining component is delayed due to long-term access or connectivity constraints. Since the parties had failed to reach any mutually agreed tariff despite discussions, TP Saurya was within its contractual rights to sell the power to third parties.CERC also extended permission for the injection of infirm power from the 100 MW solar unit until the project has sufficient wind capacity to qualify for part commissioning under the PPA, subject to compliance with Grid Code provisions and directions of the regional load dispatch centre.Published on July 7, 2026
