The Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL) has informed the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) that it is facing challenges in providing grid connectivity for around 60 GW of renewable energy capacity in Rajasthan.

The utility attributed the issue to structural constraints in transmission planning, noting that the high concentration of renewable energy potential in Rajasthan has saturated most conventional evacuation pathways to nearby load centers.

It added that future evacuation will increasingly rely on long-distance, high-voltage direct current systems, which are more complex, cost-intensive, and time-consuming to deploy.

CTUIL also pointed to a mismatch between the generation connectivity granted and available demand centers as a key constraint in system planning.

The issue arose in the context of Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan’s petition to develop a 700 MW solar park in Rajasthan, with 400 MW planned for the first phase. The company was granted in-principle connectivity in July 2024 at the proposed Bikaner-V pooling substation.

However, CTUIL has not finalized the transmission program or disclosed the substation’s coordinates. Under the General Network Access Regulations, developers must submit land documents within 18 months of in-principle connectivity or 12 months from final connectivity, whichever is earlier.

Saurya Urja Company argued that without clarity on the substation location, land acquisition is not feasible, and proceeding without such information could render the project commercially unviable. It sought an extension of timelines and protection from encashment of bank guarantees.

In its ruling, CERC acknowledged that the delay in finalizing the transmission scheme and communicating substation coordinates was beyond the developer’s control. It held that the standard 18-month deadline for submission of land documents would not apply in this case. It clarified that the developer must be given at least nine months from the date of communication of the substation’s coordinates to comply with land document requirements.

On bank guarantees, the Commission did not allow their release while the connectivity application remains valid, stating that the land bank guarantee of ₹400 million (~$4.28 million) and all connectivity-related guarantees will continue to be retained by CTUIL under the existing framework.

However, it granted the petitioner an option to withdraw its connectivity application within three months of the order. In such a case, the land bank guarantee and all connectivity bank guarantees must be returned within 15 days, with 50% of the application fee forfeited and the balance refunded.

CERC also directed CTUIL to offer applicants in comparable situations where final connectivity has not been granted due to transmission planning constraints, an option to withdraw their applications within 30 days of the order.

Such applicants will have two months from the date of communication to exercise this option, and upon withdrawal, their bank guarantees must be returned within 15 days under the same conditions.

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