Here is a policy roundup from central, state and government agencies from the month of October covering renewable energy in India.

• Policy on Net Metering for Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar PV Projects in Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) is expected to release a policy on net metering for grid-connected rooftop solar PV power projects. The policy will be effective from the date of its notification in the Gazette of India.

• MNRE Accords Renewable Energy Status to Hydro

Hydro power was granted renewable energy status at the Power Ministers’ conference. It was also decided to setup a separate renewable energy purchase obligation (RPO) for hydro power with state incentives to meet RPO compliance.

• Kerala State to Come Up with Incentives Policy to Boost Renewable Energy Installations in the State

Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) has been asked to come up with a policy to address the incentives that can be offered by the state government to boost renewable energy installation. The state plans to set up close to 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects comprising of solar and wind to meet its energy demand.

• Chandigarh Administration Provides Incentives to Spur Rooftop Installations

The Chandigarh administration has targeted rooftop installation goal of 50 MW by 2022. To achieve the target, Chandigarh administration is providing incentives, including a central subsidy of 30 percent and an incentive for Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the Union Territory.

• Inter-State Transmission Charges and Losses for Solar and Wind Projects, Waived

The Ministry of Power has announced waiver of inter-state transmission charges and losses for wind and solar projects in a push to encourage the growth of renewable energy generation in the country. No inter-state transmission charges and losses will be levied for solar projects commissioned by June 30, 2017, and for wind projects, the waiver will be applicable to projects commissioned by March 31, 2019.

• Maharashtra Becomes 17th State to Join UDAY

Maharashtra has joined the Ujwal DISCOM (distribution company) Assurance Yojana (UDAY), becoming the 17th state to do so. The state is estimated to achieve a net benefit of Rs.97.25 billion (~$1.45 billion). To date 16 states and one Union Territory have joined the UDAY program.

• India Ratifies Paris Climate Change Agreement

On October 2, 2016, India became the 62nd country to ratify the Paris Agreement. As part of the national plan to curb carbon emissions and rising temperatures, India has set a goal of generating 40 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

• Stricter Enforcement of ‘Must Run’ Status for Renewable Projects by Ministry of Power

Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Power (IC), said that the Ministry of Power is deliberating to find a solution to enforce or penalize states that flout the ‘must run’ status. India’s renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022 is very aggressive and the government needs to remove hurdles like non-compliance of must run status of renewables by DISCOMs.

• States Propose to Replace 1 GW of Conventional Energy with Solar

The states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh (UP) have submitted proposals to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to replace a combined 1,067 MW of energy from conventional power plants with solar.