India's renewables ministry joins wind sector in battle for RPO enforcement

Sep 13, 2013 - India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) wants to join local wind power producers in their efforts to ensure the enforcement of the renewable purchase obligation (RPO) in India’s various states.

Indian daily The Economic Times said Friday that the ministry has contacted the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity with the request to be allowed to implead in a case filed early this year by the Indian Wind Energy Association and Indian Wind Turbine manufacturers Association (IWTMA).

Under the RPO scheme, obliged entities have to buy renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated by existing wind and solar parks in India, if they cannot alone use or produce green electricity. The obligatory renewable energy share varies between 2.5% and 10%, while there is a separate solar RPO of between 0.25% and 1.90%, depending on the state. The RPO was introduced in 2010 but states have been unable to meet their obligations for any of the last three years.

The two wind energy associations in January filed the petition in the tribunal over the lack of enforcement of the RPOs. The associations said at the time that the electricity distribution companies and big consumers that are obliged to buy RECs under the RPO are not fulfilling their obligations while the commissions, responsible for enforcing the RPO, are taking no measures. The petition voices concerns that if such non-compliance is allowed to continue, it could prompt the failure of the REC market.

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