SPV plants to get Rs 2.28/unit for feeding power to Tangedco

The new tariff fixed under the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2019 offer negligible benefits to the domestic rooftop solar generators - the domestic consumer - compared to the 2012 policy which allowed unit-for-unit adjustment for the excess power supplied to the grid.

According to the working instructions issued by the Tangedco for implementing of solar net feed-in scheme connection, the price of purchase of energy exported to the grid by the solar power generator commissioned under the new scheme is Rs 2.33 for 2018-19 (March 25 to 31) and Rs 2.28 for 2019-20. “The rate of purchase thus fixed for every financial year is applicable to solar power generators commissioned in the relevant financial year for the entire life period of the plant which is 25 years,” it said.

In terms of the rate of return on the investment, the consumer who installed one-kilowatt rooftop SPV plant in the 2012 policy would have got back the investment in six to seven years but under the new policy, the return on the investment would be nothing or negligible. One of the empanelled installers of TEDA said that despite highlighting the saving of Rs 14,700 per year for installing a kilowatt capacity rooftop solar plants, there was a poor response from the consumers in the last few years. “Under the new policy, if the consumer would not get any returns at all,” the installer said.

KE Raghunathan, founder of Solkar Solar Industry said that the new solar net feed-in scheme marks the end of the domestic solar power in the state. “The policy designed to ensure that no consumer opts for the rooftops solar plant. As it offers no benefit for the consumers. One has to spend Rs 5-6 per unit for generating power while they get Rs 2.28 per unit in return for supplying the power to the grid,” he said.