Solar-Wind Hybrid Policy in Gujarat

The Gujarat government has announced a new solar plus wind hybrid power policy in a bid to promote the simultaneous production of wind and solar power in the state.

“This is a first of its a kind policy in India. If someone wants to set up a wind and solar hybrid power projects at a new place, the developer can do it. The decision will entirely be of the developer. They can use different metering as the rate for solar power is different from that of wind power”, said Saurabhbhai Patel, Gujarat’s minister for energy.

Under this policy, the major highlight of policy will be land optimization. A developer can set up a solar power project on land meant for wind power project and vice versa. Similarly, transmission lines meant for solar can also be used for wind farms. Various other benefits can be achieved by developers for a period of 25 years or through the life of the project, whichever is shorter. The hybrid policy will initially be in effect for five years.

Other benefits under the policy will include exemption of power duty for the electricity produced from wind and solar hybrid power projects. Also benefitting from an exemption of cross-subsidy and additional surcharge, as well as distribution losses, and 50 percent relief in wheeling charges. It also has a provision of 50 percent exemption from electricity duty, in the case where the developer sells power to a third party.

As a part of the new hybrid policy developers will decide on one of two categories for development of their projects.

The first or Type-A projects under which a developer can convert their already existing or under construction solar or wind project into a hybrid project. And second or Type-B projects which include new wind-solar hybrid projects not yet registered with GEDA. Type-B developers will also be required to set up dedicated lines for power evacuation connected to the receiving end-station of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation (GETCO) at its own cost.

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