THE 5 megawatts (MW ) solar project expansion plan of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) for Nagpur Metro has been stalled from last nine months due to delay in clearance from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). The electricity consumption of Nagpur Metro is 9 MW per day. At present, it is generating 1.6 MW electricity per day through rooftop solar panels. With 4.5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV ) installed capacity, Nagpur Metro has plans to increase it upto 10 MW. To meet the demand, Nagpur Metro plans to add 5 MW to its existing solar power generation in next 12 months. The project aims to minimise operating expenses as a major chunk of Nagpur Metro’s revenue is spent on meeting the energy demands. “Nagpur Metro plans to meet 50% of its total power requirements from solar energy with net-metering arrangement.We are expecting to achieve the milestone in a couple of years,” a senior officer of Nagpur Metro told The Hitavada on the condition of anonymity.

 

The officer claimed that MSEDCL is delaying commissioning of additional capacity by not implementing 5 MW net-metering regulation by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission(MERC).“MSEDCL is bound toimplement the 5 MW netmetering regulation of MERCbut it continues to sit upon the proposal since November 26, 2023,” alleged the senior officer. MERC has increased the net metering cap for rooftop solar power projects to either 5 MW or the consumer’s contract demand/sanction load, whichever is lower on November 1, 2023. Netmetering in the State was earlier capped at less than 1 MW. The increase in the netmetering cap comes across as an effort to encourage the adoption of commercial and industrial rooftop installations.

 

The amendments are a part of the latest Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grid Interactive Rooftop Renewable Energy Generating Systems) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2023. “We subbmitted a written request to MSEDCL as well as to the MERC many times for the project. In reply, we heard nothing from the electricity distribution company so far,” said the senior officer. On the Nagpur Metro’s allegations, a senior officer of MSEDCL, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We just received a letter about the expansion plan for 5 MW solar project by Nagpur Metro. The letter had no mention about the procedure to implement the project by Nagpur Metro.” As per their expansion project, Nagpur Metro plans to install solar PV atop all its metro stations, depot buildings and track walls (boundary walls). In a move to promote‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, all the existing solar panels installed by Nagpur Metro are Made in India. Similar panels will be use for the expansion project.