

Discoms selling green power at lower than cost price on exchanges; growing crisis threatens green energy trajectory
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: A deluge of solar power and rules binding electricity distributors to purchase it are prompting distress sales on India's electricity exchanges, trade data showed. Discoms sitting on excess power often sell it on exchanges at a loss, as the alternative would be to receive nothing, given the weak demand during solar hours.
On the country’s largest exchange, Indian Energy Exchange, prices during peak solar time have recently crashed to as low as ₹0.50 per unit, while long-term contracts typically lock discoms into paying between ₹2 and ₹3.50 per unit. The surplus power reveals a bottleneck. India’s rapid expansion of green energy is outpacing its ability to store or manage the power effectively.
With compulsory renewable purchase targets set to increase to 43% in 5 years, utilities find themselves trapped between green requirements, or renewable purchase obligations (RPOs), and a market that has nowhere else to put the power. Renewable purchase obligations are mandates that require discoms to buy a minimum percentage of their total electricity consumption from renewable energy sources. Rajesh Mediratta, managing director and chief executive officer of Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), confirmed the development and said, "Discoms find it better to sell at a loss, at any price they get, even at ₹1 or 2 per unit, rather than no return at all for the power procured." The crisis has prompted the industry to seek solutions.
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