Grid problems in Rajasthan preventing peak performance of solar plants – Solairedirect

In India, one of the major issues that affect the performance of renewable energy plants is the lack of sufficient evacuation infrastructure. In one of our earlier articles, we had shared some analysis of how lack of enough transmission infrastructure has crippled the Tamil Nadu wind industry(read the article here). There are initial indications that solar could end up in a similar situation unless all the announcements about green corridors and ramping up evacuation infrastructure are really followed up with timely execution.
In an interview with Intersolar India, Gaurav Sood, Managing Director,Solairedirect India has highlighted the challenge faced by its solar plant in Bap, Rajasthan. He says
” The (solar) plant has been performing well overall. Unfortunately, all the plants connected to the Bap Grid Substation (GSS) have been asked to reduce their input into the GSS by about 15% from 10am to 1pm. This reduction is applicable till date and is causing loss to us but till date the GSS hasn’t given any specific date by when their internal problem will be sorted so that we could pump 100% of our output. If we neutralize the effect of this de-rating, then the plant is performing slightly above the P(50) levels, in line with our projections.” 
Let us hope the relevant authorities are listening and expediting the expansion of the evacuation infrastructure.
(Update : Juwi has informed that the problem has been sorted out. For more details, please refer to the comments section)
On another note, Gaurav Sood also shares how Solairedirect decided to bid very low tariffs(Rs. 7.49/kWh) and how they were able to execute the project ahead of time, thereby proved many of its critics wrong. He also talks about why the firm opted for Indian made modules for its project under JNNSM and some of the challenges related to private PPAs. The full interview can be read here.
PS: Given below are a few articles that might be of interest to you.
a. The status update of net-metering policies in 6 states is available in the Intersolar portal here.
b. Some of RESolve’s views on the impact of Accelerated Depreciation on IPPs and the lessons learnt from wind sector as reported by PV-Insider is available here.
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