Mumbai, Oct. 27 -- The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has extended the Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (SCOD) of a 50 MW wind-solar hybrid project developed by AMPIN Energy Green and AMPIN Energy Green Three to February 28, 2026. It also granted a 100 per cent waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges, treating the project as eligible for the relief available to renewable energy projects operational by June 30, 2025.

The decision was issued in Petition No. 228/MP/2026 after CERC examined delays in transmission infrastructure required to connect the project to the interstate network. The project was planned for connection at the Fatehgarh-IV ISTS Pooling Station, but its commercial operation was delayed because the associated substation was unavailable.

The generating facility and dedicated transmission lines were substantially completed and ready before the eligibility cut-off. However, the Fatehgarh-IV ISTS substation was commissioned by the Central Transmission Utility of India only on January 31, 2026, preventing the project from meeting its original operating schedule.

After the substation became available, AMPIN Energy completed the remaining testing and commissioning work within 28 days. The project achieved commercial operation on February 27, 2026, while February 28 was formally recognised as the revised SCOD for the regulatory relief.

A specially constituted CERC committee reviewed the developers' request, conducting a prudence check of the delay, project readiness and commissioning period. It found that the developers had exercised due diligence and that the 28-day period was reasonable and consistent with industry practice. CERC accepted the committee's recommendations under Regulation 13(2)(h) of the 2020 regulations, which permits extensions when renewable energy projects are delayed by unavailable transmission systems. The Commission consequently approved the SCOD extension and complete ISTS charge waiver, disposing of the petition.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.