The existing scope of solar generation in West Bengal is briefed in this paper whereas West Bengal government is working to issue a fresh policy very soon.

1. Scope of RooftopSolarGenerations
in West Bengal
Amitava Nag
Additional Chief Engineer
Regulatory Affairs Cell, WBSETCL
amitavonag@gmail.com
West Bengal Govt. Policy
As per Para 6.17 of West Bengal Govt.’s
Policy on Co-generation and Generation of
Electricity from Renewable Sources of
Energy (5th June, 2012), all existing and
upcoming commercial and business
establishments having more than 1.5MW of
contract demand will be required to install
solar rooftop systems to meet at least 2% of
their total electrical load. Further, all the
existing and upcoming schools and colleges,
hospitals, large housing societies and
Government establishments having a total
contract demand of more than 500kW will
be required to install solar rooftop systems
to meet at least 1.5% of their total electrical
load. West Bengal Green Energy
Development Corporation (WBGEDCL)
will be the Nodal Agency to facilitate
investment and involvement. As per 11.3.6
of the policy, net metering facility for solar
rooftop PV should be provided along with a
separate meter to get a clear assessment of
consumption and generation of electricity by
the consumer. It shall be the responsibility
of the distribution licensee to take down the
meter reading and record meter data,
maintain data base of all the information
associated with that meter and verify the
correctness of metered data.
Relevant WB Laws
As per clause 6.1 (v) (c) of WBERC
(Cogeneration and Generation of Electricity
from Renewable Sources of Energy)
Regulations, 2013, Roof-top Solar PV
sources can be installed for injecting into the
distribution system of a licensee only by
such institutional consumer(s) like
Government and private hospitals and health
centres, hospitals and health centres owned
and run by any private charitable
organization, Government and Government
aided and private schools and academic
institutions, Government offices and
organizations, any housing complex already
promoted for this purpose by Government or
any Government agency for the
development of renewable sources, local
bodies like municipalities, panchayats and
consumers of any housing complex located
in the same premises, commercial/ industrial
organisations and any institutions registered
under any statute. Provided that total
installed capacity in such premises shall not
be less than 5 kW. Provided also that such
injection from roof-top solar PV sources of
the above mentioned consumer(s) shall not
be more than 90% of the consumption from
the licensee's supply by the above
mentioned consumer(s) in a year. Such
injection from roof-top solar PV sources of
the above mentioned consumer(s) shall be
settled on net energy basis at the end of each
year. Any excess energy injected by the
above mentioned consumer(s) from the roof-
top solar PV sources being more than 90%
of the consumption of energy by that
consumer(s) from the licensee's supply in
each billing period shall be carried over to
the next billing period within that year. Slab
tariff, as per applicable tariff order under the
Tariff Regulations, shall be applicable for
the net energy supplied by the licensee in a
billing period if the supplied energy by the
licensee is more than the injected energy by
the roof-top solar PV sources of the
consumer(s) after taking into account the
quantum of energy, if any, carried forward
from earlier billing period(s) of that year. If
in a billing period the supplied energy by the
licensee is less than or equal to energy
injected by the roof-top solar PV sources of
the consumer(s) after adding the cumulative

2. carried over injected energy from previous
billing periods of that year the billed amount
for energy will be nil for that billing
period(s). At the end of the year, if the total
energy supplied by the licensee to the
consumer(s) for that year is found to be less
than the energy injected by the roof-top
solar PV sources of that consumer(s) for that
year, the licensee shall not pay any charge to
the consumer(s) for that net energy injected
by the consumer(s), in excess of 90% of
consumption of that consumer(s) from the
licensee's supply in that year and the same
shall be treated as unwanted / inadvertent
injection. At the beginning of each year,
cumulative carried over injected energy will
be reset to zero. Payment in a billing period
by the consumer(s) (owning roof-top solar
PV sources) to the licensee shall be guided
by the provisions of the regulations made by
the Commission under section 50 of the Act.
For each billing period in a year the licensee
shall show the quantum of injected energy
from roof-top Solar PV sources in the billing
period, supplied energy from its source in
the billing period, net billed energy for
payment by the consumer for that billing
period and net carried over energy to the
next billing period separately. Any delay in
payment shall attract surcharge at the agreed
rate. The MOU / PPA to be signed between
the licensee and seller of such roof-top Solar
PV sources shall include necessary terms
and conditions of meter reading, meter-rent,
billing, payment, payment security
arrangements, rate of delayed payment
surcharge etc. However, meter-rent
applicable for each meter shall not be higher
than the meter-rent as applied for the seller
as consumer.
Connectivity strictures
As per clause 7.2 of WBERC (Cogeneration
and Generation of Electricity from
Renewable Sources of Energy) Regulations,
2013, Roof-top Solar PV sources of capacity
as mentioned in regulation 6.1(v)(b) of these
regulations shall be allowed connectivity at
LV or MV or 6 KV or 11 KV or any other
voltage of the distribution system of the
licensee as considered technically and
financially suitable by the licensee. Supply
of electricity to the consumer(s) from the
licensee's sources and that to the licensee's
distribution system from the roof-top Solar
PV sources shall be measured either by two
separate meters, the readings of which shall
be used in each billing period for settlement
on net basis as specified in regulation
6.1(v)(b) of these regulations or alternatively
by an export-import type three phase meter
suitable for directly measuring the net
exchange. In this context the licensee will
decide whether separate meter or export-
import meter will be installed for net
metering purpose. The meter for measuring
the energy injected from Solar PV sources
shall be provided by the licensee against
applicable meter rent along with the
connection of the meter upto the nearest
technically suitable point in the distribution
system of the licensee. The connectivity
from the roof-top Solar PV sources upto the
meter shall be at the cost and responsibility
of the consumer(s) and shall be in
accordance with the guidance of the licensee
so that the licensee's distribution system is
not affected by any fault in the system
owned by the consumer(s).
Renewable Energy Certificate
Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)
mechanism is a market based instrument to
promote renewable energy and facilitate
compliance of renewable purchase
obligations (RPO). It is aimed at addressing
the mismatch between availability of RE
resources in state and the requirement of the
obligated entities to meet the renewable
purchase obligation (RPO).

3. Generating entity (including Captive
Generation) which has no PPA with
obligated entity for purpose of meeting its
renewable purchase obligation is eligible for
accreditation for Renewable Energy
Certificate which is saleable. SLDC shall
undertake the accreditation of renewable
energy generation project of the generating
company not earlier than six months prior to
the proposed date of commissioning of such
RE generation project. [Ref. section 2(8) of
Electricity Act for Captive Generating Plant
which includes co-operative society or
association of persons generating for use of
members. Person=section 2(49)]
Application for Accreditation
WBERC designates SLDC as the State
Agency for accreditation. For the purpose of
accreditation the generating company shall
furnish information to SLDC in the specified
format 1.1 to 1.4 of WBERC (procedure for
Accreditation of a Renewable Generation
Project for REC Mechanism) Regulations,
2013.
Fees for Accreditation
Fees shall be payable as per clause 7 of
WBERC (procedure for Accreditation of a
Renewable Generation Project for REC
Mechanism) Regulations, 2013 by NEFT in
favour of WBSLDC FUND at HDFC Bank
Limited, Stephen House, Kolkata Branch,
A/C No. 00080350001261 (IFSC Code:
HDFC0000008)
One time application processing fees: Rs.
1000/- per application shall be payable at the
time of submitting application for
accreditation to State Agency i.e. WBSLDC.
One time accreditation charges: Rs. 5000/-
per application shall be payable to the State
Agency i.e. WBSLDC upon grant of
accreditation.
Annual charges for accreditation: Rs. 1000/-
per annum per application shall be payable
by April 10, for each fiscal year (or each
anniversary date from the date of initial
accreditation).
Accreditation charges for revalidation/
extension of validity: Rs. 5000/- per
application shall be payable at the time of
revalidation/ extension of validity of
existing accreditation at the end of five
years. Taxes and duties on fee and charges
shall be applicable as per prevailing norms.
Grant of Accreditation
SLDC shall grant ‘Certificate of
Accreditation’ to the applicant fulfilling all
requirements of accreditation in form-2.
SLDC shall also intimate accreditation to the
following entities:-
(i) Central Agency (NLDC)
(ii) DISCOM in whose area project is
located
Solar Program of WBSEDCL
In view of the growing impetus towards
generation of Renewable Energy with
particular reference to solar energy
generation in the national perspective,
WBSEDCL have in recent time started
taking initiatives for development of solar
power projects. A separate Solar Power
Generation Department headed by the Chief
Engineer has been set up under Generation
Directorate for speedy implementation of
solar projects in West Bengal.
The department has formulated project
proposals for implementation of some large
scale solar power project of 10 MW capacity
in the State. The canal bank solar power
project (10 MW) near Teesta Canal Fall
Hydro Electric Power Plant, Stage – II in
Uttar Dinajpur district will be completed
soon. Three numbers 10 MW solar power
project in Purulia and Bankura district has
also been conceived and tender finalisation
would be done shortly. Detailed Project
Report for development of total 500 MW
Solar Park in phases is being prepared for
setting up in Purba & Paschim Medinipur

4. and Bankura district. DPR of first phase
having estimated capacity 210 MW at
Dadanpatrabar of Purba Medinipur has been
completed. A scheme for setting up of a
1200 MW (3 x 300 MW) Solar PV Power
Project has also been envisaged for
providing clean pumping power to the
existing and upcoming pumped storage
projects in Purulia district of West Bengal.
WBSEDCL has taken up implementation of
Rooftop Solar PV Projects in Government
and Govt. aided schools, colleges.
Installation of 10 kW rooftop solar PV
plants at 100 numbers schools in different
districts has already been completed.
Program for implementation of Rooftop
Solar PV of 10 kW each at 200 nos. school
has been started in various districts of the
State. Solar Rooftop Project of cumulative
capacity 5 MW has also been initiated under
IPDS for implementation at different sub-
stations and offices of WBSEDCL and other
Govt. Buildings at urban areas of 18 districts
in West Bengal.
References
1. Policy on Co-generation and
Generation of Electricity from
Renewable Sources of Energy, Govt.
of West Bengal, Department of
Power & Non-Conventional Energy
Sources, 2012
2. WBERC (Cogeneration and
Generation of Electricity from
Renewable Sources of Energy)
Regulations, 2013
3. WBERC (Procedure for
Accreditation of a Renewable
Generation Project for REC
Mechanism) Regulations, 2013
Related web-links
www.wberc.net/
www.wbreda.org/
wbpower.gov.in/
www.wbgedcl.in