Big Relief for RE Sector: CERC Fixes 7 Pain Points in GNA Rules

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued a suo motu order to resolve implementation challenges under the General Network Access (GNA) Regulations of 2022. The amendments are intended to address bottlenecks faced by renewable energy generators and developers. These regulations were notified on June 7, 2022. However, it was also followed by three amendments in 2023, 2024, and 2025. It was the third amendment, issued on August 31, 2025, that introduced the concepts of solar-hour access and non-solar-hour access. This came into effect from September 9, 2025. 

The latest order has sought to remove the difficulties in implementing the third amendment. The order follows multiple representations from renewable energy companies and industry associations, including NSEFI (National Solar Energy Federation of India), WIPPA (Wind Independent Power Producers Association), Azure, and Eden, seeking changes to specific provisions of the GNA framework. After reviewing the submissions and examining the practical difficulties cited by the sector, CERC has issued resolutions on seven key issues.

Below are the major issues for which the Commission has proposed corrective measures to ease renewable energy access and integration with the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS).

1. Timeline for Conversion to Solar Hour Access

Developers and industry associations had requested an extension of the three-month deadline (ending December 9, 2025) for applying for additional non-solar-hour capacity. They pointed to the complexity of capital expenditure decisions, internal approval timelines, and the need to arrange large connectivity bank guarantees.

CERC has accepted this demand and approved a one-time extension of 2.5 months, taking the total time available to 5.5 months from September 9, 2025. The new deadline for renewable energy companies to apply is now February 22, 2026.

2. Treatment of Additional Capacity Installed for Technical Compliance

The Central Transmission Utility (CTU) had previously proposed treating additional inverters or wind turbine generators (WTGs)—installed solely for reactive power compensation or to offset internal losses—as part of the total “installed capacity.” This would have required developers to seek higher technical capacity approvals and furnish additional connectivity bank guarantees, even though these components do not inject extra active power into the grid.

CERC has now relaxed Regulation 5.1 on this matter. Developers may install additional inverters, WTGs, or equivalent equipment for technical compliance at the Point of Injection (PoI) without furnishing extra bank guarantees. CTUIL will validate through system studies that such additional equipment is used only for compliance and does not result in active power injection beyond the approved capacity.

3. Grid Drawal for Energy Storage Systems (ESS)

Industry bodies also sought clarity on the ability of energy storage systems to draw power from the grid for charging, after certain RLDCs refused such drawal under Temporary GNA (T-GNA).

CERC has now permitted immediate drawal of charging power for ESS under T-GNA, subject to grid availability and limited to the entity’s granted connectivity quantum. This applies to both new ESS projects and existing renewable generators with storage transitioning under Regulation 27.10(e). The Commission has directed CTUIL to complete the formal drawal studies within four months, after which the drawal arrangement will move from T-GNA to regular GNA.

4. Transitional Rules on Project Location Changes

The third amendment to the GNA Regulations introduced a rule allowing only one change of land parcel for a given project. Developers expressed concern that this rule might apply retrospectively—potentially preventing entities that had already changed land parcels before the amendment from making another change.

CERC has clarified that the restriction is not retrospective. The “one change” limit applies only to requests made after the third amendment came into effect (September 9, 2025). Developers who changed locations earlier will not be disadvantaged.

5. Developer Eligibility for Non-Solar-Hour Access

Developers sought clarity on whether Renewable Power Park Developers (RPPDs) qualify to apply for additional non-solar-hour access under the Right of First Refusal (RoFR). Without this eligibility, park developers holding connectivity would not be able to develop ESS or other non-solar-hour capacity within the park.

CERC has confirmed that RPPDs with existing solar connectivity are eligible to apply for additional capacity for non-solar-hour access under RoFR. However, this eligibility is specifically limited to exercising their RoFR rights under Regulation 5.11(a). The deadline for such applications has already been extended to 5.5 months from the effective date of the third amendment.

6. Rules for Changing the Energy Source of ESS

The third amendment also introduced a one-time limit on changing the energy source of storage systems. Developers sought clarity on whether this rule applied retrospectively.

CERC has clarified that the restriction is not retrospective. Entities with in-principle connectivity granted before the third amendment will be allowed at least one opportunity to change the ESS source after the amendment, regardless of whether they had changed it earlier or whether their earlier 180-month deadline had expired.

7. Land Document Timelines for Delayed Grants

Under the existing rules, developers must submit land documents within 18 months of the in-principle connectivity grant or 12 months of the final grant. Developers highlighted that delays in CTU communication of final coordinates often made compliance impossible.

CERC has clarified that these timelines are tied to the communication of land coordinates. If the final grant is delayed and CTU has not provided coordinates, developers must be allowed at least nine months from the date of communication of final or even tentative coordinates to submit land documents. The Commission has directed CTUIL to implement this to ensure developers are not penalised for administrative delays.