Petition of the CERC (Connectivity and General Network Access to inter- State Transmission System) Regulations for 500 MW installed capacity Hybrid Renewable Energy Project – EQ

Summary:

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### **Background**
This document is a **Record of Proceedings** dated **16.04.2026** before the **Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)** in two connected petitions filed by **Serentica Renewables India Private Limited (SRIPL)**.

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### **Hearing Details**
– **Date of Hearing:** 16.04.2026
– **Coram (Bench):**
– Shri Jishnu Barua – Chairperson
– Shri Ramesh Babu V. – Member
– Shri Harish Dudani – Member
– Shri Ravinder Singh Dhillon – Member

### **Parties Present**
| For SRIPL (Petitioner) | For CTUIL (Respondent) |
|————————|————————|
| Shri Basava Prabhu Patil, Sr. Advocate | Shri Shubham Arya, Advocate |
| Shri Janmali Malikala, Advocate | Ms. Pallavi Saigal, Advocate |
| Ms. Sai Snigdha Nittala, Advocate | Ms. Shree Dwivedi, Advocate |

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### **Key Events & Directions**

1. **Petitioner’s Request (for Petition No. 100/MP/2026):**
– Sought **time to file a rejoinder** to CTUIL’s reply (served only the day before the hearing).
– Sought permission to **place on record subsequent developments** in the matter.

2. **Respondent’s Request:**
– Sought **liberty to file/upload** its reply in Petition No. 100/MP/2026 on the CERC e-filing portal.

3. **CERC’s Directions:**
– **Petitioner (SRIPL)** permitted to file:
– Rejoinder to CTUIL’s reply
– Additional affidavit for subsequent developments
– **Timeline:** Within **3 weeks**
– **Respondent (CTUIL)** permitted to file/upload its reply in Petition No. 100/MP/2026 on the e-filing portal.
– **Timeline:** Within **1 week**
– **Interim directions** issued on **18.11.2025** in Petition No. 837/MP/2025 shall **continue** until the next hearing.
– **Next hearing date:** **23.06.2026**

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## 💼 **Key Takeaways**

### **For Serentica Renewables (Petitioner)**
1. **Interim relief continues** – The existing interim directions (from 18.11.2025) remain in force, protecting its 400 MW connectivity at Solapur despite project delays.
2. **Fuel source change request pending** – Seeking to convert 300 MW from *hybrid* to *wind-only*. This has implications for project viability, PPA obligations, and technology choice.
3. **Time granted for rejoinder** – 3 weeks to respond to CTUIL’s objections. Legal team must prepare a strong rejoinder addressing CTUIL’s concerns.
4. **Subsequent developments** – Petitioner must proactively disclose any new facts (e.g., revised commissioning timeline, fuel availability, regulatory changes) to strengthen its case.

### **For CTUIL (Respondent)**
– Granted 1 week to formally upload its reply in Petition No. 100/MP/2026.
– CTUIL likely raised objections on:
– Change of fuel source (impact on transmission planning, grid stability)
– Retention of connectivity despite delays (affects utilization of ISTS infrastructure)
– Final order may clarify CTUIL’s stance on flexibility for renewable projects.

### **For Renewable Energy Developers & Investors**
1. **CERC’s relaxation power is alive** – The Commission continues to exercise its power under Regulations 41 & 42 (CERC Connectivity Regulations, 2022) to grant relief for project delays and fuel changes.
2. **Interim protection available** – Developers facing commissioning delays can seek interim protection of connectivity, as seen here.
3. **Fuel-switching is possible but requires approval** – Moving from hybrid to wind-only is a material change. CERC is willing to consider it, subject to CTUIL’s views and grid impact.
4. **Procedural timeline** – The 3-week rejoinder + 1-week reply timeline is standard. Developers should factor this into legal strategy.
5. **Hybrid projects face execution risks** – This case highlights that hybrid (wind+solar) projects may face delays or technology reconfiguration, requiring regulatory flexibility.

### **For Legal & Regulatory Professionals**
– The case tests the interplay between:
– **Connectivity retention** for delayed projects
– **Fuel source modification** post-connectivity grant
– **CERC’s relaxation power** under the 2022 Connectivity Regulations
– The final order (expected after 23.06.2026) will set a precedent for similar requests by other renewable developers.

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