Technology · India Bureau
CERC approves tariff for India's first hydro pilot technology project
India's power regulator has cleared a Rs 3.39 per unit tariff for a pioneering 1 MW hydroelectric pilot project, marking the first regulatory approval for the emerging technology despite the absence of dedicated central guidelines.
LSN India ·
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved the tariff for the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) pilot hydroelectric project, paving the way for India to test new hydro generation technologies. The regulator set the unit rate at Rs 3.39, enabling the 1 MW demonstration project to proceed despite the lack of specific central framework governing such initiatives.
The approval signals CERC's willingness to support experimental hydro projects that could enhance India's renewable energy capacity and technological capabilities. The decision comes as the country seeks to diversify its hydropower portfolio and develop indigenous technological solutions for power generation.
However, the regulatory clearance was not unanimous, with one CERC member dissenting on the grounds of the regulator's jurisdiction over the matter. The objection highlights ongoing debates about the appropriate regulatory framework for pilot projects and emerging technologies in India's power sector.
The tariff approval is expected to facilitate further pilot projects and provide valuable operational data that could inform future policy frameworks for similar ventures. Analysts view the move as a positive step toward accelerating India's clean energy transition and reducing dependence on conventional hydropower approaches.