Hindalco's push for inclusion of thermal cogen plant under RPO gets opposed

The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has dismissed Hindalco Industries plea that grid connected that grid-connected coal based cogeneration be considered for fulfillment of the Renewable Purchase Obligation.

Hindalco had requested that the current provisions of the regulation, which encompasses bio fuel cogeneration, including bagasse based cogeneration, also recognize c. This is with regards to the company's 78 MW cogeneration plant at Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh. Citing the Electricity Act, 2003, which calls for the State Commission to promote cogeneration and generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy.

Hindalco said that cogeneration should not be restricted to any kind of fuel-- bio fuel in the case of the UPERC.

However, UPERC has contended that though co-generation from fossil fuels does not fall under the purview of the provisions of the said regulations and that only the non-fossil fuel based cogeneration plants should be covered under the said provision for the purpose of RPO.