Withdraw proposed regulations on renewable energy: Ramesh Chennithala

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has sought Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s urgent intervention to get the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission withdraw its draft regulations on renewable energy.

According to Mr. Chennithala, the regulations would financially wreck solar prosumers in the State and amount to a breach of the assurances given to them. The regulations would, on a broader canvas, weaken the battle against climate change, according to him.

Making battery storage mandatory for renewable energy plants above a certain capacity is intended to help battery manufacturers. Such a move would result in additional financial liability for the prosumers, Mr. Chennithala said. The draft regulations would drive people away from solar power projects, and could result in energy crisis in the State within three to four years, he said.

Maniyar project

In his letter to Mr. Vijayan, Mr. Chennithala also reiterated his demand that the State government take over the 12 megawatt (MW) Maniyar small hydro project in Pathanamthitta district from Carborundum Universal Ltd.

The contract period had expired on December 30, 2024, but the government is yet to take back the project. Under the terms of the contract, the State-run Kerala State Electricity Board should have taken possession of the project on December 31, 2024. But the company continues to retain possession of the project and sell the generated power, he alleged.