Modalities of Tariff Mechanisms for PV Generating Plants

There has been a significant increase in the quantum of photovoltaic (PV) generation over recent years. This has enhanced PV penetration into the present grid. In the current trend of the competitive power market, PV has gained a major foothold. Participation of PV in the current scheme of Availability Based Tariff (ABT) poses certain inherent challenges. Similarly, Single Part Tariffs alone as promulgated by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and several State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERC's) may not much evolve to their full potential. The paper evaluates current tariff practices on 10 MW PV plant which is a scaled version of a PV plant located in India. It further evolves viable and effective tariff models to keep must-run plants going. Mechanisms such as the Deviation Settlement, Absolute Error Model and Generation Based Incentivisation have been intricately dwelled upon. The suggestive tariff models will not only benefit the PV generators but also motivate their levels of participation.