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Commission says surplus solar injection burdens grid; advises battery storage for future management.

KSERC Rejects CIAL’s Request for Refund of Solar Grid Support & Banking Charges.                                                                                                                                      

The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has denied Cochin International Airport Ltd’s (CIAL) plea seeking a refund of grid support and banking charges paid to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for banking surplus solar power. CIAL, which operates a 38.864 MWp captive solar plant, argued that the 2015 regulations—under which such charges were not applicable—should govern its case. However, KSERC ruled that the 2020 renewable energy and net metering regulations apply. KSERC highlighted that CIAL’s connected load is only 9 MVA, forcing nearly 31 MW of excess daytime solar energy into the grid. Managing this surplus requires KSEB to back down generation, adjust contracts, purchase additional power, and bear transmission costs—expenses ultimately borne by regular consumers. Given higher off-peak energy prices, KSERC said refunds were untenable and suggested that CIAL adopt battery energy storage systems to manage surplus generation sustainably.