RENEWCONNECT - All about renewables & power sector

The Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) regulations in India for solar and wind power have evolved significantly over the years to address the unique variability and intermittency of renewable energy sources. Here is a timeline of key updates and releases by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs): 2014 : CERC introduced its first DSM regulations specifically aimed at maintaining grid discipline, establishing charges for frequency deviations. Initially, these regulations focused broadly on the energy sector without specific provisions for renewable energy. 2015 : Recognizing the need for renewable-specific regulations, CERC revised the DSM to include differentiated charges and relaxed penalties for deviations in wind and solar generation. These rules allowed a deviation margin of up to 15% without heavy penalties for renewable generators, acknowledging the variability of these sources. 2022 : CERC introduced updated DSM...

Introduction The Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) in India addresses grid stability challenges by ensuring discipline in power scheduling and forecasting. With the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) like solar and wind, DSM policies have evolved to manage variability and intermittency. This analysis traces the history and evolution of DSM for solar and wind energy in India, highlighting regulatory frameworks, challenges, and future outlooks. Historical Context Pre-2010: Conventional Grid Management Focus on Conventional Energy:  Grid management relied on thermal and hydro power plants, which are more predictable than RES. Need for Deviation Management:  As renewable energy deployment began, the unpredictability of wind and solar generation started affecting grid stability. 2010-2014: Initial Renewable Energy Penetration Wind Energy Growth:  Wind energy capacity surged, especially in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, causing frequency deviations in the grid...

As per the latest Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) guidelines from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), DSM charges are defined based on grid stability needs, particularly regarding frequency deviation and renewable energy dynamics. The charges vary depending on the deviation percentage from the target frequency range (49.90 Hz to 50.05 Hz), with penalties scaling for larger deviations. For renewable-rich and super renewable-rich states (based on their installed wind and solar capacity), CERC allows greater flexibility in permissible deviation limits on the demand side. This aims to balance the grid challenges posed by variable renewable generation. States with renewable capacities between 1 GW and 5 GW are considered renewable-rich, while those with over 5 GW are super renewable-rich. Stand-alone energy storage systems (ESS) are subject to similar DSM charges as general sellers, but ESS paired with renewables like wind and solar follow specific volume limits for o...

DSM Calculator with Reset Option DSM Calculator with Reset Option Select State: Maharashtra Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Scheduled Energy (MWh): Actual Energy (MWh): Grid Frequency (Hz): Predicted Forecast Error (%): DSM Rate for Permissible Deviation (₹/kWh): DSM Penalty Rate for Excess Deviation (₹/kWh): Calculate DSM Reset Save Results Results: Enter values above and click "Calculate DSM" to see results.

State Periphery Charges are included in the DSM, which is introduced by the Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commissions in India. The term "state periphery" is defined as below: State Periphery  or ‘HP Periphery’ means, except in situations that may warrant any other treatment in specific cases, the interconnection point of the transmission system of the STU with the transmission system of the CTU; or with any other inter-state transmission system not owned by any State Entity, or with the generation bus-bar of the joint sector projects from where power is supplied to the Distribution Licensee through the STU system; [or] The periphery of the electrical power system and its components thereof under operational supervision and control area jurisdiction of SLDC (State Load Dispatch Centre) covering InSTS (Intra-State Transmission System) Source: Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) Note: Interlinks for the a...