Power-Purchase

Power Purchase Agreement

Electricity is necessary for both economic and social growth. Businesses, industries, residences, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructures require electricity to function properly.

In many developing countries, there is a significant gap between demand for power and supply. Expansion in electricity generation capacity is necessary to minimize the gap. To achieve this financial demand, the government is recognizing the necessity of cooperating with private-sector investors. Any independent power-producing project, particularly in emerging markets, has to have a Power Purchase Agreement.

What is a solar power purchase agreement?

A solar power purchase agreement (PPA) is a financial contract, in which, a developer pays for the design, permitting, financing, and installation of a solar energy system on a customer’s property. The developer sells the generated electricity to the host customer at a predetermined price that is lower than the retail rate charged by the local utility. The developer obtains the cash from these sales of electricity, as well as any tax credits or other incentives created by the system, while the consumer receives a lower electricity price to offset their grid purchase.

PPAs usually last 10 to 25 years, and the developer is responsible for the system’s operation and maintenance for the term of the contract. After the power purchase agreement contract term, a client may be permitted to extend the contract, have the developer remove the system, or purchase the solar energy system from the developer.

PPA Benefits for Solar Customers

The developer handles the initial expenditures of sizing, sourcing, and installing the solar PV system, therefore, there are no or low upfront capital costs. The host customer can embrace solar with no upfront expenditure and start saving money as soon as the system is operational.

Solar power purchase agreements are constructed in one of the two ways to give a set, predictable cost of electricity for the duration of the agreement. The price a consumer pays climbs at a predefined rate, usually between 2% and 5%, under the fixed escalator plan. This is usually less than anticipated utility price hikes. On the other hand, the fixed pricing plan keeps the price constant during the PPA’s term, saving more consumers money when utility rates rise.

System performance and operating risk are the developer’s responsibility.

Developers are often better positioned to take advantage of potential tax credits to lower system costs. Municipal hosts and other public entities with no taxable revenue would not be eligible for the Section 48 Investment Tax Credit otherwise.

Increased property value: Solar PV systems have been found to raise the value of residential properties. PPAs can be transferred with the property because of their long-term nature, allowing customers to invest in their house for little or no money.

Market Adoption & Policy

PPAs allow the host customer to save the upfront capital costs of establishing a solar PV system while also streamlining the procedure. The power purchase agreement model, however, is facing regulatory and legislative challenges in several jurisdictions, which would regulate developers as electric utilities.

A solar lease is a type of third-party financing that is comparable to a power purchase agreement but does not need the sale of electricity. Instead, customers rent the system like they would a car.

The system is held by a third company in both circumstances, but the host consumer benefits from solar with little or no upfront fees. These third-party financing solutions have become the most popular way for clients to take advantage of solar energy’s benefits.

Colorado, for example, entered the market in 2010, and by mid-2011, third-party installations accounted for more than 60% of all residential installations, rising to 75% in the first half of 2012. This increased tendency can be seen in all states that have implemented third-party fundraising.

PPA Considerations

SRECs: Solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) demonstrate the solar energy used to generate a particular amount of power. They are frequently purchased and sold by load-serving companies (usually regulated utilities) to meet state-level renewable energy mandates. Consumers who willingly purchase SRECs for marketing claims or other purposes also use them. SRECs are usually owned by the developer in PPAs. When engaging in a power purchase agreement, customers must understand who owns and can sell the SRECs generated by the PV system, the risks associated with SREC ownership, and the PPA price tradeoffs.

How to finance: While both third-party financing schemes have their advantages, buying a PV system altogether has its own set of advantages. Anyone thinking about building a solar PV system should look into all of the available financing alternatives to find the best fit.

Site upgrades: While the developer is responsible for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a solar PV system, the host customer may need to perform property improvements to facilitate the system’s installation, reduce installation costs, or comply with local legislation. Rooftop maintenance or tree pruning that shades the PV system are examples of this.

Possible higher property taxes: While a PV system may serve to boost the property value of the site, property taxes may rise if the property value is reviewed. Varied states, on the other hand, have different policies when it comes to potential property tax rises.

Procedure to Get a PPA

So, we now know that the power purchase agreement is the most crucial requirement for an MW-scale power plant. What are the processes for obtaining a PPA?

Identify Potential Locations

Determine the approximate area available for PV installation, taking into account any possible shade. The locations could be on roofs or on the ground. 5–10 watts (W) per square foot of available rooftop or other space is a standard guideline for solar installations.

Identify potential solar policies applicable to the land

Regional policies differ from one place to another. PPAs are signed at different tariff rates depending on the location. As a result, choose a policy that will provide you with a PPA with profitable returns.

Contract Development

Following the selection of a winning offer, contracts must be negotiated, which is a time-consuming procedure. In addition to the PPA between the government agency and the system owner, there will be a lease or easement specifying access terms to the land (both for construction and maintenance). Sales of RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) may be included in the PPA or added as an annex.

Permitting and Rebate Processing

The system owner (developer) is normally responsible for the filing of permits and rebates. However, the government agency should keep track of filing deadlines as state-level incentives may have restricted windows or auction processes.

Project Implementation and Commissioning

The developer will next acquire, install, and commission the solar PV equipment after completing a full design based on the term sheet and more specific measurements. The commissioning process verifies utility connectivity and allows system startup. Once again, this must be completed within the timeframe established by state incentives. Failure to meet the deadlines may result in benefits being forfeited, which will most likely modify the electricity price charged to the government agency under the contract. PPAs typically specify realistic developer duties as well as a procedure for calculating monetary penalties in the event of non-performance.

PPAs in the Government/Utility Sector: Challenges

  • SERC has the power to overturn tariffs.
  • Due to DISCOM’s financial difficulties, payments to developers may be delayed.
  • Government PPAs are generally thought to be low(er) risk because they are supported by the government and are usually signed for the life of the plant (25 years)

Challenges associated with 3rd Party PPAs

  • Although the financial situation of the third party may be better than DISCOM’s, long-term commercial prospects must be considered.
  • Because they are not supported by the government, the credit rating of the third party should be evaluated.
  • PPAs do not have to be signed for the next 25 years. Some contracts are just for three years, putting the plant’s future revenue-generating in jeopardy.

How Can We Help?

Hope this information about “Power Purchase Application” helps you.

If you are planning to start a solar business or install a solar solution, you can connect with Ornate Solar to get the best assistance with the best prices for solar panels and inverters. We are the official partner of Canadian Solar panels & Renewsys solar panels in India. We are also the official distributor of SolarEdge inverters with DC optimizers, Enphase microinverters, Fronius On-Grid Inverters, and Havells solar inverters in India.

For more information, please give us a call at 011 4353 6666.

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About The Author

Kamini Gupta is the Content Developer at Ornate Solar. She is a solar enthusiast and has worked with several well-known solar brands and experts in India. She is also a poet and a storyteller and has performed in many open mics events.

kamini ornate

About The Author

Kamini Gupta is the Content Developer at Ornate Solar. She is a solar enthusiast and has worked with several well-known solar brands and experts in India. She is also a poet and a storyteller and has performed in many open mics events.