Open Access Solar Power — Buy Cheaper Energy, Skip the DISCOM.
Ellence Energy provides end-to-end open access solar project consultancy — from obtaining STOA/MTOA/LTOA permissions and forming SPV companies to bilateral trading, REC accreditation, and RPO compliance across Gujarat and India.
What Is Open Access in Solar Energy?
Open access allows large electricity consumers to purchase power directly from generators — bypassing the DISCOM and significantly reducing their energy costs through solar and renewable energy.
Open access is a regulatory framework under the Electricity Act 2003 that allows industries, commercial establishments, and large consumers to purchase electricity directly from generators — including solar power plants — at rates significantly lower than DISCOM tariffs.
Under open access, consumers use the existing power grid infrastructure (transmission and distribution networks) to "wheel" the power from the generator to their premises — paying only wheeling charges, transmission charges, and regulatory fees, while saving 30–50% on their total power costs.
Ellence Energy helps industries and businesses in Gujarat navigate the complex regulatory landscape of open access — from choosing the right access type to obtaining all required permissions, forming SPV companies, and managing ongoing compliance.
"Open access solar is one of the most powerful tools for Indian industries to dramatically reduce their electricity costs — and Ellence Energy makes the complex regulatory process simple."
Duration up to 3 months. Ideal for seasonal or temporary power requirements. Granted on a first-come-first-served basis for available transmission capacity.
Duration 3 months to 3 years. Suitable for medium-term power procurement contracts and bilateral trading arrangements between IPPs and consumers.
Duration above 3 years (typically 25 years). Used for dedicated solar power plant connections with long-term PPAs — the most common structure for captive solar projects.
Complete Open Access Services
by Ellence Energy
End-to-end open access project management — from regulatory approvals to ongoing compliance — all existing client services included and expanded.
Providing complete documentation and assistance for the formation of an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) Company for Captive Power Plant (CPP) and Group Captive Power (CGP) projects, including the Wheeling Agreement (GCPWA) with Gujarat's electricity infrastructure.
- SPV company formation — MOA, AOA, shareholding structure as per GERC regulations
- Captive Power Plant (CPP) documentation and GERC approvals
- Group Captive Power (CGP) — minimum 26% equity stake structuring for group captive benefit
- Gujarat Captive Power Wheeling Agreement (GCPWA) drafting and filing
- Interconnection agreement with DISCOM / GETCO
- Sell-to-DISCOM arrangement documentation for surplus power
Providing complete service for obtaining open access permissions under Short Term (STOA), Medium Term (MTOA), and Long Term (LTOA) categories from GERC, GETCO, and relevant DISCOMs in Gujarat and other states.
- Open access application preparation and filing with SLDC / NLDC
- Transmission capacity booking and scheduling
- STOA scheduling — day-ahead and intra-day
- MTOA and LTOA application, follow-up, and approval
- Banking of energy arrangement under open access
- Open access charges calculation — wheeling, transmission, cross-subsidy surcharge
Facilitation in the trading of power between Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and large consumers — structuring bilateral PPAs, negotiating power rates, and managing all regulatory requirements for bilateral transactions.
- Bilateral Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structuring and negotiation
- IPP identification and connection with consumers
- Power scheduling and real-time deviation management
- Cross-border and inter-state bilateral transaction facilitation
- IEX / PXIL exchange trading support for short-term power
- Regulatory compliance for bilateral trading under GERC / CERC regulations
We facilitate complete solar solutions — both rooftop and ground-mounted — integrated with open access frameworks, enabling consumers to generate their own solar power and wheel it to their consumption point.
- Captive solar plant design and EPC under open access structure
- Rooftop solar under net metering and open access combined models
- Ground-mounted solar integrated with captive/group captive open access
- Solar power banking arrangements with DISCOM
- Techno-commercial feasibility study for solar under open access
Supporting complete REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) lifecycle — from project accreditation with the State Agency and registration with NLDC/POSOCO, through certificate issuance and trading on IEX or PXIL.
- REC project accreditation with State Agency (GEDA in Gujarat)
- Registration with NLDC / POSOCO for REC issuance
- Monthly REC issuance based on generation data
- REC trading on IEX (Indian Energy Exchange) and PXIL
- Solar REC and Non-solar REC — both categories supported
- REC account management and compliance reporting
Supporting registration and compliance of Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) for obligated entities — DISCOMs, open access consumers, and captive power producers who are required to meet RPO targets under GERC regulations.
- RPO obligation assessment — solar and non-solar targets per GERC
- RPO compliance strategy — own generation, open access purchase, or REC procurement
- RPO registration with GERC for obligated entities
- Annual RPO compliance reporting and filing
- REC procurement strategy to meet RPO targets cost-effectively
- Advisory on RPO carry-forward and banking provisions
How Open Access Solar Works Step by Step
From initial feasibility to first unit of cheaper solar power — Ellence Energy manages the entire open access journey.
Load analysis, open access eligibility check, cost-benefit analysis, and suitable access type recommendation
SPV company formation, shareholding structuring for CPP/CGP, and legal documentation
STOA/MTOA/LTOA application filing, GETCO/SLDC approvals, and transmission capacity booking
Solar EPC, bilateral PPA execution, grid interconnection, and commissioning
REC issuance, RPO compliance, scheduling, deviation management, and annual reporting
Who Benefits from Open Access Solar?
Open access solar is ideal for high-consumption energy users across industries who want to drastically reduce their electricity costs.
Large Industries
Textile mills, chemical plants, steel factories, cement industries, and other high-voltage consumers with 1MW+ load — saving 30–50% on power bills through captive or group captive open access solar.
Industrial Parks & SEZs
Special Economic Zones, industrial estates, and GIDC-based industrial clusters — group captive open access enables multiple industries to jointly benefit from a shared solar project.
Commercial Complexes
Large commercial establishments, IT parks, data centres, hospitals, and institutional campuses with significant electricity consumption eligible for open access.
Independent Power Producers
IPPs seeking to sell solar power through bilateral trading or group captive arrangements — Ellence Energy facilitates regulatory approvals, PPA structuring, and consumer connections.
RPO Obligated Entities
Companies with Renewable Purchase Obligation targets under GERC — needing REC procurement, open access renewable power purchase, or own solar generation to meet compliance requirements.
PSUs & Government Bodies
Public sector undertakings and government agencies seeking solar power under open access to meet green energy mandates and reduce their energy procurement costs.
Key Open Access Regulatory Terms Explained
From small commercial rooftops to large utility-scale solar parks — we deliver across Gujarat and India.
Short Term Open Access
Open access for periods up to 3 months. Granted by SLDC on available transmission capacity basis.
Medium Term Open Access
Open access for 3 months to 3 years. Applied through CTU/STU with advance transmission capacity reservation.
Long Term Open Access
Open access for periods above 3 years. Standard for captive solar projects with long-term PPAs (typically 25 years).
Captive Power Plant
A power plant set up by a consumer for their own use. At least 51% of power must be consumed by the captive user.
Group Captive Power
Multiple consumers jointly own a power plant. Each member must hold at least 26% equity and consume 51% of their proportionate share.
Gujarat Captive Power Wheeling Agreement
Agreement between the captive generator and DISCOM/GETCO for using their network to wheel power to the captive user's premises.
Renewable Energy Certificate
Market-based instrument enabling renewable energy generators to sell the "green" attribute of their power separately from the electricity itself.
Renewable Purchase Obligation
Mandatory requirement for DISCOMs, open access consumers, and captive producers to source a specified percentage of power from renewable sources.
Special Purpose Vehicle
A dedicated legal entity formed specifically to own and operate the captive/group captive solar power plant under open access regulations.
Why Industries Choose Ellence Energy
for Open Access Consultancy
Industries using open access solar in Gujarat are saving significantly on their power bills — Ellence Energy helps you access the same advantage.
Deep GERC & CERC Regulatory Expertise
Our team has in-depth knowledge of GERC, CERC, and state-level regulations governing open access — ensuring every application is filed correctly the first time, avoiding costly delays.
End-to-End Service — One Partner
From feasibility study and SPV formation through open access approval, solar EPC, REC registration, and RPO compliance — Ellence Energy handles every step, eliminating the need for multiple consultants.
Proven Cost Savings for Clients
Our open access clients consistently achieve 30–50% reduction in effective power costs — through optimal structuring of captive/group captive arrangements and competitive solar power procurement.
Compliance Without the Complexity
Open access involves ongoing compliance — scheduling, deviation management, REC issuance, RPO reporting. Ellence Energy manages all of it, so your team focuses on your core business.
Strong Relationships with GETCO & DISCOMs
Years of project experience across UGVCL, DGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL, and GETCO means faster approvals, fewer objections, and smoother interconnection processes for our clients.
❓ FAQ
Open Access Questions Answered
Everything you need to know about open access solar, captive power, REC, and RPO — before you get started.
Open access allows consumers with a sanctioned load of 1 MW or more to purchase electricity directly from generators (including solar power plants) through the existing transmission network. In Gujarat, eligibility is governed by GERC (Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission) regulations. Industries, commercial establishments, and large consumers in the HT category are typically eligible. Ellence Energy conducts a free eligibility assessment for prospective clients.
STOA (Short Term Open Access) is for periods up to 3 months — used for immediate or seasonal power needs. MTOA (Medium Term Open Access) covers 3 months to 3 years — suitable for bilateral trading arrangements. LTOA (Long Term Open Access) is for above 3 years (typically 25 years) — the standard structure for captive solar projects with long-term PPAs. The appropriate type depends on your power requirements, consumption pattern, and project structure.
A Group Captive Power (CGP) project allows multiple consumers to jointly own a solar power plant and use the power for their own consumption under captive regulations. Each member must hold at least 26% equity in the project SPV and consume at least 51% of their proportionate share of generation. This structure enables smaller industries (below 1MW individually) to jointly benefit from open access solar. Ellence Energy handles complete SPV formation, equity structuring, and all regulatory filings for group captive projects.
Open access consumers in Gujarat pay: Transmission charges (for using GETCO's network), Wheeling charges (for using DISCOM's distribution network), Cross-Subsidy Surcharge (CSS), Additional Surcharge (in some cases), and Scheduling/deviation charges. Despite these charges, the net effective power cost from open access solar is typically 30–50% lower than standard DISCOM industrial tariffs. Ellence Energy prepares a detailed cost comparison before you commit to the open access structure.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are market instruments that represent the "green" attribute of 1 MWh of renewable energy generation. Solar power generators can earn RECs for every MWh generated and sell them on energy exchanges (IEX, PXIL) to RPO-obligated entities. This provides an additional revenue stream for solar plant owners. Ellence Energy handles the complete REC lifecycle — GEDA accreditation, NLDC registration, monthly issuance, and exchange trading.
In Gujarat, open access consumers and captive power producers are classified as "obligated entities" under GERC's RPO regulations — meaning they must source a specified percentage of their power from renewable sources each year. RPO targets increase annually. Companies failing to meet RPO obligations face penalties. Ellence Energy helps obligated entities meet RPO targets cost-effectively — through own solar generation, open access renewable purchase, or REC procurement.
