Tamil Nadu adopts 2025 Green Energy Open Access Rules to enhance industrial use of renewables

Tamil Nadu adopts 2025 Green Energy Open Access Rules to enhance industrial use of renewables

September 29, 2025

The Tamil Nadu government has notified new Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2025, allowing industries with a connected load of at least 50 kW to purchase power from third-party renewable generators both within and outside the state. The move will finally make it easier for industries to access clean energy, spur renewable adoption, and support the state’s transition toward sustainable growth. Under the new framework, eligible industrial consumers can procure electricity from solar, wind, and other renewable sources through existing transmission and distribution networks, subject to transparent procedures covering metering, transmission, wheeling, and banking of surplus energy. The regulations stipulate that the consumers will be liable to pay transmission, wheeling, cross-subsidy surcharges, standby, reactive energy fees and banking charges.

If surplus green power is not utilized within the same time slot and month, such unutilized green power shall be banked with the local distribution licensee, TNPDCL. If left unutilized at the end of the month, TNPDCL shall purchase it at 75% of the approved green tariff-a facility to provide flexibility and incentivize renewable sourcing. The regulations further stipulate that there shall be a clear, nondiscriminatory approach toward renewable energy procurement and are supposed to help industries meet their renewable purchase obligation-related requirements, reduce their dependence on conventional sources of power, and, in turn, reduce carbon emission in line with the broader national agenda under the green-open-access guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Power in 2022.

However, not all of them are very supportive. The REPA has objected to certain provisions, notably block-wise energy adjustments and surcharges, on the ground that they are in conflict with the exemptions given under earlier central rules and have asked the regulatory authorities to revisit or bring more clarity on these issues. Now, with the 2025 GEOA rules in play across Tamil Nadu, policymakers expect a surge in industrial demand for solar and wind, along with other renewable energy projects. Done well and supported by regulatory clarity, the move would set the benchmark for industrial renewable adoption across India at full throttle toward a low-carbon, sustainable economy.