Most CFOs sign Solar PPAs assuming Grid Tariffs (e.g. ₹8.00) only go one way: Up. But in a world of political volatility, what happens if industrial rates crash to ₹5.00 tomorrow?
Your “guaranteed savings” don’t just vanish, they turn into a contract you can’t escape.
In Episode 6 of the Unfiltered Renewable Energy Series, we stop the sales pitches and look at the “Financial Body” of your developer. We dive into:
- The “Ramban Clause”: Your only safety net if the Grid Tariff drops.
- The 3 Cs Framework: How to audit a developer like you’re entering a marriage (Shadi).
- The “Delta” Signal: What your Board is actually looking for before they say “Yes”.
Stop betting on a politician’s mood. Start building a defensible energy strategy.
Read the full breakdown below.
25-Year Open Access Solar PPA: Is it an Asset or a Trap if Grid Rates Crash?
Most CFOs build financial models assuming Grid Tariffs say ₹8.00, will always rise. But here is the “unfiltered” reality: Energy pricing is often political. If a new government slashes industrial rates to ₹5.00 to win an election, your “Cheap Solar” suddenly becomes more expensive than the grid.
Your savings don’t just hit zero; they become a liability. To protect your balance sheet, you must answer these three high-stakes questions:
1. “If Grid Tariffs crash, will my Open Access savings hit Zero?”
The honest answer is: Yes. If you are locked in at ₹5.00 and the grid drops to ₹5.00, your advantage is wiped out. Before you sign, you must perform three checks:
- Historical Trends: Analyze if the Discom’s prices are actually decreasing or increasing.
- Discom Health: Is your distribution company bleeding money? If they are, prices will eventually have to go up.
- The “Ramban Clause”: This is your Minimum Saving Guarantee. It ensures that if the “Delta” (the gap between solar and grid) disappears, you have the right to terminate the PPA and take your equity back. Without this, you have no exit strategy.
2. “How do we check if the Developer will survive 25 years?”
A PPA is not a vendor contract; it is a “Marriage”. Divorce is messy and expensive. You must audit the developer’s “Financial Body” using the 3 Cs Framework:
- Credit Discipline: What is their debt-equity ratio and net worth? Do they actually have the money to build the project to serve you?
- Client Track Record: Don’t just look at the logo slide. Speak to the CFOs of their last 5 to 10 clients.
- Client Delivery: Have they actually delivered the power generation they promised in previous contracts?
Pro-Tip: These checks are not one-time. You must continue these audits every single year to ensure your 25-year partner remains strong.
3. “Why does my Board keep delaying the Solar decision?”
The Board doesn’t delay because they don’t want the ROI; they delay because they fear the risk. Open access is filled with immense risks, from execution to policy changes.
The signal that converts a “Wait” into a “Yes” is a defensible “Delta” (The Price Gap). If you can prove that your ₹5.50 solar vs. ₹8.00 grid gap is protected against open access charge hikes and delivery failures, the Board’s conviction will follow yours.
What should you do next?
Renewable energy is a long-term commitment. My advice? Go slow.
1. Ask Questions: If you have specific doubts, drop them in the comments. My team and I will cover them in upcoming “Unfiltered” episodes.
2. Get Clarity: If you cannot wait and need a breakdown of your specific Discom costs and potential savings, you can book a one-on-one consulting call via the link below. We will help you understand the risks and how to convince your Board.
About Infinia Solar
Infinia Solar is India’s leading renewable energy consultant.
We help Commercial and Industrial consumers procure the right renewable energy solutions, from the right developers, and on the right PPA terms.
We’ve served 60+ customers across 18 states, enabling 1.3 GW of open access and rooftop solar capacity, and have facilitated 150+ PPAs so far.
This has helped our customers reduce up to 50% of their electricity costs and replace up to 100% of their power with renewable energy.
We have also collaborated with 50+ developers, and our customers fondly refer to us as the ‘Amazon of the renewable energy industry.‘