NSE-listed Orient Green Power sold 18,500-news01032012

NSE-listed Orient Green Power sold 18,500 ‘ renewable energy certificates' ( REC) worth Rs5.6 crore on the Indian Energy Exchange, it is learnt.

The company, which has about 180 mega watt (MW) of wind power and 40MW of biomass assets, sold around 6,000 RECs in January for around Rs2 crore.

RECs are generation-based ‘certificates' awarded (electronically, in demat form) to those who generate electricity from renewable sources such as wind, biomass, hydro and solar, if they opt not to sell the electricity at a preferentially higher tariff.

These certificates are trade-able on the exchanges and are bought by ‘obligated entities', who are either specified consumers or electricity distribution companies.

These obligated entities may be required to purchase a certain quantum of either green power or RECs.

Trading in RECs happen on the last Wednesday of each month.

Sources in REC consultancy circles said that Orient Green will generate another 20,000 RECs in March, worth a little over Rs6 crore.

The company will, therefore, earn around Rs14 crore from REC trading alone.

This would come as a major succour to Orient Green which has so far made a loss of Rs22 crore in the current financial year.

The company made a profit in the first two quarters, but ended the third with a Rs33-crore loss because of a bunch of problems.

Due to non-payment of dues to it by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (TANGED), Orient Green's interest costs rose to Rs29 crore in the third quarter.

In addition, the biomass plan had to be shut for a while.

There was also a drop in wind in October.

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