Auroville solar microgrid expansion blocked by TANGEDCO permit backlog

Auroville has operated a 2.5 MW solar microgrid since 2018. An expansion to 5 MW was approved by the Auroville Foundation in 2024 but TANGEDCO's grid-tie permit (required for net-metering) has been pending for 14 months. The expansion would power 600+ households and remove 2,400 tonnes CO₂/year. Three escalation letters have been sent with no reply.