Indian utilities contemplate coal – rather than energy storage – to balance renewables
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has specified how grid back-up capacity procurement will work for Indian electricity distribution companies. The rules consider energy storage solely as part of the 51% clean energy requirement, and instead use coal – with a variable price tariff element – as necessary for evening out supply.
Indian power company tenders to acquire 1 GW of already-built solar projects
NTPC wants to buy PV plants with a minimum generation capacity of 50 MW which sell power for a maximum INR5/kWh ($0.0668).
C&I rooftop solar set to surge in India
Rooftop solar is the obvious way for businesses to save on electricity costs amid the pandemic.
India installed 7.6 GW of solar in the last fiscal year, and plans another 8 GW by April
Some 5.9 GW of utility scale PV generation capacity was added in 2019-20, plus 1.7 GW of rooftop solar, with domestic module manufacturers enjoying around 40% of the market.
Vikram Solar plans 3 GW wafer, cell and module fab in Tamil Nadu
The engineering, procurement and construction services contractor – which has a 1.2 GW module production facility near Kolkata – will establish the factory under a five-year timescale.
India’s ReNew Power to build 2 GW factory
The Haryana-based developer will invest up to $266.9 million to set up a new solar cell and module manufacturing facility.
Tender launched for 1.07 GW of solar in India
Single developers can bid for any amount of capacity, from 10 MW up to 1.07 GW. The projects will be set up on a build-own-operate basis, anywhere in the state of Rajasthan. The deadline for bids is Aug. 31.
Hitachi ABB Power Grids launches EV fleet charging system
The containerized product integrates a grid connection with multiple charging systems, enabling electric public transport and commercial fleet operators to charge more vehicles with less infrastructure needed at depots.
Water-free module cleaner for residential PV systems
A newly developed autonomous robotic cleaning solution for modules uses artificial intelligence to clean daily or on demand, without substantial human input.
Hitachi ABB Power Grids India wins $16 million order
The company has bagged an order from state-run Chittaranjan Locomotive Works to supply transformers for locomotive engines.
