India

Unlike the other, India-wide 1.2 GW tender rolled out simultaneously yesterday, the delivery point for a second wave of projects will be designated inter-state transmission system substations in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids to set up 1.2 GW of grid-connected solar under the fifth phase of its national interstate transmission system program. The projects – to be established on a build, own, operate basis – will be awarded through e-bidding and a reverse auction with a tariff ceiling of Rs2.65/kWh. Bidding closes on July 31.

China’s vast continent-spanning infrastructure project could fertilize solar growth along its perimeter at considerable scale as energy demand in the countries along the route is set to surge.

A World Trade Organization panel has found a U.S. move to incentivize the use of domestic solar products put imported goods from India and other countries at a disadvantage.

Australian and Indian scientists have developed a method of manufacturing soluble graphene in a cost-effective and eco-friendly way from one of Australia’s most common resources, gum trees.

The new government’s chief policy thinktank has suggested banning sales of non-electric two and three wheelers in 2025 and cars, trucks and buses five years later as well as forcing public fleets and the cars used by ride hailing apps to be electric.

This year’s New Energy Outlook report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts renewables can keep us on track for less than two degrees of global heating for the next decade. But after that, other technologies will have to do their bit.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India’s 1.2 GW auction saw four companies – Ayana Renewable, ReNew Power, NYSE-listed Azure Power and Mahindra Susten – secure a combined capacity of 1.15 GW at INR2.54/kWh. Avaada Energy landed the remaining 50 MW, at Rs2.55.

As the solar industry digests yesterday’s announcement by Theresa May of a net zero carbon ambition by 2050, developer Solarcentury says Downing Street is hugely underestimating the role PV can play in achieving that milestone.

The government is considering financial incentives such as import and export duty waivers to woo battery manufacturers to set up a globally competitive manufacturing base in India.