Is SoftBank’s $100 billion investment in Indian solar realistic?
While news of Japan’s SoftBank announcing up to USD 60-100 billion investment in India’s solar PV power generation is creating ripples across the industry circles, industry analysts feel that the committment sounds unrealistic in view of India’s current PV market status and future needs.
India saw more utility-scale PV tenders in Q1 2018 than in entire 2017 – Bridge To India
India saw the issuance of 13 new utility-scale solar PV tenders totaling 11,945 MW in the quarter ending March 31, 2018, which is 68% more than in the entire of 2017. However, tender capacity for rooftop solar PV (greater than 1 MW in size) was down 50%, at 102 MW.
India may miss solar PV target, says CEO survey
The country will achieve solar PV capacity of 50 to 75 GW by 2022 – a little over 60% of the 100 GW target. Total rooftop capacity will be less than 10 GW.
China’s Longi Solar confirms 1 GW Indian manufacturing facility
Longi Solar will set up a 1 GW solar PV manufacturing facility in India’s Andhra Pradesh. It will manufacture 500 MW of cells and 500 MW of modules, a spokesperson tells pv magazine. The facility is expected to be commissioned by Q1 2019 at the latest, and will seek to take advantage of India’s partial exemption from the recent U.S. solar tariffs, imposed by President Trump last week.
BNEF releases 2018 clean energy predictions
BNEF has released its top 10 clean energy predictions for 2018, including at least 107 GW of solar PV installs. China will lead, but Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East will notably up the ante. India will install less RE than in 2017, but will see fossils outpace RE for the last time; and China will see distributed grid connected solar leading the market. Li-ion prices are also declining, while EV sales grow.
SECI tenders 950 MW of PV projects in southern states of India
SECI has had a busy day, releasing three tenders worth 1.2 GW. Following on from a 275 MW tender this morning, it has now announced a 950 MW tender for grid connected solar PV projects in the state of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, under the National Solar Mission of Phase-II, Batch-IV.
India H1 solar installs surpass last year’s 12 month total, finds Mercom report
Approximately 4,800 MW of solar capacity has been commissioned in India in the first six months of the year, surpassing last year’s 4,038 MW total, finds new data from Mercom Capital Group. GST uncertainty could slow growth in 2018, however.
India: ACME Solar receives $108m funding injection from Piramal
Haryana-based solar power developer has received financing in the form of flexible credit, designed to allow ACME Solar to draw on and repay funds over the duration of the loan agreement.
Solar lending rates continue to fall in India
Mercom Capital says the fall in rates is now making projects with lower prices viable, and that demonetization could further bring down rates.
Mercom: US$736 million invested in India’s solar sector in Q4 2016
The nation saw substantial debt, public markets and project funding during the final quarter of 2016, including the first Indian solar developer to go public.
