Policy & Regulation

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy working on plan to raise solar power share into grid

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is working on a plan that aims at supplying more solar power into the grid, which in turn would renergise stressed thermal projects, officials said Thursday. With solar power tariffs dipping below thermal power, the government is keen on lowering electricity rates for consumers by mixing a higher share of solar energy.

MNRE issued clarification regarding subsidy under Rooftop Phase II program

MNRE issued clarification on applicability of subsidy for individual residential households for installation of rooftop solar system under Phase II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Program

Tenders

New Tenders announced

*Tender is for procurement of power on long term basis through competitive bidding process  from 500 MW grid connected inter-state and intra-state new projects or existing intra – state projects with/without repowering whose EPA with MSEDCL is expired or intra-state projects with/without repowering having valid EPA at feed in tariff/preferential tariff

SECI retenders 97.5 MW rooftop solar projects for government buildings

The Solar Energy Corporation of India, on behalf of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has invited bids to develop 97.5 MW of grid-connected solar projects on the vacant roofs of government-owned buildings.The tendered capacity includes both CAPEX (capital expenditures provided by the rooftop owner) and RESCO (capital expenditures covered by the installer) projects.

SECI Auctions 480 MW Out of its 1.2 GW Solar Tender, Sees Lowest Tariff of ₹2.53/kWh

Softbank Energy (SB Energy) and GRT Jewellers India (GRT) have been allocated capacities totaling 480 MW in the auction held by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) against its tender for 1,200 MW of solar projects. The upper tariff ceiling was set at ₹2.65 (~$0.038)/kWh for this tender. The projects were slated to be developed anywhere in India.

Projects

Enel Green Power awarded 190 MW of wind power in indian green energy tender

Enel Green Power, through its subsidiary EGP India, has been awarded the right to sign a 25-year energy supply contract for a wind energy project under national competitive bidding held by SECI. Enel Green Power (“EGP”), through its Indian renewable subsidiary EGP India, has been awarded the right to sign a 25-year energy supply contract for a 190 MW wind farm in India.

India’s NTPC Plans 5 Gigawatt Solar Power Park

The company is expected to set up a 5 gigawatt solar power park in the district of Kutch, Gujarat. The project shall entail a total investment of Rs 20,000 crore (~US$2.8 billion), and NTPC plans to partner with other companies to implement the project.

Sembcorp India Gets $100 Million For Renewable Energy, Commissions 200 Megawatt Wind Project

Sembcorp Industries has infused Rs 521 crore (~US$100 million) in Indian subsidiary Sembcorp Energy India to push the development of renewable energy projects. The company already has substantial renewable energy assets in India and, with a large land bank, is looking to participate in upcoming auctions as well. Additionally, the company is also scouting potential candidates for acquisition.

Siemens Gamesa to install new wind turbines in India

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy said the company has secured its first order in India with Alfanar for the supply of 206 units of the SG 2.2-122 wind turbines for two wind farms, totalling 453 MW. Both projects will be located in Bhuj, Gujarat, where Siemens Gamesa will supply 202 MW for one project and 251 MW for the other.

Energy projects worth Rs 13,161 crore being implemented under smart cities mission

The government has earmarked spending Rs 13,161 crore for energy projects being implemented under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) with most of the funds dedicated to developing basic infrastructure for enhancing the grid and supply. Also, solar rooftop projects will account for around a half of this expenditure, according to a study.

Financing

Fotowatio Renewable may seek a new buyer for India solar business

FRV, the largest Arabian green energy utility, is likely to seek a new buyer for its Indian solar business following delays in the ongoing negotiations with Rahul Munjal’s Hero Future Energies, said three people aware of the development, requesting anonymity. FRV, owned by Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services, owns a 135 megawatt (MW) solar power project in India.

Adani Green to buy Essel’s solar assets

Essel Group will sell 205 megawatt (MW) of its operational solar energy assets to Adani Green Energy Ltd at an enterprise value of ₹1,300 crore, Mint reported citing an Essel Group statement. The deal is expected to close by end September, when Subhash Chandra‘s Essel Group must repay about ₹7,000 crore to creditors as agreed earlier this year.

How the Stakeholders of Solar Are Driving India’s Energy Transformation

More than US$ 42 billion has been invested in India’s renewable energy sector since 2014. New investments in clean energy in the country reached US$ 11.1 billion in 2018. As India looks to meet its energy demand on its own, which is expected to reach 15,820 TWh by 2040, renewable energy is set to play an important role

Solar power company to invest over Rs 600 crore to develop 450 MW projects in Haryana

Gurugram-based Rays Power Infra a solar power company is all set to invest an amount of over Rs 1,700 crore to develop and construct accumulative of 450MW solar projects under open access regulations selling power to commercial and industrial consumers as part of its IPP business. The company has specifically planned to invest 600 Cr in Haryana. The projects are proposed to be located in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Power Grid Corp of India to Invest 25.8 Bln Rupees in Rajasthan Solar Energy Zones

Board approves investment in transmission system for solar energy zones in Rajasthan state for 25.78 billion rupees. Board accorded commissioning schedule for Rajasthan project as December 2020

Japan’s Orix Buys 873 Megawatts Of Wind Capacity In Indian Stressed Asset Sale

Japanese financial company Orix has acquired a 51% stake in IL&FS Wind Energy Limited, a subsidiary of the troubled financial company Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited. With this acquisition, Orix now holds the entire 100% stake in IL&FS Wind Energy and gives it complete control over an operational capacity of 873 megawatts.

Shell invests in biomass firm Punjab Renewable

Shell India, the local arm of the Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell Plc, has invested in biomass company Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd as part of a Series B round worth Rs 55 crore ($7.7 million at current exchange rate). Shell India’s investment sum was not disclosed.

ADB willing to lend over $12 billion to India over the next three years

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it was ready to commit over $12 billion in lending to India over the next three years (2020-22), pledging support to the Narendra Modi-led government’s new flagship initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission. This was conveyed during a meeting the visiting ADB President Takehiko Nakao had with the Prime Minister here on Thursday. Both discussed ways to enhance the partnership in areas such as promotion of new technologies and innovation, renewable energy, solar-pump irrigation, electric vehicles and battery, fintech, sustainable tourism, and recycling of plastic.

Other important news

State discoms owe nearly Rs 10,000 crore to producers

State-run power distribution companies (discoms) owe Rs 9,954.3 crore to renewable energy producers, with the highest dues pending in southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, according to Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) data until August 20.

46,000 Mw of new renewable energy capacity to come up in Gujarat

Around 46,000 Megawatt (Mw) of fresh renewable energy generation capacity is likely to be set up in Gujarat by 2030 taking the share of green energy in the state’s total capacity to 70 per cent, according to a study released today.The report — Gujarat’s Electricity Sector Transformation – A Role-model of India’s Electricity Transition — identifies Gujarat as one of five leading Indian states for renewable energy in terms of both the existing capacity and future potential.

Waaree Energies Ships 2.5 GW of Solar Modules Globally

Waaree Energies, India’s largest solar panel manufacturer and a leader in the EPC, has recently cemented its position as the largest module supplier in India. Having a whopping annual production capacity of 1.5 GW, Waaree manufactures 4 MW of solar modules every day. They have already supplied almost 2.5 GW of modules globally, marking its dominance in the solar power industry.

Panasonic Joins RE100 Aiming for Business Operations with 100% Renewable Energy

Panasonic Corporation has joined RE100*, The Climate Group’s global initiative bringing together the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power. By 2050, Panasonic will switch the electricity used globally in its operations to 100% renewable energy, and aim for production that does not emit CO2.

Big game-changer! How floating solar power may help Modi government realise its renewable energy dream

As land availability presents a challenge, water surfaces may play a role in the Union government getting close to its target of 175,000 MW of renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2022, with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy planning to add 10 GW of such capacity across the country. This is part of a global trend which has seen floating solar gain traction with policy-makers and developers—the global installed capacity is projected to reach 4,600 MW by 2022 from 1,100 MW in 2018.