Solar manufacturers who wish to apply for state cash to set up production lines must meet minimum requirements for manufacturing scale and module efficiency, and must produce at least solar cells and modules to be shortlisted. They will then bid for the amount of incentives they want over a five-year period, with extra weight given to applicants who will manufacture more of the supply chain, from polysilicon downwards.

The private-sector power producer is investing an aggregate INR 150-crore amount into Revolt Intellicorp, a next-generation electric mobility company, as part of its strategy to diversify into new business avenues.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is funding the 300MW wind-solar-storage project as part of its mission to promote sustainable infrastructure projects in partner countries like India.

The Hyderabad-based developer shall use the capital to expand its solar portfolio as it targets 3 GW of PV capacity across all its verticals by 2025. The investment, in the form of non-convertible debentures, marks CDC’s foray into India’s commercial and industrial solar segment. 

The second wave of Covid-19 reminds us to build a resilient society. Climate Change, not unlike Covid-19, will deliver devastating effects to our planet and disrupt our way of life. So, in this climate decade, India must channel investments into sustainable activities. The first step is to construct a robust “green taxonomy” – a green list of sustainable activities. 

A solar racking system’s strength is determined in part by the metal racking, but it also depends on the roof’s underlying structure. Rafters and any supporting structures must be strong enough to withstand your region’s maximum wind and snow loads.

Gujarat-based solar developer KPI Global has received a letter of intent from Anupam Rasayan India to execute a 12.5 MW solar project under captive power producer category.

Solar power developers have until June 15 to lodge interest for setting up the 15 MW grid-connected solar PV project in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Bidders have until May 10 to lodge their interest in installing and commissioning the grid-connected solar capacity at various training and educational institutions across the State.

French company Céléwatt energized its 250 kW ground-mounted array, built with mounting structures made of raw oak wood.

The “graphene revolution” is almost here. Australian scientists specializing in aluminum-ion batteries are now working with Brisbane-based Graphene Manufacturing Group to commercialize a technology that could transform energy storage.

The cell, which looks externally like a device with a two-terminal architecture, was built with III-V semiconductor layers that were connected to the silicon sub-cell on the atomic level. The cell may be used in electrically powered aircraft and drones.

Italian start-up Genius Watter has developed a solar desalination solution that is claimed to be particularly suitable for remote areas with no connection to grid electricity. The system is able to produce up to 1,000 cubic meters of potable water per day at an opex of €0.20 per cubic meter.

The Central Electricity Authority, CEEW’s Centre for Energy Finance, and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation have launched an online dashboard that captures daily generation data at the state, regional and national levels for the aggregate 93 GW of installed RE capacity in India. It also captures this data at a plant level for a subset of projects.

The US cadmium telluride thin-film module maker said its Series 6 CuRe panels are able to retain 92% of its performance at the end of the 30-year warranty. The improved stability of the product was achieved by eliminating copper and placing Group V elements such as antimony or arsenic onto the tellurium crystal sites.

French start-up Ekwateur is offering a solar kit consisting of a 330 W panel, a micro-inverter, a metallic structure, a monitoring sensor, and a few cables.

Israeli firm Airtouch Solar has landed a $7.6 million deal to deploy its water-free cleaning robots for the Indian developer’s three solar farms in Rajasthan.

The two new products will be part of the Hi-MO4m panel series for rooftop applications. Their efficiency ranges from 19.2% to 21.2%.

Float glass manufacturer Gold Plus Glass Industry confirmed to pv magazine its plans to establish a solar glass factory with a capacity of 300 tonnes per day. The plant, located in south India, will be operational by September 2023.

The new heterojunction panel series features an efficiency of up to 21.9 % and an operating temperature coefficient of -0.26% per degree Celsius.

New Delhi-headquartered Uttam Group of Companies has purchased California-based Catalina Composites as it sees a surge in demand for clean energy solutions, including hydrogen. The company will invest at least $20 million in staff, equipment, and research and development of high-pressure cylinder production for hydrogen and compressed natural gas.

Owners and operators of energy storage systems, as well as investors, need transparent ways to evaluate battery performance. They need certainty that the selected batteries for their ESS projects will perform reliably, have predictable life expectancies, and meet projected revenue and contractual obligations over their lifetimes. The economic viability of entire projects depend on this confidence, writes Michael Kleinberg of DNV.

Tata Power brings technology and financial strength to set up the distributed, small-scale solar power systems in rural areas and provide round-the-clock power supply to households and businesses. CSC brings to the partnership village-level entrepreneurs to provide quick, low-cost service support. 

Scientists in Russia introduce a promising new material for battery energy storage, the product of more than three years of research. Incorporating a nickel-salen polymer into the cathode, the group demonstrated a battery that can charge and discharge ten times faster than today’s lithium-ion batteries. And though the battery still lags in terms of overall capacity, the group is confident that its discovery will lead to big improvements for lithium batteries.

The energy storage manufacturer will use the funds to expand its manufacturing capabilities, and aid product development with emphasis on smart Internet of Things (IOT) based batteries and telematics.

In India, the lack of suitable fiscal incentives and relevant experience, combined with high upfront capital costs, has hindered the adoption of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in comparison to other developed countries. However, there is potential for the country to take the lead.

Drones, in combination with artificial intelligence, are helping to drive powerful insights, allowing teams to make better-informed decisions throughout the solar project development lifecycle.

For developers to close the emerging gap as the market becomes more competitive – and, crucially, build projects that perform to investors’ expectations in the long term – they need to not only develop better understanding of the factors influencing project performance but also take steps to adopt advances made in other established solar markets worldwide in the use of solar data.

A net feed-in tariff could offer a solution for consumers, developers, and distribution companies.

The government should consider offering a 50% capital subsidy for setting up R&D and quality testing infrastructure within the manufacturing units and a 200% super-deduction for the R&D expenditure on new and clean solar technology development. Simultaneously, it should look at implementing tariff barriers on imports for at least four-five years.