Potential price rises of 14% for the solar home systems that are driving access to electricity in the world’s under-served regions could signal further arrested progress towards the UN goal of universal access by 2030.

A new report proposes a scenario that prioritizes efficiency over variable costs in India’s coal power dispatch mechanism. It goes on to estimate the efficiency improvements and cost savings achieved in this scenario. 

The Ministry of Power has issued a draft amendment to Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, which allows net metering for rooftop solar systems of loads up to 500 kW or up to the sanctioned load, whichever is lower and net billing (gross metering) or net feed-in for above 500 kW.

India has installed 42.3 GW of cumulative grid-connected solar capacity, with additions led by Karnataka (7,409 MW), Rajasthan (6,581 MW), and Gujarat (5,132 MW). 

The acquisition is in line with the Hyderabad-based corporate solar developer’s plan to ramp up. For Norwegian developer Statkraft, the selloff is part of its strategic plan to exit the distributed solar segment in India and focus on developing large-scale projects.

According to a new report, India’s commercial and industrial sector will increase its rooftop solar deployments by 47% year-on-year, with bifacials and large-size high-wattage modules offering cost-effective support for reducing electricity costs.

The scope of work includes supply, erection, testing, commissioning, and five-year warranty maintenance of the standalone solar photovoltaic power generators. Bidding closes on August 2.

The Coal India Limited arm plans a 40MW ground-mounted, grid-connected solar power plant initially as it eyes an overall 142 MW PV capacity in three years.

The state-run oil and gas major will set up a green hydrogen plant at its Mathura refinery in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. The green hydrogen will replace carbon-emitting fuels used in the refinery to process crude oil into value-added products such as petrol and diesel.

The 1,800-kilometer link connecting Raigarh in Chhattisgarh to Pugalur in Tamil Nadu can deliver 6 GW. Power can be transmitted in either direction, depending on demand.

An Australian-Russian research group has developed a silicon heterojunction solar cell based on p-type gallium-doped wafers with an efficiency of 22.6% and an improved stability. The scientists are convinced that these wafers may become a mainstream solution for the SHJ segment within the next decade.

The Indian developer will use the 3DExperience virtual platform to manage its utility-scale solar, wind, and hybrid energy projects more efficiently. The platform enables users to track the progress of multiple complex projects, quickly act on insights and ensure best-in-class delivery.

Sax Power has developed a new residential battery which it describes as a game-changer in the battery technology.

Longi’s 25.19% efficiency rating for its new p-type TOPCon solar cells, confirmed by the Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin, is reportedly a world record.

The bifacial panel has a power output of up to 485 W and an efficiency of up to 21%. It relies on a transparent backsheet and is encapsulated with polyolefin elastomer (POE).

The latest global PV industry outlook published by trade group SolarPower Europe, has indicated tight supply of the solar panel raw material is expected to persist this year but the trade body said it would be unlikely to drive further price rises.

A survey conducted among top executives in the renewable energy industry elicited positive feedback on most fronts, including government policies, demand for renewable power as well as land. 

The New York-headquartered solar racking solutions provider is opening an India office with an eye on business development, engineering, and manufacturing support. The company has more than 12 GW of projects either operating or under development across the world.

Vikram Solar has reached an overall module production capacity of 2.5 GW with the opening of a 1.3 GW fab in Chennai. The Chennai facility will produce mono PERC modules with a peak output up to 640 watts.

The New Delhi-based electric mobility firm has launched electric vehicle (EV) battery packs using lithium-ion cells from China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL).

Indian manufacturer Vision Mechatronics has deployed a lithium-lead-acid hybrid battery storage system coupled with a rooftop solar plant at Om Shanti Retreat Centre (ORC) in the State of Haryana. The 1MWh storage system uses a combination of 614.4 kWh Lithium batteries with a 480kWh tubular-gel lead-acid battery.

The battery system, which is aimed at increased self-consumption, can handle a maximum DC input power of 18 kW and 1000 V.

Tata Power owns an expansive network of over 500 public electric vehicle chargers in 100+ cities across India. Partnering with HPCL allows it to further expand its base in line with the Indian government’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan to promote electric mobility.

Sonnen has published test results indicating the longevity of its storage systems after extended use.

The generator can be combined with batteries, solar panels, or small wind turbines. It is based on a proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology and is claimed to have a minimum lifetime of 5,000 working hours.

Through various initiatives and schemes, the Indian government has created a conducive environment for industry stakeholders to expand domestic manufacturing. The industry should seize the opportunity to ramp up capacity and manufacture emerging technologies such as monocrystalline (mono-Si), bifacial and half-cut cells, micro-inverters, and tracking equipment, all of which promise further solar efficiency gains over the coming years.

The idea behind introducing the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) was to have a quality benchmark for solar modules. However, in its current form, it is more of a non-tariff barrier for foreign manufacturers and limits solar developers in terms of the choice of module wattage and make.  

As PV waste is set to rise rapidly in the coming decades, India needs to invest in efficient recycling technologies and devise a clear-cut policy for the safe disposal of PV waste. Guidelines for stringent quality checks and validation for both imported and locally produced solar panels are also needed to avoid early-loss solar waste.

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in batteries and solar will help India graduate from a passive recipient to an active driver in the global clean-tech story.

With the draft National Electricity Policy (NEP) 2021, India is providing the right policy direction for this decade of the energy transition. Yet, there is room for further improvement.