Players in the electric mobility sector call for a reduction in goods and services tax on electric vehicle (EV) batteries, easy access to low-cost finance for EV buyers, and expansion of FAME Scheme subsidy to ICE-to-EV conversion kits. They also expect the government to enhance the manufacturing capacity and financial layout under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for advanced-chemistry battery cells.

The Chinese solar manufacturer has signed a deal with Indian developer Clean Solar Power to supply 250 MW of BIPRO series bifacial modules for a solar project in Rajasthan.

Philippines-based AC Energy and Hong Kong-headquartered UPC Renewables’ solar energy arm are jointly building a 300 MWac (420 MWp) solar farm in Madhya Pradesh. The plant, when completed, will be the joint venture’s third and largest solar project in India to date.

Power minister RK Singh recently met with renewable energy developers and industry representatives to discuss the draft Policy on energy storage systems. He informed the participants the government is looking to delicense the setting up of energy storage systems not co-located with renewable energy generation facilities.

The NASDAQ-listed Indian renewable energy developer has sold off its 117 MW/138 MWp of distributed rooftop solar portfolio to Hyderabad-based Fourth Partner Energy for INR 6.72 billion (US$89.9 million), ensuring its increased focus on higher-return, larger-scale projects.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an Indian multinational EPC contractor, has partnered with Norway’s HydrogenPro to set up a joint venture in India for gigawatt-scale manufacturing of alkaline water electrolyzers. 

India could employ one million new workers through the deployment of 339 GW of wind and grid-connected solar systems (utility-scale solar and rooftop solar) between FY2021-22 and FY2029-30 if the nation were to meet its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target. The bulk of the new jobs would be created by small projects like roof-top solar and mini and microgrids.

Bidders have until March 4 to lodge their interest for the solar projects to be developed anywhere in India.  

The State-owned hydropower producer will set up grid-connected solar power plants in the state and sell the electricity generated at an INR 3.11/kWh tariff under a 25-year PPA with the State Discoms.

The solar plant, located in Maharashtra, uses 65,000 PV panels covering an area of 80 acres. It will supply clean energy to telecom operator Airtel’s Nxtra data centers and switching centers in the State.