Highlights

On Day 1, industry experts discussed the role of states’ renewable energy agencies and strategies to accelerate the pace of energy transition in Indian cities.

A team of international researchers has simplified the deposition of thin film layers in the commercial production of TOPCon solar cells. Via a tube-type industrial plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (PEALD) technique, they were able to achieve a power conversion efficiency of 22.8% in a 60-cell, 613 W TOPCon module.

The off-grid solar sector has shown resilience in the face of pandemic-related challenges, with 70 million people gaining access to electricity from early 2020 to the end of 2021. However, the ability to pay for solar energy kits has taken a hit.

The fifth assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) approved Solar Facility, a payment guarantee mechanism to mitigate risks associated with solar projects in Africa.

The annual electric vehicle (EV) charger shipments will grow to 0.9 million units by the year 2030, from around 17,000 units in 2021. The growth in sales will be driven by government policies and private investments. 

India’s RenewSys has unveiled its DESERV Extreme series of bifacial modules, with front-side power outputs ranging from 565 W to 590 W.  The modules are built with half-cut, mono PERC cells.

Australian manufacturer GreatCell has built a cell with roll-to-roll coating technology. It designed it without a hole transport layer (HTL) and used carbon composite back contacts, which offer excellent electrical conductivity.

Portuguese startup Solarud has unveiled the next generation of its water-draining device for PV panels with low, sloping inclines. The new design avoids clogs caused by sand and dust, in nano and customized versions that fit installations and modules of different sizes.

NTPC and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) have signed an agreement for hydrogen co-firing in MHI’s gas turbines installed at NTPC Auraiya gas power plant in Uttar Pradesh. The two companies will collaborate to carry out the study and identify key actions for introducing hydrogen co-firing blended with natural gas.

SJVN’s green energy arm and Assam Power Distribution Co. Ltd have agreed to develop 1 GW of floating solar project in Assam through a joint venture.