Highlights

A new study proposes an ‘extended producer responsibility’ based regulatory framework for end-of-life (EOL) solar PV management in India. Under the framework, the Government of India (GoI) works as the nodal agency, defining the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders and regulating the overall supply chain. The onus of EOL solar PV take-back, transportation, storage, recovery, and destruction lies on the manufacturers, with the entire system cost borne by an executive committee formed by the manufacturers.  

Swiss manufacturer Megasol said the new product is compatible with the most common tile formats and also available in different colors. Megasol has also developed a coating that eliminates the glare effect of solar modules.

Insolight has developed a translucent monocrystalline solar panel with a nominal power of 106 W and a power conversion efficiency of 20.1%. The solar cells are covered with protective glass and optical lenses to concentrate and direct sunlight onto them at around 100 times the intensity of standard solar glass.

December 8 is the bidding deadline to set up solar power plants on uncultivable farmland for selling the generated power to the State Discoms. The ceiling tariff is fixed at INR 3.66/kWh. The plants, in sizes of 500 kW to 2 MW, shall come upon land within a 5 km radius of substations in the State.

The handheld, cordless cleaning tool is a cost-effective and efficient alternative to automated cleaning robots that are usually limited in operation by panel inclination. 

Scientists in India developed a mathematical model to predict the output of solar cells and modules in the field. The model was developed and tested using both sun simulator and actual installed modules. The scientists state that their model can be applied to a PV installation anywhere in the world, and that by taking into account module degradation over time their forecasts can be as much as 26% more accurate than existing energy yield models.

Trina Solar has found that its Vertex modules, based on the 210mm wafer, achieve an energy yield up to 1.6% higher than rival products based on the smaller 182mm wafer format. The company conducted outdoor testing at two separate sites with varying climates, finding that products based on the larger format have a particular advantage in low-irradiance environments.

The grid-connected solar projects may be set up either as net-metered systems or systems for consumption within premises with no export of power. Bidding ends on November 29.

The India and UK-led global supergrid program seeks to connect 140 countries to round-the-clock green and renewable power.

Developers have until November 25 to bid for setting up grid-connected, ground-mounted projects in 2 MW to 10 MW sizes under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojna. The projects shall be awarded through tariff-based competitive bidding followed by a reverse auction with ceiling tariff fixed at INR 3.10/kWh.