Solar parks get off to a good start in India, but challenges remain
Large-scale solar parks will be key to India’s transition to clean and green energy. Such parks are already being built or planned in States like Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. However, there is still scope for forward-looking and well-aligned policies across States to make the most of this global phenomenon.
Indian Railways tenders hydrogen fuel cell technology for trains
The Railways initially plans to convert diesel-powered trains in the 89km Sonipat-Jind section of Northern Railway to run on hydrogen. The hydrogen fuel cell retrofitment kit, along with the balance-of-plant and energy storage and hydrogen storage modules, will replace the existing power-train items onboard 1,600HP diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) rakes.
ReNew Power signs PPA for 400 MW round-the-clock supply
The Indian developer will build a 1,300 MW hybrid renewable energy capacity (900 MW wind plus 400 MW solar) supplemented with storage to ensure a round-the-clock supply. The project cost is estimated at approximately US$ 1.2 billion.
New solar glass factory to come up in India
Auto glass producer Asahi India Glass and polyfilm maker Vishakha Group have teamed up to set up India’s largest solar glass plant in Gujarat. The factory is initially planned to have a capacity equivalent to 3 GW of solar installation per annum.
Indian commercial and industrial solar market reaches 10,485 MW
India’s commercial and industrial solar sector added 501 MW of solar capacity in the January-March period of 2021, taking the cumulative C&I PV capacity to 10,485 MW as of March 31, 2021.
Crystal arrangement results in 1,000x more power from ferroelectric solar cells
German researchers developed a lattice arrangement of three different layers of ferroelectric crystals that created a powerful photovoltaic effect.
The impact of electricity rules amendment on rooftop solar sector
The amendment to Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 provides multiple options in addition to net metering, which will balance out the concerns of all the stakeholders.
Indian scientists develop zinc-iron redox flow battery with zero dendrite growth
Scientists in India fabricated a redox flow battery based on zinc and iron that showed strong storage characteristics and no signs of degradation over 30 charge-discharge cycles. The battery also showed no signs of dendrite formation, overcoming one of the key hurdles for redox-flow batteries based on these low-cost, abundant materials.
Lithium-ion technology to lead the Indian battery energy storage systems market by 2030
A new report projects Lithium-ion technology to lead the Indian battery energy storage systems market by 2030 as prices for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery technologies fall.
APTEL orders compensation for solar curtailment in Tamil Nadu
The Delhi-based Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) has directed Tamil Nadu State Load Despatch Centre (TNSLDC) and The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to compensate developers at 75% of PPA tariff per kWh on solar curtailment.
