Installations

With Narendra Modi’s government stunning pollsters with another huge victory, the solar industry expects renewable power momentum to be maintained with steps including anti-dumping duty on solar module imports, a national policy for rooftop solar and an emphasis on easing private-sector participation in the power sector.

The fund will be used for a broad modernization program that will help Indian railways to transition from dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy.

CNG distributor Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has invited bids for supply, installation, testing and commissioning of 1 KWp solar PV system (4x260W panels) along with Lithium-ion batteries and inverter for 12 hours backup. A total of 76 such system combinations are to be supplied. Bidding closes on May 30.

Gujarati utility GUVNL hoped to allocate 1 GW of capacity at the solar park but ended up awarding just a quarter of that figure, with Tata Power Renewable Energy the beneficiary. A bid for 50 MW of capacity by the state-owned Gujarat Industries Power Company Ltd was rejected.

Currently, the Mumbai-based solar EPC firm is executing 134.5 MWp project capacity to be commissioned by September 2019. It expects to surpass cumulative installation of 350 MWp by the end of FY 2019-20.

Some 168 projects will be developed across 16 provinces free from central government subsidy. The fact the average capacity of such projects has tumbled indicates Beijing’s plan to accelerate the arrival of subsidy free solar may be on track.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for development of 2 MW solar PV power projects—1 MW each for Siachen and Partapur army posts—in Leh region of Jammu & Kashmir. The projects are to be developed on ‘build, own operate’ basis.

Adani Green Energy and ReNew Power made techno-commercial bids for 600 MW and 300 MW, respectively, leaving the tendered capacity undersubscribed by 300 MW.

Tangedco’s reputation for late payments scared off developers in its latest two, failed tender exercises. The solution? Get government body SECI to hold the auctions, because everyone knows it pays on time!

In a recent survey, DNV GL found that demand for blockchain-related skills in the solar sector is 50% higher than in other energy industries, while 33% of respondents said that the use of drones is having a significant impact on their businesses. However, the solar industry needs a common framework to help advance digitalization further.