Distributed solar

Karnataka has snagged the top spot on the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index.

The solar tree—costing around Rs 3 lakh for 3 kW capacity—auto tracks the sun to generate 10-15% extra power.

The University of Birmingham is a research partner on the Solar Cooling Initiative of International Solar Alliance that aims to spread the use of solar and solar-hybrid energy in agriculture.

Gujarat’s total installed solar capacity has crossed the 2.6 GW mark, according to the latest data released by the Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA).

Air India SATS has introduced new aircraft-boarding walkways that use integrated solar roofing panels from Visaka Industries to run two air-conditioners for up to six hours.

The cost of solar power generation in India has fallen to half the level seen in many other markets in the region due to extensive solar resource, market scale and competition.

RK Singh told the upper house of the Indian parliament yesterday the nation had added 780 MW of new generation capacity in the last two years. The share of renewables in India’s power mix is rising too, but not fast enough to ensure electricity supply for all.

State-owned Central Electronics Limited (CEL) has invited bids to set up a cumulative 50 MW capacity of grid-tied, ground-mounted solar plants at various locations in the state of Maharashtra. The plants, in capacities of 500 KWp to 10 MWp, are to be set up in turnkey mode. Bidding closes on July 24.

The ‘inverted umbrella’ shaped canopies use monocrystalline flexible solar panels on top to generate electricity for functions like mobile and laptop charging, and lighting.

Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were the top five states by annual installation, accounting for 60% of the new capacity.