The long read: South Korea’s burning issue
The string of fires that shook up South Korea’s booming energy storage market throughout 2018 brought development to a screeching halt this year. Throughout the lackluster first half of 2019, manufacturers, installers and analysts remained cautiously hopeful that a government investigation into the fires might plant the seed for late-year market growth. However, another outbreak of fires in the months since the conclusion of the probe has shaken industry morale once again, snuffing out any lingering hopes for a quick recovery.
COP25: India calls for speedier expansion of International Solar Alliance
Launched in November 2015, the alliance aims to collectively address key challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in member countries that fall between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Out of 121 prospective member countries, over 83 have already joined it in a period of just four years.
Gujarat notifies guidelines for small-scale distributed solar projects
The state government’s Policy for Development of Small-scale Distributed Solar Projects 2019 allows any individual or company to set up solar plants in capacities ranging from 0.5 MW to 4 MW for sale of electricity to the DISCOMs.
India and German development lender to launch rooftop solar scheme
Program aims to drive down the cost of solar electricity to a maximum of Rs2.50/kWh in a nation where tariffs vary wildly from state to state.
Assessing metal leaching from PV modules dumped in landfill
An Indian Institute of Technology research team analyzed around 300 studies about PV panel waste containing carcinogenic metals. The researchers said solar module recycling is not economically profitable and policy support is necessary to avoid panels being dumped in landfill.
Distributed Energy’s rooftop solar aggregator platform raises Rs 100 million funding
The platform connects credible renewable energy projects with investors, and has already delivered 5 MW of energy to a range of companies in Southern India and Rwanda.
ADB extends $250 million loan to EESL for energy efficiency initiatives
The investment—part of a $592 million assistance package—will be used to promote adoption of smart meters, distributed solar photovoltaic systems and e-vehicles in India.
German company Phaesun installs solar-powered water desalination plants in Gujarat
The pilot plants—installed at a temple and a school—work on a membrane-based electrodialysis technology to provide clean drinking water.
Cheap Indian imports claim prompts Bangladesh to introduce solar standards
Dhaka has heeded complaints about Indian manufacturers allegedly dumping sub-standard PV products over the border and issued a requirement for modules, inverters, charge controllers and batteries to attain IEC electrical standards.
AIIB expects $100 million annual investment in India’s renewables sector
The Beijing-headquartered Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank—which recently approved a US$75 million loan to Tata Cleantech Capital—sees private-sector investment flowing into the nation’s solar and wind projects next month onwards.
