Installations

ReNew Power’s total income rose 27% year on year to INR 69,195 million ($912 million) in fiscal 2021-22, on 130 MW of solar capacity additions in the fourth quarter alone. Its overall renewables portfolio rose to 10.7 GW at the end of March, including 7.6 GW of commissioned capacity and 3.1 GW of committed projects.

State-run power generator NTPC has switched on 15 MW of capacity at the 56 MW Kawas solar project in Gujarat, following the commissioning of 20 MW in May.

Japan’s Arth has designed an autonomous habitation module that produces water in places without energy and water infrastructure. The company said the residential unit could also be used as an emergency evacuation site.

Italian solar panel manufacturer Sunerg has developed an integrated photovoltaic water heater solution based on two resistances. The system relies on a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller and can work with a PV module with a power output of up to 450 W.

France’s TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with Adani Enterprises to acquire 25% of its new energy arm, Adani New Industries Ltd. The joint venture platform, ANIL, will be integrated across the value chain to drive down green hydrogen production costs. It aims to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of 1 million tons per annum by 2030.

Torrent Power has bought a 50 MW solar plant in Telangana that supplies power to Northern Power Distribution at a tariff of about INR 5.35 ($0.069)/kWh, fixed for the entire 25-year duration of the power purchase agreement. The project has a remaining useful lifetime of about 20 years.

Tata Power’s profit after tax grew by 50% year on year to INR 2,156 crore ($276 million) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

The state government has already allotted land for the massive solar project that will be set up with an investment of INR 5,000 crore ($639 million).

Swiss module manufacturer Megasol has unveiled a novel rooftop PV system in two variants — full-black and translucent. The installation consists of vertical supports, a ridge profile, and solar modules.

Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity in many parts of the world, and while renewable energy is a long-term solution, in many cases it is a short-term solution, too. One such case in the energy-water nexus is that of canal-top solar, which was pioneered in India a decade ago, when the first canal-top solar array was installed in Gujarat. And new findings from the University of California and the resulting Project Nexus are now shining attention on a symbiotic application: saving water, while generating solar energy, without occupying arable land.