The long read: When a solar spark becomes a fire
In 2021, China installed 21.6 GW of residential PV, which accounted for nearly 40% of the total annual installation figure of 54.9 GW. Spool back to 2018, and the residential segment clocked in at a mere 3 GW – less than 7% of the total for the year. Vincent Shaw in Shanghai reports on how changing market priorities caused a spark that quickly became a fire.
Solar module price increases to affect returns on 4.4 GW of solar
Solar cell and module prices have increased by more than 40% over the last 18 months, driven by polysilicon prices. However, bid tariffs has remained lower than what is needed to mitigate the rise in module prices. The risk of lower returns is significant for 4.4 GW of projects that have been awarded over the past 18 months, with tariffs below INR 2.2 ($0.028)/kWh.
Single-axis trackers on commercial rooftops increase generation by 37%
Alion Energy trackers thread the return-on-investment needle with productivity gains from white roofs and bifacial modules, while design aggressively maximizes module count.
Letters of Award given for Omkareshwar floating solar project
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL) has issued letters of award to NHDC, AMP Energy, and SJVN to build 278 MW of the 600 MW Omkareshwar floating solar project. This first-phase capacity development is expected to complete by September next year.
Women salt pan workers in Gujarat to be trained as solar technicians
ReNew Power, United Nations Environment Programme, and Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA) have launched a program to train women salt pan workers in Gujarat as solar technicians. Under the initiative, 1,000 women salt pan workers will be trained as solar panel and solar pump technicians.
Prozeal Infra wins 131 MW solar EPC contract in Gujarat
Prozeal Infra has secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract for 131 MW (AC) of solar from Gujarat State Electricity Corp. Ltd. (GSECL).
Skyfri secures asset operations for 31 MW floating solar project in Kerala
Norway’s Skyfri, which oversees almost 2 GW of solar assets throughout the world, has secured comprehensive asset operations for a 31 MWdc floating solar plant in Kerala.
India’s first fractionally owned, ground-mount solar plant
A 5 MW open-access solar project in Karnataka is India’s first fractionally owned, ground-mount PV plant. Bengaluru-based Pyse is financing the INR 26 crore ($3.3 million) project through its investment platform, which allows retail investors to own a stake for as little as INR 10,000.
Apraava Energy completes solar electrification project in Madhya Pradesh
Diversified power company Apraava Energy has partnered with SELCO Foundation to deploy solar solutions in 14 villages. The systems will generate approximately 13.9 MWh of electricity per year.
New pricing mechanism for pumped-hydro storage in India
A new report recommends a differential pricing mechanism for pumped-hydro energy storage (PHES) projects in pumping (off-peak operation) and generating mode (peak operation). The pricing mechanism for PHES should be based on specific use cases like peak load shaving and the smoothing of renewable energy generation.
