The long read: Ever cheaper PV brings pitfalls, new prospects
Large-scale solar has proven resilient in the face of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the associated economic downturn, with the U.S. marketplace exhibiting an acceleration in deployment, reports Shoals Technologies Group. And while solar’s competitiveness is driving market growth, there remain risks to “going cheap,” according to Shoals Technologies CEO Dean Solon and President Jason Whitaker.
65 MW grid-interactive solar EPC tendered in Uttar Pradesh
State-owned hydropower producer NHPC has invited domestic bids to set up a 65 MW grid-connect solar plant in district Jalaun. Bidding closes on November 18.
NHPC tenders 100 MW grid-connected solar in Rajasthan
Domestic bids are invited to develop a 100 MW ground-mounted solar project on a turnkey basis anywhere in the state. Land for the project is to be identified and arranged by the bidder. Bidding closes on October 17.
Novus Green lands 15 MW floating solar EPC work in Telangana
Telangana-based Novus Green has won two contracts from state-owned coal miner Singareni Collieries Company Limited, under which it will provide EPC services for two grid-interactive floating solar power plants with a combined capacity of 15 MW (AC).
India’s wind-solar hybrid capacity could grow 80 times in three years
A new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (Ieefa) and JMK Research estimates India to have about 11.6 GW of operational wind-solar hybrid capacity by 2023.
India still nowhere near energy sufficiency
The government is trying to harness renewables to increase domestic output but will need a more liberal energy market and to consider the structure of procurement auctions, cloying red tape and the financial travails of state utilities if it is to achieve its goals, says Rakshika Kaul of Amp Energy India.
Off-grid solar and storage solutions for Himalayas
The Solar Energy Corporation of India has issued a call for expressions of interest to supply clean energy to isolated off-grid communities and warned components will probably have to be transported manually.
Agrivoltaics for pear orchards
Belgian researchers are testing agrivoltaic power generation in a pear orchard. The first pilot project features specially designed 185 W solar panels with transparent backsheets, conventional silicon cells, and a 21% efficiency rate.
Indian-led start-up raises Swiss funding for solar diagnostic tool
Swiss-based SmartHelio claims to have witnessed a near 200% jump in demand for its deep-data driven solar asset management solution, which plugs into solar panels or energy storage systems. Sales of the internet-of-things enabled, cloud product have leapt in the last six months.
Solar-powered undies – Dollar Industries installs 4 MW solar array
The underwear maker said the solar array will provide almost half the daily power consumption of its spinning unit and help curb carbon emissions by 9,000kg per day.
