Installations

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has reevaluated the solar potential of the region, in the light of steepling falls in the cost of generating solar electricity. The big push will start with 7.5 GW of new capacity, with a request for selection expected within a fortnight.

A renewable energy system in 2050 is technically possible and economically viable for India, with the levelized cost of electricity falling from the current €58/MWh (Rs4,626) to €52 under one scenario in a recent report, and to €46 in another that included demand for power, water desalination and non-energy industrial gas sectors.

The iSTAR-C program of India’s International Solar Alliance (ISA) was adjudged an outstanding project during the Paris Peace Forum this month. The program is one of many ISA initiatives to develop solar resources in member countries. After the first assembly of the ISA, interim Director-General Upendra Tripathy tells pv magazine about the organization’s achievements and plans.

India’s largest power company is set to make a statement of intent with procurement, and has set a first round bid ceiling of Rs2.67 for the reverse bidding auction. Successful bidders will secure a one-year PPA which can be extended by six months.

Supervising authority has given the state distribution company the green light to conduct three 500 MW solar tenders. The move marks the first procurement exercise held by TANGEDCO in almost 12 months.

The 7 MW solar facility will sell power to local state-owned utility Nigelec. The project was developed with the support of the Indian government.

Only three bidders have come forward for huge manufacturing-linked solar and solar-wind hybrid procurement exercises. The separate auctions – originally intended to drive 12.5 GW of new generation and 5 GW of manufacturing capacity – prompted figures of just 3.05 GW and 600 MW, respectively.

Latest forecasts predict capacity expansions of ever cheaper PV and wind power generation up to 2030 will do little to dethrone king coal in India.

Suzlon Energy has sold subsidiaries Amun Solarfarms and Avighna Solarfarms to Canadian Solar for Rs545 million. The company set up the units as special purpose vehicles for two solar projects of 15 MW each, at Ramannapet and Kamareddy.

The Indian Ministries of External Affairs and Power, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organized the South Asia Power Summit 2018, held recently in New Delhi. The daylong conference highlighted that diversity of energy resources in South Asian countries brings the opportunity to provide affordable, low-carbon energy in the region. The business case for enhanced energy trading in the region, and challenges faced in inter-country electricity trading were important elements of this discussion.