Solar capacity addition to slow down till FY2019-20: Crisil
While commissioning is expected to slow down in FY 2018-19 due to the impact of the safeguard duty and GST issues, FY 2019-20 is weak due to delay in auction as several tenders got delayed/cancelled. However, FY2019-20 onwards, solar capacity additions are expected to pick up due to several factors including subsiding/removal of the safeguard duty (which would ease cost pressures).
GST and safeguarding duty have driven up solar power costs nearly 6%
A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water claims the imposition of goods and services tax on PV projects, safeguarding duty on module imports and late payments from hard-up power distribution companies are all hindering Indian solar.
25.75 GW farmland renewable with Rs 34,422 crore support approved
The President of India has approved total central financial support of Rs34,422 crore for the Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahaabhiyan (KUSUM) rural solar scheme. Through the scheme, the government aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 25.75 GW by 2022.
SolarPower Europe and NSEFI sign MoU on solar cooperation
Brussels-based SolarPower Europe and the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on operation & maintenance (O&M), installation quality, digitalisation and storage.
Cabinet approves five-year plan for EV battery manufacturing
Aiming to localize production across the electric vehicle value chain, the government will support battery manufacturing at a gigawatt-scale. The initial focus will be on large-scale module and pack assembly plants by the next fiscal year, followed by integrated cell manufacturing by 2021-22.
Gujarat’s 1 GW solar tender shunned by developers
Project developers turned their back on a procurement exercise linked to projects at the Dholera Solar Park, after insisting the challenging terrain meant the electricity price ceiling stipulated by the state would make projects unviable.
SunSource to develop 70MW open access solar project in Uttar Pradesh
The power generated by this project will be sold through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to commercial and industrial customers.
12 GW ‘new’ solar with VGF support approved
The president of India has approved the Rs 8580 crore viability gap funding (VGF) support for state-run generators to set up 12 GW of solar projects using domestically-made equipment over the next four years.
Low tariff comes out of Rajasthan 750 MW auction
Record-setting Acme Solar has secured a third of the latest procurement exercise in the state with a lowest bid of Rs2.48/kWh. The tender was oversubscribed by more than 100% as offers came in for 1,620 MW of capacity.
CleanMax Solar’s 736kWp rooftop plant is India’s largest for jail complex
The Gurugram-based commercial solar player has installed a 736 kWp rooftop solar plant at Mandoli Jail in Delhi. The power generated from the plant—built on ‘pay-as-you-go’ model—will cost about 50% cheaper than grid electricity.
