Growing awareness of quality, but still a need for more
There is no doubting the tough environmental challenges facing PV modules and systems among the varied climactic conditions of India. These conditions have created earlier failures than seen in mature solar markets, with less diverse temperature fluctuations, such as Europe. DuPont’s Rajaram Pai says awareness of this is growing, however more needs to be done.
Trina Solar launches India’s first PV residential kit
Chinese PV manufacturer, Trina Solar today launched its TrinaHome product in New Delhi. It is India’s first solar residential home kit. While it is currently imported from China, the goal is to assemble it locally, in the coming months.
Solar-Log makes debut in India
German solar monitoring company SDS has announced a strategic partnership with developer iPLON India. The established Solar-Log system will help India’s drive to raise quality standards in PV.
SECI extends 3 GW manufacturing-linked solar auction by two weeks
After a pre-bid meeting with solar power developers on September 6, India’s Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is looking to amend the tender document, which it hopes to upload to its website in the coming days, following approval from the ministry, according to a SECI spokesperson.
Suzlon partners with CLP for 70 MW solar capacity in Maharashtra
CLP India will acquire a 49% stake in Suzlon’s 50 MW and 20 MW solar projects in Dhule, Maharashtra. These two projects were won by Suzlon through competitive bidding in auctions by the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI). As per the power purchase agreement signed, the tariff rate is fixed for 25 years at 4.115 INR/kWh for 20 MW and 3.66 INR/kWh for 50 MW.
India’s first solar bike track corridor to open next March
India’s first solar bicycle track corridor, which is set to generate around 6 MW of clean power daily, is scheduled to be operational in March 2019. Covering 12 km, the corridor will stretch from Mubarka Chowk to Wazirabad in New Delhi’s Outer Ring Road.
500 MW Gujarat solar tender oversubscribed 4 times
Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL)’s re-tender of the annulled 500 MW grid-connected solar PV tender has been oversubscribed by almost four times. Technical bids aggregating 1,925 MW have been submitted against the tendered capacity of 500 MW.
MNRE proposes shorter commissioning time for solar projects
To meet its 100 GW solar target by 2022, India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed shortening the commissioning period for solar projects.
PV installations in Q2 fall by half
In the second quarter, India installed solar projects amounting to 52% less capacity quarter-over-quarter, due to uncertainties around trade cases, module price fluctuations, and PPA renegotiations prompted by record low solar tender bids.
Government focuses on PV quality concerns
The award of the nation’s first solar project quality certificate may signal a renewed determination by the federal authorities to crack down on low-quality panels – with Far Eastern imports firmly in their sights.
