Utility-scale PV

Hindustan Powerprojects has executed more than 350 MWp in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea and the U.K. since its establishment in 2008. It claims to have been the largest solar project developer in the UK from 2011-13 and commissioned its first utility-scale project in India in Tamil Nadu in 2010. In an interview with pv magazine, Lalit Jain, CEO for the firm’s international solar business, shared his experience from developed markets, and what it takes to be successful doing business overseas.

Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) has invited bids for setting up cumulative 200 MW grid-connected solar PV power capacity in the state. The projects would be awarded based on tariff-based international competitive bidding.

The cost of wind would fall to Rs 2.3-2.6/kWh, while solar tariff would reduce to Rs 1.9-2.3/kWh. The cost of storage will fall by about 70%, according to a report.

The payment security fund administered by SECI will ensure late payments by debt-laden discoms will not affect solar developers. The government is considering a levy on PV projects to help maintain the fund.

The project is one among 300 odd projects worth Rs 65,000 crore including solar parks to be launched during a ground breaking ceremony in Kanpur later this month.

Owing to the general elections this year, little progress on the policy front is expected in the near term, according to the report.

Developers will have to provide operation and maintenance services for ten years for the project at Kasargod Solar Park. The deadline for bid submission is in two weeks.

The Philippines-based solar major will develop around 500 MW of solar capacity in India, which it describes as having favourable regulatory environment.

Considering the remarkable advances made by the solar sector since the Rio ‘Earth Summit’ of 1992, PV was notable by its absence at the Convention of Parties climate change summit held by the UN in Poland.

The last 10 years have seen India emerge as a solar superpower, setting an example from which many emerging countries in Africa and Southeast Asia are eager to learn.