Utility Scale PV

India could employ one million new workers through the deployment of 339 GW of wind and grid-connected solar systems (utility-scale solar and rooftop solar) between FY2021-22 and FY2029-30 if the nation were to meet its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target. The bulk of the new jobs would be created by small projects like roof-top solar and mini and microgrids.

Bidders have until March 4 to lodge their interest for the solar projects to be developed anywhere in India.  

The State-owned hydropower producer will set up grid-connected solar power plants in the state and sell the electricity generated at an INR 3.11/kWh tariff under a 25-year PPA with the State Discoms.

The Bengaluru-based renewable energy developer, with the total management and developmental portfolio of over 3 GW (AC) across India, aims to achieve a portfolio mix of 10 GW (AC) by 2025. 

The state-owned power company, a partner of the International Solar Alliance, will help the Cuban government with developer selection and the signing of project agreements and will oversee solar plant implementation up to commissioning.

Director Nidhi Gupta told pv magazine that the company had signed the agreement to invest INR 500 crore (US$67.2 million) in building a 120 MW solar park in the Bikaner district of the State. The solar park will provide plug-and-play infrastructure for captive solar projects.

Tata Power’s renewable energy capacity in operation has swelled to 3,055 MW (2,123 MW of solar and 932 MW wind) with the latest addition of 50 MW PV plants each at Prayagraj and Banda. 

Bidders have until February 1 to apply for the engineering, procurement, and construction of 220 MW of grid-connected solar projects anywhere in Gujarat.

Only the solar products and manufacturers making to the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) will now be eligible for open access and net-metering projects—in addition to government-backed projects—installed in the country. These include projects set up for sale of electricity to the Government under Section 63 of Electricity Act, 2003. The amendment shall apply to renewable energy projects which apply for open access or net-metering facility from April 1, 2022.

Sand and dust are a PV plant operator’s worst nightmare. Performance losses due to soiling, or “the dust effect,” are a cause for innovation among O&M providers, particularly in dry and dusty regions that are otherwise ideal locations for large-scale solar installations. Yazeed Al-Mousa examines the latest robotic cleaning solutions, as well as the software and sensors that help plant operators with the tricky economic decision of when to actually start cleaning.