A few policy tweaks would boost renewable energy investment, says IEEFA India
Removal of solar trade duties, discom reforms, and better central-state government coordination are prerequisites to increase renewable project development in the country.
Gujarat tenders 685 MW grid-connected solar capacity
Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd has invited global bids to set up 500 MW of grid-connected solar projects. It shall enter into a 25-year PPA with successful bidders. Tariff ceiling is set as Rs 2.65/unit. Another tender for 185 MW—floated by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited—seeks to select EPC contractors for plants ranging from 20 MW to 40 MW, which shall come up at various substations of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited.
Total to buy 50% stake in Adani Group’s 2.1 GW solar portfolio
The French oil and gas giant—which is already a partner in Adani’s natural gas business—will now invest US$ 510 million to buy 50% stake in 2,148 MWac operating solar power projects owned by Adani Green Energy Limited.
Renewable energy: 7,592 MW commissioned in first nine months of the fiscal year
Capacity additions for the current fiscal year are set to exceed the previous accounting period’s 8,532 MW. With Rs405 billion invested in clean energy in the last fiscal year, spending in the first nine months of 2019-20 has been estimated at Rs367 billion.
SECI invites global bids for 14 MW solar with 42 MWh battery storage in Ladakh
The project will be awarded to the bidder who quotes the lowest viability gap funding requirement. The upper limit for VGF to be quoted by a bidder is kept at Rs 130 million for 1 MW solar PV project with battery storage of 3 MWh.
A new technique to get the right angular-tilt
US scientists are proposing a new approach to calculating the optimum angular-tilt of PV panels for a planar surface at a particular site. In their view, the new technique may unlock innovative yield optimization methods for the installation of PV systems.
Togo selects NTPC as PMC for 300 MW solar project
With this, the West African nation becomes the first International Solar Alliance (ISA) member to avail services of NTPC. Presently, there are six programmes of the ISA to develop solar capacities in member countries, which include agricultural pumps, mini grids, rooftop solar, large-scale grid connected projects, etc.
European investor EQT and Singapore’s Temasek launch renewable energy JV in India
Led by Indian developer Renew Power’s former CEO Parag Sharma, the joint venture by these global investors aims to install over 4 GW of utility-scale capacity across solar and wind projects.
Engie sells controlling stake in 813 MW Indian solar portfolio
Mumbai investor Edelweiss Group will gain a controlling stake in the generation assets in a deal which Engie says will allow it to reduce its debt by Rs3,160 crore.
DISCOM reforms, access to finance key to solar uptake
Power distribution reforms and scaling up of solar adoption among MSMEs through captive renewable energy policy and comprehensive Credit Guarantee Mechanism are among measures expected from the budget.
