Utility Scale PV

Solar-wind and wind-only projects will be set up in centralized renewable energy parks along the lines of successful solar installations to keep power evacuation simple, under the terms of the state’s new land policy.

State-owned NLC India Ltd – formerly the Neyveli Lignite Corporation – has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Tamil Nadu to set up a 1 GW solar project in the state.

Prices ranging from Rs2.84-2.89 have been deemed too costly by the state as the foreign developers who posted the lowest bids blamed high charges at the Raghanesda Solar Park where the projects had to be based.

Avaada Power and Adani lead the way with each bidding for half the 1 GW of capacity available, after the state distribution company raised the maximum tariff and extended the bid deadline.

The solar industry seeks tailor-made financing options for end consumers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro SMEs (MSMEs), in addition to supportive and stable government policies to ensure speedier progress.

India Ratings and Research has maintained a stable-to-negative outlook on India’s power sector for FY2019-20 owing to issues such as slower resolution of the stressed [coal based thermal] capacity, domestic coal unavailability, and reluctance of DISCOMs to sign long-term power purchase agreements. The outlook is not sunny for solar either.

Sources have told pv magazine the authorities are ready to restart the nation’s residential rooftop segment and have also agreed upon subsidy payments for other distributed generation and utility-scale projects.

Delhi-based solar developer Azure Power had bid for a 2 GW project on a single site, as well as 600 MW of manufacturing capacity. According to reports, the government has rejected the bid, however, stating that the quoted price is unreasonable.

The fate of the clutch of 500 MW-plus projects due to break ground this year could determine whether such ambitious schemes have a viable future, says Wood Mackenzie in its solar 2019 forecast. And the Indian market should brace for consolidation, add the analysts, because of aggressive reverse-auction tariff pricing.

Talesun Solar Switzerland is a subsidiary of Zhongli Talesun Solar, which has module manufacturing capacity of 2.8 GW per annum and over 6 GW solar assets across the globe.