Finance

The high-level committee formed by Andhra Pradesh government to review and renegotiate the signed power purchase agreements with wind and solar power developers has the potential to impair the cash flows of projects in the sector.

Up to Rs7 lakh of funding assistance per megawatt will be available to developers who deploy PV capacity for consumption by public entities. The energy produced will be supplied with a Rs3.50/kWh ceiling tariff and projects will be subject to strict domestic content requirements.

Long regarded as a solar pioneer, the state has now announced grand plans to shoulder the burden of 17% of the nation’s clean energy ambition as India races to install 175 GW of clean energy capacity in just three-and-a-half years.

Proposals by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments, Jaipur to set up solar-based EV charging infrastructure have received funding under the government’s FAME India scheme. These projects will come up at Delhi NCR, Udyog Bhwan, and Delhi-Jaipur-Delhi, Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai as well as Delhi-Chandigarh-Delhi highways.

Previously, a mere €240 million (Rs1,870 crore) was set to flow into the giga-factory. The corporation’s management reasoned new demand for its battery cells made more investment necessary.

The state government will defy a ministerial order not to renegotiate signed deals after leadership of the legislative assembly changed hands in May’s elections. Consultancy Bridge to India says the contracts are legally binding but the move will shake investor confidence nevertheless.

The US-based impact investor will invest in specialized financial institutions in India that can develop and scale commercial rooftop solar finance solutions, serving an estimated US$ 9 billion market opportunity.

Indian solar manufacturers are facing a double whammy with USA removing preferential trade status for India and safeguard duty imposed by India nearing fall to 20% from July 2019. Struggling to find domestic as well as export markets, they expect the government to focus on policy direction, not just expenditure.

The reference capital cost for developing solar projects in Karnataka has risen this year despite continuing falls in component prices.

Solar Energy Corporation of India was given a Rs 500 crore cash pot to help developers in February, but that clearly wasn’t enough, as a second newly announced scheme underscores just how much financial distress the country’s state power companies are in.