Markets

Abu Dhabi based Masdar Clean Energy is in talks to acquire a 30-35% stake in Hero Future Energies. With the stake sale, the renewable energy arm of Hero Group expects to raise $300-350 million for its expansion into global markets, according to reports.

From a metallurgical engineer to India’s CNG warrior and later, the country’s Solar Man, Pranav Mehta’s story reads like a series of ‘renewable’ steps. In the first of pv magazine India’s new personality interview series, editor Preeti Verma Lal talks to the Global Solar Council’s new head. He discusses what’s on the to-do list and the strategies needed to succeed.

Electric car sales in India declined by 40 per cent to a mere 1,200 units in the financial year 2018 over the financial year 2017, while electric two-wheeler sales rose 138 per cent to 54,800 units during the same period—according to research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie.

The Indian government may impose anti-dumping duty of US$ 114.58 per tonne on tempered solar glass imports from Malaysia in order to provide a level playing field to domestic manufacturers.

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.

India may not meet its 175 GW of renewables by 2022 target if the sector continues to be plagued by policy inconsistency, DISCOM problems and other issues, say Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysts.

The plants at Patni and Lalgarh in West Bengal are expected to generate 1.55 million units of electricity per megawatt (MW) annually.

Although the solar industry sees itself as young, its assets are aging. Owners still struggle with the complexity of making the best use of big data analysis to improve plant efficiency and profitability. Ragna Schmidt-Haupt, of Everoze, examines why this has not changed, and what can or should be improved. Artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, automated assessments and smart monitoring software – holistic solar asset management starts here.

At the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, Tata Group and Adani have announced plans to invest in lithium ion battery manufacturing in Gujarat. Chromeni Steels, a joint venture company of China’s Tsingshan Industries, will invest US$ 3 billion to manufacture stainless steel and electric vehicle (EV) batteries.