De-risking, financing and capacity building high on ISA agenda – Interview
The iSTAR-C program of India’s International Solar Alliance (ISA) was adjudged an outstanding project during the Paris Peace Forum this month. The program is one of many ISA initiatives to develop solar resources in member countries. After the first assembly of the ISA, interim Director-General Upendra Tripathy tells pv magazine about the organization’s achievements and plans.
NTPC to procure 1 GW of power from existing solar and wind projects
India’s largest power company is set to make a statement of intent with procurement, and has set a first round bid ceiling of Rs2.67 for the reverse bidding auction. Successful bidders will secure a one-year PPA which can be extended by six months.
Tamil Nadu floats 500 MW solar tender with tariff cap
Supervising authority has given the state distribution company the green light to conduct three 500 MW solar tenders. The move marks the first procurement exercise held by TANGEDCO in almost 12 months.
Q3 solar exports jump 223%, imports up by 38%
After a downbeat second quarter this year, India’s solar industry perked up in Q3 with solar exports jumping 223% and imports increasing 38% over the Q2 CY 2018 numbers.
The long read: Getting rolling
The first companies are demonstrating that today it can be worthwhile commercially to back electric vehicles in combination with solar generation and storage. Particularly in the case of public charging stations, solar power used for electric vehicle charging could become the basis for a profitable operator model in the future.
Exide Industries JV partner prepares for debt restructuring
Historic Swiss brand Leclanché is on an expansionist trail, notably in India and low-carbon shipping, but restructuring its debts will involve ceding even more control of the venerable company to institutional investors.
Government again attempts to woo foreign manufacturers
Ministry of Science and Technology has reissued a plea for overseas solar companies to partner up with Indian concerns to kick-start production lines.
Double blow for SECI as mega tenders are met with apathy
Only three bidders have come forward for huge manufacturing-linked solar and solar-wind hybrid procurement exercises. The separate auctions – originally intended to drive 12.5 GW of new generation and 5 GW of manufacturing capacity – prompted figures of just 3.05 GW and 600 MW, respectively.
Solar leads renewables charge – but not fast enough
Latest forecasts predict capacity expansions of ever cheaper PV and wind power generation up to 2030 will do little to dethrone king coal in India.
Canadian Solar buys Suzlon’s 30 MW projects in Telangana
Suzlon Energy has sold subsidiaries Amun Solarfarms and Avighna Solarfarms to Canadian Solar for Rs545 million. The company set up the units as special purpose vehicles for two solar projects of 15 MW each, at Ramannapet and Kamareddy.
