Markets

The EV manufacturer with big solar ambitions has finally leveraged its expertise in power electronics technology and launched a solar inverter.

The rebranding to Saft Urja—from Amco Saft—reflects the battery manufacturer’s strategic approach to better leverage the Indian market. The company has also announced plans to increase its production capacity at Bangalore factory by 20%, enhance the workforce at its design office and launch new industrial battery products for India region.

Researchers in Norway have mapped all cropland areas that were abandoned between 1992 and 2015 and found that the vast majority is suitable for PV and bioenergy deployment. Around 30% is located in Asia, followed by the Americas, with a 28% share, and Africa, with a percentage of 22%. Europe and Oceania had shares of 20% and 5%, respectively.

A recent GOGLA report indicates an increasing trend towards hybrid power solutions that integrate DC solar with AC grid power, and appliances that integrate both AC and DC power. In particular, the sales of hybrid solar inverter UPS in India is growing at 25% annually, much faster than conventional inverters’ 10% annual market growth. 

The Solar Energy Corporation of India has issued amendments to the procurement and extended the bidding deadline a second time.

The U.S. authorities are currently subjecting imported bifacial modules to a 20% penalty – the same tariff applied to almost all other crystalline silicon solar modules.

India’s state-owned electricity distribution companies (Discoms) are in dire financial straits, as they owe some $16 billion to generators, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). Despite this, national PV auctions have been oversubscribed and are setting record low tariffs in the country, indicating strong interest from developers – if the Discom challenge can be overcome.

The state-run power company has invited engineering, procurement and construction services contractors and developers to bid for its solar project contracts, excluding the supply of PV modules. Applications can be submitted until November 19.

The Green (Renewable Energy) Term-Ahead Market traded 208 million units (MU) during October, representing a 151% growth month-on-month. Solar energy, at 173 MU, dominated the non-solar trade.

A TERI paper details how the state’s inefficient electric utility transformed into one of India’s most high-performing electricity distribution companies. The study provides a learning opportunity to other sector stakeholders from India and overseas.