Markets

Industry body FICCI has recommended an extension of the FAME II Scheme by at least one year to 2023 as it feels change in the consumer behavior can impact the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the short term.

The market for drones in the power and utility industry will grow 23.6% annually, reaching $515 million by 2030—according to a Frost & Sullivan report.
The report, Drones in the Global Power and Utilities Industry, Forecast to 2030, cites ongoing digital transformation, remote monitoring, and the need to optimize operational costs as the factors driving increasing adoption of drones in the power and utility industry.
“Drones minimize the need to send human employees onsite and can be deployed for monitoring, operations, and maintenance services. As the global power and utility industry continues to tackle the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, drones can be potential game-changers in combating the challenges it poses,” as per the report.
pv magazine spoke to Supreeth Srinivasa Rao, Associate Director, Industrial Practice, Frost & Sullivan, to find out the role of drones in the solar sector, especially for India.

That’s a significant feat for the country which has pledged to bring down the energy intensity of the economy by 33 to 35% compared to 2005 levels by 2030.

While the solar and storage pairing is still relatively new, the growth over the next five years will be significant globally. As against just 5% in 2019, by 2025 more than 25% of all behind-the-meter solar systems will be paired with storage.

A study by the International Energy Agency into the chilling effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on energy demand states renewables will be ‘the only energy source likely to experience demand growth for the rest of 2020’. The slower the economic recovery, the more the fossil fuel industry will suffer.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has granted an extension till May 11 for the solar manufacturers and importers to file their responses as it probes the need for continuing with the imposition of safeguard duty on solar cells, whether or not assembled into modules.

Liquidity of solar generators remains largely unaffected as they have been receiving payments from Discoms regularly. Azure and Adani Green Energy restricted groups, in particular, have comfortable liquidity position and will be able to meet their mandatory expenditure in the next six to 12 months.

Developers have until June 30 to lodge bids to develop plots of solar capacity across the national rail network paying no more than Rs2.71/kWh for the electricity generated under a 25-year contract.

China’s Growatt emerged as the largest rooftop solar inverter supplier, claiming around 21% of the 1534 MW market, followed by rivals Solis (18%) and Sungrow (17%).

The draft Electricity Bill 2020 moves us with a toolbox of structural reforms, towards not only efficient but also a progressive electricity market.