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The farming sector offers the largest green energy innovation opportunity, with rice transplanting, pesticide spraying and grain harvesting together having a market potential worth $40 billion – says the Council on Energy, Environment and Water.

Two of the world’s biggest players in the oil industry have backed the nation’s ambitious solar target – and are putting their money where their mouth is.

The nation installed 4.9 GW of solar, surpassing the USA – which installed 4.7 GW – to become the second largest solar market in the first half of the year, second only to China’s 24.3 GW.

November is the deadline for interested bidders, who will be permitted to use cells and modules with any origin in the plant, which is planned for Kayamkulam.

Factors including the ability to reach less credit worthy clients, standardised regulatory support and a rating mechanism for developers could promote rooftop solar uptake in India.

The global installation of photovoltaics is expected to reach the terawatt level within just five years, according to Bloomberg NEF. And with more than 99.1 GW of grid-connected solar installed in 2017, switching on to the importance of storage is key.

The bid submission deadline for the national 10 GW, inter-state PV project plus manufacturing tender is now November 12. According to officials, there are amendments to be made in the tender requirements, for which it is awaiting a ministerial mandate.

Ratings agency adds to pessimistic predictions about Indian solar with MNRE ambition of 34 GW of solar auctions next year at real risk. The news follows similar warnings about India’s 100 GW solar target.

The lowest solar tariff, of Rs3.17 per unit, was quoted by the NTPC utility and Maheshwari Mining and Energy, for 140 MW and 20 MW of grid connected PV capacity, respectively.

Sterling and Wilson wants to construct 200 MW of PV in Kazakhstan in the next two years and says it is eager to get a slice of the Uzbek market too.