Policy

India’s budget disappoints a solar industry still hungry for clarity on duties, tariffs and additional support. Here is a breakdown of the budget’s main points, with reaction from industry.

With two new countries, the Republic of Guyana, and Togo, the number of nations to have ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA) framework agreement has reached 21. ISA will host 6th International Steering Committee (ISC) meeting on February 20.

The three-day exhibition and conference held in New Delhi organized various hands-on workshops and saw discussions on topics like mini and micro-grid systems, electric transportation, and the financial analysis for these sectors. The government has also announced the upcoming energy policy, placing storage at the core.

Indian Solar Manufacturing Association (ISMA) General Secretary, HR Gupta speaks to pv magazine about the petition filed by ISMA for safeguarding the domestic manufacturing sector. Gupta seeks to alleviate doubts regarding the safeguard duty and justifies the upcoming tariff by stressing that no derailment of projects will happen.

This week’s World Future Energy Summit (WFES) saw a letter of intent inked at the International Solar Alliance’s (ISA’s) pavilion to secure financing of up to US$5 billion with India’s YES Bank by 2030. MNRE head, R.K. Singh also announced a $350 million solar development fund by the Indian Government for solar projects.

Clarification on India’s solar domestic content requirement (DCR) under the country’s National Solar Mission has been made by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), after the U.S. again dragged India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for non-compliance.

The European Union as well as Brazil, China and Japan indicate their support for India in the WTO dispute against the U.S. Consensus appears to be that trade retaliatory measures are unjustified. The DSB chair concluded by noting the matter has been referred to arbitration in line.

The Indian government has introduced a number of subsidies under various categories of solar projects, from big PV parks to small rooftop and off-grid installations, in order to achieve its 100 GW solar target by 2022. The current status of the subsidies are summarized below.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India has postponed the 2 GW PV project tender until further notice. The company has also extended the deadline for expression of interest for setting up the solar manufacturing plant in India until January 29.

Adding another notch to India’s impressive solar growth, Delhi’s power utility company, BRPL has launched a solar city initiative to boost India’s solar PV rooftop sector.