The long read: Whipping up inertia
Once a natural phenomenon – a fortuitous byproduct of thermal generation – the weaning off of coal has made the emulation of inertia a priority for grid operators. It will be a few more years in most markets before a solution becomes needed with any great urgency. However, some markets have needed to come up with solutions – are they a portal into the future of grids dominated by renewables and power electronics?
Nalanda University to get a 5 MW solar plant
Bids are invited from government-owned entities to set up a ground-mounted, grid-connected solar plant at the university’s campus in Bihar. The plant is to be installed in EPC mode. Bidding closes on November 27.
BHEL tenders BOS for NTPC’s 20 MW Gandhar project
Bids are invited for supply, installation and commissioning of balance-of-system (BOS) items for NTPC’s 20 MW (AC) grid-connected solar plant in Gujarat. Bidding closes on November 10.
Towards a distributed solar energy future
A study by Auroville Consulting assesses the techno-commercial impact of generating solar power close to the point of consumption. The study was undertaken on ten feeders of a substation in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu. The results indicated that 100% solar energy penetration, in energy terms, is not only possible but a winning proposition, especially for the distribution companies.
Reliable electricity access and customer satisfaction key to DISCOM performance, says study
A joint study by Smart Power India, an arm of US-based impact investor Rockefeller Foundation, and government thinktank NITI Aayog, evaluates the status of electricity access in India across different states and benchmarks distribution utilities’ capacity to provide electricity access. It also offers recommendations to help DISCOMs realize their full potential.
Uttarakhand seeks installers for solar plants under self-employment scheme
Developers have until November 30 to lodge their interest with Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) to install and support PV plants for beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana. A total of 10,000 solar power plants (in sizes up to 25 kWp) are proposed to be set up under the scheme.
Madhya Pradesh tenders for 30 MW rooftop solar
Developers have until November 27 to bid for the grid-connected solar projects. The capacity—to be developed in RESCO mode—shall come in various public and private sector buildings across the state. Bidding closes on November 27.
Indexed renewable energy tariffs could save discoms up to INR 21,880 crore over five years
A joint report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (Ieefa) and the CEEW-Centre for Energy Finance (CEF) has recommended indexed tariff structure over flat rate for future renewable capacity, with front-ending tariffs as low as INR 2/kWh, to ease near-term financial pressure on discoms.
Sterling and Wilson to build solar+storage hybrid power plant in Niger
The latest project is another African opportunity for the India-based EPC player after successfully commissioning Nigeria’s first solar-plus-storage hybrid power plant, which is also Africa’s largest battery energy storage system.
Tata Power awarded 100 MW project at Gujarat’s Dholera Solar Park
The developer secured the grid-connected solar capacity in a 700 MW auction by state utility Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited which had a tariff ceiling of INR2.92/kWh.
