Asia

Panasonic has unveiled a new product in Japan with a PV-based charging function that uses a heat pump and hot water storage unit to save energy by maintaining bathwater temperatures at constant levels.

The Indian multinational EPC solutions provider has been awarded a 245MW solar power project in Rajasthan, and a 35MW(AC) PV capacity with 57MWh battery energy storage system in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

The present system of the energy sector is centralized due to which the prosumer’s and consumers’ direct connection is yet to be formed. It’s due to persisting challenges like transaction efficiency, security and data transparency in the Indian energy market. The blockchain is a data-driven technology that helps create a very transparent process in data sharing among the peers involved in the system and sort out the challenges persisting in the energy market.

The solar power project, located in the Bhadla region, will supply power to Solar Energy Corporation of India for 25 years at a tariff of INR 2.58 (US 3.7 cents) per kWh. 

The Indian multinational business conglomerate has signed the agreement to buy Netherlands-headquartered lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery specialist Lithium Werks for US$ 61 million, including funding for future growth.

The solar cells production capacity is also expected to jump to 18GW in two years from just 4GW currently.   

The proposed solar power capacity, to be developed across the State, will be combined with adequate battery storage systems to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to the consumers.

The Indian solar manufacturing sector is set for a boom in the coming years, due to the country’s enormous appetite for solar and policy support in the form of import duties and local production incentives. On the technology side, a few players are already looking at n-type TOPCon cells, but their embrace by the majority has been slow to materialize, due to the high investment costs that are required. This ensures that the build-out of new PERC capacity will continue over the short term.

The nation’s cumulative solar capacity surpassed 50GW by the end of December last year.

The Northeastern State, which meets most of its power requirement from hydroelectricity, will have a 20MW solar plant developed by Telangana based Halo Energie.