Tamil Nadu

Fuel cell systems provide sustainable electricity using hydrogen gas without the need of grid power as required by conventional battery backup systems, making them highly useful for applications like Emergency Operation Centres which need to respond immediately during an emergency situation with state-of-the-art communication systems.

Following a 20 MW floating solar project in Uttar Pradesh last month, Larsen & Toubro has won an order to design and construct a 50 MW solar plant in Tamil Nadu.

Having touched 1404 MW of renewable capacity as on January 31, 2020, the state-owned producer aims to add further 2847 MW to reach 4251 MW (4 GW from solar and 251 MW wind) by 2025.

Scientists in India have tested a new inverter topology with a single-phase, induction-motor water pump. The seven-level inverter, with five power semiconductor switches, is said to be particularly efficient at reducing switching losses thanks to a pulse width modulation technique.

Capacity additions for the current fiscal year are set to exceed the previous accounting period’s 8,532 MW. With Rs405 billion invested in clean energy in the last fiscal year, spending in the first nine months of 2019-20 has been estimated at Rs367 billion.

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited seeks to procure 90 million units/annum of solar or solar-wind hybrid power, or 72 million units/annum of wind power through tariff based competitive bidding. Tariff ceiling is fixed at Rs 3.50/KWh for 25 years. Bidding closes on February 13.

Norwegian analyst Rystad Energy has predicted the stop on PV tenders in Karnataka will see Rajasthan become India’s leading solar state this year. The market research firm expects India to add only 10 GW new solar in 2020, however, and the same figure in 2021.

The Chennai-based solar EPC contractor and trader, which formed SIL Rooftop Solar as the new subsidiary in October, has included battery-based energy storage as a focus area in addition to renewable energy projects.

January 4 is the last date to bid for the plants that are to be developed in capacities of 10 KWp to 50 KWp atop government buildings. Bids must be accompanied with bank guarantee of Rs 750,000.

The university researchers will provide expertise in the operation and management of lithium-ion batteries, environmental test facilities for battery modules and advanced battery analysis techniques.