Tamil Nadu

Program aims to drive down the cost of solar electricity to a maximum of Rs2.50/kWh in a nation where tariffs vary wildly from state to state.

The investment will be used to establish an extra-high-voltage transmission link between Virudhunagar and Coimbatore to transfer the additional generation capacity of 9 GW, including 6 GW from renewables, by 2025 to meet the increased power demand in the Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor.

The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) observed that Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC), in its Solar Tariff Order dated March 28, 2016, determined the tariff/capital cost without cogent or adequate reasoning while also being divergent from its own regulations.

The Chennai-based solar components trader and EPC installer expects a surge in tenders for distributed rooftop solar plants across India with guaranteed purchase of power by government enterprises to reduce their energy costs.

Range anxiety continues to be an obstacle to electric vehicle take-up but the nation’s willingness to embrace car-sharing and other workarounds offers plenty of promise to the sector, according a World Economic Forum report.

Continuing delays in payments from utilities, regulatory uncertainty on tariff matters and tight financing have hit the industry hard.

With commissioning of the balance 351 MW of projects in four districts of Tamil Nadu, the state-run power producer has completed the entire 709 MW solar capacity awarded by utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation.

The financial failings of India’s electric companies have once again come to the fore as the power minister warned the seven worst offending states the lengthening debts they owe renewables developers could be recovered via the National Company Law Tribunal.

With this addition, the total installed renewable energy capacity of the state-owned power generator has exceeded 1 GW.

The plant—located at Maranthai and Pudur Villages in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu—is part of 709 MW solar power projects awarded by utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation.