NHPC mulling 600 MW solar park in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh
The state-owned hydropower producer recently met PV developers represented by the National Solar Energy Federation of India to discuss the project’s technical feasibility on an island.
Solar lobby group seeks blanket deadline extension till November 30
The National Solar Energy Federation of India said the project timeline relaxation provided by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is insufficient as construction continues to be severely hampered. Labour exodus and procurement delays (due to restrictions on international travel) are among the reasons affecting project progress.
India sets new record-low solar tariff of Rs2.36/kWh
The winning bid, for 300 MW of generation capacity by Spanish developer Solarpack in a 2 GW auction is 3.3% lower than the previous record of Rs2.44.
NSEFI demands 12-month blanket extension of ISTS charges and losses waiver
The lobby group has asked the ministry that the interstate transmission charges waiver be extended to cover solar and wind projects that get commissioned up to December 31, 2023. It also recommended that the waiver be linked to bidding, allowing projects commissioned within 36 months from the award of contract to avail the exemption, even if they get commissioned beyond December 31, 2023.
India’s renewables-plus-storage tenders mark a new beginning with highly competitive tariffs: NSEFI
The recently concluded 400 MW renewables auction to supply 24-hour electricity saw winning bid of INR2.90/kWh—a new milestone after peak+off-peak tariff of INR4.07 was achieved in January’s 1.2 GW auction demanding assured power supply during peak demand hours.
Chaturvedi appointed as the new MNRE Secretary
A 1987-batch IAS of Jharkand cadre, Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi will replace Anand Kumar who has been assigned the Ministry of Culture.
Covid-19 lockdown: MNRE asks Discoms not to stop payments to renewable power producers
The clarification came after States reacted wrongly to the power ministry’s recent order providing a moratorium on conventional power payments and started stopping payments or curtailing renewable power.
Covid-19: The right treatment for India’s solar sector with comorbidities
This article talks about the areas the government needs to address both immediately and in the long run to help the ailing solar industry in the country.
Covid-19: MNRE terms utility-scale solar power generation ‘essential service,’ allows related material and personnel movement
The ministry further announced waiver from section 144, Nationwide Lockdown, Curfew, or any other limitation on the number of people required for operation and maintenance of solar power plants. The directive came a day after lobby group National Solar Energy Federation wrote to the ministry asking for waivers.
Ministry explores alternatives to bank guarantees for solar projects
Lobby group the National Solar Energy Federation of India has welcomed the move and asked the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to extend any such measures to existing contracts to help developers meet working capital requirements.
