Domestic manufacturers demand 4-yr extension on safeguard duties for solar imports

India plans to extend safeguard duty by another year on solar imports from China, Vietnam and Thailand at a rate of around 15%, to boost domestic manufacturing, but manufacturers want it to be levied for 4 years, PV magazine reported.

The duty is not enough to compete with cheaper Chinese imports as a state study shows solar imports are forcing Indian manufacturers to operate factories at reduced production capacities. Solar cell and module import volumes massively spiked to 9.79 GW in 2017-18, from 6,375 MW in 2016-17. 

The figure fell to 8.01 GW in 2018-19 after the duties were introduced. The government has also proposed to impose a 20-25% basic Customs duty on solar modules that will gradually go up to 40%.

Pandemic can’t stop RE? ReNew hikes salaries, plans to double projects to 20GW by 2025

Undeterred by the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s largest renewables energy company, Renew Power, plans to invest between ₹40,000 crore and ₹50,000 crore (nearly $266.7 million) to set up a 2GW solar cell and module manufacturing by 2025.

Experts pointed out there is  growing interest among companies to aggressively expand in RE. Gautam Adani’s Adani Green is also contesting to become a global leader with a capacity of 25,000 MW. Renew Power chairman and managing director Sumant Sinha told ET that despite COVID-19, the government has announced new bids keeping the companies enthused. 

Throughout the lockdown, ReNew Power managed to maintain its RE supply, which is also why it could give out salary increments ranging from 5% to 12% to its over 1,100 employees.

Adani Green liable to pay damages: Karnataka regulator cuts tariff, rejects Force Majeure claims over delayed solar project 

Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has said Adani Green is liable to pay damages In the case of delay in delivery of solar project. The attempt by the renewable energy company to get relief under the ‘Force Majeure’ clause has been rejected by the KERC.

Adani defaulted on a 20MW solar power project, at a tariff of ₹4.92 (~$0.066)/kWh, for which it had signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Karnataka discom Chamundeswari Electricity Supply Company Limited (CESCL). Adani cited imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the demonetization, and delays in releasing imported modules by port authorities as the force majeure events.

It further sought extension of time. The regulator rejected all claims, including the request about the tariff and reduced the tariff to ₹4.36 (~$0.058)/kWh over the delay in the commissioning of the project.

Rajasthan ups solar energy target; Tamil Nadu inks solar MoUs; Delhi, K’taka govt roofs await solar installations 

Rajasthan is set to get over 1,070MW of grid-connected solar PV energy projects through Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The state has set a target of meeting 21% of its total energy needs from solar sources by 2023-24. The government expects the new capacity to further reduce the cost of power.

The Tamil Nadu inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a ₹10,000 crore investment, including in solar power. This will create 13,507 jobs in the state in solar cells, data centres and industrial parks, state release said. 

Karnataka’s Tumakuru Smart City released a tender for 1.2MW of rooftop solar projects on government buildings in the city against an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹6,00,000 (~$8,040) for the proposed capacity.

Delhi discom Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited has issued a 98-day extension for the completion of its 21.5MW of rooftop solar projects to be developed on government buildings in Delhi. 

Tata Power Green was offered a 225MW solar-wind hybrid project from its Mumbai-based distribution company (DISCOM) – TataPower Mumbai Distribution. Tata will supply power to the DISCOM under a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 25 years.

Ukraine’s new law drastically cuts RE tariffs to clear massive debt to energy companies  

To get rid of mounting unpaid bills and pacify angry renewable energy power developers, Ukraine has passed a law that significantly reduces high tariffs set up years ago. With the slowdown worsening because of the pandemic, the high tariffs have become a burden for the state.

The government has decided to reduce tariffs by 15% for solar generation and by 7.5% for wind generation. The government expects the new law will help reduce prices for solar and wind energy, as well as achieve green goals and protect international investors. The state’s debt to green energy companies from January to June 2020 amounts to $526 million.

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