Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) announced winners to set up 1.5 GW of electrolyser manufacturing capacities across India under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program. Reliance Electrolyser Manufacturing (Reliance), John Cockerill Green Hydrogen Solutions, Jindal India, won 300 MW per year capacity with a maximum incentive allocation of ₹4.44 billion (~$53.6 million) each. Adani New Industries won 198.5 MW/annum capacity with an incentive allocation of ~$35.49 million.
Homihydrogen won 101.5 MW/annum capacity with an incentive allocation of ₹1.5 billion (~$18.11 million). Other winners included Ohmium Operations, who won 137 MW/annum for a maximum incentive allocation of ₹2.03 billion (~$24.51 million), Advait Infratech (consortium with Rajesh Power Service) won 100 MW with an incentive allocation of ₹1.48 billion (~$17.87 million). L&T Electrolyzers won 63 MW out of the 300 MW per annum quoted capacity with an incentive allocation of ₹932.4 million (~$11.26 million).
Manufacturing must be set up within 24 months. The guaranteed life of electrolyzers must be at least 60,000 hours. The base incentive for both buckets will start at ₹4,440 (~$53.13)/kW in the first year and progressively reduce to ₹3,700 (~$44.68)/kW in the second year, ₹2,960 (~$35.74)/kW in the third year, ₹2,220 (~$26.81)/kW in the fourth year, and ₹1,480 (~$17.87)/kW in the fifth year.
India adds 10 GW of new solar in 2023
In 2023 solar installations fell by 28% compared to 2022 while wind installations rose 52% up year on year, according to a new report by JMK Research, PV Magazine reported. India installed 10,016 MW of solar and 2,806 MW of wind power in 2023. The decline in utility-scale solar installations was due to low tender issuance activity during the period from 2020 to 2022. The solar additions in 2023 included about 6.5 GW of utility-scale solar installations, 3 GW in the rooftop segment, and nearly 500 MW in the off-grid/distributed solar segment.
Rajasthan installed 2,193 MW large-scale PV capacity additions, followed by Gujarat (1,317 MW) and Maharashtra (979 MW). Gujarat led wind installations by commissioning more than 1,300 MW of new projects in 2023. India’s installed renewables capacity has now hit 133.89 GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Solar energy accounts for the largest share of around 55% of the total renewables capacity, followed by wind, the report stated.
Maharashtra Commission Says No to 50% RPO Procurement Within State
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has rejected a plea for a 50% renewable energy obligation (RPO) procurement mandate from projects within Maharashtra stating that
It was against the Electricity Act 2003 and that such restrictions on distribution licensees alone would be discriminatory, Mercom reported.
The report said, distribution licensees have the right to import more economic power from any location in the country. Currently, renewable energy project tariffs in Maharashtra are higher than in other states, so consumers in Maharashtra should be allowed access to more cost-effective power.
According to the report, Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) had sought directions for distribution licensees to meet 50% of the total RPO requirement by purchasing energy from renewable sources within the state as per the state’s Renewable Energy Generation Policy 2020. Tata Power Company – Distribution (TPC-D) supported MEDA’s proposal with suggestions for gradual implementation and coordination.
The state’s transport corporation, BEST Undertaking, said it had secured agreements for wind-solar hybrid power and solar power, which is expected to fulfill 98% of the RPO in FY 2025-26 through Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), with only 2.64% sourced from within the state, added Mercom report.
Tata Motors and Adani to invest in Telangana; Hero Futures to invest Rs 4,000 cr in clean technology projects in UP
Tata Motors will invest 150 billion rupees in Telangana, while the Adani portfolio of companies will invest over Rs 12,400 crore to set up a data centre, pump storage projects, a cement plant and counter drone and missile facilities in the state. The Hero group will invest Rs 4000 cr in clean technology in UP. The MoUs were signed in Davos.
Over the next 5-7 years Adani will set up RE-run Rs 5000 cr 100 MW data centre to work with local MSMEs to develop supplier base for the project. It will invest Rs 5000 cr to set up two pump storage projects. Adani-owned Ambuja Cements will build Rs 1,400 crore 6 million tonne a year (MTPA) cement plant and Adani Defence and Aerospace will invest another Rs 1,000 crore to set up counter drone and missile facilities.
Hero Future Energies currently has a portfolio of 3 GW of grid connected wind, solar, and rooftop solar power generating assets operating in India and Europe and another 2 GW of projects are in the pipeline across India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and UK.
Adani wins transmission project to evacuate 7 GW of renewable energy
Adani Energy Solutions (AESL), a power transmission and distribution company, will acquire Halvad Transmission from PFC Consulting (PFCCL) to evacuate 7 GW of renewable energy from the Khavda RE park in Gujarat. At a cost of ~$360.6 million Adani will own, run and maintain the over 301 km (656 ckm) transmission project for 35 years.
PFC Consulting, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation, invited bids to develop an interstate transmission system to evacuate 7 GW of power from the Khavda RE Park expected to have a generation capacity of 30,000 MW. Recently, Adani’s AESL commissioned the Karur Transmission project in Tamil Nadu, facilitating the evacuation of 2,500 MW of power from renewable sources in the Karur/Tiruppur Wind Energy Zone.
US announces rules to access credit to produce clean hydrogen
The U.S. announced rules to access billions of dollars in tax credits for producing low-carbon hydrogen using new clean energy sources, Reuters reported adding that the companies could get the credit based on the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from the power source used in hydrogen production, and ranges from 60 cents to $3 per kilogram.
“The 45V clean energy hydrogen production tax credit is an important part of our strategy to unlock private investment across sectors to build a clean energy economy and tackle the climate crisis,” John Podesta, a White House climate adviser, told reporters in a call.
To get the credit, hydrogen producers would have to prove they have used clean electricity built within three years that a hydrogen plant went into service.
About The Author
You may also like
India’s EV revolution: Are e-rickshaws leading the charge or stalling it?
India’s solar output grows at slowest pace in six years in first half of 2024
India’s solar expansion threatened by transformer shortage
India to invest $360 billion in RE, infra in next seven years: Moody’s
China leads in annual offshore wind developments for the sixth year in a row: Report
