Study: Indian Renewable energy to grow by 50% in 2019

Renewable energy capacity will increase in 2019 in India, by 50%, after a slowdown experienced in 2018, said the renewable energy consultancy Bridge to India in its latest outlook. With fresh plants being commissioned and adoption of new policy on battery storage, “2019 will also be the year when floating solar projects will add significant capacity to the country’s generation scene,” says Bridge to India report India RE 2019 Outlook.

India to bid out 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2028

India will auction out 500 GW of renewable (solar, wind) energy capacity by 2028 to meet its target of 40% power from non-fossil fuels by 2030. Speaking at India-Norway business summit, Renewable Ministry secretary Anand Kumar said: “Of this, 350 GW would come from solar, 140 GW from wind, and the remaining from small hydro, biomass. If we take large hydro into account the figure will grow to 560 GW to 575 GW. To reach this figure we have to bid out 30 GW of solar energy and 10 GW of wind energy every year.” India’s share of renewable energy in power generation is reaching 10%.

Paying GST on safeguard duty: developers say they are hit by huge cash crunch

Developers have complained that while safeguard duty was already causing a huge cash crunch in the solar projects, government has levied 5% Goods and Servies Tax on the amount of safeguard duty. “Solar power developers have been penalized to pay…even for the projects awarded prior to the SGD notification,” they said.  Government had said GST, that came into effect from July 1, 2017, will constitute a change in law event for the transmission service providers in India.

Safeguard Duty not helping interests of domestic manufacturers

Meanwhile, domestic manufacturers have complained that the safeguard duty that has been levied to protect their businesses is actually not helping them. They said, with the safeguard duty, the cost of an imported solar cell is about 12 cents, while Indian manufacturers have also been compelled to sell at that price, though their input cost is 13.5 cents per cell. Experts say, the safeguard import duty on solar modules imposed for two years, is a self-goal for the government, that has slowed down India’s power sector transition for nothing.

India finalizes bids for setting up over 8,000 MW wind power projects: RK Singh

Power Minister RK Singh said India will set up wind power projects of over 8,000 Megawatt (MW) capacity through Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC). The minister also said bids of 500 MW each have been finalized by the states of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. India current wind power capacity stands at 35 GW.

Rajasthan DISCOMS to pay power developers for excess solar energy fed into grid

Rajasthan has amended its metering regulations for rooftop and small solar systems, and under the new norms, power developers will be paid by the state DISCOMS for any excess electricity (above 50 units) that they pump into the grid –  at the average power purchase cost of the previous year.

Call for solar project bids: 500 MW for Gujarat, 300 MW for Haryana

Gujarat has called for bids for 500 MW grid connected solar photovoltaic power projects to be set up in Gujarat (Phase IV). A company can bid for a minimum capacity of 25 MW. Meanwhile, Haryana has floated tender for 300 MW of solar projects with a tariff ceiling of ₹3/kWh(~$0.043), in order to meet its renewable purchase obligation (RPO).

New building code for energy efficient homes announced

Centre has launched the ECO Niwas Samhita, which is the Energy Conservation Building Code for residential buildings (ECBC-R) to encourage energy efficiency in the design and construction of homes, apartments, and townships. Meanwhile, to promote ‘Make in India’ products, the government aims to develop 5 GW of solar projects with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the fourth batch of the National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase-II.

Indian Railways to spend Rs 12k crore by 2022 for 100% electrification

Indian Railways plans to spend Rs 12,134 crore by 2021-22 to electrify the remaining 13,675 km of its tracks and go 100% electric. It will also electrify 6,000 km in the current financial year (2018-19). Much of the work has been entrusted to IRCON, RITES and PGCIL.

Renewables overtake coal as Germany’s main energy source

2018 ended on a high for renewables in Germany, as they overtook coal as the country’s main source of power for the first time –  accounting for just over 40% of its electricity production. The feat is important as Europe’s biggest economy aims for renewables to provide 65% of its energy by 2030, while it looks to abandon nuclear power by 2022 and plans for a stable long-term exit from coal.

EESL raises long-term Rs 500-crore loan from PNB

State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL) has picked up its first rupee loan of Rs 500 crore from Punjab National Bank (PNB) to fund its flagship programmes – such as Street Lighting National Programme, Smart Meter National Programme, Solar Substation, and its e-mobility project.

Chinese solar plant reaches major milestone, dishes out cheaper power than coal

China’s two new 500MW solar power plants have reached a major price landmark as they will sell power at 0.316 yuan/kWh – which is cheaper than the benchmark 0.325 yuan/kWh price for coal power in the country. However the country is also grappling with inadequate power evacuation capacity, which may lead to wastage of the solar power it generates.

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