SECI invites global bids for 2.5 GW solar projects in Karnataka
The interstate transmission system (ISTS) connected projects—to be developed on build-own-operate basis in the Koppal Solar Park—shall be awarded through international competitive bidding followed by reverse auction. Bids can be submitted till May 29.
The long read: The right tools and tenders for building a quality framework in India
“Quality control is expensive.” This common misperception is largely responsible for many of the product defects, design mistakes, and bad practices in the construction and commissioning of PV plants in several markets around the world. Strong downward price pressure underlined by reverse-auctions has created a false assumption that a budget for quality control is not necessary – as PI Berlin’s work in India is revealing.
Interview with U-Solar on making the most of the lockdown
In an interview with pv magazine, U-Solar Clean Energy founder and CEO K.R. Harinarayan shares the impact of Covid-19 lockdown on their solar EPC projects and how they are utilizing this time productively.
L&T bags 500 MW solar EPC contracts
Larsen & Toubro has secured EPC orders totaling 500 MW grid-connected solar capacity, in addition to significant contracts in India and overseas for power transmission and distribution.
MNRE extends ALMM enlistment date for solar cell and module manufacturers
Due to temporary disruptions caused by Covid-19 epidemic and the current lockdown, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified six months extension in the effective dates for the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). The list is now set to apply from the end of September 2020.
Hitachi gets CCI nod to buy 80.1% stake in ABB’s power grid arm
Japan-based Hitachi will buy an 80.1% per cent stake in the Swiss major’s power grids business in a deal that values its grid business at US$ 11 billion.
Affordable storage technologies key to bringing solar energy to scale in India
Earlier this year, when a landmark tender by India’s nodal agency for solar energy, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), concluded the largest solar-cum-storage tender globally (~3 GWh of storage connected to 1.2 GW of solar), it highlighted a critical challenge India faces in bringing solar energy to scale: battery storage technologies.
Covid-19 impact on India’s energy storage industry
The onset of Covid-19 has brought into focus the critical importance of indigenization and localization of battery cells as a series of disruptions in the supply chain for Li-ion batteries will also affect Indian electric vehicles and stationary energy storage market.
European investor ThomasLloyd, SolarArise launch 75 MWp solar project in Uttar Pradesh
The project—requiring investment of 34.9 million euros—will be built by EPC contractor Jakson with modules supplied from JA Solar.
Tata Power Solar bags 300 MW CPSU II project from NTPC
The grid-connected solar project—scheduled for commissioning in September 2021—is valued at Rs 1730.16 crore and will be developed using Tata Power’s own cells and modules.
