Uma Gupta
1.2 GW solar auction sees slight rise in tariffs
As against the all-time low of Rs 2.44 per unit recorded in July last year, the latest SECI auction saw the lowest winning tariff of Rs 2.55 per unit offered by ReNew Power. Other winners included Azure Power, Eden Renewable and SoftBank-backed SB Energy.
Field-installable solar panel coating gets funding boost
US-based Pellucere Technologies, Inc. has secured funding to commercialize its MoreSun coating that increases solar module energy output by more than 4%.
Concessional finance can make solar and batteries cost-competitive faster: BNEF
The higher the cost of a technology, the greater the potential impact concessional finance can make. For a lithium-ion battery project, reducing capital costs by even one percentage point can reduce energy generation costs by $10/MWh.
Solar EVA sheets attract AD duty for five years
Following a petition by domestic manufacturers seeking legal protection under anti-dumping laws, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies has recommended the imposition of duties ranging from $537-1,559/metric ton on solar ethylene vinyl acetate sheets imported from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
ReNew Power secures fresh $350 million from US investor
The Gurugram-based independent power producer has secured fresh debt financing of up to US$ 350 million from the US government-owned Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). This follows an earlier round of financing in March 2016 when OPIC had granted a loan of US$ 250 million to ReNew Power.
Gujarat to set up 100 MW solar PV project atop Narmada canal
The state-owned Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam will set up the 100 MW solar project atop branch canals of river Narmada at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore. Four locations in central Gujarat have already been identified for the project.
Greenko raises fresh $550 million from Singapore and Abu Dhabi investors
This is the third round of Greenko investment by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC Holdings and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), taking their total in the Indian renewable energy firm to $2 billion.
Sungrow crosses 3 GW of PV inverter sales in India, eyes 5 GW by 2020
The Chinese solar PV inverter manufacturer expects to touch 3.5-3.6 GW of sales by March 2019 in the country. Expanding its lineup, it plans to launch inverters for residential sector too in the second half of the current year.
Government approves Rs46,000 crore for KUSUM and rooftop solar
The government of India has approved central financial support of more than Rs46,000 crore by 2022 to promote solar among farmers and in the residential sector. The KUSUM scheme for farmers has been allocated Rs34,422 crore and the rooftop solar program Rs11,814 crore.
Q4 utility-scale solar down 46%: Bridge To India
India’s utility-scale solar capacity addition during October-December 2018 went down 46 per cent over the corresponding period of 2017. In contrast, rooftop solar grew strongly at 47 per cent.
