Themed around “Right to Energy,” the 4th TILA International Conference on Energy (TICE 4) held recently in New Delhi aimed to accelerate the pace of energy revolution through intensive deliberations and concerted initiatives among countries. Well attended by over 400 delegates, the international event highlighted that energy is going to be the next big revolution after telecom.

Pune-based Electronica Finance Limited (EFL) has raised $10 million from a climate fund managed by Swiss impact investor responsAbility to diversify its SME lending offering and to expand into financing solar PV for the commercial and industrial markets.

Mobility company Shuttl will also set up more than 50 EV charging points in prime locations and state-run power distributor BSES Rajdhani Power Limited will invest in testing facilities to support stabilizing the grid for EV charging, as well as pilot schemes on effectively integrating renewable electricity into its network.

The floating solar power plant—to be developed by AM International’ Greenam Energy—will be located in Tuticorin plant of Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC). The power generated will be used to meet SPIC’s electricity requirements and the excess will be sold to the state power utilities.

Currently, the Mumbai-based solar EPC firm is executing 134.5 MWp of solar projects to be commissioned by September 2019. It expects to surpass cumulative installation of 350 MWp by the end of this financial year.

Asia is home to more than 60% of the world’s population, about half of whom live in cities and towns. With climate change being largely driven by urban centers, Vice President Naidu called upon governments across the continent to build climate resilient communities.

Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited (KBUNL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has invited bids for setting up of 500 KW of rooftop solar PV capacity on various buildings of its plant for Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Project in Bihar. The project will be awarded based on domestic competitive bidding. The deadline for bid submission is May 8.

With Narendra Modi being tipped to triumph again in the current Indian elections, Indian solar capacity is expected to grow robustly, at 15.3% per year, on the back of continued strong government support.

Storage companies are working with solar developers towards strategic alliances, says Naveen Sharma, Vice President-Sales & Strategic Planning, Exicom Power Solutions—an electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure developer that has set up an R&D centre in Bengaluru to facilitate development of lithium-ion battery packs. In an interview with pv magazine, Sharma also talked about the current scenario for Li-ion battery storage manufacturing in India and strategies to succeed.

Avaada Energy has raised the funds from the Asian Development Bank and European development institutions. The PV developer will use the amount to finance 2.4 GW of the 5 GW of solar capacity it hopes to secure over the next two years.