The Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids to set up 1.2 GW of grid-connected solar under the fifth phase of its national interstate transmission system program. The projects – to be established on a build, own, operate basis – will be awarded through e-bidding and a reverse auction with a tariff ceiling of Rs2.65/kWh. Bidding closes on July 31.

The European Union and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have jointly launched standard operation procedures and monitoring tool for Indian solar parks. While the procedures will help to ensure consistency of standards across solar parks, the online monitoring tool will allow better tracking of the solar parks development and operation.

The US-based impact investor will invest in specialized financial institutions in India that can develop and scale commercial rooftop solar finance solutions, serving an estimated US$ 9 billion market opportunity.

A World Trade Organization panel has found a U.S. move to incentivize the use of domestic solar products put imported goods from India and other countries at a disadvantage.

The company recently bagged a total capacity of 480 MW in Gujarat, including 200 MW wind and 280 MWp solar. Its 338 MWp solar project at Kadapa Solar Park in Andhra Pradesh has also gone live.

With Karnataka withdrawing open access waivers and the policy not replicated elsewhere, corporate buyers are increasingly favouring group captive projects that are exempt from the cross-subsidy surcharge—the largest and most unpredictable component of grid charges for open access power.

Indian solar manufacturers are facing a double whammy with USA removing preferential trade status for India and safeguard duty imposed by India nearing fall to 20% from July 2019. Struggling to find domestic as well as export markets, they expect the government to focus on policy direction, not just expenditure.

Global bids are now invited to set up 2 GW of solar manufacturing capacity linked to 6 GW of inter-state-connected solar power projects. The projects—to be developed on ‘build-own-operate’ basis—shall be awarded through tariff-based competitive bidding followed by e-reverse auction. Tariff ceiling is fixed at Rs 2.75/kWh for a period of 25 years. Bidding closes on July 26.

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd has invited bids to set up 750 MW grid-connected solar projects at 1 GW Dholera Solar Park, and 200 MW projects at 700 MW Raghanesda Solar Park. Tariff ceiling for the projects is set as Rs 2.75/kWh and Rs 2.65/kWh, respectively. Bidding closes on July 24.

The country has so far achieved around 80 GW of installed renewable energy capacity in chasing “175 GW by 2022” target. De-dieselisation of farms and railways ranks high on the Modi government’s priority list to push solar adoption.