Uma Gupta
Li-ion cells face doubled import duty from April 2021
In a move to promote indigenous manufacturing, the government has doubled the basic import duty on lithium ion cells—used in manufacturing of lithium ion accumulator for EVs—to 10 per cent from April 2021. Battery packs used in manufacturing electric vehicles face tripled import duty of 15 per cent as against the current 5 per cent.
25.75 GW farmland renewable with Rs 34,422 crore support approved
The President of India has approved total central financial support of Rs34,422 crore for the Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahaabhiyan (KUSUM) rural solar scheme. Through the scheme, the government aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 25.75 GW by 2022.
ReNew Power raises US$ 375 million with green bond
The independent power producer will use the capital raised through the green bond to refinance outstanding external commercial borrowings and as Capex in eligible green projects.
SolarPower Europe and NSEFI sign MoU on solar cooperation
Brussels-based SolarPower Europe and the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on operation & maintenance (O&M), installation quality, digitalisation and storage.
Cabinet approves five-year plan for EV battery manufacturing
Aiming to localize production across the electric vehicle value chain, the government will support battery manufacturing at a gigawatt-scale. The initial focus will be on large-scale module and pack assembly plants by the next fiscal year, followed by integrated cell manufacturing by 2021-22.
Gujarat’s 1 GW solar tender shunned by developers
Project developers turned their back on a procurement exercise linked to projects at the Dholera Solar Park, after insisting the challenging terrain meant the electricity price ceiling stipulated by the state would make projects unviable.
Exide JV partner gets a big boost ahead of Li-ion battery operations in India
The revenues of Switzerland-based Leclanché have increased more than 2.5 times to exceed CHF 47 million in 2018 compared to CHF 18 million in 2017.
SunSource to develop 70MW open access solar project in Uttar Pradesh
The power generated by this project will be sold through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to commercial and industrial customers.
Andhra Pradesh gets fresh Lithium battery investment worth Rs 3400 crore
Following New Delhi based Urja Global, Singapore-based Ojovati and another Delhi-based company Avanze Inventive have signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for manufacturing of Lithium-ion cells and batteries in the state, respectively.
12 GW ‘new’ solar with VGF support approved
The president of India has approved the Rs 8580 crore viability gap funding (VGF) support for state-run generators to set up 12 GW of solar projects using domestically-made equipment over the next four years.
