Covid-19

Given the close links between energy and economy, an impact analysis is needed to evaluate the sector and initiate suitable measures against unusual circumstances. Government policy thinktank NITI Aayog is working on a roadmap to improve energy data management system for India. The centralized energy data unit will host all demand and consumption data related to all forms of energy, which can be used by researchers, policymakers and business strategy formulators alike.

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.

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.

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.

Pinaki Bhattacharyya, Amp Energy India MD and CEO, speaks to pv magazine about the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the solar industry and the ways in which the government can build a positive sentiment in the industry.

Over 21.6% or 3 GW of solar and wind installations will get delayed due to supply and labour disruptions caused by the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, according to the analysts which in a January report forecast the country to add over 15 GW of renewable capacity this year.

The clarification came after States reacted wrongly to the power ministry’s recent order providing a moratorium on conventional power payments and started stopping payments or curtailing renewable power.

This article talks about the areas the government needs to address both immediately and in the long run to help the ailing solar industry in the country.

Disruptions in the industrial and commercial activities due to Covid-19 lockdown have further dented electricity demand in India which already registered a discernible decline in annual electricity demand. India’s electricity demand in the first 11 months of 2019-20 (April 2019-February 2020) grew by 2.2% (to 1191 billion units) compared with 5.4% annual growth in the same months of previous year.

Prospective bidders for 34 MW solar project in Telangana and 14 MW solar plus storage project in Ladakh have been asked to submit any queries online as pre-bid meetings get cancelled due to Covid-19 lockdown. Further, bidding deadline for Ladakh project has been revised to June 1.