Highlights

California-based SimpliPhi Power, which designs and manufactures lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) energy storage systems, has brought off-grid power to everything from the giant moon on Conan O’Brien’s talk show set to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, to rooftops for Whole Foods and Airbnb. As the company prepares to enter into India, CEO and President Catherine Von Burg tells pv magazine why their LFP technology is best suited for India and their plans for the country.

The NYSE-listed developer will set up a 500 MW cell and module production line as its manufacturing commitment under the SECI tender. The tender aimed to secure 2 GW of new annual manufacturing capacity by offering 7 GW of power project permits. Azure has an agreement with an Indian solar panel manufacturer to jointly establish the new production facilities with the developer holding a majority stake in the enterprise.

The minister’s statement comes at a time when analysts fear that potential disregard of past contractual agreements in Andhra Pradesh, along with the regular curtailment of renewable energy facilities and delayed payments to developers, may drive foreign investors away from India’s renewable energy sector.

The solar plants commissioned at Dibrugarh (Assam), Gaya (Bihar) and Gondia (Maharashtra) take the Kolkata based module manufacturer and EPC contractor’s cumulative airport project portfolio to more than 4 MW.

Electric vehicle (EV) battery market will grow annually at 30%, growing almost six times to 28 GWh from 4.75 GWh in 2018. The EV infrastructure will grow at double the pace (60% annually), reaching 50,000 units from less than a thousand in 2018.

The Indian developer will hold majority 51% equity in the joint venture, while the balance will be held by GS E&C. The project is part of the capacity auctioned by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under its tranche-IV earlier this year.

Bids are invited for supply of 5-busbar cells with an efficiency of minimum 19.4%. A total of one million quantities are to be supplied. Bidding closes on December 26.

Government incentives driving state-owned enterprises’ investment away from the soon-to-be stranded fossil fuel based assets are a way of further boosting investment in the renewable energy sector.

The 923 MW grid-connected solar capacity—tendered under Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme—is to be developed using only domestically manufactured solar cells and modules. Whereas, modules for the 500 MW project in Maharashtra can be procured from either domestic manufacturers, or imported.

Two years after announcing its market entry, the India-based EPC heavyweight has commenced construction of its first Australian project.