Transmission charges waiver to renewables may be extended beyond 2022
Solar and wind projects commissioned beyond the year 2022—at least till mid of 2023—may be eligible for interstate transmission charges waiver on the electricity generated.
Mobile solar pumping system offers pay-as-you-go solution for farmers
Researchers have simulated a cart-mounted solar pump which they say would mean farmers in off-grid areas would be able to irrigate fields by paying only for the solar electricity used.
Earth’s magnetic field affecting PV panel performance
Researchers in Kenya say the geomagnetic field could reduce solar panel conversion efficiency 0.21% between the equator and a 50-degree latitude. Their analysis showed the complex magnetic field can determine increases in module fill factor and falls in maximum power.
Indian Railways tenders 400 MW of grid-connected solar
Bidders have until September 16 to pitch for generation capacity which can be installed on vacant land owned by the rail company nationwide.
CEL opens tender to procure 3 lakh multicrystalline solar cells
Only domestic manufacturers with multicrystalline solar cell production capacity of a minimum 30 MW per annum are eligible to apply. Bidding closes on June 27.
The long read: Criteria and implications for gallium-doping
As a remedy for light-induced degradation (LID) in crystalline silicon cells, gallium-doped wafers are showing considerable promise. With reports that ingot growth productivity can rival that of boron doping, it seems that gallium doping may now be able to meet the cost, integration and performance criteria that have informed solar manufacturing technology adoption, writes Alex Barrows, senior research analyst at U.K.-based consultancy Exawatt.
Andhra Pradesh set for 10 GW of agricultural solar
The state—which commissioned an aggregate 3530.74 MW solar capacity as of May 31, 2020—will set up the new plants to ensure nine hours of free power supply to the agriculture sector.
Bringing back India’s solar sector to the front foot in 2021
The ‘175 GW by 2022’ renewable energy target seems unachievable, necessitating the benchmark be moved to ‘450 GW by 2030’ instead. But even that will require the sector to move back to the front foot from 2021.
Agrivoltaics works better with leafy greens, root crops
U.S. researchers have created a new model to assess the overlap between solar potential and underlying land use. The areas with the largest potential are the western United States, southern Africa, and the Middle East. The researchers concluded that croplands, grasslands, and wetlands are the top three land classes for PV projects linked to agricultural activities, while barren terrain, traditionally prioritized for solar PV system installation, ranked fifth.
India to add 15 GW of wind-solar hybrid capacity in five years
Almost 10 GW of hybrid generation capacity is already under implementation despite India having only 100 MW of combined wind and PV projects at present, according to analyst Crisil.
