SECI to issue 2 GWh energy storage system tender by August end
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) shall sign a 25-year power purchase agreement with the successful bidders for these energy storage system projects. The projects are to be set up on a build-own-operate basis.
New tech may bring heterojunction solar cells based on p-type wafers closer to mass production
An Australian-Russian research group has developed a silicon heterojunction solar cell based on p-type gallium-doped wafers with an efficiency of 22.6% and an improved stability. The scientists are convinced that these wafers may become a mainstream solution for the SHJ segment within the next decade.
The long read: Charging EVs with solar
Gautham Ram completed an electrical engineering degree in his home city of Chennai, India, and won a scholarship to complete a master’s at TU Delft in the Netherlands. He subsequently completed a PhD on the topic of charging EVs with solar. Speaking with pv magazine, Ram gave insights on his life, ongoing research, and his thoughts on EVs and charging.
ReNew Power wins 200 MW in MSEDCL solar auction
The Haryana-based developer secured the solar power project from the Maharashtra utility at a tariff of INR 2.43/ kWh (US$0.033). The project will likely be located in Gujarat or Rajasthan. It shall use mono PERC modules produced from ReNew Power’s upcoming 2 GW factory in Gujarat.
Revisiting the net metering cap for rooftop solar
The Ministry of Power has issued a draft amendment to Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, which allows net metering for rooftop solar systems of loads up to 500 kW or up to the sanctioned load, whichever is lower and net billing (gross metering) or net feed-in for above 500 kW.
Panasonic Life Solutions commissions 7 MW agrivoltaic project in Maharashtra
The agrivoltaic project was commissioned for Gro Solar Energy under the state government’s Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana. It uses 30,300 Panasonic solar modules and string inverters, and occupies a land area of 50 acres.
Fourth Partner Energy acquires 8.9 MW solar portfolio from Statkraft
The acquisition is in line with the Hyderabad-based corporate solar developer’s plan to ramp up. For Norwegian developer Statkraft, the selloff is part of its strategic plan to exit the distributed solar segment in India and focus on developing large-scale projects.
German start-up offers 5.2 kWh AC battery that works without inverter
Sax Power has developed a new residential battery which it describes as a game-changer in the battery technology.
India has reached 42.3 GW of grid-interactive solar
India has installed 42.3 GW of cumulative grid-connected solar capacity, with additions led by Karnataka (7,409 MW), Rajasthan (6,581 MW), and Gujarat (5,132 MW).
‘Polysilicon shortage will continue through 2021’
The latest global PV industry outlook published by trade group SolarPower Europe, has indicated tight supply of the solar panel raw material is expected to persist this year but the trade body said it would be unlikely to drive further price rises.
