Haryana: the argument for a rollback of solar incentives
The state has withdrawn its transmission charges waiver for solar projects bigger than 500 MW in capacity. While unhappy developers are protesting, industry experts deem it sensible for the government to apply a limit to – and possibly plan a phased withdrawal of – incentives for the solar sector.
MNRE: Preference will be given to domestically manufactured renewable energy products
The Indian Government has mandated that preference be given to domestically manufactured renewable energy products in public procurement. As per the order, 100% of the solar modules for grid-connected solar power projects must be domestically manufactured.
India will auction 80 GW of solar, wind capacity by March 2020
The Indian Government plans to tender 60 GW of solar and 20 GW of wind capacity by March 2020. This would complete the planned auctions for its targets of 100 GW solar and 60 GW wind installations by 2022, leaving two years for project execution, according to an year-end review by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Green Climate Fund signs $100 million pact for India’s rooftop solar
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have signed an agreement to infuse US$100 million into an ambitious $250 million project designed to unlock private sector initiatives for the creation of rooftop solar power capacity across India.
Auroville search engine will crowdfund solar power for 100 villages in Tamil Nadu
Sustainable development expert Auroville Consulting has launched the Solar Village Search Engine to help fund its Solar Village Initiative, which aims to power 100 villages in Tamil Nadu with solar by the year 2030.
De-risking, financing and capacity building high on ISA agenda – Interview
The iSTAR-C program of India’s International Solar Alliance (ISA) was adjudged an outstanding project during the Paris Peace Forum this month. The program is one of many ISA initiatives to develop solar resources in member countries. After the first assembly of the ISA, interim Director-General Upendra Tripathy tells pv magazine about the organization’s achievements and plans.
Solar, wind cheapest source of new generation in major economies – report
Solar and/or wind are said to be the cheapest source of new energy generation in all major economies, apart from Japan, finds BloombergNEF. It adds that China’s utility-scale PV market has contracted by over a third this year; and that battery costs are set to drop a further 66% by 2030, driven by EV adoption.
Harayana starts to make headway with another 20 MW of rooftops
State is struggling to hit an ambitious distributed generation target that calls for another 1.6 GW of rooftop capacity within four years.
India powers ahead as Asia set for 355 GW of PV by 2023
Despite political hurdles in key markets including China and Japan, Asia remains highly active. This year, 59 GW of solar is expected to be installed and due to further system price declines, a phase-out of subsidy schemes can be offset.
Hitting 76% of its solar ambition would still be some achievement for India
Analysts are weighing into the debate over the MNRE’s big solar plans, but pointing out that even a partial victory would set the foundation for future solar triumphs.
