India reaches 39,104 MW of grid-connected solar
Karnataka leads with 7355 MW of installed solar capacity. It is followed by Rajasthan (5473 MW) and Tamil Nadu (4404 MW).
IISc sets up off-grid EV charging station powered by Vikram Solar modules
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore has set up a solar-powered charging station to conduct the system’s impact assessment. The system—designed by UK-based renewable energy advisor GreenEnco—uses Vikram Solar’s 16 mono PERC solar modules of 400 Wp each, a hybrid inverter, and battery storage.
In India, 67.6 million people live in cities embracing renewable energy in a big way
As of 2020, only 13 cities in India had renewable energy targets and/or policies in place. These cities, however, are home to a significant 67.6 million people.
Uttar Pradesh tenders for 10 MW of off-grid solar plants
Bids are invited to install and commission off-grid solar power plants in sizes varying from 500Wp to 50,000Wp.
Haryana plans 93 MW solar power capacity
The Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) plans to develop 77 MW solar capacity on its own land and 16 MW on land owned by village councils.
Mini-grid company Husk Power doubled revenues in 2020
Bihar-based Husk Power Systems—which operates more than 100 mini-grids in India and Africa—recorded a 90% year-on-year growth in revenues and quadrupled business customers to 5000+. It expects the growth momentum to continue in 2021, with a 125% rise in revenues.
India’s installed solar capacity reaches 41,689 MW
The nation installed a cumulative solar capacity of 41,689 MW as of December 31, 2020, with 1298 MW added in the October-December period. Going forward, capacity addition in the current year’s first quarter could exceed 2 GW.
CSIR-CMERI develops solar-biodiesel powered mini-grid
The renewables-powered mini-grid with 50kW peak system capacity was recently installed at the residential colony of the institute’s Center for Excellence in Farm Machinery (CoEFM) in Punjab. It uses solar trees of different capacities and biodiesel-run generators to provide uninterrupted power.
Powering to empower rural India
Smart Power India, a subsidiary of US-based impact investor The Rockefeller Foundation, was established in India in 2015 with the aim of extending power to those without sufficient access to reliable and quality electricity. Jaideep Mukherji, CEO, Smart Power India, speaks to pv magazine about their work in India and way forward.
The market for off-grid solar refrigeration
Standalone solar-powered refrigerators present a $20 billion opportunity in India for vaccine storage, milk chillers, households, micro enterprises, and cold storage for farm produce, according to a new report by Gogla.
