SoftBank and Essel to develop 500 MW solar park
A failed association with IL&FS has failed to deter SoftBank from its plan to invest a staggering $1tn in Indian solar by 2030. Now the Japanese funding giant is working with Essel Infraprojects on a 500 MW plant, with further details yet to be revealed.
Falling rupee could threaten Rs28,000 crore of solar projects
As the currency continued to fall today, analysts are concerned developers will see any savings from falling module prices disappear, and lenders may get nervy, putting the national solar target in grave doubt.
Azure Power raises $400 million in debt and equity
Azure Power has raised the capital since June 30th, and says it is “the largest amount of financing raised by a solar power company in India during this period”. Azure says the fund leaves it well positioned to deliver a 2 GW project pipeline.
Solar City Initiative phase two launched in Delhi
The programme allows the installation of solar roof atop apartment blocks, which otherwise could not install such systems. Potential in the area is around 15 MW, of which 6 MW have been signed up for already. Another 5 MW should be developed in this second phase of the project.
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.
ReNew Power to develop 3 MW floating PV project in Andhra Pradesh
SECI has opened up to 10 GW of floating PV for expressions of interest to accelerate adoption of the solar platform. The potential generation capacity for the technology in India is enormous, with 700 GW possible if just one-third of the country’s water reservoirs are exploited.
‘SECI’s 10 GW solar tender will not attract big developers’
Big players such as Acme, ReNew, Adani, Azure, Hero Future and Aditya Birla Solar are likely to stay away from procurement which requires 3 GW annual manufacturing commitment, says industry insider Gopal Lal Somani.
Uttar Pradesh prepares to procure another 550 MW of solar
The state has set an electricity price ceiling of Rs3.10/kWh and reserved the right to cancel the auction if it doesn’t fancy the resulting tariff. Bidders can go for projects ranging in size from 5 MW up to the whole capacity on offer.
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.
Mauritius installs the first wave of 10,000 solar rooftops
The Indian Ocean state has received $10m in concessional loan funding from the development agency of Abu Dhabi, in a program co-financed by the International Renewable Energy Agency.
