Residential PV

With 11 GW, India is set to become the second largest solar PV market in 2018, usurping the U.S., as global demand reaches 113 GW, says IHS Markit. It adds that Q4 will be the biggest quarter in history for installations, with 34 GW expected.

Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), South Korea, speaks to pv magazine about its ventures in the Indian solar and storage market. Rijsberman outlines that the country’s growing and diversifying economy, with its ambitious renewable targets, can help to capitalize on the demographic dividend. As a result, it can become the world’s primary consumer sustainable growth market.

Testing from TÜV Rheinland has revealed that PV inverters and battery storage systems are vulnerable to hacking. By changing system parameters, a hacker could potentially cause a battery system to corrode, “making it like a ‘bomb’.”

‘Unprecedented challenge’ for fossil fuels as low LCOE for solar and wind power, allied to tumbling storage costs, sees renewables claim a larger share of bulk and dispatchable generation while adding vital flexibility to the global energy mix.

The first of its kind solar kit will make clean energy available across the country. The kit can be installed in 30 minutes and is available in the range of 1-5 KW. Pronto benefits to also extend to small-scale industries. It aims to revolutionize rooftop solar in India.

The Union Territory of Diu, located in the western part of India is reportedly generating up to 13 MW of solar every day, which is more than its daily electricity demand.

Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)’s proposal of Line of credit for solar rooftop segment for commercial, industrial and residential housing sectors in India. This is the first ever project in India approved by GCF.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for selection of solar power developers for setting up of 3 GW Interstate Transmission System (ISTS) connected solar power projects under global competitive bidding. Out of its 20 GW tender plan for the 2017-18 fiscal year, approximately 11 GW has already been tendered.

Although the development of rooftop solar is not progressing in India as planned by the government, a group of international experts is suggesting to use municipal financing to raise debt availability, and to reduce PV system costs.

On the sixth meeting of ISA’s International Steering Committee (ISC), Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd made a presentation showcasing their offerings to install solar rooftop projects and key service terms proposing to reach 1 MW capacity in each country.