Manufacturing

Founded in 2006, Bengaluru-based Orb is a rooftop solar provider that manufactures panels and provides finance for SMEs through a collateral-free loan that matches the payback period for its solar systems. Orb has sold more than 160,000 units in India, with cumulative installations of around 65 MW of PV rooftop capacity.

Government-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals and the Automotive Research Association of India will combine their respective strengths in technology development and testing and certification to work on electric and trolley buses, EV chargers and battery and charger testing.

The EPC contractor and solar PV module manufacturer aims to capture over 15% of India’s Rs 600 crore off-grid solar inverter market by 2022, thus becoming one of the largest solar inverter players in the segment.

Narendra Modi’s BJP party is seeking re-election with the aim of ensuring the electrification of all railways by 2022 and turning renewable energy into a popular movement with steps including an emphasis on solar farming. Even if the elections spring a surprise, however, the renewable momentum is unlikely to slow as no government can afford to roll back the clean power tide.

National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous R&D institution of Ministry of New and Renewable (MNRE), has invited bids from technically and financially capable manufacturers to manufacture and deliver NISE designed and developed solar dryer cum space heating systems on pan India basis.

All-electric buses will cost the same as diesel options by 2030 – and possibly earlier – according to research into the global EV market which highlighted the potential for India to follow China’s lead in the sector.

With Narendra Modi being tipped to triumph again in the current Indian elections, Indian solar capacity is expected to grow robustly, at 15.3% per year, on the back of continued strong government support.

The nation is trailing behind peers such as the EU when it comes to policy guidelines for materials and recycling and the lack of a viable business case for reusing materials doesn’t help matters.

The joint venture has started a prototype manufacturing operation in Pune, India, to design, engineer, manufacture and supply Lithium-ion battery packs for 4-wheeler electric vehicles in India.

India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued guidelines for solar PV inverter manufacturers to get their products tested and approved by Bureau of India Standards (BIS) certified labs. These guidelines apply to off-grid, grid-tie and hybrid inverters of capacities up to 150 KW.