No priority lending for RE projects
India’s cash-strapped solar industry was in for a rude awakening after the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has refused to write to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to accord priority sector lending (PSL) status to renewable energy projects.
International Solar Alliance boosted by EIB funds
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) received a significant boost at the New York One Planet Summit, with European Investment Bank (EIB) President, Werner Hoyer announcing a commitment to back the ISA in its expansion of India’s solar industry and the exchange of technology.
Solar PV to grow 65-fold by 2050, 2°C target will be missed by a long shot – report
DNV GL has issued its annual Energy Transition Outlook. It reports that global electricity demand is set to grow by a factor of 2.5. Over half of this demand is expected to be met with renewable energy by 2050, while storage will play a key role. It adds that grid infrastructure expenditures are less related to variable renewable energy assets than to increasing energy demand. In the current scenario, meanwhile, global warming is likely to reach 2.6°C.
pv magazine Quality Roundtable, REI: Innovation, investment and improving PV installs
pv magazine’s Quality Roundtable at the 2018 Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo, took place in front of a packed audience. It discussed current problem areas; how solar developers and solution providers can improve the quality of Indian solar PV installations; and innovative financial instruments to reduce the cost of debt and scale up infrastructure investment.
Rs2.44 solar bid equalled in Gujarat – but is it viable?
The state’s second attempt to tender for 500 MW of capacity has made a mockery of predictions of rising PV electricity prices and exonerated utility for cancelling previous procurement round. But the absence of India’s cheapest solar energy generator from the latest exercise could be telling.
Fresh blow for PV with 18% GST rate
The decision to tax the ‘service’ provided to solar developers at the full rate comes days after the Supreme Court upheld the federal government’s imposition of a 25% safeguarding duty on Chinese and Malaysian panels.
Greenko calls off plan to buy Orange Renewable
Hyderabad-based renewable energy major Greenko Group has abandoned plans to buy AT Capital-backed Orange Renewable.
Power regulator told to pass on changes in duties to consumers
A time-bound process would eliminate financial uncertainties for stakeholders – be it developers, lenders or the DISCOMs. It is a particularly big relief to solar PV power developers seeking pass-through for the impact of goods and services tax (GST) on project costs.
Cygni Energy raises US$6.4 million, aims to triple solar DC capacity
Hyderabad based Cygni Energy plans to utilize the capital to triple its solar DC solutions production capacity from 4,000 units to 12,000 by H1 2019, develop new technology-enabled products and streamline the product lifecycle, as well as expand nationally and internationally.
Funding the key obstacle to renewables in Asia
Banks categorize renewable energy projects as risky and believe they offer lower rates of return than fossil fuel schemes, making them reluctant lenders.
