Gas utility GAIL and BHEL to jointly develop solar projects
The two state-owned units will jointly pursue commercial solar power projects through participation in tariff/viability gap funding (VGF) based competitive bidding.
Electricity generation to grow at 7% in FY19: CARE Ratings
Nevertheless, bringing down aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses would be key to stabilising the power sector in India. Additionally, measures like smart-metering should be expedited and implemented in a time-bound manner, suggest the ratings agency analysts.
CERC notifies transmission charge waiver conditions
To avail the waiver, the solar or wind project capacity should have been awarded through competitive bidding and commissioned between February 13, 2018 and March 31, 2022.
China’s CSUN faces India ban over PV module contract disputes
The Indian government is considering the step following complaints about China Sunergy defaulting on PV module supplies to solar project developers Acme Solar, RattanIndia and Refex Energy. Notably, last year a German EPC company Goldbeck Solar had a similar experience with the Chinese supplier.
Siemens Gamesa commissions 10 MW solar project for Coimbatore firm
Spanish-German renewable energy developer Siemens Gamesa provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) support for the 10 MW photovoltaic (PV) solar farm near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
JinkoSolar shipped 11.4 GW of PV modules in 2018
The Chinese manufacturer’s PV module shipments increased 16% to touch 11.4 GW in 2018, making it the top global supplier with market share of 12.8%.
Li-ion battery prices fall to $187/kWh
The benchmark levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for lithium-ion batteries has fallen to $187 per kilowatt-hour since the first half of 2018. The overwhelming cost improvement is making batteries paired with solar or wind projects challenge coal- and gas-fired generation for grid stability, according to BloombergNEF (BNEF).
India to open bids for $5bn of new transmission line capacity
In response to feedback from the domestic renewable energy sector, the Indian government has revealed plans to launch $5 billion of tenders for new transmission lines, starting in phases from this summer.
China, USA and India propel energy demand by 70%: IEA
Global energy consumption in 2018 grew by 2.3%. Electricity demand rose by 4%, nearly twice as fast as overall energy demand. China accounted for over 40% of the growth in renewable-based electricity generation, followed by Europe (25%). The United States and India together contributed another 13%.
Global solar PV tracker sales jumped over 40% in 2018: IHS Markit
Global solar PV tracker shipments exceeded 20 GW for the first time in 2018, with NEXTracker leading the market. While the Americas accounted for more than half of global PV tracker demand, the growth rate was strongest in the Middle East and North Africa.
