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Although the solar industry sees itself as young, its assets are aging. Owners still struggle with the complexity of making the best use of big data analysis to improve plant efficiency and profitability. Ragna Schmidt-Haupt, of Everoze, examines why this has not changed, and what can or should be improved. Artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, automated assessments and smart monitoring software – holistic solar asset management starts here.

At the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, Tata Group and Adani have announced plans to invest in lithium ion battery manufacturing in Gujarat. Chromeni Steels, a joint venture company of China’s Tsingshan Industries, will invest US$ 3 billion to manufacture stainless steel and electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

At the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, HyET Solar will sign a memorandum of understanding with the state to set up a solar module manufacturing facility.

The project would be awarded based on international competitive bidding followed by reverse auction. The deadline for bid submission is February 25. The bids will opened on February 26, while the date of reverse auction will be intimated at a later date.

The nation still managed to attract around $11.1 billion for renewable energy in 2018, to be the world’s fifth most attractive destination for funds, according to new figures compiled by BloombergNEF.

Taiwanese market research company EnergyTrend says the 5/31 policy change in China last year had a less dramatic effect on global demand than expected and, with the Modi government introducing solar-friendly policies, India – and Japan – will close the gap on the world leaders for installed PV capacity.

Tecchren Batteries will establish a 200 MWh LiFePO4 battery manufacturing unit at Sri City in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Set up after an investment of Rs446 crore, the unit will produce approximately 700,000 li ion batteries per year.

With the International Renewable Energy Agency’s number-crunchers predicting almost 5.4 GW of new solar across the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations today, Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui said his nation alone would install 6-7 GW of new renewables capacity by 2024, as pv magazine editor-in-chief Jonathan Gifford reports.

Global Infra Partners, KKR, Brookfield, I Squared Capital and Macquarie are reported to be among those eyeing the renewable energy assets of debt riddled Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services.

Suzlon has sold its majority stake in Rudra Solarfarms for Rs 142.10 million. It had set up the subsidiary, in partnership with AMP Solar, in order to execute a 15 MW solar project in Telangana.