Markets & Policy

India is calling for a special meeting of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), to be held on February 9, to consider its request to resolve the disagreement between India and the U.S.

Delhi DISCOM, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) is planning to launch the Tata smart energy incubation hub. The Tata trust will provide INR 150 million ($2.25 million), while the Indian government’s Science & Technology department will pay out an undisclosed sum. The company is also planning the installation of a 10 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

The 9th monthly get-together and stakeholder’s meeting of the International Solar Alliance was held on January 24. The event witnessed several announcements from companies such as TATA ($2.25 million Incubation hub), NTPC (new developments), Power Grid Corporation of India (new battery storage projects), Infosys (smart PV solutions), and Emami.

The three-day exhibition and conference held in New Delhi organized various hands-on workshops and saw discussions on topics like mini and micro-grid systems, electric transportation, and the financial analysis for these sectors. The government has also announced the upcoming energy policy, placing storage at the core.

Indian Solar Manufacturing Association (ISMA) General Secretary, HR Gupta speaks to pv magazine about the petition filed by ISMA for safeguarding the domestic manufacturing sector. Gupta seeks to alleviate doubts regarding the safeguard duty and justifies the upcoming tariff by stressing that no derailment of projects will happen.

This week’s World Future Energy Summit (WFES) saw a letter of intent inked at the International Solar Alliance’s (ISA’s) pavilion to secure financing of up to US$5 billion with India’s YES Bank by 2030. MNRE head, R.K. Singh also announced a $350 million solar development fund by the Indian Government for solar projects.

Clarification on India’s solar domestic content requirement (DCR) under the country’s National Solar Mission has been made by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), after the U.S. again dragged India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for non-compliance.

The European Union as well as Brazil, China and Japan indicate their support for India in the WTO dispute against the U.S. Consensus appears to be that trade retaliatory measures are unjustified. The DSB chair concluded by noting the matter has been referred to arbitration in line.

The Indian government has introduced a number of subsidies under various categories of solar projects, from big PV parks to small rooftop and off-grid installations, in order to achieve its 100 GW solar target by 2022. The current status of the subsidies are summarized below.

Three firms, Mahindra Renewables, Actis, and ACME group, will receive a combined loan of $440 million from the IFC for developing the Rewa Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh.