Policy

The International Solar Alliance has launched three new solar programs: Scaling Solar Applications for Agriculture Use, Affordable Finance at Scale, and Scaling Solar Mini-grids. The programs will be under operations ahead of the ISA’s official accreditation on December 6.

175,000 households of Manipur will receive 24×7 electricity supply. The scheme is scheduled to be completed by March 2019. The electricity will be produced through various sources – including renewable resources like solar micro and mini-grid applications. However, BNEF says that the 24×7 energy supply seems far away.

MNRE minister Raj Kumar Singh has announced plans to ramp up India’s domestic renewable energy manufacturing industry via an auction for facilities totaling 20 GW. Bridge to India and IHS Markit have shared their insights on the auctions, which are expected to solely comprise solar. They envisage capital subsidies, and increased interest by foreign manufacturers in setting up solar facilities.

The anti-dumping hearing was scheduled to be held on November 30. It has, however, been postponed to December 12, 2017. The India Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) still expects a result in its favor.

Despite the 250 MW solar project securing a record low bid of INR 3.15 ($ 0.05)/kWh in April, Andhra Pradesh refused to buy the generated power, after tariffs fell further in subsequent auctions. This decision has now been rescinded, according to The Economic Times, with the affected parties having reached a compromise.

India needs to create around 330,000 jobs over the next five years if it is to achieve its ambitious renewable energy goals, according to a new report by the World Resources Institute. Several methods have been recommended for boosting jobs in the sector, while also tackling poverty eradication.

There is potential for solar PV and storage to snap a significant share of the distributed energy industry in frontier markets, says BNEF. Both telecoms and agriculture present interesting opportunities; SE Asia is an emerging micro grid hotspot; pay-as-you-go solar is seeing strong growth; and China is recording substantial business.

CPI has summarized the present rooftop sector of India, its economics, and the financial facilities to the industry from government and banks. The analyst and advisory firm has presented the solutions for the current financial obstacles to the growth of rooftop solar. The team has advised two Indo-U.S. collaborative initiatives, USICEF and USICFP, with which these solutions can be implemented.

Vikalp Mundra, Joint MD and promoter of Ujaas Energy Ltd, speaks to pv magazine about the solar manufacturing and quality importance for India. The company has installed more than 200 MW of solar at utility-scale, rooftop, and residential. He also defended the Renewable Energy Certificate, but explained its drawbacks.