Railways could greatly lower transport energy use, says IEA
While the rail sector carries 8% of the world’s passengers and 7% of global freight transport, it represents only 2% of total transport energy demand, thus highlighting its efficiency. By diversifying energy sources and providing more efficient mobility, rail can lower transport energy use, and reduce carbon dioxide and local pollutant emissions, say International Energy Agency (IEA) analysts.
Now SECI tenders 1.5 GW manufacturing-linked 3 GW solar tender
India’s Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has tendered 1.5 GW worth of solar cell and module manufacturing capacity linked to ISTS connected solar PV power plants for an aggregate capacity of 3 GW. The plants are to be developed on ‘build own operate’ basis. The maximum tariff payable to the project developers has been fixed at Rs 2.75/kWh for 25 years.
Viability gap funding approved for 1 GW solar projects in North East
The President of India has sanctioned implementation of viability gap funding for setting up of 1 GW grid-connected solar PV power projects in North Eastern states including Sikkim. The funding has been approved as a subset of the existing scheme for setting up of 5 GW grid connected solar PV power projects with viability gap funding under Batch IV Phase II of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
10 GW mega solar tender trimmed to 3 GW
A week after rejecting the sole bid received from Azure Power, India has trimmed the size of its first ever manufacturing-linked solar tender by more than two-thirds.
Saudi Arabia launches tender for 1.5 GW of solar capacity
The Renewable Energy Project Development Office is tendering seven large-scale IPP solar projects. The exercise is part of Round 2 of the Saudi National Renewable program, which is expected to allocate almost 2.2 GW of PV capacity this year.
Haryana gives farmers solar connection option for tubewells
State owned Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has asked 1,703 farmers from Faridabad, whose applications for new tubewell connections up to 10 BHP are pending, to give their choice for off-grid solar connections from the Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency or grid connections from the DISCOMs, reports The Tribune.
India leads region as volume of corporate clean energy smashes record
The nation saw 1.3 GW of renewable energy secured for business through private PPAs in 2018, almost twice as much as the volume recorded in Australia, but the picture could change next year if China follows through with its renewable portfolio standard commitment.
New solar-wind hybrid parks mooted in Gujarat land policy
Solar-wind and wind-only projects will be set up in centralized renewable energy parks along the lines of successful solar installations to keep power evacuation simple, under the terms of the state’s new land policy.
South Korea kicks off polysilicon duty talks with China
At the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee meeting, the South Korean government urged China to lift import measures against its polyoxymethylene, optical fiber, polysilicon and grain-oriented electrical steel. China imposed duties on polysilicon from South Korea and the United States in July 2013.
Maharashtra’s 1 GW tender oversubscribed to the tune of 1.9 GW
Avaada Power and Adani lead the way with each bidding for half the 1 GW of capacity available, after the state distribution company raised the maximum tariff and extended the bid deadline.
