MNRE directs SECI to provide security deposit relaxation in solar contracts
The Solar Energy Corporation of India, NTPC, NHPC and other state-owned organizations have been directed to reduce RE contracts’ performance security from 5-10% to 3% of the contract value under the Finance ministry’s order dated November 12, 2020
BHEL seeks minimum six million solar cells
Bids are invited to supply an aggregate 6,568,000 quantity of five-busbar multicrystalline and mono-crystalline PERC silicon solar cells in peak output ratings of 4.62Wp, 4.67Wp, 4.72Wp, 5.27Wp, 5.44Wp and 5.62Wp. The delivery period is three months.
Guidelines issued for feeder-level solar plant installation under PM KUSUM Scheme
The Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) shall be the implementing agency for agricultural feeder-level solar plants and shall incentivize farmers for consuming power below the benchmark consumption for their area—an important measure for conserving groundwater level.
IEX launches new contracts to enable renewable energy trade on the same day and up to 11 days ahead
The two newly introduced green contracts, daily and weekly, are in addition to already operational intra-day and day-ahead contingency contracts in the green market.
SECI tweaks 100 MW solar-plus-storage Chhattisgarh tender
The Solar Energy Corporation of India has issued amendments to the procurement and extended the bidding deadline a second time.
Driving a just clean energy transition
Climate Policy Initiative and REConnect Energy have developed an innovative mechanism called Garuda to retire old, inefficient thermal plants with equivalent renewable capacity. The scheme proposes a blended tariff that would include the normal tariff for the new renewable energy plant plus the cost of decommissioning the old fossil fuel plant, while making the provision for green bonds to finance RE.
Evolving risks could dampen solar investment flow
Indian solar sector remained buoyant even amid Covid pandemic as 15.3 GW of solar capacity (including solar-wind hybrid) was sanctioned in the current year’s first half itself. However, returns expectations from equity investments rose from around 14% in the first half of 2019 to 16-17%, indicating heightened risk perceptions among investors.
NTPC tenders for solar EPC contractors and developers
The state-run power company has invited engineering, procurement and construction services contractors and developers to bid for its solar project contracts, excluding the supply of PV modules. Applications can be submitted until November 19.
Green term-ahead trading records 151% growth
The Green (Renewable Energy) Term-Ahead Market traded 208 million units (MU) during October, representing a 151% growth month-on-month. Solar energy, at 173 MU, dominated the non-solar trade.
Conformity assessment of solar PV panels in India
Quality of testing is equally important even as new test labs come up for solar modules. Proper equipment selection and frequent calibration of equipment are prerequisites to ensure the credibility of the test results.
