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The Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Institute of Solar Energy, under India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Uzbekistan’s International Solar Energy Institute for cooperation in the field of solar energy and storage technologies.

The French oil and gas giant already owns half the stake in the Indian developer’s 2.3 GW operational solar assets in India through a joint venture.

Dutch company Rads Global Business has developed an anti-soiling coating for solar PV modules that is claimed to reduce cleaning cost by around 60%. The anti-reflective and anti-corrosive coating is also said to mitigate potential-induced degradation (PID).

The Indian renewables platform’s promoters have committed additional equity funding of $390 million, taking the total to $721 million. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), accounting for $284 million of the new injection, becomes the majority shareholder now. U.K. government-owned development finance institution CDC Group and UK-India Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF) have committed $70 million and $36 million, respectively.

India’s Department of Science & Technology and the Swedish Energy Agency have launched a collaborative funding program for Indian and Swedish companies that aim to jointly develop new technologies, services and processes in the area of smart grids. 

The nation has earned the highest score of 62.7 in terms of attractiveness for solar PV investment and deployment in the latest ranking of top 40 countries by Ernst & Young.

With an additional investment of INR 33.17 crore, Exide Industries’ shareholding in the joint venture company has increased by 2.28% to 80.15% of the paid-up equity share capital.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the India arm of Norwegian energy company Greenstat to set up a Centre of Excellence for hydrogen in India and accelerate deployment of hydrogen technologies in the country.

Once a natural phenomenon – a fortuitous byproduct of thermal generation – the weaning off of coal has made the emulation of inertia a priority for grid operators. It will be a few more years in most markets before a solution becomes needed with any great urgency. However, some markets have needed to come up with solutions – are they a portal into the future of grids dominated by renewables and power electronics?

The engagement covers software development, integration, and maintenance of combined powertrain coordination unit including charging control, and extends over several years.