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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

India installed 7.3 GW of solar power in 2019: Report

India installed 7.3 gigawatt (GW) of solar power across the country in 2019 (CY19), consolidating its position as the third-largest solar market in the world, according to a recent study. The report added that the country also had a robust pipeline of utility-scale under-development projects of 23.7 GW capacity by the end of CY19, with 31.5 GW capacity tenders pending under auctions. “The solar market leaders have changed in almost every category compared with last year. With a tough year ahead, we expect strong, resilient, and innovative companies continue to do well,” said Raj Prabhu,... Read more..

Source: ET Energy World

ADB gives $ 346 mn loan for power sector in rural Maharashtra

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it has approved a USD 346 million (around Rs 2,616 crore) loan to Indian government to provide reliable power connection in rural areas of Maharashtra. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India, and about half of the state's labour force is engaged in agriculture and related activities in the rural areas, ADB said in a release. Agriculture output, however, has been impacted by lack of irrigation, less-than-efficient use of electricity and water, as well as inadequate storage and connectivity to markets. The loan will support... Read more..

Source: ET Energy World

RITES Tenders for 1 GW Solar PV Projects on Indian Railways Land

RITES Limited, an engineering consultancy company which works under the aegis of the India Railways, has issued a tender for setting up of 1 GW of land-based solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects on land owned by the Indian Railways. The scope of work for the selected bidders will include (but not be limited to) design, procurement, installation, supply, testing and commissioning of the grid-connected solar power projects on various zonal railways land across India. The developers will have a period of 390 days from the date of issuance of the letter of award to complete the work on the... Read more..

Source: Saur Energy International

AFRY Wins 1.2 GW Pumped Storage Project from Greenko

AFRY India has won Letter of Award (LoA) from Greenko Energy Projects Ltd, a leading renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) in India, for providing detailed design engineering services for its 1.2 GW (or 1200 MW) pumped storage project. Greenko had earlier won the biggest storage project tender ever that was conducted, winning rights to build 900 MW of storage . AFRY India is the Indian arm of AFRY an international engineering, design and advisory company. AFRY has been formed after ÅF acquired Pöyry. The company has received the contract, in March this year, for providing... Read more..

Source: Saur Energy International

MYSUN raises Rs 32 crore to scale up rooftop solar business

MYSUN, a technology-backed rooftop solar solutions and services company, has raised Rs 32 crore ($4.2 million) from its existing investors in a structured equity deal as a part of its Pre-Series A round. It is looking to eventually raise Rs 250 crore ($35 million) over the next few quarters as it eyes expansion. The Delhi-based company plans to use the capital to improve its technology infrastructure further, scale up the service offerings, and expand to newer geographies, both in India and globally, including parts of Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. With this investment, MYSUN will... Read more..

Source: PV Magazine India

Lockdown to increase discoms' book losses to Rs 200 bn: ICRA

The nation wide lockdown to control Coronavirus outbreak is likely to increase the book loss level for the discoms at all India level by Rs 200 billion in FY2021 as it has adversely impacted the electricity demand and the average thermal PLF since March 24, 2020, credit rating agency ICRA said on Wednesday. The demand slowdown amid the lockdown is likely to lead to a de-growth of 1.0% in electricity demand for the full year of FY2021, considering the full lockdown till May 3, 2020, partial lifting of lockdown in the non-red zones in May and June 2020 and resumption of full operations by... Read more..

Source: The Economic Times

Dropping Prices of Solar, Wind and Storage a Risk for Existing Coal, Gas: BNEF

The latest analysis by research company BloombergNEF (BNEF) shows that the global benchmark levelised cost of electricity, or LCOE, for onshore wind and utility-scale PV, has fallen 9 percent and 4 percent since the second half of 2019 – to USD 44 and USD 50/MWh, respectively. Meanwhile, the benchmark LCOE for battery storage has tumbled to USD 150/MWh, about half of what it was two years ago. Substantiating the claim that solar PV and onshore wind are now the cheapest sources of new-build generation for at least two-thirds of the global population. Those two-thirds live in locations that... Read more..

Source: Saur Energy International

BHEL tenders solar module supply for VTU, Karnataka

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Rudrapur has extended the bidding deadline for the supply of 72-cell crystalline silicon solar modules with a peak power output of minimum 330 W. A total of 1130 quantities are to be delivered for Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belagavi, Karnataka. The revised deadline—initially set for March 28—now stands at May 4. To be eligible, the bidder should have an average annual turnover of minimum Rs 20.98 lakh during the last three financial years ending March 31, 2019. The modules supplied must be made in India only. The efficiency should be a... Read more..

Source: PV Magazine India

Clean energy: Gujarat, Rajasthan shine in FY20 while Karnataka retains top slot

Amid headwinds faced by the renewable energy sector in FY20, Gujarat and Rajasthan managed to add more capacities than others, while Karnataka retained its Number One position in total installed capacity. Gujarat’s total renewable capacity crossed the 10,000 MW mark in FY20, making it the third State after Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to have more than 10 GW of installed capacity, according to a Crisil Research report. It added the highest new capacity, of 1,934 MW, followed by Rajasthan, which added 1,911 MW, the report said. In terms of overall solar energy capacity addition in FY20, the top... Read more..

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Okinawa hikes dealer margins by 3 pc to 11 pc amid COVID-19 pandemic

Electric two-wheeler maker Okinawa on Tuesday said it has increased dealer margins by 3 per cent to 11 per cent per sale amid nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. The hike, from 8 per cent to 11 per cent, is effective from April 27 onwards until further notice, Okinawa said in a statement. The hike in dealer margins is expected to add up to Rs 2,000 per vehicle in a dealer's kitty, it added. If a dealer is selling 100 vehicles in a month, he will end up making an additional profit of over Rs 2 lakh. Okinawa currently has a sales network of over 350 dealerships across the country... Read more..

Source: The Economic Times

Circulate Capital fund invests in plastic recycling firm Lucro

Circulate Capital, the Singapore-based investment management company, on Tuesday said it has made its debut deal in India by betting on plastic recycling firm, Lucro Plastecycle Pvt Ltd. The investment was made through Circulate Capital Ocean Fund, which is dedicated to investing in startups solving ocean plastic crisis in South and Southeast Asia, Circulate Capital said in a statement. Apart from Lucro, the company has also made its investment in an Indonesian firm through Circulate Capital Ocean Fund. Circular Capital did not specify the amount it invested in Lucro but together with an... Read more..

Source: VC Circle

Another scientist writes to govt, warns about climate change impact in Dibang Valley over hydro projects

Another scientist studying rivers in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley has warned the government about climate change-induced natural hazards that hydropower dams may not be able to withstand. Chintan Sheth’s letter to the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union ministry of environment has come after several scientists issued a similar warning to the government over granting forest clearance for the 3,097 megawatt (MW) Etalin hydroelectric project in an area rich in subtropical evergreen and rain forests and rare flora and fauna. Dibang Valley has close to 300 glaciers in an area of... Read more..

Source: The Hindustan Times

MNRE urges Haryana to honour signed green contracts

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has urged Haryana to honour signed renewable energy contracts and provide them the connectivity they need to start transmitting power. In the past few months, Haryana has been reluctant to give connectivity to 1000 MW of ‘open access’ solar projects whose construction it had earlier okayed. As a result, these projects are being denied formal approval, industry sources told ET. Open access projects are those where developers supply power to customers directly and not to a power distribution company (discom). However, since they use the grid, they... Read more..

Source: ET Energy World

SECI reschedules pre-bid meeting for 2,000-MW ISTS-connected wind project

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on Friday said it has rescheduled the pre-bid meeting date for setting up of 2,000-MW interstate transmission-connected wind power projects to 30 April, 2020. It added that the meeting would be conducted through video-conferencing, and invitations to the meeting will be sent on 29 April, 2020. “RfS for selection of wind power developers for setting up of 2,000-MW ISTS-connected wind power projects in India under tariff-based competitive bidding under tranch-IX dated 20 March, 2020 has been rescheduled to 30 April, 2020 at 14:00 hr,” SECI said in... Read more..

Source: ET Energy World

UNDP teams up with Indian government to boost coastal resilience

India is one of 27 countries that will be worst affected by rising sea levels due to global warming and the 60 million-plus people living on the country’s coasts will bear the brunt, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UN body which works to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through the sustainable development of nations, through the social media on Sunday referred to a USD 43 million initiative kickstarted by the Government of India, UNDP and the Green Climate Fund late last year. It said over six years, 10 million people will benefit from improved... Read more..

Source: Telangana Today

NTPC plans hydrogen buses and cars for Delhi, Leh

State-owned NTPC, India’s largest power producer, intends to undertake pilot projects on hydrogen fuel cell-based electric vehicles in India for demonstration and use in public transportation. Initially, five such buses and cars each in New Delhi and Leh (a district in union territory Ladakh) are planned. Subsequently, the project may be expanded to roll out fuel cell electric vehicles in other cities also. The power producer has sought global Expression of Interest (EOI) from manufacturers for the supply of hydrogen fuel cell buses and cars for the pilot project. The EoI has been issued... Read more..

Source: PV Magazine India

Shapoorji Pallonji Inks Pact with KKR to Sell 5 Solar Assets for about $204 Mn

Shapoorji Pallonji Group’s infrastructure development arm, Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital (SP Infra) has entered into the definitive sale agreements with KKR, a global investment firm, for its 5 operational solar energy plants with a capacity of 317 MWp in consideration of about Rs 15,540 million (~ USD 204 million). The development came after months of negotiations between the two companies, and will likely to help Shapoorji Pallonji Group in reducing its debt burden. Further, the company’s 5 solar assets portfolio having an aggregate capacity of 317 MWp comprised of 169 MW (DC... Read more..

Source: Saur Energy International

Inox Wind resumes production at all three manufacturing plants

Wind turbine maker Inox Wind Ltd on Monday said it has resumed operations at all three manufacturing plants. These plants are located at Barwani (Madhya Pradesh), Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Una (Himachal Pradesh). In a regulatory filing Inox Wind said it has resumed operations at its three plants. "... after obtaining requisite permission from concerned district administration, the company has now resumed operations at all its three manufacturing plants in compliance with all the safety guidelines/ directives issued by the central/state governments and local administration to safeguard the... Read more..

Source: ET Energy World

MNRE should make 30-day extension for renewable energy more flexible, says industry

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) decision to grant a 30-day extension for renewable energy (RE) projects is not sufficient and should be extended up to 90-180 days, as it would be difficult to meet the labour mobilisation and logistical challenges, according to renewable energy executives. “I feel 30 days is a constraint and a strain on the project. Realistically, it should be 60 to 90 days. I think it will not help primarily because in renewable projects, we ramp up very quickly at the fag end. If the period is only up to 30 days then we are expecting ramp up within that... Read more..

Source: ET Energy World

NHPC raises Rs 750 crore through private placement of bonds

State-owned hydro power major NHPC on Thursday said it has raised Rs 750 crore through private placement of bonds at an interest rate of 6.80 per cent per annum for a loan tenure of 10 years. It added that this issue structure consists of a base size of Rs 500 crore with a greenshoe option of Rs 250 crore. “The issue was taken very overwhelmingly by the market and oversubscribed 3.87 times i.e. for Rs 2,899 crore amid outbreak due to COVID-19,” it said in a press release. NHPC added that the coupon rate of 6.80 per cent was the lowest in the current financial year and lower by 30 bps or 0.... Read more..

Source: ET Energy World

NLC, SB Energy, ReNew Power Develops Maximum Solar Capacity in FY20

Navratna company NLC, SoftBank-backed SB Energy, and ReNew Power, country’s largest renewable energy IPP, were the leading project developers added maximum solar energy capacity in FY20, as per the research and advisory services firm report. On the state level in solar, Rajasthan added a maximum capacity of 1.8 GW, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1.3 GW and Karnataka with 1.1 GW in FY20. Moreover, these 3 states jointly contributed about 74 percent of all utility-scale solar installations in India in FY2020, says JMK Research. As per MNRE, India added about 5.7 GW of new utility-scale solar... Read more..

Source: Saur Energy International

Covid-19 impact: Electric vehicle plans may take backseat in FY21

Leading auto manufacturers are likely to put their electric vehicle (EV) plans on the back-burner as they focus on restoring demand for core bread-and-butter products, suggested a number of senior industry executives. With mounting losses due to the disruption in operations and plans to recover investments made for meeting Bharat Stage VI emission norms, several automakers have temporarily kept their investments in electric mobility related projects -- under the central government backed policy framework -- in abeyance as focus will be on resurrecting the traditional businesses once the... Read more..

Source: Livemint

EV market looks to rev up with high-speed scooters

The electric two-wheeler market in India is gearing for a big consolidation and rejig in its product portfolio. While low-speed scooters that go at a maximum speed of 25km/hour constituted a whopping 90 per cent of all the electric two-wheelers sold in FY20, EV manufacturers are banking on high-speed scooters to gain traction in the long term. “Today, lower performance spec electric two-wheelers make up a significant chunk only because of the lack of alternatives. We will witness a transition in the coming days, with new and existing brands launching more efficient and powerful electric... Read more..

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Sodium-ion battery maker Faradion mulling over manufacturing in India

Sodium-ion battery maker Faradion Ltd on Thursday said it is actively exploring having a manufacturing presence in India for its batteries for diversified applications. The company, which had won its first order from ICM Australia, is seeking to push its Sodium-ion batteries over Lithium-ion batteries citing "exceptional superiority" and play a significant part in revolutionising automobile/mobility, storage and mobile sectors across the world. "India is one of the largest markets for mobile devices across the world. Recently, the country has also demonstrated significant progress in the... Read more..

Source: The Economic Times

MNRE Releases Draft Standards for Utility Grid Inverters

In a key development, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released the draft standards for “Technical requirements for Photovoltaic Grid Tie Inverters to be connected to the Utility Grid in India”. The notice calls upon industry stakeholders to provide their feedback and comments latest by April 30, 2020 for these standards, before they are adopted. The focus of these standards is to provide interconnection technical specifications and requirements along with environmental test specifications and requirements applicable for Utility Interconnected Inverters used in... Read more..

Source: Saur Energy International
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