India

Ambitious government targets and commitments by both private and state-owned companies will propel renewable energy installations.

Bundelkhand Saur Urja Ltd. has opened bids from project management consultants for the 1.2 GW Jalaun Solar Park, which is now being developed in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Indian solar manufacturer NeoSol has unveiled its Black Pearls series of mono PERC modules. The power outputs range from 535 W to 550 W, with power conversion efficiency ratings between 20.7% and 21.33%.

India’s cumulative residential rooftop solar capacity may rise by 60% to reach 3.2 GW by March 31, 2023 driven by rising consumer demand coupled with strong government support.

Adani Green’s newest project includes 600 MW of solar and 150 MW of wind capacity in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It will sell the electricity to Solar Energy Corp. of India under a 25-year power purchase agreement at a rate of INR 2.69/kWh (AU$0.051/kWh)

India’s Jakson Green will expand its solar module and cell manufacturing capacity to 2 GW by the end of 2024, CEO Bikesh Ogra told pv magazine this week at the Renewable Energy India Expo 2022. He said the company also has aggressive plans for green hydrogen and ammonia, with a specific focus on distributed generation.

India’s renewable energy sector, having so far focused almost solely on adding more generation capacity with ever lower tariffs, is undergoing a drastic change, as policy pivots toward domestic manufacturing. Vinay Rustagi, managing director of Bridge to India, looks at how the border conflict with China and endless supply side disruptions in the wake of Covid-19 have together strengthened the Indian government’s resolve to support the establishment of a more localised supply chain.

Indian renewable energy developer Serentica Renewables plans to install and commission 1.5 GW of solar and wind capacity in 24 months to serve energy-intensive industries in the Asian nation.

The developer of a planned 1.3 GW renewable energy hub in South Australia has agreed to partner with India-based PV solar cell and module manufacturer Websol Energy to produce up to 1.2 GW of cells and modules to help it to better control the supply chain of critical components.

Solar-wind hybrid plants are rapidly becoming mainstream, and in booming markets like India and the US these hybrids are increasingly preferred to singular projects despite the higher installation cost. There is no shortage to the benefits of hybridisation, from a smoother power output profile to the cost saving of grid connection. But getting the balance right for new projects and retrofits remains a challenge. Blake Matich reports on this growing trend.