India

In another ambitious announcement, SoftBank Group CEO, Masayoshi Son has said he will give free power from solar power projects after 25 years of PPA to all ISA member countries. He was speaking at the Indian Government organized RE Invest 2018.

India’s Prime Minister kick started the first Assembly of the ISA, the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest yesterday in Greater Noida. The agenda of the day? Universal access to solar energy at affordable rates; securing 40% of India’s electricity generation from non-fossil fuels by 2030, and allocating up to US$80 billion to boost domestic PV manufacturing.

Though lauded at times as a water-saving technology, PV’s concentration in arid and remote regions, in conjunction with inefficient cleaning methods, can exacerbate water scarcity and prompt rising water tariffs for plant operators, according to a new report on Indian PV installations, published by analysts Bridge to India.

Taiwan has joined Malaysia in requesting consultations with India under the safeguard agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO), following India’s decision to impose 25% safeguard duties on imports of solar cells, whether or not assembled in modules.

India’s much-hyped 10 GW solar auction has hit another roadblock. The state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)’s tender bids for 10 GW of ISTS-connected solar PV power projects linked with 3 GW (per annum) solar man-ufacturing capacity, has now been extended to October 12.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) received a significant boost at the New York One Planet Summit, with European Investment Bank (EIB) President, Werner Hoyer announcing a commitment to back the ISA in its expansion of India’s solar industry and the exchange of technology.

U.S.-based Triton Solar, LLC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) to set up a solar battery manufacturing unit in the Indian state under a public-private-partnership (PPP) model.

pv magazine’s Future PV Roundtable, held at the 2018 Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo in Greater Noida, discussed how India can better adopt bifacial solar cell and module technology – the future of power generation. Prominent industry speakers also put forth their views on how standards can catalyze solar innovation for India-specific challenges, and on PV materials and components for enhanced module efficiency and recycling.

The state government is proposing a range of incentives and mandates to drive PV and solar thermal installations to almost 9 GW within four years. Under the proposed policy, 10% of the public fleet would be replaced by electric vehicles.

The 71% of capacity which was not taken up in a previous tendering exercise in Maharashtra has simply been rolled over into the new one by the state’s electric distribution company.