The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued draft guidelines for performance testing of batteries (leadacid and nickel-based chemistry type) series approval for mandatory registration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on April 8, 2019. The draft copy was prepared with inputs from stakeholders, including experts from Read more…
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), a global body for cooperation amongst solar resource-rich countries, will no longer be classified as a foreign source of funding for non-governmental organizations in India. The decision was taken as part of India’s efforts to assist and help achieve the goal of increasing the use Read more…
Bolivia has signed the framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), joining hands with India towards a common goal of sustainability. With the joining of Bolivia, a total of 74 countries have signed the framework agreement of the ISA. The agreement between Bolivia and ISA was signed during President Read more…
Renewable Watch recently interacted with Pitamber Shivnani, President, Power Grids, ABB India, regarding the role of digitalisation in the renewable sector, on the sidelines of GRIDTECH 2019. Excerpts from the conversation. What are the key transmission constraints in the renewable energy space in India? Well, geography for one. The sheer Read more…
The delay in the launch of the solar irrigation pump scheme which the Centre announced in the previous Budget has left States like Bihar with no option but increase diesel subsidy offered to their farmers. The Nitish Kumar-government in Bihar received nearly 23 lakh applications for diesel subsidy from farmers Read more…
Leading infrastructure investor Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is in advanced negotiations to buy the solar portfolio of RattanIndia Power Ltd (formerly India Bulls Power) for an enterprise value of about $300 million (Rs 2,000 crore), multiple people aware of the development told ET. “Due diligence of solar assets by GIP Read more…
Existing market challenges for the stakeholders lead to the slow uptake of rooftop solar in the residential sector. For the consumers, high upfront cost, difficulty in accessing finance, lack of awareness, and lack of access to suitable roof spaces are some of the major challenges. The solar developers and financiers Read more…
The Centre has introduced a financial incentive for states and tweaked its policy to address two major issues plaguing solar park developers — shortage of land and lack of transmission facility. States will earn Rs 0.02 for every unit of power produced at the solar parks, irrespective of where it Read more…
Solar power for the first time in India made over 50% power capacity addition in 2018 although GST, safeguard duty, and land and transmission issues took a toll on large-scale power installation to whose effect the overall Indian solar market was down 15.5% in FY18, according to Mercom India Research’s Read more…
Managing Director of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Shri Jatindra Nath Swain, inaugurated the 1.2 MWp solar power project at Akal University in Bathinda on April 6, 2019. In his address, Mr Swain said that this solar project, which is the largest for any rural educational institution, displays Read more…