Coronavirus damage impossible to assess
31 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India has been in a near complete lockdown since 22 March 2020. The current three week lockdown is due to last until 14 April 2020. All commercial and social activity including all international and domestic travel has been completely banned. Only essential services including healthcare, food and critical infrastructure – telecom, power, security and banking – are exempted...
Coronavirus damage impossible to assess
31 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India has been in a near complete lockdown since 22 March 2020. The current three week lockdown is due to last until 14 April 2020. All commercial and social activity including all international and domestic travel has been completely banned. Only essential services including healthcare, food and critical infrastructure – telecom, power, security and banking – are exempted...
Management of cooling load favourable to renewables
20 March 2020 | Mridul Chadha
Indian government’s nodal agency for energy demand management programmes, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), recently named cooling as a focus area for reducing power demand over the next 20 years.
Management of cooling load favourable to renewables
20 March 2020 | Mridul Chadha
Indian government’s nodal agency for energy demand management programmes, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), recently named cooling as a focus area for reducing power demand over the next 20 years.
Waiving bank guarantees not desirable
20 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
MNRE is understood to be in advanced stages of waiving requirements for bank guarantees by project bidders. As per a news report, MNRE is proposing that instead of bank guarantees, the developers may provide letters of comfort from one of the three government owned financial institutions – Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Indian Renewable Energy Development…
Waiving bank guarantees not desirable
20 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
MNRE is understood to be in advanced stages of waiving requirements for bank guarantees by project bidders. As per a news report, MNRE is proposing that instead of bank guarantees, the developers may provide letters of comfort from one of the three government owned financial institutions – Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Indian Renewable Energy Development…
Safeguard duty redux
16 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has opened a fresh investigation into solar cell and module imports. The investigation follows an application for extension of safeguard duty by Adani and Jupiter Solar, a local cell manufacturer. Their application seeks continuation of duty for four more years after the current duty expires in July…
Safeguard duty redux
16 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has opened a fresh investigation into solar cell and module imports. The investigation follows an application for extension of safeguard duty by Adani and Jupiter Solar, a local cell manufacturer. Their application seeks continuation of duty for four more years after the current duty expires in July…
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Buy Report Download Executive SummaryPoor design of procurement schemes would hurt residential consumers
11 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Karnataka andDelhi DISCOMs have recently issued empanelment tenders for installation of residential rooftop solar systems under MNRE’s phase II rooftop solar scheme, also known as SRISTI. Including these two states, twelve states and union territories have so far issued such tenders. Six states and union territories have already completed empanelment process for a total capacity of 180 MW and obtained MNRE approval for…
Poor design of procurement schemes would hurt residential consumers
11 March 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Karnataka andDelhi DISCOMs have recently issued empanelment tenders for installation of residential rooftop solar systems under MNRE’s phase II rooftop solar scheme, also known as SRISTI. Including these two states, twelve states and union territories have so far issued such tenders. Six states and union territories have already completed empanelment process for a total capacity of 180 MW and obtained MNRE approval for…
Coronavirus disruption highlights risk of external dependence
28 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Ministry of Finance has clarified that projects affected by the Coronavirus breakout would be given relief by way of extensions in project completion timelines under Force Majeure provisions. The announcement is not a surprise as the resultant business disruption, clearly outside the control of the project developers or the equipment suppliers, has severely impacted equipment shipments and installation activity.…
Coronavirus disruption highlights risk of external dependence
28 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Ministry of Finance has clarified that projects affected by the Coronavirus breakout would be given relief by way of extensions in project completion timelines under Force Majeure provisions. The announcement is not a surprise as the resultant business disruption, clearly outside the control of the project developers or the equipment suppliers, has severely impacted equipment shipments and installation activity.…
India takes one more step in integration of RE
25 February 2020 | Mridul Chadha
Eight of the proposed 11 Renewable Energy Management Centres (REMCs) have commenced operations. REMCs were proposed to be set up by the Ministry of Power back in 2017 to aggregate renewable energy forecasts and dispatch schedules. They are expected to help optimise scheduling of conventional power plants and maintain grid balance.
India takes one more step in integration of RE
25 February 2020 | Mridul Chadha
Eight of the proposed 11 Renewable Energy Management Centres (REMCs) have commenced operations. REMCs were proposed to be set up by the Ministry of Power back in 2017 to aggregate renewable energy forecasts and dispatch schedules. They are expected to help optimise scheduling of conventional power plants and maintain grid balance.
Weak power demand an under appreciated risk
24 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India added 2,770 MW of renewable capacity in Q4 2019. For the year 2019, total capacity addition is estimated at 11,403 MW comprising 7,140 MW utility scale solar, 1,896 MW rooftop solar and 2,367 MW wind. The total figure is up marginally over 10,683 MW capacity addition in 2018 but substantially lower than 14,031 MW in 2017.
Weak power demand an under appreciated risk
24 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India added 2,770 MW of renewable capacity in Q4 2019. For the year 2019, total capacity addition is estimated at 11,403 MW comprising 7,140 MW utility scale solar, 1,896 MW rooftop solar and 2,367 MW wind. The total figure is up marginally over 10,683 MW capacity addition in 2018 but substantially lower than 14,031 MW in 2017.
King coal here to stay
12 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Thermal power IPPs have put in bids of INR 3.26/ kWh in a 2,500 MW tender issued as part of a Ministry of Power scheme. They would supply power to DISCOMs across the country under 3-year PPAs at prices indexed to 50% of wholesale price inflation index (currently less than 3% per annum). Participating IPPs include Adani, Jindal, Essar, GMR, Jaypee, Sembcorp…
King coal here to stay
12 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Thermal power IPPs have put in bids of INR 3.26/ kWh in a 2,500 MW tender issued as part of a Ministry of Power scheme. They would supply power to DISCOMs across the country under 3-year PPAs at prices indexed to 50% of wholesale price inflation index (currently less than 3% per annum). Participating IPPs include Adani, Jindal, Essar, GMR, Jaypee, Sembcorp…
No dearth of equity
06 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, and Swedish PE fund, EQT, have announced entry in the Indian renewable power sector with a corpus of USD 500 million. They have set up a new renewable IPP platform, O2 Power, as a 50:50 joint-venture. The venture has got off to a brisk start by hiring a team of senior managers from ReNew and…
No dearth of equity
06 February 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, and Swedish PE fund, EQT, have announced entry in the Indian renewable power sector with a corpus of USD 500 million. They have set up a new renewable IPP platform, O2 Power, as a 50:50 joint-venture. The venture has got off to a brisk start by hiring a team of senior managers from ReNew and…
Government passing the buck to project developers
31 January 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, we wrote about the proposed MNRE scheme to procure round-the-clock renewable power with blending with thermal power. As we noted, the need for firm, predictable power is all too clear. But it is odd that the government is asking the project developers to provide a solution for this. Not only is the scheme beyond scope of most renewable…
Government passing the buck to project developers
31 January 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, we wrote about the proposed MNRE scheme to procure round-the-clock renewable power with blending with thermal power. As we noted, the need for firm, predictable power is all too clear. But it is odd that the government is asking the project developers to provide a solution for this. Not only is the scheme beyond scope of most renewable…
Complex tender designs on the way
24 January 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
MNRE has issued a draft scheme for procuring renewable power, blended with thermal power, on a round-the-clock basis with 80% overall availability. The scheme is technology agnostic. Minimum 51% of power outcome is required to come from renewable sources – with or without storage solutions. Thermal power may be supplied from existing power plants. Bidders are expected to quote a…
Complex tender designs on the way
24 January 2020 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
MNRE has issued a draft scheme for procuring renewable power, blended with thermal power, on a round-the-clock basis with 80% overall availability. The scheme is technology agnostic. Minimum 51% of power outcome is required to come from renewable sources – with or without storage solutions. Thermal power may be supplied from existing power plants. Bidders are expected to quote a…
