Raising the bar in solar PV modules

The solar photovoltaic (PV) module market is at a critical juncture as technology obsolescence accelerates across industries.

Since 2017, the market has been dominated by passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology globally. Now, with tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and heterojunction technology (HJT), which provide higher efficiency, lower degradation and better cost competitiveness, emerging as the new gold standards in PV modules, a rapid…

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Storage to become a standard feature in solar projects

The recent recommendation of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) that all renewable energy implementing agencies and state utilities incorporate at least two-hour co-located energy storage systems (ESS), equivalent to 10% of the installed solar project capacity, in future solar tenders is expected to result in 14 gigawatt (GW) storage capacity being installed by 2030. As of December 31,...

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Powering rooftop solar

Building on the success of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the government has issued guidelines to further promote rooftop solar (RTS) installations under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) and utility-led aggregation (ULA) models. Launched in February 2024, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has achieved remarkable success…

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BEE rules give shape and direction to India’s carbon market

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has released a detailed guide outlining acceptable project structures for the offset mechanism within the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). This scheme applies to various sectors, including renewable energy, hydrogen production, energy efficiency, waste handling, agriculture, forestry and transport.  Table: List of draft methodologies for offset...

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Budget 2025-26: A decisive push towards energy security and clean energy

The Union Budget 2025-26 underscores the government’s commitment to promote renewable energy and domestic manufacturing capacity in the clean energy sector, thereby continuing to undergird a sustainable future. A range of initiatives announced, such as expanding rooftop solar power, developing nuclear energy and bolstering domestic clean energy…

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Navigating the US-led energy reset

The US government’s recent decisions to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and relax regulations on production and use of fossil fuels have added a new layer of complexity to the evolving global energy landscape as countries strive to strike a balance between energy security, economic growth and environmental sustainability. A significant player in the global energy landscape, the US...

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Green energy open access trips in Karnataka

The market for green energy open access has hit a speed breaker with the Karnataka High Court recently striking down the Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022, and the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) Regulations, 2022, under its state’s jurisdiction…

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Robust RE capacity addition to continue in 2025

The domestic renewable energy sector is poised to sustain its growth momentum in 2025, driven by both utility-scale procurement and commercial and industrial (C&I) sector demand. In 2024, capacity addition in the sector surged to a historic high of 27 GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) data. Solar energy saw a remarkable four-fold increase in capacity...

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2024: Scaling new heights

India’s solar and wind energy sector demonstrated remarkable growth in 2024, fueled by government support, declining technology costs, and increased investor confidence.

Record capacity addition: India witnessed an unprecedented surge in solar energy installations in 2024. Between January to November, the country added 20.8 GW of solar capacity and 3.2 GW of wind capacity, ~87% YoY growth…

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After ALMM tag, timely solar cell capacity commissioning crucial

Timely commissioning of the solar cell manufacturing projects announced so far will be crucial to ensure there is adequate capacity to meet demand in years to come. For while the announcements suggest supply will be adequate, the typical utilisation factor arithmetic and other imponderables…

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Domestic protection for the solar value chain comes at a cost

India’s ambitious renewable energy targets have sparked a crucial debate about the role of import duties in promoting domestic manufacturing while ensuring affordability. The government’s efforts to promote domestic manufacturing are laudable, but the higher cost of imported components and domestic capacity constraints have created challenges for developers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors…

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COP 29 disappoints on climate finance and action

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) at Baku, Azerbaijan, concluded on November 22, 2024, on a disappointing note as countries failed to take decisive action to address the escalating climate crisis.

One of the most critical aspects of the conference was the New Collective Quantified Goal target for climate finance, which was to be revised after 15 years. Developing nations had sought a significant increase in climate finance to $1.3 trillion per year….

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