Blogs
New DISCOM reform package: old wine in a new bottle
19 July 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Union Cabinet has approved yet another DISCOM reform package worth INR 3 trillion (USD 40 billion). The package, titled ‘Revamped reforms-linked results-based distribution sector scheme,’ aims to “…improve operational efficiencies and financial...
Investment appetite running ahead of fundamentals
12 July 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
There have been some eye-catching growth announcements in the past few weeks. After Reliance stated its plan to establish 100 GW solar capacity by 2030, NTPC, JSW Energy and Tata Power have taken turns to announce their own ambitious plans for the renewable sector. NTPC has
Virtual power plants coming into their own
08 July 2021 | Sugandha Chauhan
Last two years have seen a rapid growth of ‘virtual’ power plants (VPPs) across the world. A VPP is an aggregated portfolio of distributed energy resources including storage and rooftop solar systems that mimic an actual power plant to provide grid services such as peak load management, grid balancing and fast frequency response. Each distributed resource is centrally controlled via an...
Reliance to upend the Indian renewable sector
05 July 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), a diversified conglomerate and India’s largest private company by market cap (valuation: INR 14 trillion, USD 190 billion), has announced stunning plans to enter clean energy sector. The...
ISTS waiver distorting the market
28 June 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Ministry of Power has extended completion deadline for inter-state transmission system (ISTS) charges waiver for solar and wind power projects by two years. The waiver would now be available to projects commissioned by 30...
Battery storage PLI scheme likely to see delays
22 June 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Indian government has issued a new production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to develop 50 GWh and 5 GWh domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced battery storage technologies and niche storage technologies respectively by March 2024. The government proposes to grant cash incentives aggregating INR 181 billion (USD 2.5...
Another PSU solar tender set for a lukewarm response
14 June 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Bid submission date for Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA)’s 5,000 MW solar tender has been extended again to 15 June 2021. This is the third such tender issued under MNRE’s...
India Renewable Power Tenders and Policies Update – May 2021
10 June 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
This video presents a summary of major developments for renewable sector tenders with details of tender issuance, bid submission, completed auctions and related market trends. It also covers a snapshot of key policies and regulatory developments from the previous...
Energy storage participation in ancillary services heralds a new market
09 June 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India’s central power sector regulator, CERC, has issued draft ancillary services regulations aimed at ensuring smooth operation of the power system. The highlight of the draft regulations is to allow energy storage facilities and demand side resources, for the first time ever, to provide secondary...
Solar manufacturing ambitions create yet more uncertainty
06 June 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The government’s Make in India policy is creating endless uncertainty for the solar sector. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has initiated a new anti-dumping duty (ADD) investigation into solar cell and module imports from China, Thailand and Vietnam potentially dashing hopes of developers for a
Decisive course correction to retain investors
24 May 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
As COVID pandemic rages across the country, MNRE has granted further time extension to projects under construction. The extension, not yet quantified because it is still too early to assess actual impact, would be applicable only to projects tendered by central government agencies with scheduled COD after 1 April 2021. But state government agencies are expected to follow suit. COVID is not...
PSUs frittering away their core strengths
17 May 2021 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Coal India Limited, a public sector company and the world’s largest coal producer, won 100 MW capacity in the recent 500 MW solar auction in Gujarat with a bid of INR 2.20/ kWh. Two of the other four bidders in the auction were also PSUs – NTPC and SJVN won 150 MW and 70 MW capacities with bids of INR 2.20 and 2.21...
