Blogs
Customs duty bazooka for module manufacturing
24 September 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
After failure of all previous and ongoing policy initiatives to kickstart domestic manufacturing of solar modules, MNRE has recommended imposition of
Slowdown bites hard
20 September 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India’s total installed solar capacity touched 34,154 MW on 30 June 2019. This capacity is split between utility scale, rooftop solar and off-grid solar as 27,934 MW, 4,960 MW and 1,260 MW respectively. Total project pipeline – projects allocated to project developers and at various stages of development – stood at 19,698 MW as on 30 June 2019. Figure: Total installed and pipeline...
Forecasting regulations a tough proposition for developers
18 September 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
In response to a petition filed by the Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA), the Rajasthan High Court has recently upheld validity of the forecasting and scheduling regulations. The IWPA had challenged validity of these regulations on the grounds of high penalty charges and poor forecasting ability of the...
The renewable energy bull run is over
10 September 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, we stated that investor interest in the RE sector has fallen sharply in the last 12 months. In the wake of increasing costs and execution risks, difficulties in getting debt financing and
Undersubscription becoming a norm
03 September 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Two auctions were completed last week by SECI for a 1,800 MW wind tender and a 1,200 MW solar tender respectively. Both were heavily undersubscribed and received only two responses each: wind – CLP (250 MW) and Enel (300); solar – SB Energy (450) and GRT Jewellers (150). Final project allocations were made only for 441 MW (INR 2.83-2.84/ kWh) and 480 MW (INR 2.53-2.65/ kWh) respectively,...
C&I energy storage has a bright future
30 August 2019 | Surbhi Singhvi
Energy storage is slated to play a critical role in supporting rapid expansion of variable RE in the grid while ensuring its stability and security. While a number of grid-scale solar-storage hybrid tenders have been issued recently, activity in behind-the-meter market is yet to pick up pace in India. The residential...
Ministry of Power to review power procurement model
27 August 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Ministry of Power has constituted a new panel to examine “deepening of the power markets in India.” The panel comprises representatives from the Ministry of Power, CERC (India’s chief power regulator) and CEA (Central Electricity Authority). Its mandate is to examine the current power procurement model in India…
SECI reworks the PPA template
20 August 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
SECI has issued a new 1,200 MW ISTS (inter-state transmission system)-based tender. The tender includes two significant changes from the typical template. For the first time ever, the choice of technology – solar, wind or solar-wind hybrid – has been left to the developers. Second, the projects need to include a storage component such that they can supply at least 3 MWh of power/ MW/ day...
Rooftop solar tenders pick up again
19 August 2019 | Shobhit Srivastava
After a slow 2017-18, rooftop solar tender issuance activity picked up again in 2018-19. Central and state government agencies issued a total of 804 MW (CAPEX 291 MW, OPEX 513 MW) of rooftop solar tenders in the year, up 64% on previous year. Figure: Rooftop solar tender issuance, MW Source: BRIDGE TO INDIA research Note: Tenders below 5 MW capacity are excluded from this...
Sterling & Wilson successfully completes its IPO
12 August 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Sterling & Wilson Solar (S&W) has become a rare success story in the Indian renewable energy sector by becoming the first company in many years to successfully complete an IPO. The share sale was structured as an offer for...
Ministry of Power looking to act tough on DISCOMs
05 August 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Ministry of Power (MOP) and MNRE have issued a couple of emphatic orders to tackle the growing DISCOM payment crisis. The first is an MOP order in end June instructing State Load Despatch Centres (SLDC) and Regional Load...
One year of safeguard duty fails to produce any results
29 July 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
It is nearly a year since announcement of safeguard duty on import of PV cells and modules. To recap, the Indian government enforced duties on all imports from China, Malaysia and all developed countries starting 31 July 2018 for a period of two years. The duty level was set at 25% in the first year,...
