Blogs
MNRE pushes for solar in north-east
27 March 2019 | Shobhit Srivastava
MNRE has issued a new viability gap funding (VGF) scheme for setting up 1,000 MW grid-connected solar PV projects in north-eastern states. The government intends to provide VGF support of up to INR 10 million/ MW for these projects. Power is proposed to be sold to DISCOMs at a fixed tariff of INR 3.00/ kWh through SECI. Minimum bid size shall be 5 MW and commissioning timeline is specified at 21...
Hydro power likely to remain a fringe resource
25 March 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India’s central government recently approved some changes to promote large hydro power (capacity > 25 MW). The changes include designation of large hydro as renewable power, a sub-limit for new hydro power purchase obligation (HPO) within RPO...
Andhra Pradesh pulls back on open access solar
25 March 2019 | Arti Mishra Saran
In January 2019, Government of Andhra Pradesh issued a new solar policy superseding the solar policy issued in 2015. The state aims to add 5,000 MW of solar power capacity in next five years. Solar park capacity addition target for next five years is increased to 4,000 MW from 2,500 MW....
Policy reversals threaten private sale of renewable energy
19 March 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
DISCOMs across India are increasingly railing against private procurement of renewable energy. Following Uttar Pradesh’s recent decision to cancel net metering for C&I consumers, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have withdrawn most incentives provided to open access solar power. And Maharashtra State Electricity...
2018 ends on a low note
12 March 2019 | Arti Mishra Saran
BRIDGE TO INDIA has released its quarterly market report – India Solar Compass Q4 2018. The report contains detailed analysis of solar capacity addition, tender issuance, leading market players, prices and other market trends for the last quarter as well as our estimates...
Indian RE increasingly dependent on foreign capital
11 March 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
A quick look at the profile of winning bidders in utility scale wind and solar auctions over last three years throws some pointed results. The role of international investors – utilities, developers and financial investors (pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, PE funds) – is becoming more critical. Their combined share has gone up steadily from 32% in 2016 to 65% in YTD 2019. Indian...
A draconian approach to solve quality problems?
04 March 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
MNRE recently issued a notification to create an “Approved...
Storage tenders pick up in India
28 February 2019 | Jyoti Gulia
After years of anticipation, grid scale storage tenders have finally started picking pace in India. Seven tenders with a total storage capacity of 84 MWh (with 78 MW of solar PV capacity) have been issued in the last one year. These tenders have been issued by SECI, NTPC and NLC predominantly in remote areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Himachal Pradesh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands....
Cabinet approval for rooftop and rural solar schemes means little
24 February 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs finally issued its approval for two signature policy schemes announced by the government more than a year ago. The two schemes – SRISTI, covering rooftop solar and KUSUM, covering
Uttar Pradesh deals a blow to rooftop solar
22 February 2019 | Arti Mishra Saran
In January 2019, Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) issued new Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems Gross / Net Metering (RSVP) Regulations, 2019. These regulations supersede
Renewable Energy Certificate market has lost its relevance
18 February 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Something unique happened in the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) market last month. Prices of solar RECs moved above the specified floor (INR 1,000/ MWh) for the first time ever and touched INR 1,750/ MWh. Non-solar RECs also traded above the floor level at INR 1,500/ MWh. The price jump came even as trading volumes continued to stay low. The reason for price rise is that the REC...
DISCOM payment delays sapping industry confidence
11 February 2019 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
A DISCOM payment crisis has been building up again in India. The Ministry of Power payments portal shows that outstanding dues increased to INR 410 billion (USD 5.9 billion) by November 2018 (March 2018: INR 250 billion). These numbers are based on limited available data, actual amounts are likely to be much larger. Worst...
