Blogs
Is Uttar Pradesh ready for business?
10 July 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Two months ago, we wrote about how Uttar Pradesh (UP) could be the dark horse for solar power demand in the country. Since then, the state has announced
GST launched but clarity still missing for the solar sector
03 July 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Three days into implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Indian solar industry continues to face uncertainty regarding GST rates. We know that GST will be applied to solar modules at a concessional rate of 5%. Central government officials including the Minister for Power, Piyush Goyal, have
Growth in solar imports increasing the risk of a knee-jerk reaction by India
19 June 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
India imported 5.7 GW or about 89% of its total solar module requirement in FY 2016-17. Value of these imports is estimated at USD 3 billion, equivalent to 2.8% of the country’s total merchandise trade deficit. An increasing reliance on imports in a growing and strategically important sector is creating various stress points and raises the risk of a knee-jerk policy reaction by the government...
Greenko, Trina Solar and ABB lead in the Indian solar market
12 June 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
BRIDGE TO INDIA has released the March 2017 edition of India Solar Map. As per our project database, India installed 5.5 GW of utility scale solar capacity in the last fiscal year reaching total cumulative solar capacity of 12.5 GW by March 2017. Another 12 GW capacity has been allocated to developers and is in various stages of development. – We expect southern states to continue to...
Renewable sector to ‘trump’ Trump
05 June 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
“In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord,” US President Donald Trump said last week. The move has already been criticized extensively...
Solar modules to be taxed at 5% under GST as against 18% declared earlier
29 May 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, we wrote that the proposed 18% Goods and Service Tax (GST) on solar modules could cause major disruption in the industry and affect over 10 GW of projects. Following uproar in the industry, India’s revenue secretary, Hasmukh Adhia, has
Southern region to lead the nation in grid integration of renewable energy
29 May 2017 | Surbhi Singhvi
India’s southern region comprising Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala accounts for 25% of national power consumption but 45% of total wind and solar power capacity in the country. Penetration of variable wind and solar energy, defined as generation from both these sources as a percentage of electricity consumption, in the southern region was 9% in 2016-17 as against...
GST to cause significant disruption to the solar sector
22 May 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Indian government has released final Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates under the new indirect tax regime proposed to be rolled out from July 1. The biggest surprise for the power and renewable sector is the announcement of 18% tax rate for solar modules as compared to a present effective rate of zero. In contrast, GST rate for coal has been lowered to 5% as against current rate of 11.69%...
Indian solar tariffs fall 25% in three months
15 May 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) 750 MW utility scale auction in Bhadla solar park saw tariffs fall to a new astounding low of INR 2.44 (US¢ 3.79)/ kWh. This comes after much brouhaha over tariffs falling to INR 3.25/ kWh (levelized) and INR 3.15/ kWh in
Which states will drive India’s next round of solar demand?
08 May 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The pace of new tender announcements and completed auctions has slowed down significantly in the last year (-68% and -59% respectively). Southern states have frontloaded capacity buildout – Andhra Pradesh (installed plus tendered capacity of 74% as against March 2022 target),...
India wants all new cars beyond 2030 to be electric
01 May 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
“We are going to introduce electric vehicles in a very big way,” India’s Minister of Power, Piyush Goyal, stated last week. The Ministry of Heavy Industries and the NITI Aayog are working on a comprehensive policy for promotion...
Competition in the Indian solar market intensifies further
24 April 2017 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
First round of bids was submitted for Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI’s) 750 MW tender in Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan last week. A total of 33 developers are believed to have submitted bids for an aggregate capacity of 8,750 MW – an oversubscription of almost 12x. Coming in the wake of intensely competitive bidding in
