Blogs
NTPC expected to announce key changes for upcoming solar project auctions
01 August 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is currently in the process of finalizing guidelines for 5,000 MW of new solar projects with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) as an off-taker. These projects are expected to be tendered over the next three years with actual timing and geographical spread depending on demand from power utilities. Draft guidelines are expected to be released...
India takes first steps to join the utility scale energy storage club
25 July 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
In a ground-breaking step for the Indian solar market, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has announced that it will soon release tenders for solar project developers to install storage solutions along with their projects. In the upcoming tenders for 100 MW capacity in Andhra Pradesh and 200 MW in Karnataka, each 50MW project would be connected to a storage capacity of 2.5 MWh (
GST to pare price reduction gains made by the Indian solar industry
21 July 2016 | Jasmeet Khurana
The Indian government seems to be ready to push through the much anticipated Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the Parliament in the upcoming monsoon session (July 18 to August 13). If passed, the government will aim to implement the reformed tax regime from April 2017. A key proposal of the reform is to do away with a maze of taxes and exemptions therein and replace them with uniform tax...
Sharp fall in PV module prices to help the Indian solar sector
18 July 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Recent market reports suggest that an oversupply situation is building up in PV module manufacturing in China, especially for the second half of 2016 and this is likely to lead to significant price corrections in the market (refer to story 1,
Developers shy away from SECI’s 250 MW tender in Gujarat
13 July 2016 | Shaurya Bajaj
SECI has completed auctions of 160 MW capacity of projects to be developed in the Charanka solar park in Gujarat under the viability gap funding (VGF) scheme. The original tender of 250 MW was broken down into five projects of 40 MW each and two projects of 25 MW but bids were received for just four projects of 40 MW. Auctions for other projects may now be completed at a later date. Most private...
India trying out multiple options to promote domestic solar manufacturing; results elude
11 July 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, a news report suggested that India will shortly announce new tenders with modified Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) where modules used will need to be assembled in India but the cells may be imported (
SECI receives bids for 602 MW capacity for a 500 MW rooftop solar tender
04 July 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has received bids totalling 602 MW for a 500 MW tender where SECI proposes to provide 30% capital subsidy to the lowest cost bidders. The tender is restricted to rooftop solar projects for residential and institutional segments (
New push needed for net-metering implementation
27 June 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
As the Indian solar sector continues to gather more momentum by the day, one area that often feels relatively neglected is rooftop solar. India’s rooftop solar capacity is currently estimated at 740 MW, only about 10% of total solar PV capacity in the country. Delays in approvals, undefined responsibilities and accountability, unavailability of meters, restrictions on system sizes are some...
Delhi can become a model for rooftop solar implementation across India
22 June 2016 | Jyoti Gulia
The Delhi government approved its first solar policy on June 6, 2016. The policy understandably focuses on rooftop solar development because of shortage of available land space in the city. It has many innovative provisions and provides for exemptions and simplification of procedures for rooftop system installation. The policy introduces ‘Group Net Metering’ for the first time in India,...
Successful sale of solar assets driving confidence in the sector
20 June 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
As the Indian solar sector grows, there has been growing pressure on Indian project developers to churn their capital. The merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the sector is gathering pace and it is believed that as many as 3,000 MW of projects are on sale right now. Last week, a report quoted that IDFC Alternatives, an Indian private equity fund, is in advanced discussions to buy 275 MW...
Indian corporates assert themselves as bidding intensity comes down
13 June 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Results were announced last week for 1,050 MW of projects tendered by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) in Karnataka (950 MW) and Chhattisgarh (100 MW) under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme. These projects will be set up outside solar parks and will have no module sourcing restrictions. Adani (350 MW), Hero Future Energies (200 MW), Energon (100 MW), Acme Solar (160 MW) and Solar...
India issues a credible draft of mini and micro grid policy
06 June 2016 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a draft national policy for mini and micro grids (refer). The policy aims to create up to 500 MW capacity in the private sector in the next five years. India has a terrible record on providing reliable grid...
