Blogs
Jharkhand to allocate 1,200 MW of solar capacity
07 December 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, Jharkhand, one of India’s largest coal producing states and governed by BJP, announced a new tender for 1,200 MW of solar capacity allocation under its state policy (refer). This is the first such tender for the state. Projects under this tender are expected to be allocated under two categories: 200 MW for projects smaller than 25 MW (minimum size is 1 MW) and 1,000 MW for projects...
Telangana yet another example of policy uncertainty in India
30 November 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Telangana successfully completed auction for 2,000 MW of grid connected, ground mounted solar projects in India in August 2015 and PPAs were expected to be signed by October 2015 (refer). However, there has been a considerable delay in signing these PPAs. The process...
Taking stock of solar policy progress in India
23 November 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Around this time last year, India announced its ambitious target to install 100 GW of solar by 2022 (refer). This target was then officially adopted by the Indian cabinet in June 2015 (
What to expect from India’s new rooftop solar policy?
16 November 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Earlier this month, India’s minister for new and renewable energy, Piyush Goyal, announced that the country’s rooftop solar policy is now ready to be placed before the union cabinet (refer). This...
Success of the DISCOM package crucial to the future of solar power
09 November 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, the government unveiled its Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY), a scheme intended to find a permanent solution to the financial mess facing the power distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the country. The key planks of the scheme are getting state governments to assume 75% of total debt obligations of their respective DISCOMs and getting banks to reduce interest rates on the remaining...
500 MW of NSM bids in Andhra Pradesh to close below INR 5.37/kWh
02 November 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
First round bid results have been released today for the 500 MW National Solar Mission (NSM) tender in Andhra Pradesh. Bids were submitted for over 5.5 GW by 30 developers with tariffs ranging between INR 5.21/kWh and INR 6.45/kWh. 28 developers have been selected to move to the second round of electronic bidding and the highest qualifying bid to move into the second round stands at INR...
India trying to position itself as a leader in solar power
26 October 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Ahead of the COP-21 meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Paris, India is expected to float a grouping of countries called the International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (InSPA), possibly at the ongoing India-Africa Forum Summit (
Telangana strengthens position as a solar leader in India
19 October 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Last week, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) issued two tenders totaling 400 MW (40 projects of 10 MW each) in Telangana under batch two, phase two of National Solar Mission (NSM). 50 MW of this is earmarked for projects using domestically manufactured modules under Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) guidelines. This tender comes on the back of 2,500...
A Low Carbon World – Are We Finally Getting It?
15 October 2015 | Tobias Engelmeier
As we move closer towards the Paris climate talks, something interesting is happening. Ever more stakeholders seem to be ready to be part of the solution. Negotiations that were earlier bogged-down in zero-sum confrontations suddenly have a new fluidity and a ring of can-do optimism about them. Why? …Actually, the new question seems to be: “Why not?” Creating a low carbon world is seen...
Waiver of interstate transmission charges will boost solar, but only in the short term
12 October 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister for New and Renewable Energy, announced last week that the government plans to waive interstate transmission charges for electricity generated by renewable sources (refer). This waiver...
The Open Access Solar Market in India: Evolution and Challenges
08 October 2015 | Jyoti Gulia
While the large solar policy allocations take all the limelight, there are very interesting niche markets developing in India. These markets are typically driven by favourable end-user economics and require less government support. Depending on the quality of the local grid, on the policy support and availability of on-site space, end consumer could go for open access or rooftop solar solution....
13 GW of solar power projects in the pipeline in India – Southern states leading
07 October 2015 | Jyoti Gulia
India has made tremendous strides in the development of its solar sector in last 18 months. As of today, the country has a solar project pipeline of 13 GW. These are projects, for which either PPAs have already been signed or tenders are issued. Most of these projects should be commissioned by the end of 2016 or early 2017. Southern states are most ambitious and drive solar under their own...
