Blogs
Back to the past: The AAP’s demand for cheap coal power for Delhi is unrealistic and wrong-headed
27 February 2015 | Tobias Engelmeier
This is Arvind Kejriwal’s plan to provide power to Delhi: He has asked the government to supply a coal block for a new ultra mega power plant. This plant would then be operated by a private company and would sell cheap and reliable power to Delhi. What a nice thought! Except, we don’t live in fairyland. Better idea: let power prices be determined by the market and give Delhi a workable...
Mr. Modi, where is India’s solar rocket?
25 February 2015 | Tobias Engelmeier
India can build excellent rockets. Last September, it successfully sent a space mission to Mars – and that, too, at a slim $74 million. Now, India’s government is again reaching for the stars. Actually, it is reaching out for a specific one, the sun. Mr. Modi has announced that India wants to build 100 GW of solar power in five years. That is nothing short of spectacular. Only, we have no...
Punjab opens bids for phase two of the state allocations
24 February 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Punjab had floated a tender in December 2014 (refer) for the second phase of allocations in the state for 250 MW of solar PV projects. The state received eligible bids for over 300 MW (our estimate 344 MW) but details have not yet been...
How to make money in the Indian solar market
18 February 2015 | Tobias Engelmeier
India has 3+ GW of solar installed. On the basis of that, in the last years, the country has built a broad ecosystem of manufacturers, installers, project developers and financiers. This sounds like a healthy launch pad for a big jump in capacity addition (perhaps even to an incredible 100 GW) – but it isn’t. Very few players in the market so far have made a good return. A common concern in...
Much fanfare and interest, but few specifics at RE INVEST
18 February 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
On Sunday (15th February 2015), India’s first government organised renewable energy investment summit got underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of Indian and global industry stakeholders. Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal, called it a ‘historic day’ that will pave the way for making India the...
Default over Design: How India will really grow its solar industry
18 February 2015 | Tobias Engelmeier
Can India achieve 100 GW of solar in five years? Technically: yes – if politicians are willing to put enough support behind it. Realistically: not likely – there is still no strategy in place for achieving this number. Does that matter? No. As solar becomes ever more viable and India’s energy demand rises rapidly, the mountain will come to the prophet. However, it will be a market by...
166 GW of solar investment interest in India in the coming years
10 February 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
In the build-up to the government-sponsored renewable energy investment summit, RE-INVEST 2015 (refer), the organizers asked participating companies to provide non-binding investment indications for the Indian renewable market. The results show a general willingness to set up a whopping 166 GW of solar power generation capacity...
India is getting its solar fundamentals right but the policy is still a ‘work-in-progress’
03 February 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
On Saturday (31st January 2015), the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal, called for a meeting with solar developers and manufacturers to discuss various aspects related to structuring of accelerated depreciation (AD) mechanism to ensure a level playing field for developers. The minister announced that the government is considering...
USTDA to invest USD 2 billion in India for renewable energy projects
29 January 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
In a US-India joint statement released yesterday (26th January 2015), the US reiterated its intent to support India’s proposed targets on clean energy and climate change. The statement includes seven measures: expanding Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R), expanding Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Deployment (PACE-D), accelerating clean energy...
Rooftop Revolution: Uncovering Patna’s solar potential
23 January 2015 | Tobias Engelmeier
In 2011, the per capita electricity consumption of Patna, the capital city of Bihar, was only 601 kWh[1] and even though it is a capital of one of India’s largest states, this is 23% lower than the national average of 780 kWh
Is India’s 100 GW solar road map feasible?
20 January 2015 | BRIDGE TO INDIA
Ever since the new government was sworn in, India has been making all the right noises about its ambitions for solar power. Both Prime Minister Modi, and the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Mr. Goyal, seem determined to achieve an ambitious target of 100 GW by 2020. After the headline items have been absorbed and expectations have risen, it is now time for delivery. They have their work...
MNRE released the draft guidelines for 3,000 MW reflecting a shift away from solar park
14 January 2015 | Mudit Jain
The revised guidelines have been issued for implementation of tranche-I of batch II under phase II of NSM for 3,000 MW (see here). The development of the solar park in Andhra Pradesh is delayed due to land...
