Blogs
How to think about your NSM bidding strategy?
29 October 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
The RfS for capacity allocations of 750 MW under batch one of phase two of the NSM has been released (refer) and interested developers are required to submit their proposals by 28th December 2013. There are several...
Renewable power innovations in India – the world’s laboratory
24 October 2013 | Tobias Engelmeier
India’s electricity system is a mess. While that is bad for consumers, it is great news for innovators and entrepreneurs who see an opportunity to earn money, to provide a social solution or to do both. Prayas Energy Group, a Pune think tank, now wants to provide more data for such ventures. Its concept is a finalist in the Google Impact Challenge 2013. India has many different needs, markets...
Weekly Update: Pure-play power producers are losing the solar battle, for now
22 October 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
According to a Crisil research note (refer), pure-play power project developers in India are finding it difficult to compete for solar projects against investors that have entered the segment primarily to avail the tax incentives. An investor...
Weekly Update: Global and Indian solar stocks rally as manufacturing finds its feet
15 October 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
Stock market valuations of major solar global companies have risen significantly in the last two months, beating the respective indices by a significant margin. The share prices of Jinko are up by 61%, Yingli Green Energy by 107%, Sun Power by 40%, Trina Solar by 124%, Renesola by 35% and First Solar by 11%. The share prices for Indian cell manufacturer, IndoSolar, have increased by 73% over the...
Will solar replace coal as the lead power source in India in ten years?
14 October 2013 | Tobias Engelmeier
Today, solar adds less than 1% to the Indian power mix. Coal, by contrast, contributes over 60%. Coal is the lead power source and setting the overall power price. However, as coal is getting more expensive with respect to solar, and since the potential for solar is almost without limits, solar can become the lead power source in the next ten years. The cost difference between a kWh of coal...
A need, but not yet a market? What holds the Indian private PPA solar market back?
10 October 2013 | Tobias Engelmeier
There has been much talk about the great transition in the Indian solar (power) market moving from a centralized, policy-driven market, to a distributed, private PPA market. In fact, we have ourselves added to the chorus (see our various blogs and
Weekly Update: Revised guidelines for batch-I of phase-II of the NSM released; Many key concerns have been addressed
08 October 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released its revised draft guidelines for a capacity of 750 MW of solar PV under batch one of phase two of the National Solar Mission (NSM) (refer to this document for the latest draft). SECI...
Weekly Update: Andhra Pradesh to sign PPAs for a capacity of 140MW
01 October 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
Less than planned for, but at least a start: As per the Andhra Pradesh Transmission Corporation (APTRANSCO), 60 MW of PPAs have been signed in the state until now and around 80 MW more are expected be signed soon. The tariff will be INR 6.49/kWh (EUR 0.08/kWh; USD 0.10/kWh). Andhra Pradesh is looking to allocate a revised target capacity of 350 MW. Considering to the large shortfall with...
Weekly Update: Timelines for phase two of the National Solar Mission keep everyone guessing
24 September 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
Allocations under batch one of phase two of the National Solar Mission (NSM) were supposed to begin in May 2013. However, there has been a significant delay in the process and these allocations have not yet been announced. Officials from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) have been quoted as saying that the documents for phase two of the NSM are now with the union cabinet for...
Weekly Update: India likely to introduce mega sized solar projects soon
17 September 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been planning to build mega size solar projects (>500 MW) in India (refer to the July 2013 edition of the India Solar Compass). These projects would be aimed at bringing down the cost of solar power to around INR 5/kWh (USD...
Weekly Update: The real problem facing domestic manufacturing is the lack of scale
11 September 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
A recent article (refer) revealed that Indian C-si PV manufacturing is witnessing a five year low. The poor performance of domestic manufacturing in the last few years is well known. In response, the MNRE recently announced the establishment of the ‘National Institute for Solar Energy’ (NISE) to...
Weekly Update: Uttarakhand releases its rooftop solar scheme
03 September 2013 | Jasmeet Khurana
Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) has released a document explaining the scheme developed to promote grid-connected rooftop and small-size solar PV power plants in the state. The scheme provides for ‘net metering’ for grid connected rooftop solar plants and states that the solar system owner will be compensated for the excess power supplied to the grid at a tariff...
