(For Digital) SQ- India Dec-Jan Issue 2023

India

IN CONVERSATION

Kerala is giving great push to renewable energy and E-Vehicle and has set an ambitious target of 3000MW in the next 4 years and 1 million vehicles by 2030."

- Narendra Nath Veluri IFS

Chief Executive Officer, Agency for New and renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), Department of Power, Government of Kerala

FEATURED INSIGHT

2022: where indian renewables reached their “peak” the new peak power tender is definitely a watershed moment in india’s re journey

Role of india’s national carbon market in accelerating uptake of rooftop solar and other distributed re projects

The green open access revolution

Innovative solar technologies for green hydrogen production

Blockchain for the advancement of decentralised RE systems

Smart solar technology in performance driven asset management

Freezers to vegetable data how tech and solar power are changing lives in rural india

Grid Stability with RE penetration

Mr James Hou Shantanu Sirsath Head of Sales

GoodWe India & SEA Technical Head India, Growatt

INDIA NEWS

Investments

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency to Lend Rs 4,444

Crore to SJVN Green Energy For 1,000 MW Solar Project

JSW Group To Invest Rs 1 Lakh Crore in Steel and Solar Projects in Odisha

NTPC Green Energy Likely to Get Strategic Investor by March 2023; Expects to Raise Rs 3,000 Cr for Implementing RE Projects in India

Indore Municipal Corporation To Raise Rs 250 Cr by Issuing Green Bonds for 60 MW Solar Power Project

NIIF Managed Fund Invests in 16 Entities Covering Renewable Energy and Other Sectors

Green Energy Investment in India To Be $10 Billion in 2023: Bank of America

homiHydrogen To Invest USD 50 Million In India to Setup Electrolysers

Units

Greenzo to Invest $50 Million in Setting Up 250 MW Electrolyser, BOP Manufacturing Facility in Gujarat

Powergrid to Invest Rs 330 61 Crore to Evacuate 20 GW Renewable Energy

UPNEDA Urges Investing in Solar Energy Sector in Uttar Pradesh

IREDA Signs Loan Agreement with KFW for “Access to Clean Energy Projects”

NTT India Invests $2 Bn To Boost ICT Infrastructure; Plans To Install 350 MW of Solar Energy

Green Hydrogen Projects

India Oil Corporation Plans to Set Up New Company for Green Business

Volkswagen’s Aurangabad Factory Adopts 100% Renewable Electricity

SJVN, GRIDCO To Form JV To Develop 2000 MW Solar and 1000 MW Hydro Project in Odisha

Tata Power to Support ‘Make in Odisha’ Through its Clean and Green Energy Products and Solutions

Brookfield Selects Amazon Web Services to Enhance Its Renewable Energy Operations

Total Electricity Volume Trade on IEX Grows 9% to 7 392 Million Units in November

Amazon India Launches 300 MW Wind-solar Hybrid Projects in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka

Jindal Stainless Partners with ReNew Power to Setup 300 MW Renewable Energy Project

Adani Green Becomes the World’s Largest Wind Solar Hybrid Power Developer

Chiripal Group Launches Solar Manufacturing Company Grew Energy

Suzlon Energy Sells Its Solar Power Subsidiary Vayudoot Solar farms

Partners Group to Buy Majority Stake in Sunsure Energy for USD 400

Million

ONGC Signs MoU with Shell for Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage

Husk Power Systems and Smart Power India Launch “Pragati ki Aur” Campaign to Boost Income of Solar-powered, Women-led MSMEs in Rural India

TotalEnergies Eneos Completes Solar Rooftop Installation For Sri Kannapiran Mills, in South India

Solar Power Helps Konkan Railway Save Electricity Bill of Over ₹ 31 Lakh in Just Two Years

Cummins To Power Gail’s Green Hydrogen Ambitions in Collaboration with Maire Tecnimont

NTPC Commissions 162 27 MW Solar Capacity in Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu

CCI Clears Tanweer Infrastructure’s Acquisition of Sembcorp Energy

NIIFL to Collaborate with Tamil Nadu Government to Develop Renewable Energy, Infra Projects

KPI G E B Orders for 24.9 MW Solar Power Projects

27% Stake in Strongsun Solar by Investing Rs

Airbus To Source Green Hydrogen from India

West Bengal Planning Green Hydrogen Plant in Durgapur

CWP Global Signs MoU to Develop 10 GW Renewables and Green Hydrogen Hub in Djibouti

Cavendish Renewable Technology Signs Agreement for Development of State-of-the-Art Hydrogen Electrolyser Technologies with Adani New Industries Ltd

Maire Tecnimont Group and NTPC Sign MoU to Develop Green Methanol Project in India

India Plans $2 Billion Incentive for Green Hydrogen Industry, Says Report

NTPC Starts India’s First Green Hydrogen Blending Operation in PNG Network

CleanMax and Meta Partner to Bring 33 8 MW of New Renewable Energy to India’s Electric Grid

NTPC Crosses 1 GW Annual Capacity Mark in RE Segment in FY23

Indian Energy Exchange Becomes India’s First Carbon-Neutral Power Exchange

NTPC To Sell Stake in Green Energy Business: Sources

Airports Authority of India Tenders for 8 MW Solar Plant in Hubballi Airport

IIT Kanpur Backs Startup Acquafront Launches Floating Solar Grid at Kaushambi

EIL Secures Assignment To Provide Owner’s Engineer Services for Polysilicon Project from Adani Group

Adani Solar Introduces India’s First Large-Sized Monocrystalline

Silicon Ingot

NTPC Commissions 100 MW of Nokhra Solar Project in Rajasthan

PTC India Inks Pact with Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation to Export 600 MW Power

The Great Nicobar Island to Get Hybrid Solar Power Plant: Union Minister, L Murugan

Jakson Green to Build 121 MWp Solar Power Plant for Amplus Solar Hindustan Power Exchange Crosses 1 Billion Units of Power Trading

Since Launch

IEX Forms Wholly Owned Subsidiary to Explore Business

Opportunities in Carbon Market

Cleantech Solar Commissions 42 MWp Solar Project for Global Metal Components Manufacturer in Maharashtra

Tata Power Renewable Energy Receives ‘Letter of Award’ To Set Up 255 MW Hybrid Project for Tata Power-DDL

Adani to Supply and Maintain Smart Meters for BEST

NTPC Starts Commercial Operation of 50 MW of Nokhra Solar Project

JBS Starts Issuing International Renewable Energy Certificates

Welspun India Acquires 26% Stake in Clean Max Thanos to Procure

Clean Energy Under Captive Model

President Murmu To Launch 1,000 MW Solar Power Project in Rajasthan

Indian Energy Exchange Achieves 8452 MU Total Volume in Dec

2022 Grows 9% MoM

NTPC Green Energy and HPCL Sign MoU for Supply of 400 MW

Green Power at HPCL Refineries

INDIA NEWS

Tenders

SECL Tenders 4 MW of Rooftop Solar Projects to be Installed in MP and Chhattisgarh

Ministry Of Railways Invites Bids For Solar Power Plants At 7 Stations In Mumbai

SECI Issues RfS for Selection of Vendors to Install 666,250 Off-Grid

Solar Water Pumps Across India

WBPDCL Tenders 5 MW Floating Solar Installation At Sagardighi

Thermal Power Plant

KREDL Tenders 2 MW Solar Project Installation Along With 4 5 MW

BESS

MSEDCL Invites RfS for Procurement of 550 MW of Solar Power from Projects to be Developed in Maharashtra

ANERT Tenders 1 2 MW Solar Rooftop Installation On 71 Public Buildings

TSERDCO Tenders Procurement Of 50 MW Mono PERC Solar Modules

SECI Invites RfS for 1200 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects in India

PEDA Floats Tender For Installing 10 MW Rooftop Solar Systems

Across State

Punjab Floats Tender for 8 7 MW Solar Projects Across State

RVUNL Tenders 810 MW Solar Power Project Development In Bikaner’s Solar Park

MSEDCL Invites Bids for Procurement of 450 MW of Solar Power from Projects to be Developed in Maharashtra

Gujarat Urban Development Company Issues Consultancy Tender to Develop 150 MW of Solar Projects

Daman Invites Tender for Enhancement of 7 47 MW Solar PV Plant at Diu

Policy News

Cabinet Approves National Green Hydrogen Mission with Initial Outlay of Rs 19,744 Crore

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved National Green Hydrogen Mission The initial outlay for the Mission will be Rs 19,744 crore, including an outlay of Rs 17,490 crore for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT) program, Rs 1,466 crore for pilot projects, Rs 400 crore for R&D, and Rs. 388 crores towards other Mission components. MNRE will formulate the scheme guidelines for the implementation of the respective components:

Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125

GW in the country

Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments

Creation of over Six lakh jobs

Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs One lakh crore

Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions

Govt Likely to Issue Green Bonds in Jan-March Quarter

Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary stated that Sovereign Green Bonds will likely be issued in the January-March period during the current fiscal He stated that the objective of Sovereign Green Bonds was to mobilize resources for green infrastructure in order to finance the

MSEDCL Floats Tender For 300 MW Solar Power Projects Under PMKUSUM

DLL Requests Bids For Supply Of Inverters For Solar Power Facility In Port Blair

TCIL Floats Tender For 2 MW of Floating Solar Project at Tamarind Falls Reservoir, Mauritius

GAIL Tenders 600 MW Solar PV Power Project In Kutch, Gujarat

REC’s Arm Tenders 500 MW ISTS-Connected Solar Power Projects

Installation

TPREL, SJVN Green Energy & SolarArise Bag 500 MW Solar Projects

Tendered By MSEDCL

NTPC Awards BESS 500 MW/3000 MWh Tender To Greenko

Energies At Tariff Rs 2 79 Million/MWh/year

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) Tenders 2.5 MW Rooftop Solar Installations on MCL Buildings

JREDA Floats Tender For Developing 1.6 MW Solar Carport At Ranchi

HC

NTPC Invites Bids to Supply Power Transformer for 4750 MW Khavda

Solar Park in Gujarat

SJVN Green Energy Tenders Installation Of 125 MW Solar Project In Bihar

SJVN Tenders 100 MW Solar Power Project Development In Gujarat

BHEL Tenders for O&M Activity of 5 MWp Solar Power Plant in Haridwar

Coal India Invites Bids for O&M of Floating Solar Projects Above 100 MW

Adani Electricity Mumbai Invites Bids for 1500 MW of Round-theClock Power Procurement

MAHAPREIT Invites Consultants To Develop 10 MW Of Distributed Solar Project

government’s market borrowings in 2022-2223 “The framework has been created for these bonds These bonds will likely be issued between January and March 2023 He stated that the proceeds would be used in public sector projects that reduce carbon intensity Responding to another question, the Indian rupee’s value is determined by the market He said that the US dollar grew by 7 8 percent in the last financial year, due to global spillovers of geo-political tensions as well as aggressive monetary policy tightening around the globe This was in addition to a rise in crude oil prices.

Power Ministry Waives ISTS Charges on Power from New Hydro Projects

In a further step to realize the Government of India’s commitment to achieving its power requirement from renewable energy sources, the Ministry of Power (MoP) has issued an order for the waiver of Inter-State Transmission system (ISTS) charges on the transmission of electricity generated from new hydropower projects The said waiver is already available to solar and wind power projects The government has set an ambitious plan to have 500 GW of generation capacity from non-fossil energy-based sources by 2030 Hydropower projects, being clean, green, and sustainable will be of paramount importance in our clean energy transition journey They are also essential for the integration of solar and wind power, which are intermittent in nature In acknowledgment of the aforesaid inherent qualities of hydro-power, the Government of India declared hydropower projects as a renewable source of power in March 2019 However waiver of inter-state transmission charges provided to solar and wind projects had not been extended to hydropower projects

Policy News

Significant Improvement in Payment of GENCO Dues with Implementation of LPS Rules

With the implementation of Electricity (LPS and Related Matters) Rules, 2022, remarkable improvement has been seen in the recovery of outstanding dues of Suppliers including Generating Companies, Transmission Companies, and Traders The total outstanding dues of States which were at Rs 1,37,949 Cr as of 03 06 2022 have been reduced by Rs 24,680 Cr to Rs 1,13,269 Cr with the timely payment of just four (4) EMIs For payment of EMI of Rs 24,680 Cr, 5 States have taken a loan of Rs 16,812 Cr from PFC & REC and 8 States have opted to make their own arrangement Distribution companies are also paying their current dues in time to avoid regulations under the rule. Distribution companies have paid almost Rs 1,68,000 Cr of current dues in the last 5 months

Govt Plans to Shift 30% of Agri Power Consumers to Solar by 2025

Nagpur’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that solar power is the only way for farmers to have uninterrupted electricity during the day Devendra Fadnavis also said that 30% of the country’s agricultural energy consumers will be switched to solar by 2025 In answer to the question, “how the government would deal with power demands from all sections of society?” Fadnavis stated that the “solarization” of feeders throughout the state will be a priority Feeder units transmit power to distribution points from sub-stations/generating stations We will lease land that is within one to two kilometers of the feeders, and use it for solarization If the land belongs in government's hands then MSEDCL will acquire it first Private land will be leased at 275 000/hectare per year MSEDCL will not have to do NA (nonagriculture) for the land Fadnavis stated that if the private land rate rises, 60% of the ready reckoner would be paid as rent by the state.

Government Extends Rooftop Solar Programme till March 2026

The Rooftop Solar Programme has been extended till 31.03.2026 and therefore, subsidies under the program will be available until the target under the Programme is achieved. All residential consumers are hereby advised not to pay any additional charges to any vendor on account of fees for application on the National Portal or any additional charges for netmetering/testing which are not prescribed by the respective distribution company In case such charges are demanded by any vendor/agency/person, the same may be intimated to the respective distribution company and to this Ministry, said in a statement On the National Portal any consumer willing to install rooftop solar from any part of the country can apply and track the complete processes starting from registration to the release of subsidy directly into his bank account The subsidy under National Portal has been fixed at Rs 14,588/- per kW (for capacity upto 3 kW) for the entire country and residential consumers have to install rooftop solar plants from any one of the vendors registered by the respective distribution company of their locality

MNRE Allows Implementing Agencies to Extend the Commissioning Date of Solar PV, Hybrid Power Projects

The government granted the implementing agencies permission to extend the date for solar PV and solar-wind hybrid power projects’ commissioning until March 31, 2024, in an effort to alleviate the burden on renewable energy companies “Solar PV power developers/associations have represented to MNRE that there is a supply chain disruption in the solar PV sector and have requested appropriate reliefs to tackle the same,” the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said in a notification “This issue has been examined in the Ministry and it has been decided that implementing agencies SECI/NTPC/NHPC may extend the scheduled

commissioning date (SCD) till 31 03 2024 and commensurately extend other associated intermediate milestones of such solar PV/Solar PV-wind hybrid power projects, wherein the last date of bid submission was on or after 10.04.2021 and whose SCD including time-extensions already granted, if any, is before 31 03 2024, and who wish to avail such timeextension,” it said

MNRE Permits Time-extension for Solar Projects Under CPSU Scheme Phase-II

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) granted an extension of time to solar power projects in tranche-I, tranche–II and tranche-III of CPSU scheme Phase-II, scheme implemented by The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) until 30 September 2024 The ministry stated that it had received representations to extend the timelines for three tranches of CPSU Phase-II projects mainly due to disruptions in the supply chain in the solar sector The issue was also examined by IREDA and it was determined that IREDA could extend the scheduled commissioning dates to 30 September 2024 for such solar project under tranches-I, tranches-II, and tranche-III of CPSU scheme Phase-II Those whose commissioning date is prior to 30 September 2024 may be eligible for such a time extension

MoP Amends Electricity Rules, Provides Clarity on Open Access Surcharge and ESS

The Ministry of Power made some changes to the 2005 Electricity Rules

They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette The notification states that the surcharge open access consumers will have to pay, should not exceed 20% of the average power supply cost These new rules will curb DISCOMs tendency to impose stiff open access surcharges on C&I consumers. They will also allow for competition between suppliers and private generating firms for consumers’ benefit It further stated that the appropriate commission must, within 90 days after publication of these rules specify a price adjustment formula to recover the costs due to variations in fuel prices or power purchase costs The consumer tariff should reflect the monthly impact of such variations on cost The distribution licensee will lose its right to recover costs incurred due to the fuel purchase adjustment surcharge and the fuel calculation surcharge if it fails to charge them within the timeframe.

Incentives For Solar & Other RE Users By Odisha Under Renewable Energy Policy, 2022

The state of Odisha has issued its renewable energy policy, which intends to provide the solar industry with the required boost and speed up adoption in the region The state’s desire to encourage the use of renewable energy sources, particularly through captive and open-access forms, has been underlined in the policy It has declared a plethora of exemptions in an effort to draw businesses and industries from all across the nation The policy will be in effect until March 31, 2030, or until a new policy is announced by the state government The goal of the strategy is to encourage solar parks with a minimum 25 MW capacity in order to lower the cost of generating and the related infrastructure

Policy News

SECI Pays Solar & Wind Developers ₹ 8.04 B In October 10% Less Than September

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) paid the solar and wind power providers a total of Rs 8 04 billion for the electricity it bought in October 2022

In comparison to Rs 8 93 billion distributed in September for power purchases the amount is about 10% less. Disbursements were made in October, accounting for around 88% of the nodal agency’s total payments for the month. The agency paid out duties, payments, and developer reimbursements for the procurement of solar and wind energy totaling Rs 9 15 billion in October Azure Power Forty-Three, Sprng Renewable Energy, Eden Renewables, Ayana Renewable Power One, and Adani Hybrid Energy Jaisalmer One received the majority of the payments In addition, the agency funded the viability gap financial assistance program with Rs 752 22 million in subsidies

Centre Launches Plan for Transmission of 500 GW Green Energy by 2030

Centre has launched a plan to develop the power transmission system for the integration of 500 GW of green energy by 2030 The plan was launched by Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh Singh stated that the government aims to have the transmission system in place by 2030 before the green energy capacity is built This will ensure that green energy is always available According to an official statement, India has 409 GW of installed electricity generation capacity. Of this, 173 GW (or 42%) is from nonfossil fuel sources

Government May Make ‘Green Steel’ Mandatory: Jyotiraditya Scindia

According to Jyotiraditya Scindia, Steel Minister of India, the Government of India may mandate the use of “green steel” in government projects This is in the interest of decarbonizing one of India’s most difficult-to-abate sectors. Low-carbon or green steel is steel that has been made without fossil fuels The government has launched a series of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in steel production and make it net zero by 2070 The government has already promoted the use of renewable energy in short-term measures to reduce carbon emissions in the steel sector Scindia said emissions from the steel industry have been brought down by 15% between 2005 and 2022 and the Centre targets an additional 10% reduction in emissions by 2030 Energy consumption per tonne of steel produced has also come down as well as emission intensity in terms of CO2 he added.

Kerala Plans To Become 100% Renewable Energybased State by 2040: Chief Minister

During the inauguration ceremony for the India Climate and Development Partners’ Meet, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that Kerala aims to become a state that is 100% renewable energy-based by 2040 and a netcarbon-neutral state by 2050. The event was organized by the State government and the World Bank in Thiruvananthapuram, on December 7

The Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change 2023-2030 (Kerala SAPCC2 0) was released by the Chief Minister He spoke about the many programs and plans that the government has developed to help Kerala achieve its goals of using 100% renewable energy in 2040 and becoming carbon neutral by 2050, reports The Hindu Due to its geographical position, Kerala is vulnerable to climate-related calamities Therefore, the government released a new plan to combat climate change, Mr Vijayan said According to Mr. Vijayan the Kerala SAPCC is an “inclusive and sustainable” strategy that focuses on climate change adaptation in key sectors

Parliament Passes Energy Conservation (Amendment)

Bill to Promote Non-fossil Energy Sources

Parliament passed a bill to require the use of nonfossil fuel energy sources like biomass, ethanol, and green hydrogen Rajya Sabha voted by voice on

Monday to approve the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2022 Lok Sabha approved the legislation at its August session The bill includes penalties for violations by industrial units or vessels as well as penalties on manufacturers for vehicles that fail to comply with fuel consumption norms These amendments are also intended to encourage renewable energy and develop a domestic carbon market in order to combat climate change This bill also helps the country meet its international climate change commitments It will introduce new concepts like carbon trading and require the use of nonfossil resources to accelerate decarbonization in India and ensure sustainable development R K Singh, Minister of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), responded to a debate about the bill He stated that the bill was environment-friendly and would allow for carbon trading in the country

Uttar Pradesh Focuses on Alternative Energy Sources

Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, has instructed officials to concentrate on alternative energy sources, including solar, and to reduce dependence on traditional thermal and hydropower, to cut costs, and control pollution Adityanath, speaking at a meeting about solar energy, stated that electricity would play the largest role in making the state a USD 1-trillion-dollar economy According to an official statement issued Officials were also directed by the chief minister to concentrate on solar energy in order to meet increasing electricity demand He said that the state government had introduced a new Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy 2022 This policy included many concessions for investors in this sector To increase solar energy production, the government will construct 18 solar cities The statement stated that Noida and Ayodhya would be the first to be developed, followed by 16 municipal corporations

Supreme Court To Examine If Tariff Determined Under PPA Can Be Revised

The Supreme Court sought Tata Power’s response to an appeal against an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court that ruled that a State Electricity Regulatory Commission(SERC) could not revise a tariff that was determined under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement

On the appeal by Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, a bench consisting of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud & Justice P S Narasimha gave notice to Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited “Issue a notice that is returnable by February 10, 2023 The bench suggested that short written notes of submissions (if any) be filed in the interim In its plea, the power distribution company stated that the finding of the high court is exfacie (on the face of it) contrary to the specific provisions of the Electricity Act “The High Court has erred in not appreciating that a PPA is not a contract simpliciter as envisaged under the Indian Contract Act, 1872 but is a regulated contract under the Electricity Act,” it said

Policy News

Year End Review 2022 – MNRE Working Towards Achieving 500 GW Green Energy by 2030

In line with the Prime Minister’s announcement at COP26, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is working towards achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. So far a total of 172 72 GW of capacity from non-fossil fuel sources has been installed in the country as of 31 10 2022 This includes 119 09 GW RE, 46 85 GW Large Hydro, and 6 78 GW Nuclear Power capacity This has a share of 42 26% of the total installed generation capacity in the country i e 408 71 GW as of 31 10 2022 India stands 4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity (including Large Hydro), 4th in Wind Power capacity & 4th in Solar Power capacity (as per REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report) A total of 14 21 GW of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity was added, during the period Jan to Oct. 2022 as compared to the capacity of 11 9 GW added during the period Jan to Oct 2021 A total of 151 94 BU have been generated from RE sources during the period Jan to Sept 2022 as compared to the 128 95 BU during the period Jan to Sept 2021

HC Provides Solar Developer Protection Against Retroactive Refusal Of Reduced Customs Duty

ReNew Hans Urja, a solar developer, has been given temporary protection by the Delhi High Court from the retroactive denial of a reduced rate of customs duty on imports for a 600 MW solar power project Since the products had already been registered under the Project Import Regulations Act of 1986, the Court instructed the Customs Board, a division of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), not to take any further action regarding the import of commodities A 600 MW solar power plant is being developed by ReNew Hans Urja in the Jaisalmer area of Rajasthan. It claimed to the Commission that it was within its rights to import materials required for the project at a reduced rate of duty Many businesses asked the Customs department to permit imports under the Act, which provided for a single and concessional rate customs duty rate for the majority of the equipment needed to set up a power project

Haryana Revises its Policy on Renewable Purchase Obligation

A Strategic Sector Cooperation agreement and a letter of intent between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate of the Kingdom of Denmark were signed on 06 03 2019 The cooperation agreement envisages achieving the following:-

Technical capacity building for management of offshore wind project

Measures to develop and sustain a highly efficient wind industry, onshore as well as offshore

Measures to ensure high quality of wind turbines, components, and certification requirements

Forecasting and scheduling of offshore wind

Any other area as may be mutually agreed upon

MNRE Signs Strategic Sector Cooperation Agreement with Denmark to Explore Renewable Energy Sources India’s

The country’s solar energy capacity has grown from 28,180 megawatts (March 2019) to 53,996 megawatts by the end of 2021-22, R K Singh, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Power, informed Parliament Accordingly, solar power in the country has increased by 91 percent over the last three years. At the end of 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 the cumulative solar energy capacity was at 34,627, 40,085, and 53,996 megawatts, respectively In response to a question about whether there is any government target to increase solar capacity in the country, the minister said that the Government had set a target to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil-fuels installed capacity by 2030 This was in line with the Honourable Prime Minister’s announcement made at CoP 26

Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has changed its policy on renewable purchase obligation (RPO). It now includes wind energy and moves solar energy to the other RPO category These modifications were made in accordance with the Ministry of Power (MoP), regulations The new RPO trajectory will be in effect from 2024 This is because the RPO targets for the financial year 2023 were based on the existing trajectory as outlined in the HERC’s 2021 renewable regulations The regulator stated that wind energy RPOs can be met using energy produced by wind projects built after March 31, 2022 RPO may also be satisfied if wind energy is consumed in excess of 7 percent of total wind energy from wind projects that were completed prior to March 31, 2022. Any shortfall in meeting other RPOs within a year may be compensated by excess energy from wind power projects completed after March 31, 2022 This wind power must exceed the annual wind RPO

Regulatory News:

CERC Elevates Issuance & Other Charges For Renewable Energy Certificates

CERC Issues Interstate Trading License To VEH Global India

CERC Directs MPPMCL & DMRC To Pay Compensation To Solar Developer

CERC Denies Azure Petition to Extend Deadline, LTA Start Date & Waive Transmission Fees

MERC Denies Amendments To Rooftop Solar Open Access Regulations

PSERC Outlines Intra-State Open Access Regulations, Backing Green Energy

WBERC Permits India Power To Procure 100 MW RTC Green Power At ₹ 2 90/kWh

BERC Approves Bihar DISCOMs To Procure 600 MW Solar Power At ₹ 2 50/kWh

UPERC Orders SECI To Refund Performance Bank Guarantee To Solar Developers

MERC Authorizes Solar Developer’s Request To Revise PPA’s Effective Date

Think Tank

The World is Entering a New Age of Clean Energy Manufacturing, Says IEA

The energy world is at the dawn of a new industrial age – the age of clean energy technology manufacturing – that is creating major new markets and millions of jobs but also raising new risks, prompting countries across the globe to devise industrial strategies to secure their place in the new global energy economy, according to a major new IEA report

Energy Technology Perspectives 2023, the latest installment in one of the IEA’s flagship series, serves as the world’s first global guidebook for the clean technology industries of the future It provides a comprehensive analysis of global manufacturing of clean energy technologies today –such as solar panels, wind turbines, EV batteries, electrolyzers for hydrogen, and heat pumps – and their supply chains around the world, as well as mapping out how they are likely to evolve as the clean energy transition advances in the years ahead

The analysis shows the global market for key mass-manufactured clean energy technologies will be worth around USD 650 billion a year by 2030 –more than three times today’s level – if countries worldwide fully implement their announced energy and climate pledges The related clean energy manufacturing jobs would more than double from 6 million today to nearly 14 million by 2030 – and further rapid industrial and employment growth is expected in the following decades as transitions progress

Hydrogen Generation Market to Surpass US$ 273.63 Billion by 2032: Report

In a recent market analysis, Fact MR provides in-depth insights into factors influencing demand in the global hydrogen generation market It covers recent developments in terms of segments of the market, including technology, system, application, and region

The global hydrogen generation market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 139 10 Billion in 2023 The market is estimated to record a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period (2023-2032) and reach US$ 273 63 Billion by 2032. The increasing focus of many countries on the production of green hydrogen owing to its abundant availability in the earth’s crust is anticipated to propel sales

Increasing demand for sustainable hydrogen energy is expected to play an important role in the market Moreover, demand for hydrogen in the transportation industry and in the field of refinery dehydrogenation are expected to have a significant influence on the market

High demand for carbon-less hydrogen generation among various enduse industries is another crucial factor that is projected to augur well for the global market As per Fact MR, during the historical period (20232032), the global hydrogen generation market recorded a CAGR of 5%

Delhi Can Achieve 100% Renewables by 2050, Says Study

Researchers at Lappeenranta Lahti University of Technology (LUT University in Finland) have concluded that Delhi can completely transition off fossil fuels by 2050 The research produced an “Energy System Transition Model” that was tested for its feasibility in North India, with Delhi as the case

This research is a first of its kind to explore the technical feasibility and economic viability of 100% renewable energy systems including power, heat, transport, and desalination sectors for a global megacity like Delhi within the North Indian grid region It presents a technology-rich, multisectoral, multi-regional, and cost-optimal energy transition pathway for Delhi, which is a hub within the regional energy system

The results of this research indicate that a megacity such as Delhi can benefit and drive a regional energy transition, with a reduction in primary energy of over 40%, a reduction in energy costs by over 25%, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and associated health costs While creating more than three times the number of direct energy jobs today across North India and Delhi

Energy Storage Among Key Strategies for Renewable Integration in India, Says S&P Global

India’s new capacity additions to 2050 will be more than 80% from renewable energy sources These sources have high seasonal and daily variability Due to the intermittent nature and high seasonality of solar and wind, there is high supply variability This drives the state and national policies to increase renewable supply, build operational reserves, improve system flexibility, and create energy storage

Short-term, the policy focus is on operating pumped storage projects in construction or at late stages of development to create operational reserves. The pipeline for battery energy storage systems is being constructed through competitive tenders Execution times could vary from 1 to 1 5 years With more tenders being offered for both standalone and collocated projects, battery storage projects will continue to grow These are requested by SECI as well as other state utilities such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, UP, and Karnataka

PSP capacity will dominate energy storage additions in the short term due to better economics, local resources, and local capabilities In the long term, however, BESS additions will outgrow PSP capacity by 2030. The falling Capex requirements and competitive pricing in tenders will support battery growth

Solar Installs Erupt As Polysilicon Price Peaks: Rethink Energy

Global solar installations are on track for 222 GW of installations during 2022, and manufacturing output shows that next year this will rise by even more as solar manufacturing surges This demonstrates that the solar industry has shaken off the drag of high polysilicon pricing, and now prices will be back in step with solar ambition during 2023

Rethink Energy was the only research group that predicted the price of polysilicon would fall in this timeframe, leading to a dramatic acceleration in global solar installations

But two key geographical segments of the world are actually installing solar more slowly than last year and the most worrying is the US, which has been partially curtailed by the actions of the US Commerce Department and its anti-dumping action and doubly affected by slow execution now that the Inflation Reduction Act has been passed, as developers all stand in line waiting for subsidies – these will not emerge until well into the second half of 2023 – and even then only if projects can re-engineer their supply chain

Coal vs Renewables Financial Analysis 2022

Identifies L&T Finance as the Largest Financier in Project Financing for RE in 2021: CFA

Climate Trends and Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) released the fifth edition of Coal vs Renewable Financial Analysis at CFA annual energy finance conference, hosted in collaboration with IIT Madras The total funding for new projects in 2021 was 60 percent lower than the 2017 levels However, it was revealed that no new project financing was available for coal-power projects for the first time in 2021

Coal vs Renewables Financial Analysis 2022 identifies L&T Finance as the largest financier in project financing for renewable energy in 2021

The year-on-year growth in financing for renewable energy projects has been 39% since 2020 RE must be used at 2 5 times the current rate to reach its 2030 targets of 450 GW installed

“The writing is on the wall Lending institutions are increasingly moving away from coal lending given the risks After Federal Bank, the first commercial bank to have announced a coal exit policy, Sarvodaya Small Finance Bank has also announced an end to financing coal projects This should signal to institutions who have either provided loans or underwriting services, or have shareholdings in coal companies to rethink their lending,” said Joe Athially, Executive Director, the Centre for Financial Accountability

The Global Energy Crisis To Accelerate Renewable Energy Growth: IEA

The global energy crisis has triggered unprecedented momentum behind renewables, with the world set to add as much renewable power in the next 5 years as it did in the past 20

The global energy crisis is driving a sharp acceleration in installations of renewable power, with total capacity growth worldwide set to almost double in the next five years, overtaking coal as the largest source of electricity generation along the way and helping keep alive the possibility of limiting global warming to 1 5 °C, the IEA says in a new report

Energy security concerns caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have motivated countries to increasingly turn to renewables such as solar and wind to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, whose prices have spiked dramatically Global renewable power capacity is now expected to grow by 2 400 gigawatts (GW) over the 2022-2027 period an amount equal to the entire power capacity of China today, according to Renewables 2022, the latest edition of the IEA’s annual report on the sector

This massive expected increase is 30% higher than the amount of growth that was forecast just a year ago, highlighting how quickly governments have thrown additional policy weight behind renewables The report finds that renewables are set to account for over 90% of global electricity expansion over the next five years, overtaking coal to become the largest source of global electricity by early 2025

India’s Open Access Solar Capacity Grows to 91% to 596 MW in Jul-Sep: Report

According to Mercom Research India, India’s open-access solar capacity increased by 91 percent to 596 megawatts (MW) in the July-September period

According to a report by the research company, India added 312 MW of solar open access capacity during the same period last year Open access to solar power is where a power producer creates a solar power station to supply green energy to consumers

India’s open access solar market report Q3 2022 stated that India has added 1.9 gigawatts (GW) in the first nine months of 2022. This is a 96% increase over the 956 megawatts installed in January-September 2021

The report states that as of September 2022, the total solar capacity in the open-access segment was more than 7 GW and that there are over 5 GW of projects in development or pre-construction The open-access route has seen a tremendous increase in corporate demand for solar energy Without the price rise and supply constraints, the growth would have been even greater

Business Insights

ALMM Is A Boon For Indian Manufacturers But A Bane For Chinese/Foreign Suppliers

The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, or ALMM, was introduced by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), on January 2, 2019

The MNRE issued guidelines to ensure the dependability of solar panel manufacturers, protect customer interests, and increase the nation's overall energy security

The MNRE has certified a list of solar PV module models and manufacturers, known as the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Only the manufacturers of the listed solar PV models and modules may be utilized for solar projects in India according to the ALMM regulation. These include government initiatives, programs supported by the government, projects run by the government, initiatives under government control, as well as open access and net metering initiatives Simply put, the list applies to government-funded utility-scale solar projects (for instance, SECI), rooftop solar (net-metering), the corporate PPA market such as open access, and government initiatives (such as KUSUM)

Manufacturers of solar modules can have their products listed in the ALMM, both domestically and internationally The main goal of developing such a list was to guarantee the caliber of solar panels and the dependability of the manufacturer. There are currently no overseas manufacturers listed.

List-I (Solar PV models and manufacturers) and List-II are the two lists that make up ALMM (Solar PV cells and manufacturers) Under the ALMM order, the MNRE has been periodically updating List I 75 domestic module manufacturers with a combined capacity of 18,788 MW were included as of the most recent order (August 2022) List II will eventually be released by the government, but there is no set timetable

Manufacturers must have a product and performance certificate from the Bureau of Indian Standards to be enrolled (BIS) The validity of this listing on the ALMM list is two years. While the ALMM includes certification for the process, manufacturer, and manufacturing facility, the BIS ensures product quality certification

With more than 32 companies listed, Gujarat has the most companies registered in the listed capacity Telangana has nine companies listed, followed by Karnataka with seven, Maharashtra with seven, and Uttar Pradesh with seven. While Chhattisgarh Odisha Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand each have just one firm registered under this list through August 2022, Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal each have three manufacturers listed under ALMM list-l

No foreign manufacturers have been recognized in terms of manufacturing capacities up to this point which again raises a lot of problems Government officials were unable to conduct inspections during the pandemic restrictions, but following the restrictions, the process needs to go more quickly because many overseas producers are waiting for their panels to be registered under list-l Covid-19 cases have been rising and declining in China since 2019, but after multiple lock-downs, the government has still been unable to fully control the cases The primary reasons why Chinese producers are still not registered and why suppliers across the world are still waiting for ALMM-registered panels are due to this

According to research a few Chinese manufacturers are prepared with cheques to be paid in advance and asked to conduct virtual inspections, but this is not the ALMM motto The entire purpose of ALMM registered models will be rendered useless if MNRE begins virtual plant inspections because it will be difficult for the official to make decisions based on a virtual tour about both the quality of the panels and the actual capacities of the manufacturing plant Since MNRE must adhere to specific procedures when conducting inspections, virtual inspections of panel production facilities are not an option

According to recorded capabilities, Telangana has 2,410 MW, Karnataka has 1,625 MW, West Bengal & Maharashtra have 1,540 MW & 1,015 MW, while the remaining states have reported capacities below 1 GW/1,000 MW Gujarat has 9,978 MW of module manufacturing capacities from thirty-two manufacturers registered under the list-l

Due to inspection delays, both domestic and international module makers are having trouble In addition, manufacturers must pay duties, thus Chinese suppliers must pay duties on imported modules while domestic panel producers must pay duties on cells Other problems, such as a shortage of raw materials in China, which accounts for more than 85 to 90 percent of the nation's total import of solar components, are also impeding the manufacturing sector

As none of the Chinese suppliers have registered yet, the domestic manufacturers have an additional advantage thanks to ALMM However, from the developers' point of view, things get much more complicated because they cannot obtain their panels at the set prices because of regulatory restrictions in the Indian domestic market

Technology Insights

Indian Solar Energy Is Being Revolutionized

By Smart Technologies

India, which has a population of over 1 4 billion, is the third-largest energy consumer in the world 240 million people still lack a proper electrical connection although over 450 million ceiling fans are in use and 40 million are sold annually According to the World Bank, the energy demand is increasing at a rate comparable to that of France or Germany as millions of people in rural or underdeveloped areas seek access to electricity for their homes and offices

India is driving the advancement of technology Since the end of the first decade of the 20th century, technology development resulting in affordable pricing, dependability, and scalability has made solar energy the favored alternative for adopting sustainable energy, driving the sector's exponential expansion

All developments in solar power technology have been centered on photovoltaic panels The efficiency of polycrystalline solar panels ranges from 16 to 19%; using monocrystalline and the PERC method, it can reach above 24% The power ratings of modules have increased to 550 Wp and higher due to an increase in efficiency, allowing the module to produce more energy from a given size module In addition to back sheets, EVA, and frames, other components of PV modules are also undergoing technological change Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) are the most recent technology used in the production of back sheets.

The development of inverter technologies is also ongoing, and faster building times are being made possible by power ratings that have gone from 2 kW to 8 8 MW To adapt to their changing responsibilities in a PV power plant, inverters are constantly being innovated Regardless of the power range, the PV inverters are a crucial component of a photovoltaic system and their characteristics ultimately influence the efficiency and dependability of solar power generation from a project Today's inverters have built-in monitoring and support for all communication protocols To power transformers and other highly inductive loads in the plant during the night, PV inverters can now provide reactive power New-generation inverters are more dependable and essential to solar plant cost optimization and artificial intelligence

Self-adjusting tracker control systems can increase the energy production of PV power plants by 15% to 20% In addition to continuously analyzing and improving the tracking algorithms for each particular row, these intelligent devices also keep an eye on and foretell the weather. To maximize the energy yield, these systems incorporate weather forecasts, cutting-edge sensors, and machine learning algorithms It has been established that higher power output is associated with improved plant performance and reduced operating expenses

It has been discovered that remote monitoring is crucial for assessing the condition of the solar PV system The supplier must have access to information on the daily operation of the solar plant because the majority of them are deployed in places like industrial zones and rural areas Providers of operations and maintenance (O&M) will know little about the local weather and how geography affects the plant's performance Remote monitoring becomes useful in this situation. It has helped to close the information gap by giving clients access to seamless updates about the facility because they are also given access to remote monitoring systems It aids in maximizing both client sustainability goals and plant performance Utilizing the top privacy solutions available on the market is essential to secure sensitive data at a time when data privacy and protection are of the utmost significance, including preventing security

The use of sophisticated data analytics technologies is also essential for operation and maintenance With the use of specialist SCADA systems, developers are monitoring plants and spotting potential issues considerably sooner The vast majority of equipment connects to SCADA, and condition monitoring cuts down on downtime

In isolated areas that span a large area, drones have also become a practical option for monitoring solar installations. These days, drones are widely employed to inspect terrain when building massive solar farms Drones equipped with thermal sensing can discover PV modules or other solar plant components that are malfunctioning or underperforming using such technology, enabling quick repairs for the best performance in large-scale solar farms.

With the use of highly specialized cleaning techniques, solar developers are now utilizing the best available technology for water conservation throughout operations and maintenance These include dry cleaning techniques and instruments with higher pressures that use less water for cleaning To save water while improving precision, robotic cleaning methods are also widely utilized in module cleaning

As technology advances more, businesses considering solar power adoption have a lot to be excited about in the future. Machines will become more intelligent and efficient as a result of the introduction and quick development of artificial intelligence (AI), which will aid in accelerating the expansion of the solar sector Frequency regulation, weather forecasting, project performance optimization, and predictive maintenance will all see an increase in the application of AI

As a more efficient way to produce solar energy, distributed generation in which individual users produce and utilize their electricity from renewable sources is gaining more attention Without modifications the grid infrastructure cannot support this diversification of energy sources To ensure a two-way flow of electricity and information, the government of India will need to fast transition to a "smart grid," which comprises a fully automated power distribution network that monitors and manages every consumer and node The intelligence of this upcoming smart grid will be AI As a result, customized microgrids that handle local energy needs with more precision will take the place of big regional grids

Solar energy developers are increasingly focusing on energy storage and wind-solar hybrid plants to deliver energy during nonsolar hours as well, as to increase the capacity utilization factor (CUF) Solar + storage is becoming a workable and scalable solution thanks to the development of various battery technologies Solar carports are receiving more attention as one simple approach to ensure that EVs are fuelled by sustainable energy as the focus on Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure increases

IN CONVERSATION

Narendra Nath Veluri IFS

Chief Executive Officer, Agency for New and renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), Department of Power, Government of Kerala

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS

Our key focus has been how to realize this potential by making people a part of this renewable energy journey that the state has embarked upon so that the challenge of being a land scarce state can be overcome The scheme is being implemented in a way that it benefits small and marginal farmers without any financial contribution from farmers.

Kindly elaborate on your journey as CEO of ANERT and what have been your key focus areas?

As CEO of ANERT the journey has been quite satisfying so far Since, the government is also giving a big push to Renewable Energy and aiming at 3000 MW in next 3 years, my role as CEO of State Nodal Agency in renewable energy has been like a roller coaster ride especially coming as a no novice in the power sector.

Our key focus has been how to realize this potential by making people a part of this renewable energy journey that the state has embarked upon so that the challenge of being a land scarce state can be overcome.

Presently all the states of India are working towards achieving their specific Net Zero Targets. What strategies are planned by the Kerala Government?

Kerala might be one of the few States which had set itself an ambitious target of becoming Carbon Neutral by 2050, two decades ahead of the national target In fact as per few studies, Kerala is already Carbon Neutral if we don't take into account 70% of the power needs we import from coal-fired plants.

Having set this target, Kerala is giving great push to renewable energy and E-Vehicle and has set an ambitious target of 3000MW in the next 4 years and 1 million vehicles by 2030.

Kindly elaborate how ANERT is progressively working on the PM KUSUM PROJECT and how this will change the entire outlook of REdevelopment in Kerala?

As discussed decentralized way of e for the state and Rooftop solar

installations and Component-C i e Individual pump solarization under PM KUSUM

Having done around 50 on pilot basis following observations:

Majority of implementation is in the paddy fields/ various terrain and hence structure suitable are ground mounted Since the sites are paddy fields/different terrains, the ground is not as hard as usual, which attracts heavy piling and foundation work This will increase the cost per system.

The plant is accompanied by a remote monitoring system for monitoring the performance of the plant, water usage, etc This ensures the farmer to have better generation and finally more profit from the plant RMS costing is around Rs 5,00010,000/unit

The labor cost in Kerala is higher compared to other states and this commonly ranges from Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 per day If a special skill set is required, the above cost will also hike

In Kerala, most of the grid interconnection points are situated in farms, and as per the tender, we are proposing 15 meters of AC cabling In most cases, the shade-free area for panel installation is not available within this range, which causes higher cable length. This will cause higher cable costs compared to a roof-top system

As Kerala experiences heavy monsoons and most of the systems are ground-mounted and placed in open spaces, the protection devices and junction boxes need to withstand heavy rains In order to procure such quality components, the rates are higher than those being used in rooftop structures

Most of the sites require UG cabling, as long overhead lines (OHL) are not suitable for carrying heavy loads in practical situations The UG cabling and their cable laying practices will attract additional costs other than rooftop structures.

The implementation under PM KUSUM Component C is full of unseen challenges unlike the grid-connected rooftop project which is more or less standardized

The cost of 2kW system is around ₹ 1,82,048, the available energy for export per year will be 2,250 units and annual income from export will be Rs 7,245/- at current APCC price in Kerala which is Rs 3 22/unit Hence it will take more than 25 years for the beneficiary to have a return of investment

Roof top projects are implemented by the consumers who are reasonably financial sound to reduce their electricity bill They are only using their rooftop which is having minimum use in reality. But in PM KUSUM Project, already financially distressed farmers are the beneficiary and also they need to provide land for minimum 25 years for the implementation as most of the implementations are ground mounted In view of this we are trying to implement the scheme without burden to the farmers by availing loan from NABARD-RIDF The scheme is being implemented in a way that it benefits small and marginal farmers without any financial contribution from farmers The repayment is done through generation benefits of the plants with a minimum period of 7-10 years and after that complete generation income will be enjoyed by the farmers, as the plant will be handed over to them.

What are the present challenges that are faced by ANERT in the speedy implementation of the Green Energy Strategies?

The main challenge is Capital and workforce experienced in renewable energy Skilled manpower for qualify installations, that too in large scale decentralized way will be big challenge as theSolarPVinstallationrequireadifferentskillset

Kerala is giving great push to renewable energy and E-Vehicle and has set an ambitious target of 3000MW in the next 4 years and 1 million vehicles by 2030.

2022: Where Indian Renewables reached their “Peak”

2022 has been a phenomenal year in Indian Renewable Energy Sector’s journey with what may seem to be one of the largest year-on-year addition of Renewable Energy installation growth Out of many milestones and achievements that the sector has witnessed this year, a milestone worth mentioning is the recent Flexible and Schedulable RE power supply tender by MSEDCL earlier this month This 250 MW capacity tender, apart from other things, requires RE Developer to supply hundred percent of the contracted capacity in any six hours out of 16 hours in a day. Apart from the power exchanges, where such power is a available with a corresponding price volatility, there is no reliable supply source which can provide this kind of flexibility in power supply so far

India’s energy basket, in the absence of gas plants and reservoir based hydro generation sources, found it difficult to provide competitive peak supply solutions at scale. Especially when India’s peak demand has been growing consistently at a healthy rate and is expected to reach 366 GW by 2031-32, as per the 20th Electricity Survey of India against 203 GW in 202122 Hence, tenders like this give the off taker and the market confidence about viable alternatives especially that of RE+Storage, to meet the evergrowing peak demand economically and sustainably

When we look at MSEDCL’s peak demand, it stands at 23 GW and is growing at a faster pace Additionally, MSEDCL’s peak demand (0900 –1100 hrs) along with ramping requirement in the morning hours (0400 –0500 hrs) and evening hours (1400 – 1900) across the year is not completely aligned with solar peak generation hours Hence, there was definitely a need to align the generation mix to cater the growing peak demand MSEDCL interestingly came up with bespoke supply conditions including peak supply equal to 100% of the contracted demand thereby ensuring that the demand is met and mandating energy storage ensuring significant dispatchability to RE sources

Ayana Renewables and NTPC were two successful winners of this MSEDCL bid and the tariff that was discovered was around INR 9/kWh But this tariff should be looked from the way tender was constructed and the mandatory requirements of power supply Decoding the INR 9/kWh tariff, the Solar hour tariff offered in this bid was at 2 42 INR/kWh which is in-line with the trend of Solar tariffs quoted this year It might be safe to assume that the bid considered loading the under-recovery in solar hours (Rs/kWh 0.40 – 0.50) on to the peak tariff in contrast to the previous peak tender from SECI in 2020 where the recovery at off-peak hours was significantly higher than the cost of generation (the proportion of off-peak supply was 2/3rd of the overall supply) MSEDCL tender mandates that a minimum Energy Storage facility rated capacity installed should be half of the total project capacity Which implies that in case the Contracted Capacity of a Project is 100 MW, the minimum capacity rating of the Energy Storage facility installed shall be 50 MWh Additionally, It is also mandated to deliver 600 MWh of energy per 100 MW contracted capacity (in 6 hrs) of the project in AC terms, on daily basis during Non-Solar Generation Hours There is a 16 hour window where DISCOM can demand supply of peak power i e Non-Solar Generation Hours , i e any 6 energy scheduling hours between (& including) 00:01 hrs up to 10:00 hrs and between (& including) 18 01 hrs up to 24:00 hrs of the same day MSEDCL also assures power off-take during the Non-Solar Generation hours during morning and evening Non-Solar Generation hours with a minimum of 2 hours offtake period.

India, today, is home to one of the world’s largest energy transition journeys With our pragmatic targets and visibility in policy supported by the resolve from the stakeholders across the spectrum, India is showing the world (both developed and developing) on how ambitious goals can be achieved through affirmative actions The time has come for the country to now focus on dispatchable, firm Renewable Energy power intertwined with storage which can take us closer to our net-zero goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Grid-scale storage technologies including that of Pumped Storage Plants(PSP) can help us achieve many such “peaks” as that of SECI or MSEDCL tenders

As the ecosystem transitions to market driven demand and with a possible demand arising from Green Hydrogen, it is now time to promote and encourage storage technologies that can be scaled with existing and upcoming domestic capabilities Innovative Tenders like the MSEDCL one are definitely a great start in India’s journey to find a reliable, sustainable and scalable solution for addressing the “peak”.

The new peak power tender is definitely a watershed moment in India’s RE journey

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NATIONAL SOLAR ENERGY FEDERATION OF INDIA

SUBRAHMANYAM PULIPAKA

Out of many milestones and achievements that the sector has witnessed this year, a milestone worth mentioning is the recent Flexible and Schedulable RE power supply tender by MSEDCL earlier this month.

IN CONVERSATION

Mukul Ojha Chief Operating Officer, SunEdison

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS

We are on the path to solve several customer problems including financing, quality of Installation and achieving an exceptional uptime for our distributed fleet

I expect innovative technologies like solar tiles and integrated roofs to continue to get broader acceptance from premium customers

Polysilicon and wafer supply is expected to expand significantly in 2023 leading to lower costs through the year

What have been some milestones achieved by SunEdison in 2022?

We at SunEdison are committed to drive business with high degree of customer centricity High NPS scores is something which keeps guiding us to do the right things for the customer Through the year we stayed focused on transforming our entity into a residential and small commercial business with exceptional focus on building customer value and aligning our Supply Chain and Fulfillment organization in that direction

We are on the path to solve several customer problems including financing, quality of Installation and achieving an exceptional uptime for our distributed fleet We have forged valuable partnerships for introducing key solar solutions in the Indian market. Our product design is driven by reliable technology and customer-focus Our technology pilots have received promising market response

How do you see technology's contribution has changed over the past year in solar how do you see it evolving in the future

The market has seen lot of technological changes in the last few years as the Panels become more efficient and robust Currently we are seeing a major shift from poly to mono perc and major websites like Infolinks and PV insights stopped tracking the market price of poly components The limited

capacity in India for handling cells made from M8 and M10 wafers caused significant uncertainty in availability of high quality material in later part of the year I expect this to stabilize in 2023 and M10 mono-perc modules to continue to dominate in 2023

In addition I expect innovative technologies like solar tiles and integrated roofs to continue to get broader acceptance from premium customers

What is your outlook on the solar policy market at present in India?

The policy framework on solar rooftop has seen a lot of positive actions in the last few quarters The efforts have been directed to make solar adoption easier for the end customer it is difficult to see what further changes are likely to come on the policy front. What is critical is the uniform adoption of the policy across the country The Launch of the National Solar portal which ensures direct benefit to the end consumer is a welcome step It takes us away from the tender market practice of entire market complying to L1 prices As a result it opens up the market to provide superior products and services to the customers to enable them to truly realize 25 year generation on their solar assets Time taken for net metering continues to be an area of concern in several states with the processes being extremely long and arduous Simplification of net metering process will significantly help in faster adoption of green energy

Polysilicon and wafer supply is expected to expand significantly in 2023 leading to lower costs through the year One expects this to help improve the payback period of solar assets leading to faster growth However further weakness in rupee exchange rate may evaporate this gain. In 2022 the rupee dollar exchange rate dipped by more than 12% and a stable rupee is key to a profitable and stable 2023

Please tell us about how you are planning for further growth and expansion and what milestones you are aiming at for 2023?

In 2023 we aim to continue our focus on creating exceptional customer experience Our customers are our best ambassador and we shall continue our journey to translate our business from EPC into Experience, Product and Customer Centricity We shall continue to focus on value engineering and productivity enhancement to make exceptional products more affordable for the end customer

We signed key partnerships for introducing key technologies in the Indian market to position a differentiated product offering and have received a good response for key pilot technologies."

We shall continue to focus on value engineering and productivity enhancement to make exceptional products more affordable for the end customer.

The Launch of the National Solar portal which ensures direct benefit to the end consumer is a welcome step."

Mr. James Hou

Head of Sales – GoodWe India & SEA

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS

GoodWe welcomes the New Year with high spirits and celebrates the success and victories of 2022

GoodWe’s never say die attitude helped sail through the rough tides and land in safe waters.

We also received the letter of Trust & Appreciation from 100+clients.

How will you conclude the year 2022 for GoodWe India?

2022 was an enthralling year for GoodWe with lots of ups, downs and lessons embedded in each day of the year GoodWe team thoroughly enjoyed the sustainable ride in 2022 with a versatile and dynamic range of activities, customer interactions and new client associations

Tell us about the biggest achievements, challenges, and learnings for GoodWe in 2022.

In 2022, GoodWe celebrated some important milestones like 4-year anniversary of Cochin International Airport, participated in some major events & exhibitions in India like the Renewable Energy India Expo’22, Intersolar, KREEPA expo etc We also received the letter of Trust & Appreciation from 100+ clients

The biggest challenge was to maintain the smooth supply of inverters despite the unrest going in the world due to war, fluctuating economies and shortage of certain raw materials needed for our inverters But GoodWe’s “never say die” attitude helped us sail through the rough tides and land in safe waters

In previous years, some distractions led us to think that some segments of the Indian solar market were only driven by the low price, without quality being valued enough In recent years, many old clients come back particularly asking for GoodWe inverters for their new projects, based on the confidence they’ve gathered from the reliability of the inverters they’ve installed Our long-standing perseverance in the pursuit of quality has paid back well And we will continue to stick to the same philosophy

TATA Power, a recent noteworthy project I would like to mention particularly is our first-of-its-kind Single Axis solar tracker project with Bi-Facial solar panels done for Seven Solar Energy and end customer Excel Ceramic in Jamnagar, Gujarat –India This 1 8MW project is eyeing on 24% Plant Load Factor over the years, which will be the highest yield among present plants.

Its unique design helps reduce maintenance effort and cost The plant is powered by GoodWe 250KW -1500VDC inverters with a Fuseless design and realtime string monitoring

The Inverters are enabled with a Smart PID recovery feature which will support the complete plant to work on higher performance by reducing the effect of PID on modules

Power line carrier communication (PLCC) was adopted for communication to reduce maintenance effort, cost, and achieve flawless monitoring & operations.

GoodWe provided its 250kW inverter, which is compatible with high-power modules, has Smart O&M along with enhanced safety

How is GoodWe welcoming the new year? What are the hopes and expectations for 2023?

GoodWe welcomes the New Year with high spirits and celebrates the success and victories of 2022 Also, implementing learnings from the past year and trying to know its customers better each day.

We hope that the awareness for a sustainable future grows among the people and more adoption of clean and green energy happens around the world Ultimately GoodWe’s core is driving the global energy transition and building sustainable communities, as we say –Create Together, Win Together!

Share your strategic thoughts on GoodWe’s plan to achieve its goal in 2023.

With the global supply chain being restored and Covid impacts coming to an end, we believe the Indian market will see a robust rebounce Also, the solar panel supply shall be greatly improved with further expansion of India's local production, as well as exemption on imports of Chinese modules The residential market will continue to have the toughest competition on price. The commercial segment will also grow as the components' prices come down But it will show more respect for brand value and track record Utility projects shall again weigh more than 80% of the total share, with a few selected vendors to participate GoodWe will continue to play a key role in all segments. With the unique reputation we’ve established in the C&I sector, the acceptance of the GoodWe brand in utility as well as residential has always been at a very high level

"GoodWe’s long-standing perseverance in the pursuit of quality has paid back well."

Present some noteworthy projects, case studies of solar plants built using your solar inverter in 2022.

n Airport Project, we ther important C&I upplied through

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS

The Growatt MAX series 1500V solution delivers substantial energy harvest advantages and combines high power density with lightweight and multiple inputs to streamline installation

Growatt global 760+ R&D engineers focus on technology innovations and develop many leading features including digital control and information, highefficiency energy conversion, security and protection, lithium battery management, and battery soft-switching parallel connection.

We are committed to driving sustainable and long-term growth and strengthening our market position through continuous technology innovations

Tell us how has the 2022 business year ended for Growatt?

During the past 2022 Growatt has further strengthened our leading position in the global PV and energy storage market

Especially in the Indian market, with our "localization" marketing strategy, Growatt continues to lead the distributed PV market in the region by introducing many new products to meet local market needs and expanding our local marketing and technical service teams The introduction of MAX 100-125KTL3-X LV inverters has helped us make success in capturing the C&I market of India and won an overwhelming response from customers And we also unveiled the MAX 185-253KTL3-X HV model with advanced features for utility-scale plants New series residential MOD 3-15KTL3-X inverters have also gained popularity in the Indian solar market for their lightweight and aesthetic look

Growatt recently launched a new range of C&I inverters. Tell us more about it.

Growatt has won the ‘All Quality Matters’ award for its high power MAX 125KTL3-X LV commercial and industrial (C&I) inverter at TÜV gress With the firstproduct reliability, d input and output

Shantanu Sirsath

Technical Head India, Growatt

capability, Growatt's MAX 125KTL3-X LV model stands out from the rest in the test program. We are honored that our MAX 125KTL3-X LV inverter is recognized by TÜV Rheinland as the best highpower PV inverter of the 100-150kW group for commercial and industrial use

The 125kW MAX inverter achieves a European efficiency of 98 26% the highest in the group Its input and output capabilities surpass the others with an MPPT voltage range from 180V to 1,000V and 1 1 times the rated output power reaching a maximum of 137 5kW, enabling it to work with high power modules and realize higher energy yield for solar investors

On the aspect of reliability and environmental adaptability, the inverter also achieves the best performance in long-period tests at switching extreme temperatures between-30°C/-22°F and 60°C/ 140°F Moreover, it delivers a lower total harmonic distortion (THDi) of 1.08%, which is far better than an industry-standard requirement of 3%, making it the top performer in the test program

Which have been your bestperforming products of 2022? What have been their major highlights?

Talking about best performers, Growatt expands its inverter portfolio with a new utility-scale solution with MAX 185-253KTL3-X HV 1500V string inverters for the Indian market For groundmounted projects, developers as well as EPC players are dominantly preferring string inverters

The Growatt MAX series 1500V solution delivers substantial energy harvest advantages and combines high power density with lightweight and multiple inputs to streamline installation

With 12 and 15 MPPTS for 250KW and 253KW respectively, the Growatt inverter provides a maximum number of DC inputs which results in overloading of up to 200% 30A per MPPT input current makes it compatible with 500W+ MONO perc as well as bifacial modules available in the market.

99% maximum efficiency one of the highest in the market Per MW provides 60 MPPT which helps in reducing mismatch losses.

Growatt MAX inverter features built-in individual string monitoring, which measures all string

parameters for finding accurate fault locations

An integrated smart I/V curve scanning feature helps detect 14 kinds of single faults and 3 kinds of complex faults, such as shading, dust shading, diode short-circuit, module number mismatch, module PID effect occurs, no output etc

Growatt is known for its strong and advanced technology. How are you planning to improve it further this year?

Much more generation power, safer and smarter are the core values of PV inverters, and any technology that could contribute to these values increases would be the leading market Currently, Growatt global 760+ R&D engineers focus on technology innovations and develop many leading features including digital control and information, high-efficiency energy conversion, security and protection, lithium battery management, and battery softswitching parallel connection We are committed to driving sustainable and longterm growth and strengthening our market position through continuous technology innovations

What is going to be the key focus area for Growatt in 2023 specifically in India?

As a global leader in distributed energy solution providers, India has always been a strategic market for Growatt since its inception 2022 marked the tenth year of our operation in India, and every year we are increasing our market share exponentially, especially in the residential sector As Growatt inverters for C&I and utility-scale segments were introduced in India successively, we are very aggressively targeting the C&I and utility-scale market

Now we have two offices and a more robust local service team, providing more efficient customer services, and we are trying to come up with 3rd service center in North India by the end of this year Looking ahead, we aim to enable homes and businesses across this country to benefit from sustainable energy

"Growatt continues to lead the distributed PV market in the region by introducing many new products to meet local market needs and expanding our local marketing and technical service teams."

Role of India’s National Carbon Market in Accelerating Uptake of Rooftop Solar and other Distributed RE Projects

NITHYANANDAM YUVARAJ DINESH BABU

DIRECTOR, E&Y

Government of India’s recent introduction of National Carbon Market (NCM) through amendment to the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022 is the right step towards encouraging the citizens and corporates equally to contribute towards reducing the country's carbon footprint and ensure a sustainable energy mix thereby enabling to meet the Net Zero by 2070 target, committed at COP 26, Glasgow in 2021

Though coal-fired Thermal Power Plants (TPS) are the largest source for greenhouse gas emissions it will be the major source for meeting India’s electricity demand for at least two decades from now However Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) technologies especially rooftop solar can assist to displace these GHG emissions by generating clean and affordable power at source to households and businesses Moreover, the deployment of rooftop solar can also reduce the pressure on India's electricity grid, improving its reliability, reduce need for new TPS and create new (green) job opportunities

India's National Carbon Market has been established with the goal of reducing the country's GHG emissions and promoting sustainable development Under this NCM, carbon credits will be made available for trading from (a) conversion Energy Savings Certificates (ESCerts) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) (b) Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) already issued for Indian GHG emission reductions projects by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and (d) emission reductions from new GHG mitigation (clean energy, forestry, agriculture etc ,) projects under India’s Carbon Standards

Demand for carbon credits is expected from Indian Corporates especially from the service sector who have declared their net zero targets and have limited inhouse options to reduce GHG emissions Demand is also expected from Indian Corporates and Industries who are willing to display the commitment to neutralize the impacts of Scope 3 GHG emissions Such (Scope 3) emissions are GHG emissions from the supply chain who are essentially the third party vendors for any industry or corporate who have limited or no ability to offset their GHG emissions

Rooftop solar projects and other DRE projects offers an attractive portfolio of carbon credits as they demonstrate multiple value adds viz , energy democracy, consumer centric, multi stakeholder engagement, long term substitution of fossil power etc , State Regulatory Commissions namely Chandigarh, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have already approved business models for scaling rooftop solar implementation Market pundits observe that carbon credits from such rooftop solar / DRE projects developed under such business models will have the scale to offer huge volume of carbon credits Community level rooftop solar projects e g virtual net metering projects, peer to peer trading (blockchain enabled), group net metering projects (for C&I segment) will be considered as attractive for buyers to procure carbon credits from such projects Existing methodologies approved under CDM or Voluntary Standards are adequate for developing such projects on a fast track basis Such projects could be developed under single umbrella project documentation as well to reduce transaction costs

India’s National Carbon Market is well poised to incentivize GHG emission reductions create new business opportunities encourage international cooperation and ultimately enhance the energy security And with the right policy & regulatory framework and increased access to financing, rooftop solar and other DRE technologies offer significant potential to shape country’s carbon market and contribute to a more sustainable energy future

State Regulatory Commissions namely Chandigarh, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have already approved business models for scaling rooftop solar implementation.

Market pundits observe that carbon credits from such rooftop solar / DRE projects developed under such business models will have the scale to offer huge volume of carbon credits. "

EXECUTIVE

Sumit Mehta

Director Pixon

CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS

We are also introducing a new product line of POE EVA films in 2023 other than Fast Cure and Ultra Fast Cure

The installation of a new 600 GW production line, enabling us to create modules with even higher levels of efficiency of upto 600 WP, is something that we are happy to announce

We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services, and we will continue to innovate and improve our product offerings in the future

How has PIXON geared up for 2023? What are the key focus areas for this year?

As per the current industry trends and the technological discoveries in the renewable energy sector, we are expanding our solar module manufacturing line capacity to 1 GW and launching Bifacial Solar Modules of up to 600 Wp This additional 600 MW production line is one of the best manufacturing lines in Germany

It allows us to build modules with even higher levels of efficiency of up to 600 WP with minimal human intervention The aggregate capacity of the two manufacturing lines will be 1 GW, unprecedented in India and will enable us to meet the increasing demand

We have also introduced a new product segment of EVA film that is POE- polyolefin elastomer, which offers improved durability and performance in extreme temperatures and weather conditions It makes it an ideal choice for use in MultiBusbar solar panels, particularly in regions that experience extreme temperatures or weather

Including this, our key focus area for this year is to build solid and long-lasting partnerships with our supply chain partners By expanding our distribution network, we will be able to serve our customers better and continue to grow our business in India

What types of modules do you manufacture? What are their USPs?

Our product portfolio includes a range of photovoltaic (PV) modules, including MonoCrystalline PERC PV Modules, Mono-Crystalline PERC Half-Cut Cell PV Modules, Poly-Crystalline PV Modules, Poly-Crystalline DCR PV Modules and Poly-Crystalline Half-Cut Cell PV Modules. This year we introduced our extensive array of MultiBusbar Modules, the M6 Module with 21 20% efficiency, the M10 Module with 21 04% efficiency and the M12 Module with 21 01% efficiency, all 3 series with a 27-years output warranty All of our modules are designed to provide reliable and efficient power generation for a wide range of solar power applications

Are

you planning any additions/updates to your product portfolio in 2023?

PIXON is constantly looking for ways to improve and innovate our product offerings In 2023, we have a couple of exciting new development plans for our product portfolio

Firstly as earlier conveyed our new manufacturing line enables us to manufacture modules with even higher efficiency levels, ranging from 400 to 600 WP

In addition, our new product POE EVA films i e polyolefin elastomer offers improved durability and performance in extreme temperature and weather conditions

Our product portfolio expansion with these offerings will benefit customers by providing more options and satisfying their unique requirements

We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services, and we will continue to innovate and improve our product offerings in the future.

"With the addition of this new line, we will become a 1 GW company manufacturer in India, which is an unprecedented achievement in the industry."

PIXON is constantly looking for ways to improve and innovate our product offerings."

Our goal is to provide our customers with a wider range of options, and to meet their specific needs, by offering EVA Films."

India Reaches Around 14 GW of Solar PV Installations in the Calendar Year 2022

With around 13 24 GW of total Solar PV capacity installed in the calendar year 2022 (utility & rooftop), an improvement over roughly 10 42 GW built in the calendar year 2021, solar capacity additions increase by 27% year-over-year in 2022 The total installed capacity in the year 2022 inclusive of utility-scale, rooftop, and off-grid system account for 13 95 GW

Large-scale installations reached a total of around 11 37 GW in 2022 as opposed to around 7 67 GW installed the year before In comparison to installed capacity in the year 2022 large-scale installations have grown by more than 48% year over year. The market opened after the partial restriction in 2021 and as a result, many projects were unable to get commissioned during the lockdown period due to COVID-19 restrictions, commissioned mostly in 2022 Additionally, there was a duty-free window in Q1 2022, which allowed the developers to commission their projects during this period The large-scale Solar PV project installation figures were the highest since the announcement of the JNNSM target for Solar The Budget 2022 reaffirmed that the basic customs duty (BCD) will be applied on Solar PV cells and modules starting in April 2022, despite the installations being anticipated to be high in Q1 2022

In comparison to the staggering 2 75 GW deployed in the entire calendar year of 2021, rooftop solar installations accounted for about 1 865 MW in 2022, a decline of 32%

Installations were higher than usual compared to the previous year because the country is no longer subject to COVID-19 restrictions, 2022 was the final year for the JNNSM target, and supply chain disruptions occurred in the second half of 2022 as a result of the implementation of BCD and the upgrading of Chinese manufacturing facilities

Since India's installed capacity in 2021 was 10 42 GW during the entire calendar year (CY) 2021, the growth rate of solar PV installations is expected to be extremely favorable in 2022

Between 2016 and 2019, Indian solar PV installations grew exponentially, however, COVID-19 has caused a slowdown in new installations The installations in CY 2020 dropped from 8 5 GW in CY 2019 to 3 7 GW The installations were fairly favorable in those two calendar years compared to the prior years, but since 2021, they have reversed course India requires more projects to be completed in the upcoming year to meet the ambitious 280 GW target set by the government for 2030

The view for 2023 includes a lot of novel policies and rules that might be advantageous for all types of solar PV installations in the nation. Even though the cost of solar installations has decreased to a low level, no mandatory or appealing policy might persuade people to choose solar rooftops in the past The only supportive policies for the rooftop segment were subsidies and net metering

Since installations across the nation have been increasing year since COVID, as seen in the aforementioned figures, there will be more installations than there were previously According to government targets, India must install more than 20 GW of solar PV each year to meet its 2030 goal, with the rooftop and utility segments needing to be strengthened The main aspect influencing the growth and yearly accomplishments of the solar objective will be the accessibility of simple financing at an affordable rate

BloombergNEF tier 1 list 4Q 2022 adds to TRINA SOLAR’S CONTINUED SUCCESS

Trina Solar has again been listed in the recently released BloombergNEF Tier 1 PV Module Maker List, 4Q 2022, thanks to its outstanding reliability, brilliant bankability and leading technology innovation

The tiering system for PV module products is developed by BNEF based on bankability and a set of strict criteria, to create a transparent differentiation between the hundreds of manufacturers of solar modules on the market Trina Solar’s continued presence on the tier 1 list demonstrates global industry recognition of its quality modules, brand credibility and strong market competitiveness

Outstanding reliability proved by thirdparty and empirical study

In addition to the tiering system, Bloomberg also takes technical due diligence reports from renowned third parties into account Trina Solar has been listed as a Top Performer by PVEL for eight straight years and named a RETC Overall High Achiever for three consecutive years as of 2022 Moreover, Trina Solar’s Vertex 670W modules at the empirical site withstood the strong typhoon Muifa with strong winds of nearly 160 kph, equivalent to a Category 2 Atlantic hurricane

100% bankability for seven consecutive years

Trina Solar has won recognition in the financial market and from renowned institutes with excellent product performance, technological innovation and stable economic performance Trina Solar is the only module manufacturer to be rated as bankable for 7 consecutive years by 100% and has been rated AAA, the highest category, in the Module Tech Bankability Rating report by PV-Tech

In the BloombergNEF PV Module and Inverter Bankability 2022 report released earlier this month, almost all (96%) respondents considered 210mm modules bankable

Guided by the LCOE-oriented principle, Trina Solar 600W+ ultra-highpower modules, created on the 210mm product technology platform, deliver lower LCOE and have become the trending product worldwide According to TrendForce, the industry shipped 50GW of 210mm cell modules in the first three quarters and totaling 76GW since mass production Trina Solar has shipped 40GW of 210mm modules, enjoying the most significant market share

Trina Solar will continue to lead the industry by developing highefficiency and high-power n-type products upon the 210 technology platform The recently launched Vertex N 595W and Vertex N 690W, boast an increased power of 30W to 70W over reference n-type modules in the market

Source: BloombergNEF, BloombergNEF Tier 1 PV Module Maker List, 4Q 2022

210 product platform +n-type i-TOPCon technology continues to lead the industry

Cover Story

SIGNIFICANCE OF SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIA'S SOLAR PV SYSTEM

The term "smart solar technology" describes the combination of solar power systems and cutting-edge technologies like the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics As a result, solar power generation and distribution may be better monitored, managed, and optimized

To increase the use of renewable energy sources and lessen reliance on fossil fuels the Indian government has been supporting the use of smart solar technology To promote the development and adoption of smart solar technology in the nation, the government has put in place several initiatives and programs, including the JNNSM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission) and the KUSUM scheme Additionally, many commercial businesses and research facilities in India are engaged in the creation and application of smart solar technologies

To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its solar energy infrastructure, India has been making investments in and developing smart solar technologies To better manage and distribute solar power, this includes the use of cutting-edge solar panels energy storage devices and smart grid technology The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is one of the policies and incentives the Indian government has put in place to promote the expansion of the solar energy industry India is on track to become a global leader in smart solar technology with a target of 175 GW of installed renewable energy by 2022

Additionally, the term "smart solar technology" describes the application of cutting-edge technology and digital systems to raise the effectiveness and performance of solar power systems Through programs like the KUSUM scheme and the National Solar Mission, the Indian government has been supporting the use of smart solar technologies. These initiatives seek to boost solar energy use nationwide, especially in rural regions, and to promote the creation of cutting-edge solar technologies The use of digital monitoring systems to track the performance of solar panels and the use of energy storage systems to ensure that solar electricity may be used even when the sun is not shining are a few examples of smart solar technology being implemented in India.

In India, modern technology and computerized systems are used to enhance the efficiency of solar power plants Increasing the effectiveness and dependability of solar energy generation can involve the use of intelligent inverters, energy storage devices, and digital monitoring and control systems To boost the nation's capacity for renewable energy and lower reliance on fossil fuels, the government has put in place several laws and programs to encourage the adoption of smart solar technology

The nation has recently made investments in and implemented smart solar technologies This involves deploying modern solar panels and storage options to boost the efficiency and dependability of solar power output as well as smart grid systems to better manage the integration of solar power into the current electrical grid India has also been encouraging the use of off-grid solar systems, particularly in rural regions, to supply electricity to those who are not linked to the main grid In general, smart solar technology is viewed as a critical option to assist India in meeting its lofty targets for renewable energy and meeting its energy needs.

The Indian government has been working nonstop to install solar roofing on public buildings, airports, rail networks, educational facilities, residential areas, and commercial complexes The Indian solar industry still faces several obstacles in managing large-scale solar installations which is why India failed the JNNSM rooftop objective by 80% The players in the renewable energy business are using artificial intelligence to overcome obstacles They are utilizing AI's skills in conjunction with other cutting-edge technologies like IoT, sensors, big data, etc to improve forecasting, and asset management, and provide predictive capabilities. Automation in solar systems also promotes production units, cost-effectiveness, and operational quality

The environmental impact is considerably reduced by the widespread usage of solar energy It makes use of the sun, the world's most plentiful raw material. Geographically India is situated close to the equator, which helps to maximize the potential for solar energy in the nation Furthermore, this can be a good time for both homes and governments to implement technology solutions due to breakthroughs in solar panel technology and rising efficiency

India plans to deploy 280 GW of solar PV by 2030, but this goal will only be reached if the nation uses smart solar technology to better manage the power produced by solar power plants

Consciously using more solar energy reduces the impact on the environment. It eats the raw materials that are most prevalent in India's physical proximity to the equator contributing to the growth of its potential for solar energy Specifically, the sun Physically, India is located close to the equator, which helps to maximize its potential for solar energy Additionally, with advancements in solar panel technology and rising efficiency, it could be a good idea to embrace technological reasons for both households and governments

Prioritising Rajasthan’s Energy Sufficiency Sustainably: The need for policy reforms to support state energy generation companies

Solar energy is the most readily available source of non-polluting renewable energy resource The uniqueness of solar technologies is that it offers a wide range of applications in solar PV as well as solar thermal technology in which case, the generated heat could be used for domestic as well as industrial applications and power generation.

India being a tropical country is blessed with good sunshine over most parts, and the number of clear sunny days in a year is also quite high

As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India (GoI), India has a vast solar potential of 749 GW for power generation GOI has fixed an ambitious national target of 175 GW of Renewable Energy which includes 100 GW of Solar Energy by 2022

When it comes to the status and achievements in Renewable Energy (RE) field, Rajasthan presents a rosy picture of having the largest Solar Park in the world at Bhadla and sitting at the top of the country in terms of RE installed capacity

Registration of more than 1,00,000 MW (100 GW) RE projects has been done with RRECL by different entities and approx 25 GW RE projects are under construction We are committed to achieving 37 5 GW RE power by 2025 and 90 GW by 2030 through our concentrated efforts and carefully formed policies to encourage RE Power stack holders. The Board of Investment in Rajasthan has approved 48,400 MW RE projects so far and proposals for several Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Projects (UMREPP), are under consideration and expected to be approved soon

The Western desert region of the State of Rajasthan has a sparse population, dry climate, very low average rainfall, maximum sunshine hours, and vast unirrigated and non-agricultural land which is most appropriate for solar power generation. The assessed Solar Potential of Rajasthan stands at 142 GW The state Govt has set a target of 30 GW of Solar Power by 2025 and 75 GW by 2030 (Raj Solar Energy Policy 2019)

GOR has formed Joint Venture Companies (JVCs)with the following private players under clause 10 3 of Rajasthan Energy Policy 2014 with 50-50 equity participation in which GOR has contributed equity in form of Land:

Adani Renewable Energy Park Ltd

IL & FS Energy Development Co Ltd

Essel

Infra Projects Ltd

A staggering 7,98,801 Cr MOUs / LOIs were signed during Rajasthan Invest Summit 2022 Apart from the private entities, CPSUs such as THDC, NTPC, SJVN, SECI etc. have also shown interest in setting up RE projects in Rajasthan

Amidst the shining scenario, the only gloomy thing for the state of Rajasthan is that in the current policies, the stake of the state’s only generation company RVUN is negligible RVUN has a strong workforce having vast experience in construction as well as operation of Thermal, Hydro and Gas based power plants and has, for a long, been fulfilling the energy requirements of the state at cheaper rates with its outstanding performance. Being a state-owned company, the people of the state have been direct beneficiaries of its achievements in the field of power generation It is quite strange that during policymaking for RE, RVUN was not consulted by the decision-making working group While red carpets were rolled out for private entities and CPSUs, RVUN was not encouraged to enter into the field of RE, especially Solar Power

Initially, looking to the indifferent stance of the decision makers, RVUN has also kept itself away from foraying into the field of Solar Power Generation But in the recent past RVUN has strongly made its claim and as a result of constant urge and pursuance, GoR has recently allowed RVUN to develop a 2000 MW Solar Park at Pugal Bikaner and establish its own Solar Plant. Given the opportunity, the RVUN engineers & technicians would efficiently adapt to the Solar technologies which would lead to better execution of the state’s RE policies

The state of Rajasthan by its investor-friendly RE policies has rolled out the red carpet for the stakeholders, but in spite of having such a vast Solar Energy potential and facilitating Solar Power Installers, the state has so far been deprived of the benefits of cheap Solar Energy produced within its boundaries. PPAs of only 3288.1 MW out of the installed 13234 MW Solar capacity have been signed with RUVN by the companies operating in Rajasthan and the rest of the PPAs are with entities operating beyond the state’s premises thus the people of the state are deprived of the benefits of their biggest natural energy resource

It would, therefore, be prudent to facilitate RVUN to accelerate its efforts in the RE field by providing administrative and financial support Being the state GENCO, RVUN should be kept on an equal platform with RREC/ RSDCL and given favorable policy support by making it a Nodal agency for RE through necessary amendments in the state’s RE policies Being the Generation Company, including RVUN in the working group for formulating policies would be a logical step having far-reaching impacts RVUN’s rightful and effective presence in the field of Solar Power Generation would be extremely fruitful for the state and its people for the following reasons: -

RVUN has all its existing PPAs with state Discoms Since the generating companies are allowed to utilise RE for supplying power against their existing commitments / PPAs (Scheme for flexibility Dt 12 04 22), this would help in achieving RPO targets of Discoms

In light of ‘Notification of Renewable Obligation’ vide MOP’s proposal Dt 07 11 2022, the GENCOs, w e f 01 04 2024, may have to establish a minimum of 25% of the RE of the capacity of new Coal / Lignite based Thermal Stations Allowing RVUN to establish Solar Power Plants would not only help in achieving its RGO as per the above notification but help in a considerable reduction in GHG / CO2 emissions

Bundling RVUN’s Thermal power with Solar Power would substantially reduce the cost of fuel for an equal amount of power generation. Against 810 MW at Pugal considering CUF of 21%, the normalised MW is equal to 170 1 MW of coal unit If we consider replacing Coal based power of STPS with this Solar Power, the coal consumption would be reduced by 10,43,053 Tonnes per year resulting in approx. saving of Rs. 557.09 Cr in fuel cost annually

Effective presence of RVUN in the field of RE would help in providing cheap power to the people of the state besides providing long-term stability and cutting into the cost of subsidies by GoR which is increasing year by year (it has risen from Rs. 8640.21Cr in 2015-16 to Rs 17027 94 Cr in 2021-22)

(The biggest hurdle in RVUN’s progress in the Solar field is its financial crunch, so if a part of the agriculture subsidy is transferred to RVUN for setting up new Solar Power Projects and GoR compels State Discoms to do PPA with RVUN, the cheap electricity would be available for agriculture sector thereby substantially reducing subsidy burden on the State besides providing substantial help to Discoms in achieving their RPO obligations).

The experienced technocrats of RVUN could help in the better execution of the RE policies

As the entire generation of Solar Power by RVUN would be available for state Discoms @ 2 70 per unit (approx ), the people of Rajasthan would get the full benefit of cheaper energy produced by the state’s GENCO

In view of post-Covid power & coal crises, if state GENCOs had Solar power plants, the replacement RE power could have lessened the burden on the state exchequer by supplying cheap power to the state If RVUN is promoted to venture into Solar Parks in a big way, such occurrences can be mitigated

Additional Capacity Requirement

Based on the energy assessment by EAC, the Year wise ‘Others’#RPO Capacity addition required up to FY 2029-30 is as under

#:-OTHERS=SOLAR,BIOENERGY

From the above data it may be inferred that in order to achieve RPO by 2030, the estimated additional Solar capacity required is 9818 MW

RVUN is in the process of establishing 2245 MW of Thermal Generating units and, in light of ‘Notification of Renewable Obligation’ vide MOP’s proposal Dt. 07 11 2022, RVUN, will have to establish a minimum of 561 25 MW of RE

The total additional RE capacity requirement, therefore, stands at 9869 25 MW up to 2029-30

In view of the above, the following amendments/insertions of new clauses in the Rajasthan Solar energy Policy,2019 and Rajasthan Wind and Hybrid Energy Policy,2019are proposed:

Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2019

Proposed Amendment for RVUN’s Solar Park/Solar Project.

Synod Existing Clause

1 2

Main Clause 4: “Definitions”

(Date of commencement – 19.12.2019)

Proposed by RVUN

Main Clause 4: “Definitions”

Currently no definition of UMREPP is added in Policy

Main Clause 10 “Utility Grid Power Projects”

Existing sub-clauses

10 1: “Solar Power Projects in Rajasthan for sale of power to DISCOMs of Rajasthan”

10 2: “Solar Power Projects sanctioned under guidelines/schemes of MNRE”

10 3: “Solar Power Projects for captive use”

10.4: “Grid connected Solar Power Projects for Third Party Sale”

Insertion of the definition of UMREPPi e , Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park be inserted/added in the Policy at no 64

Main Clause 10 “Utility Grid Power Projects”

Insertion of New Sub - Clause

10 7: “Solar Projects by/of RVUNL (under bundling scheme/captive use)” for sale of Power to Discoms

The State will promote setting up of solar power projects for sale of power to DISCOMs of Rajasthan on the tariff discovered through a competitive bidding process or through EPC mode on tariff approved by RERC to fulfill Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target fixed by RERC or for Captive Use of RVUNL

10.5: “The Projects set up under clause 10.3 & 10.4 will also be eligible for RE (Solar) Certificate as per Orders/Regulations issued in this regard by the appropriate Commission”

10.6: “The State will also promote setting up of floating/reservoir top/canal top Solar Power Projects for sale of power to DISCOMs through competitive bidding or for captive use/third party sale”

Main Clause 12 “Solar Park”

Existing sub-clause 12.3.4:

“The State Government on its own or through any other agency designated by it will promote setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP) in a joint venture with Central Public Sector Undertakings ”

Main Clause 12 “Solar Park”

Amendment proposed in sub-clause 12.3.4: “The State Government on its own or through any other agency designated by it will promote setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP) as per the guidelines issued by MNRE and amended time to time”

Insertion of new Clause 12.4 “Solar Parks by RVUNL” “RVUN will develop Solar Parks in Rajasthan with/without CFA support from State/Central Government on its own or through any other SPV which may be created as required as per the mandate given by State Government”

Main Clause 14 “Registration of Solar Power Projects”

Currently, no clause regarding registration charges has been mentioned specifically for Utility Scale Solar Power Projects approved by State Government mentioned

Main Clause 15 “Allotment/Procurement of Land”

Existing sub-clauses

15.1: “Allotment of Government Land to Solar Park /Solar Power Projects”.

15.1.1: Clause regarding land security deposit @ Rs 5 Lakhs/MW”

15.1.2: “Clause regarding allotment of maximum land area as per SPV technologies”

Currently, no clause regarding allotment/procurement of land specifically for Solar Park by RVUNL approved by the State Government or under the MNRE scheme mentioned

Main Clause 18 “In-Principle Clearance of Solar Power Projects”

Under sub-clause 18.1, 18.2& 18.3 Procedure for in-principle clearances of Solar Projects other than projects approved by State Government like the case of RVUN are mentioned

Main Clause 19 “Security Deposits”

After in-principle clearance of the projects by the State Level Screening Committee (SLSC), the Developer/Power Producer will be required to deposit security amount of Rs 10 lac/MW in the form of bank guarantee or Rs. 5 lac/MW in cash within one month without interest and within 3 months with interest @ 9% per annum is required Applicable for Solar Power Projects for captive use, Grid connected Solar Power Projects for Third Party Sale, Solar Power Projects with Storage Systems for captive use/third party sale and under clause 13(iv) “for charging station service providers.

Clause 14 “Registration of Solar Power Projects”

Insertion of new Clause 14.14: “Registration Charges for Solar Projects approved by State Government (for RVUNL)”

No Registration Charges shall be applicable for Solar Power Projects approved by State Government to be installed by RVUNL under EPC modeidelines issued by MNRE and amended time to time”

Main Clause 15 “Allotment/Procurement of Land”

Insertion of New Sub-Clause

15.1.3 “Solar Park by RVUNL approved by State Government or under MNRE scheme”

For Solar Parks under Clause 12 4 (proposed new clause above under main clause 12), RREC will recommend, on case-to-case basis to Concerned District Collector for allotment of Government Land without any Security Deposit”

Main Clause 19 “Security Deposits” Insertion of New Clause

19.7: “For Projects under clause 10.7”.

No Security deposit will be required for the Solar Projects to be set up by RVUNL under clause 10 7(proposed new subclause above under main clause 10)

Main Clause 15 “Allotment/Procurement of Land”

Insertion of New Sub-Clause

15 1 3 “Solar Park by RVUNL approved by State Government or under MNRE scheme”

For Solar Parks under Clause 12 4 (proposed new clause above under main clause 12), RREC will recommend, on case-to-case basis to Concerned District Collector for allotment of Government Land without any Security Deposit”

Proposed Amendment in Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment of land for Setting up of Power Plant based on Renewable Energy Sources) Rules, 2007

Existing Clause 12A: Allotment of Land to the R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited: Land may be allotted to RREC or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited on the following terms and Conditions, namely: -

The land shall be allotted on lease hold basis for a period of 99 years

The premium to be charged for the allotment of government land for setting up and developing Solar Park shall be equivalent to the market value of land assessed on the basis of rates recommended by the DLC of the same class of agricultural land in the vicinity and shall be determined accordingly

Lease rent shall be payable at the rate of Rs. 1/- per acre per annum.

The R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited, may sub-lease the leased land or part thereof for setting up and developing Solar Park for solar plant/ solar power plant/ solar PV power plant/solar thermal power plant/ solar farm purposes

The R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited, may levy and recover such lease rent and other charges as may determine by it, in respect of the lands sub-leased by it

The periods of the sub-leases shall be determined by the R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited but such period shall not exceed 30 years, in all, in any case

They shall revert to the Government free of all encumbrances and without payment of any compensation in case the R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or any of its sublessees use it for any purpose other than solar plant/ solar power plant/ solar PV power plant/solar thermal power plant, including essential welfare and supporting services or commit a breach of any other condition of the lease or sub-lease; and

The sub-lessee of the R.R.E.C. or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited shall continue to be governed by all other terms conditions prescribed in these rules and any other analogous rules that may be promulgated or orders that may be issued, in this behalf by the State Government

Addition of new phrase in Rule 12A Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment of land for Setting up of Power Plant based on Renewable Energy Sources) Rules, 2007 as below-

“Allotment of Land to the R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or RVUNL (or any of its subsidiary/JVC): Land may be allotted to RREC or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or any RVUNL (or any of its subsidiary/JVC) on the following terms and Conditions, namely: -

The land shall be allotted on leasehold basis for a period of 99 years

The premium to be charged for the allotment of government land for setting up and developing Solar Park shall be equivalent to the market value of land assessed on the basis of rates recommended by the DLC of the same class of agricultural land in the vicinity and shall be determined accordingly

Lease rent shall be payable at the rate of Rs. 1/- per acre per annum.

The R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or RVUNL (or any of its subsidiary/JVC), may sub-lease the leased land or part thereof for setting up and developing Solar Park for solar plant/ solar power plant/ solar PV power plant/solar thermal power plant/ solar farm purposes

The R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or RVUNL (or any of its subsidiary/JVC), may levy and recover such lease rent and other charges as may determine by it, in respect of the lands sub-leased by it.

The periods of the sub-leases shall be determined by the R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or RVUNL (or any of its subsidiary/JVC) but such period shall not exceed 30 years, in all, in any case

They shall revert to the Government free of all encumbrances and without payment of any compensation in case the R R E C or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or RVUNL (or any of its subsidiary/JVC) or any of its sub-lessees use it for any

purpose other than solar plant/ solar power plant/ solar PV power plant/solar thermal power plant, including essential welfare and supporting services or commit a breach of any other condition of the lease or sub-lease; and

The sub-lessee of the R.R.E.C. or Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited or RVUNL (or any of its subsidiary/JVC) shall continue to be governed by all other terms conditions prescribed in these rules and any other analogous rules that may be promulgated or orders that may be issued, in this behalf by the State Government

CONCLUSION

CEA in its generation mix report for 2029-2030 indicates that thermal power generation of about 34% will remain as a prime source of feeding power into the grid with penetration of renewable energy to provide safe, secure, and trouble-free operation of the grid The old inefficient thermal units are to be replaced with more efficient and eco-friendly ultra-supercritical units.

In Rajasthan there is ample potential for solar generation, at present we are in first position in India but to extract maximum from the available infrastructure resources and to benefit the state there is a need for an amendment to current solar policies so that we can get min 10% of the power generated by private developers free of cost to Rajasthan State GENCOs should be provided full financial support to develop solar power parks and solar projects so that complete solar generation is available to Rajasthan.

Last year, power consumption by the agricultural load is 2,88,021 lakh units, and expenses in lieu of the same were 18432 crores on power purchase @6 4 Rs per unit Subsidy released by GoR for the same- 16218 Cr If state GENCOs can be provided with a fraction of agricultural subsidies, then in due course of time Rajasthan state GENCOs will be able to provide electricity at cheaper rates to the state on a permanent basis powering agriculture through renewable energy If Utpadan Nigam can generate solar power, then the maximum rate of a generation shall be approx Rs 2 70 per unit which is quite cheaper as compared to the thermal generation cost Looking into the rising power demand of the nation, MOEF and the Forest department of GOI should ease out policies to facilitate early clearances to develop pump storage facilities to meet the peaking power demands In Rajasthan, we have the capability to develop pump storage facilities at JawaharSagarHydel Power station and RanaPratapSagar Hydro Power Station.

GoR should make policies in such a way that whatever solar energy is generated by state GENCO is procured by RUVN/Discoms

Through this step, we will be able to reduce carbon emissions immensely and generation costs will be reduced

RVUNL power plants have the infrastructural capacity to install solar power plants, but the only roadblock is a financial capability that has been worsened due to long outstanding dues with Discoms If financial support can be given the installation of these plants can be paced up very quickly.

While issuing fresh consent for the installation of new solar projects, it is also to be kept in consideration that Rajasthan has an estimated Solar potential of 142 GW, out of which registration for 80 GW has already been done in favor of Private entities & PSUs Going by the present scenario, a major part of the energy produced by these players using the state’s resources would be exported out of the state. Therefore a major part of the remaining solar potential should be kept reserved for the state’s agency so that the power generated by the state’s resources could be used by the state’s people.

Mr.R.K.Sharma Chairman & MD Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd

The Green Open Access Revolution

DEBMALYA SEN

MANAGER, KPMG INDIA

India’s Renewable Open Access market has been growing stronger each year from being a very small market even 5 years back the market has seen a lot of growth in the recent years The attractiveness of the green open access sector comes from multiple factors including decreasing tariffs of renewables resulting in lower landed cost when compared to grid tariff and green open access being seen as a critical enabler for corporates to transition towards green power and achieve their decarbonization goals

The open access segment though has been witness to multiple challenges with many states increasing open access charges which over time was resulted in reducing the savings envisaged by consumers with the shift to open access, also the threshold of 1 MW contractual capacity made many consumers not eligible to apply for open access

The Green Open Access Regulations (GOAR) which was finalized in June 2022 by Ministry of Power (MoP) is being seen as a game-changer for the sector The Rule ticks on many issues points which open access consumers had been facing As a first,

it reduces the threshold to 100 kW from erstwhile 1 MW limit which makes many consumers between 100 kW and 1 MW applicable to the open access route.

The rule also mandates a minimum banking period of one month and links surplus to be treated as per banking cycles of individual states

The rule also makes application process easier with application processing and approval time reduced to 15 days, it also states that no applicable can be rejected without hearing the applicant and in cases of dispute, the same is recommended to be resolved within three months,

The rule also explicitly defines the charges applicable and by doing so clears all ambiguity on charges being varied from one state to another and

the rule also sets a cap on the upward revision on cross subsidy surcharge All these enablers will make open access an attractive proposition for many players, however what needs to be closely monitored is as to how states follow these in their own state specific open access policies.

In the coming years with green push becoming more prominent and companies being driven with strict decarbonization targets, open access will play the role of an enabler and encourage further acceleration of deployment of renewables Such open access demands often being firm in nature will also necessitate that such renewable power be coupled with some form of buffer which will help it to be firm This buffer can be some form of energy storage with decreasing cost of storage, while power exchange and DISCOM support are some other forms of buffer being utilized by developers to supply firm power to Open access consumers

The attractiveness of the green open access sector comes from multiple factors including decreasing tariffs of renewables resulting in lower landed cost when compared to grid tariff and green open access being seen as a critical enabler for corporates to transition towards green power and achieve their decarbonization goals."

Why perovskite solar cells are the future of solar power?

Perovskites, a category of materials at the cutting edge of scientific discovery and renewable energy development, have captured the imaginations of some of the world's greatest scientists and engineers

These extraordinary materials have the potential to generate more electricity from the sun than nearly anything else, and at a significantly cheaper cost than regular silicon solar cells. Perovskite solar cell research has come a long way in a short time, but there are still some significant obstacles to overcome.

Some perovskite products may be available in the market within the next year or two as a result of the efforts of many determined researchers, so it's critical to learn about them now

Although there has been considerable research and development in silicon solar cells over the past decades their efficiency is incremental. In order to meet the world energy demands rising to 2030 and beyond, researchers are looking for disruptive alternative technology to conventional silicon photovoltaics Solar cells are, in general, categorized into different generations based on the materials required for synthesis, applications, and commercialization

First-generation silicon technology currently dominates the world photovoltaic market claiming 90% of the installation The best laboratory record power conversion efficiency (PCE) for silicon solar

technology such as amorphous silicon gallium arsenide (GaAs) cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium (di) selenide (CIGS) with performance 23% (NREL, 2020), and lower production costs But the availability of materials makes them less attractive for large-scale production purposes However, second-generation thin-film solar cells have a niche market in certain industries such as flexible electronics applications

Third-generation solar cells which are based on nanostructured materials from low-cost manufacturing techniques have attracted more attention due to the simplified fabrication process and availability of materials and hence are cost-competitive One of the prime candidates with a vertical increase in efficiency is the recently explored perovskite materials which have emerged as a promising alternative due to their cost-effectiveness and high efficiency

Perovskites hold promise for creating solar panels that could be easily deposited onto most surfaces, including flexible and textured ones These materials would also be lightweight, cheap to produce, and as efficient as today’s leading photovoltaic materials, which are mainly silicon

Perovskites are a mineral of calcium titanium oxide CaTiO3 named after the Russian mineralogist Lev Perovskite In practice, all crystals having structures of the form AMX3 are classified as perovskite materials The ideal perovskite crystal structure is cubic

General Working Principle of Perovskite Solar Cells

The perovskite layer absorbs sunlight and the energy in a photon is used to excite an electron This absorption is manifested as an electron being excited from the valence band edge (or highest occupied molecular orbital, HOMO) of the perovskite sensitizer to its conduction band edge (or lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, LUMO) leaving the perovskite in an oxidized state which is neutralized by an electron moving from the HOMO of the adjacent hole transporting layer.

The electron excited to the LUMO of the perovskite is then injected into the LUMO of the ETL and is transported via diffusion to the front contact The energy levels are thermodynamically aligned in such a way that when an electron from the valence band edge of the perovskite is excited to the conduction band edge, it leaves behind a hole in the perovskite, then another electron from the HOMO of the HTL can fill up its place

Thus, an electric current is generated by the movement of electrons and holes in a hopping manner The HTL allows the holes extracted from the perovskite layer to pass through and they are extracted into the external circuit The HTL also functions as an electron-blocking layer and prevents any electron from passing through The important function of electron-hole charge separation thus occurs at the interfaces of different layers and the electrons and holes are transported through electron and hole-selective conductor layers respectively

Structure of Perovskite Solar Cells

An archetypal PSC comprises an n-type compact layer, a mesoporous oxide layer, a lightharvesting perovskite layer, a hole-transporting layer, and two electrodes The generic structure of a PSC and the different layers are deposited as indicated stepwise

Step 1: The Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO)/Indium doped Tin Oxide (ITO) coated glass, acts as the substrate for the photoanode of the perovskite device.

Step 2: Above it, there is a dense layer of semiconducting material, primarily TiO2, which functions as the hole-blocking layer or compact layer, deposited usually by spin-coating or

spray-coating on top of the FTO substrate. It prevents the holes extracted by the electronselective layer above from coming into contact with the FTO/ITO glass and inhibits recombination losses

Step 3: Next is the ETL which facilitates diffusion of the electrons from the photoexcited perovskite layer into the FTO/ITO glass and thus to the external circuit.

Step 4: The perovskite layer which can act either as a sensitizer or absorber or as an electron or hole transporter, although its primary function is that of a sensitizer, is spin-coated over the electron transporting layer

Step 5: Adjacent to the perovskite layer is the hole transport layer which allows the holes from the excited perovskite to move toward the metallic cathode for extraction

Step 6: Finally, there is a metallic contact layer which is usually deposited by thermal vaporization on top of the solar cell to function as the counter electrode also known as back contact

Conclusion

Challenges and Problems With Perovskite Solar Cells

Though perovskite materials show promising results in terms of improvement in efficiency, they do suffer from some drawbacks which have retarded their commercialization. Since they are formed of organic cations, they are susceptible to moisture, temperature, UV radiation, and oxygen thus, deteriorating the performance of solar cells within a short time span There are reports of maximum stability values of just over 1000 h

Perovskite solar cells are a type of photovoltaic cell that has shown great promise for use in solar panels They have a number of advantages over traditional silicon solar cells, including lower cost, higher efficiency, and greater flexibility in their design and production However, there are also challenges that need to be addressed, such as the stability and durability of perovskite cells over time Research on perovskite solar cells is ongoing, and it is expected that they will play a significant role in the future of solar energy

Innovative solar technologies for Green Hydrogen Production

SHANTANU ROY

PROJECT MANAGER, ENERGY & POWER SECTOR, CENTER FOR STUDY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY (CSTEP)

With an increasing number of countries setting strong net-zero targets, there is a global push for the gradual discontinuation of fossil-fuel usage and the large-scale adoption of renewable energy (RE) In this context, green hydrogen is seen as the fuel of the future, with various governments and energy companies betting on it.

Green hydrogen production has three vital requisites: electricity (generated from RE sources) to run electrolyzers; high-purity fresh or desalinated water; and electrolyzers to split the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen While scaling up the production of green hydrogen is desirable, there are challenges that primarily relate to water availability, high RE-share requirement and the cost of electricity transmission and the associated infrastructure

Currently, various research and development organizations across the world are working on innovative solar technologies for producing green hydrogen These technologies can help in overcoming the challenges associated with large-scale green hydrogen production while making the process more efficient and economical

Researchers at KU Leuven Belgium under the Solhyd project have developed a solar hydrogen panel that captures moisture from the air and then uses solar energy to split the captured water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen The panel can, as of now, produce 250 liters of hydrogen per day The KU Leuven team has already developed multiple prototypes and is now working on bringing the product to the market

Similarly, researchers at the University of Melbourne, Australia, have developed a direct air electrolysis (DAE) module for producing hydrogen directly from the air. The module uses hygroscopic materials to absorb water from the air and can work in areas where the relative humidity is as low as 4 percent It can produce around 750 liters of green hydrogen per day per square meter of the electrolyzer

The above technologies enable the production of hydrogen directly from the moisture available in the air, addressing the water availability challenges.

Another innovative solar technology that is being tried out involves the direct conversion of solar energy to produce green hydrogen, thereby doing away with the requirement for a separate electrolyzer This direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion can avoid the costs and losses associated with electricity transmission

Spanish firms Repsol and Enagas are jointly developing a direct solar-tohydrogen technology demonstrator plant with a daily production capacity of 100 kgs (of green hydrogen) with plans for a commercial launch by 2030 The firm’s technology which works on photoelectrocatalysis offers a one-step process where the received solar radiation directly generates electrical charges to split the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen

Meanwhile, American firm SunHydrogen has developed a nano-particlebased hydrogen panel prototype that can produce green hydrogen directly from sunlight, using any water source The firm is now gauging the panel’s growth potential and commercial viability.

These nascent solar technologies, when scaled up, can transform green hydrogen production

Given their potential for effecting significant energy and operational cost savings in the large-scale production of green hydrogen, solar technology innovations need to be explored and encouraged in India Such technologies can also optimize water usage, making green hydrogen production possible in water-scarce locations Moreover, they can accelerate India’s pace for achieving the ambitious National Green Hydrogen Mission targets However, to conduct research for innovation, as well as to gauge the adaptability potential of solar technologies under research globally a strong collaboration between India’s research institutes, industry partners, and foreign universities will be crucial

With an increasing number of countries setting strong net-zero targets, there is a global push for the gradual discontinuation of fossil-fuel usage and the large-scale adoption of renewable energy (RE)."

FEATURED INSIGHT

Solis Seminar : How do inverters adapt to high-power PV modules?

Background

With the rapid development of solar cell and photovoltaic module technology, the nominal power of PV modules now regularly breaks through from 400W+ to 500W+ and even to 600W+ The rapid development and increase in power of modules has put forward new requirements for inverter adaptation So how do you choose the appropriate inverter for high power PV modules?

This Solis Seminar will give you detailed answers to ensure your inverters and modules are compatible.

PV Module Development Trends

Current PV technology is constantly updated and iterated, such as efficient PERC, black silicon, double glass, half chip, imbricated tile, etc ; In terms of silicon wafers, the size of silicon wafers also continues to increase, from 156mm to 182mm and 210mm, with the physical area of the wafers increasing by 37% and 83% respectively.

The PV module power of 182mm silicon wafers can exceed 540W, and the PV module power of 210mm silicon wafers exceeds 600W Some module manufacturers have combined their new technologies to reach module power of 700W+

Utilizing high-power PV modules has many advantages From the perspective of the overall system, high-power PV module use has a positive impact on power generation efficiency, and can offer cost reduction across the balance of system items such as DC cables and will inevitably save on labor costs during installation

For these reasons, high-power PV modules are becoming the mainstream module of the industry

How to Configure an Inverter with High-Power PV Modules

This high-power development trend of PV modules has also had a significant impact on the technical development of inverters The data in the following table comes from PV module data of 182mm silicon wafer and 210mm silicon wafer of a component manufacturer The key parameters are as follows:

As you can see, the operating current and short-circuit current of the high-power PV module are both large The current of the PV module corresponding to 210mm can reach more than 17A

Therefore, any inverter being considered for use with high-power PV modules must meet the following requirements:

The current of the PV module corresponding to 210mm can reach more than 17A.

If the inverter MPPT current is lower than the specified modules, the input current will be limited during inverter operation, resulting in power generation loss An inverter configured for use with high-power PV modules must have a high enough string or MPPT input current capacity to maximize generation from the modules.

The maximum input current of Solis inverters reaches 18A and the maximum MPPT current reaches 36A This allows for applications across Residential, C&I, and Utility-scale systems

Customers can achieve a high DC ratio solution through accurate design ensuring compatibility with high current and high-power PV modules

The following are examples of solutions for residential, industrial and commercial projects

Residential:

Using a Solis three-phase S5-

GR3P15K as an example to configure the 182mm and 210mm PV modules

We can see from this data that with proper design and configuration, Solis Residential products can adapt to the 182 and 210 PV modules and achieve a DC ratio of more than 1 6 times

Commercial:

Using Solis three phase S5-

GC110K as an example. The 182 and 210 PV modules from the same manufacturer are used for configuration, and the maximum DC ratio can reach 1 8 times; shown below:

With the rapid development of solar cell and photovoltaic module technology, the nominal power of PV modules now regularly breaks through from 400W+ to 500W+ and even to 600W+.

Utility-scale:

The 550W 182mm PV module

in the table below is used for configuration with Solis-230K-EHV-5G-PLUS The maximum DC ratio can reach 1 8 times:

#DidYouKnow

Solis has always put product quality first, focusing on the long service life and endurance of its inverters. Internal components such as DC connectors, power tubes and capacitors are only ever sourced from globally recognized brands, well known for their life expectancy and quality.

The PV module of 210mm can be configured with Solis-230K-EHV-5G, and the DC ratio can reach 1.24 times; shown below:

Solar PV module energy is transferred to the input end of the inverter through DC cables, and gradually transmitted and converted into AC output through electronic devices such as DC connectors, internal cables, PCB's, and power tubes. This sustained high current means that the overall hardware design of the inverter needs to be reevaluated and verified to meet the long-term and continuous bearing requirements

Solis has always put product quality first focusing on the long service life and endurance of its inverters Internal components such as DC connectors, power tubes and capacitors are only ever sourced from globally recognized brands, well known for their life expectancy and quality For this reason, Solis inverters are proven to have excellent DC bearing capacity

Effective DC protection

The main challenge of high-power PV modules is that the working current increases greatly According to the power consumption formula:

Power consumption is proportional to the square of the current, and high current leads to more serious DC heating under abnormal conditions. Therefore, adequate DC protection is the key to the safe and reliable operation of the solar system It is even more important in the case of highpower PV module matching

For example, Solis inverters have a variety of DC protection mechanisms, such as AFCI function, DC breakers, anti-reverse connection protection, in-line group string monitoring and I-V curve scanning

Conclusion

Cost reduction and efficiency increases are the inevitable trend in the development of the solar industry as shown by high-power PV modules becoming the mainstream of the solar market With the technological shift to high-power PV modules, inverters must also keep pace with this and match the performance of PV modules.

You can find out more about Solis inverters and how they could suit your next project here www solisinverters com

The inverter must have long term load-bearing capacity

The rapid development and increase in power of modules has put forward new requirements for inverter adaptation.

India’s Pollution Challenge Strengthens the Case for Solar Power

According to Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) “India is today the world’s second most polluted country Air pollution shortens the average Indian life expectancy by 6 3 years, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline was met; 3 4 years relative to what it would be if pollution were reduced to meet the country’s own national standard Some areas of India fare much worse than average, with air pollution shortening lives by more than 10 years in Delhi and its surrounding region.”

With the sharp drop in solar costs over the past decade, solar is no longer an option that needs government subsidies It is interesting that it is the positives accruing from a faster roll out is the reason it still attracts government support in many regions today Solar equipment available today is both high quality and backed by quality service, with projects lasting up to 30 years

GoodWe is one such organisation which is committed to the solar future and provides integrated solutions for the future of smart energy that allows for smarter and more efficient energy systems The company has an extensive product portfolio of Solar Inverters ranging from 0 7KW to 250 KW for Residential, Commercial, Industrial & Utility-Scale Applications With a global market, the firm’s products are run through some of the toughest quality checks before making it to any market, including India.

Those dreadful numbers are a crisis that all stakeholders are grappling with in India. Be it the central government that is making key policy changes to ensure long term sustainability, or the immediate measures we see in the form of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the NCR region, the worst affected part of the country But people have no illusions on the issue The pollution issue is a virtually national challenge, and requires a national response

Ironically, the same pollution that is actually reducing solar generation today by reducing solar irradiance due to smog, can actually be banished faster if solar energy is taken up more holistically as part of the solution The particulate matter in the air reduces the reach of direct sunlight on solar panels and deposit build-up on panels also reduces power generation capacity

However, even as we tackle the challenge of pollution at source, be it the seasonal farm fires, vehicular pollution or even dust, a concerted effort towards solar energy can achieve wonders Solutions based on electricity generated using solar power generated locally is an obvious case for study.

The use of solar energy systems can replace generation of energy from other fossil fuels and limits air pollutants like carbon dioxide, sulfur, nitrogen oxides etc Solar technologies provide energy without any direct emissions and hence, can help reduce air pollution and improve air quality The massive drive to electrify transportation for instance, would be even cleaner and greener if the vehicles were to be charged using solar power, as is being seen in other markets like the US and Australia A higher share of solar will reduce the need for thermal power to lower baseload levels, leading to the need for only the most efficient thermal plants

If we take up real case scenarios and study local Projects in India installed by GoodWe, we can see considerable decrease in the carbon emissions facilitated by these plants Be it the 4MW utility Project cases in Gujarat or big ground mounted Solar Project with Goodwe-HT-250KW*10 inverters commissioned at Century Plyboard Industries Ltd With cutting edge technology and an extensive list of features, the HT series offers more yield, increased reliability, lower O&M costs, increased safety, and remote monitoring making solar projects highly reliable. These outstanding set of features were conceived to ensure the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and a utility that runs efficiently

All these Solar Projects sprinting at a fast pace are changing the face of ‘new energy’ transition

About GoodWe

GoodWe is a world-leading PV inverter and energy storage solutions manufacturer and is listed as a public limited company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 688390) With an accumulative delivery of more than two million inverters and installation of 35 GW in more than 100 countries and regions, GoodWe solar inverters have been used in residential and commercial rooftops, industrial and utility scale systems and range from 0 7kW to 250kW GoodWe has more than 4,000 employees situated in over 20 different countries and is regarded as the Global Top 3 storage inverter supplier by Wood Mackenzie in 2021 For more information, please visit goodwe com

A capture from 4MW Project site Lemzon Granito in Gujarat, India

GoodWe is one such organisation which is committed to the solar future and provides integrated solutions for the future of smart energy that allows for smarter and more efficient energy systems.

Blockchain for the advancement of decentralised RE systems

GOPALA

KRISHNAN

SENIOR ANALYST, ENERGY AND POWER, CENTER FOR STUDY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY (CSTEP)

In recent years, blockchain technology has made significant strides across various industries, from finance to supply chain management It is capable of revolutionising the energy sector by enabling decentralised renewable energy (RE) trading through secure, transparent, and efficient transactions

By utilising blockchain, neighbouring households and industries can buy and even sell small amounts of RE locally generated from RTPV systems. Smart contracts or self-executing agreements between parties can be created using the technology to automate the process of buying and selling electricity This approach provides an alternative to net metering and simplifies the process of connecting solar energy producers with customers who wish to power their houses or industries with green energy

The decentralised nature of blockchain increases the efficiency of energy trades, improves the reliability of power supply, and facilitates costcompetitive energy trades In 2020, Uttar Pradesh launched a pilot project in Lucknow to trade energy generated by rooftop solar systems (RTPV) using blockchain Powerledger, the blockchain technology partner in the state, has claimed that the pilot has resulted in a 43% decrease in the energy market purchase price compared to the retail rate In addition, blockchain technology provides real-time verified data on RE purchases by users The authorities can use this data to provide renewable energy certificates (RECs) to users

A blockchain-based energy trading platform can also be used to manage energy storage devices, such as batteries. The platform can monitor the status of batteries and automatically execute transactions when the batteries are full and ready to sell excess energy This would help optimise the use of energy storage devices and reduce energy wastage Similarly, the platform can be used to monitor the energy production of a PV array and identify local consumption patterns Trades can be executed automatically when energy is available for sale

It is crucial to consider the impact that blockchain-based energy trading may have on the stability of the grid and energy distribution companies (DISCOMS) Ideally, energy exchanges through blockchain should occur as

locally as possible If energy supply and demand are matched over long distances, it becomes challenging to manage the distribution network With energy customers opting to buy electricity directly from each other rather than from DISCOMs, the fees charged for using the distribution network would require revision

One of the challenges faced by blockchain systems is slow processing speeds Confirmation of trades can take an extended period, with blockchain-based cryptocurrency solutions such as Bitcoin and Ethereum taking 10 and 3 minutes respectively. The systems should be capable of handling large volumes of transactions during peak times Additionally, they are energy-intensive in nature A single Bitcoin transaction requires 1449 kWh of power This high energy demand has already caused disruptions to local power grids in Venezuela because of excessive Bitcoin mining activities

There is also a need for clear regulatory frameworks and protocols for blockchain-based energy trading. For example if dynamic pricing is employed in such systems, the energy purchase price in the platform may become higher than the retail tariff This could lead to financial losses for energy traders and consumers and affect the viability of systems

As India shifts towards a more sustainable energy future, it is important to explore innovative solutions like blockchain for decentralised RE While blockchain has the potential to bring significant benefits in energy trading, careful planning and pilot testing are essential to overcome the technical and regulatory challenges involved in implementing the technology at scale

Smart contracts or self-executing agreements between parties can be created using the technology to automate the process of buying and selling electricity.

Enabling net-zero through Voluntary Carbon Market

Much has been said about how limiting global warming to 1 5 degrees Celsius has become calamitous for the very existence of the planet today Time isn’t running away to action this, time is in fact sprinting or can be said to be flying fast Achieving this target requires the current global greenhouse-gas emissions to be cut by at least 50% by 2030 and reduced to net-zero by 2050

While the current world entourage towards achieving this goal is far fledged from reality, it can be course corrected with some serious rapid action(s) today Though nations worldwide and businesses globally have been working towards reducing their carbon footprint, they cannot fully eliminate or reduce their emissions as fast they want to or should

This is where Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) can step-in as a significant enabler and necessary supplement for all the emission-reduction efforts. VCM can, if not supersede, target accomplishment within stipulated timeline if the market is empowered to grow opportunistically

Climate Action through Voluntary Carbon Market

Carbon credits are imperative for climate positive actions As more and more nations commit to become net-zero, demand for carbon-offset solutions have been rising consistently New climate commitments and net-zero pledges at the ongoing COP27 are expected to surge the demand further This will lead to an increase in demand for carbon credits in high quantities

Within the carbon credit market, the voluntary credits have relatively more importance amongst others for multiple reasons including the fact that voluntary credits enable direct private financing for mitigation projects enabling them to takeoff and scale faster These projects in turn enable the rehabilitation of the planet through biodiversity restoration, nature protection and pollution prevention, that helps build a safer environment for improved quality of life and also boosts the economy with job creation and income generation

McKinsey estimates that the demand for carbon credits is expected to increase by a factor of 15 or more by 2030 and the annual demand for carbon credits globally could reach up to 2 0 gigatons of carbon dioxide (GtCO2) by 2030 and up to 13 GtCO2 by 2050.

As carbon credit demands outpour, Voluntary Carbon Market is expected to heave up given its robust capabilities of being transparent, verifiable, and environmental friendly These qualities make VCM critical for a longterm solution for carbon offsets, especially for hard-to-abate industry sectors

VCM can therefore enable increased carbon offsets and immensely support the stride towards a low-carbon future.

#DidYouKnow

VCM can therefore enable increased carbon offsets and immensely support the stride towards a low-carbon future.

VCM can enable strong climate action

Net-zero is a destination towards which all of us having been actively striving to reach

A robust voluntary market is an important and tangible mechanism to enable a faster transition to this destination. Discussions and agreements on the much-needed guidelines for the market can enable VCM to mature and scale massively enable more players amongst - project developers, investors, buyers, regulators, etc who can help further shape the market

Such a markets can enable the industry to locate trustworthy sources of carbon credits to reduce their emissions A well-structured market would also transparently transmit signals of buyer demands, which would in turn encourage sellers to increase their credit supplies As more players come in funding will increase and this would enable the market to grow and empower greater transformations in climate action

Building an effective voluntary carbon market will require concerted efforts across a number of pillars

Structured guidelines on how market participants, standard-setting organizations, financial institutions, market-infrastructure providers, and other constituencies will address and interact with each other will help scale up the voluntary carbon market. It may then surge higher than the current projections of touching a worth of $50+ billion by 2030

VCM however will never be a substitute, for avoiding or reducing emissions, they are only what we can engine propellers that can help hasten the net-zero journey They are a vital decarbonization solution and a critical supplement for abatement efforts to achieve net-zero emissions that can enable the planet to head to a safer future sooner

Here’s looking up to Voluntary Carbon Market to empower the world’s trajectory to net-zero!

TRINA SOLAR CHAIRMAN GAO JIFAN:

Building a global PV future requires innovation and collaboration.

Gao Jifan chairman of the global PV and smart energy solutions provider Trina Solar, has used his appearance at the BloombergNEF Summit in Shanghai to tell his global peers about the way in which he sees the industry heading

In a panel discussion at the conference, which was held from November 29 to 30, Gao talked of the n-type technology trend, the high value of 210 mm ntype i-TOPCon solar cells and modules, the value of the industry chain and ecology, and the ways in which Chinese PV manufacturers can remain competitive.

Following is a summary of what Gao told the conference

Industrial trend: Industrialization of n-type high-efficiency modules has taken shape

As the PV industry continues its path of constant upgrading PERC is approaching the upper limits in efficiency, and the industry is showing a clear preference for n-type modules. We can say confidently that over the next three to five years the tech of the n-type will supplant the p-type in the realm of high-efficiency modules Indeed, the industrialization of n-type modules is already well and truly underway At present, mass-produced 210mm n-type cells achieve an average conversion efficiency of more than 25%, and those with a 26% rate will soon be in mass production

This year our 210mm n-type 595W 690W and other products have made their debut globally, with power 75W higher and LCOE 1 5% lower than those of counterparts on the market We are likely to have modules exceeding 700W in the near future

PV technology: Users always need to be front and center

Two principles are paramount in developing PV technology:

The first is customer value

In this, LCOE is a highly important consideration BOS costs vary in different countries, and this produces different customer demands We provide products in line with their needs

The second is the value of the industry chain

For the existing 210mm Vertex technology based on PERC technology and the coming 210mm n-type technology, the key to industrialization lies in the integrated industry chain. This ranges from raw materials to finished equipment, and particularly where higher requirements are concerned, the techniques used in producing the likes of wafers, silicon materials, machinery and other equipment are critical

N-type high-efficiency modules may first be used in the market with higher BOS costs to help maximize customer value

The industrialization of n-type technology does not simply rely on the modules themselves but is the result of the cultivation and development of the whole industry chain ecology. The n-type iTOPCon cells have taken the lead in product capacity for their overall cost-effectiveness, something that customers appreciate Since the new n-type cell technology has higher requirements for crystalline silicon wafers, silicon materials, thinner silicon wafers and the longevity of modules, the industry chain needs to be integrated well and better coordinated among segments to deliver more benefits to all parties.

The compatibility of the advanced 210mm n-type technology platform will facilitate this Both new and existing equipment can be connected and upgraded, which is important to manufacturers and customers

Collaboration and openness the pathway to a zero-carbon world

PV plays an important role in energy transformation and carbon neutrality The search for enhanced supply chain security is being given higher priority in many countries Localization and globalization of the PV industry worldwide will simultaneously become an important trend, affecting the progress of the global new energy industry

One way of dealing with a world of uncertainties and constant change is openness and cooperation, and that is something Trina Solar strives for After 25 years of dedication, it will also continue to strive to develop products of higher value, provide better solutions, and work with global partners to build a complete and well-developed PV ecology, and lead the world in achieving carbon neutrality

A coordinative ecosystem helps n-type technology to reach a critical point of cost-effectiveness

Unlocking the Power of the Sun: API Intelligence and Predictive Analytics powered by SmartHelio

Overcoming the barriers to a profitable energy transition

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges posed by climate change and the need to transition to a more sustainable energy system, major obstacles that prevent it from happening remain SmartHelio, a Swiss-based software company, just raised $5 million to scale its software that measures the live data from solar plants to predict failures, enable proactive maintenance and make climate-resilient assets using its proprietary climate dynamics-based forecasting tool

Assets are bleeding money

SmartHelio will use the extra funding of $5 million to scale its revolutionary software that not only helps solar companies detect and identify faults quickly, enabling them to gain a significant performance boost by 5%, but also make assets climate resilient thanks to its proprietary climate assessment forecasting tool Their mission: automates asset management to build clean energy infrastructures faster in Europe, Asia, and the United States

The CEO and Founder, Govinda, an energy expert and climate Ph.D. student from EPFL, was listed on Forbes 30 under 30 for his work in energy He cofounded the start-up with Neeraj Dasila, who used to work in the Indian government’s energy department

root causes of underperformance (tracker issues, early degradation, etc) to accordingly provide proactive maintenance recommendations to users through its platform, Autopilot Its clients include major industry leaders: Acciona (Spain), Schneider (France and Spain), EDP (USA and Portugal), ESB (Ireland), Verbund (Austria), and Adani (India)

Leverage API intelligence to unlock the potential of the clean energy industry

In a more distant future, the company envisions being more deeply integrated into the solar energy stack with an “energy intelligence API ” This is purported to have broader appeal among a variety of target customers, including solar performance personnel, solar operation and maintenance companies, equipment manufacturers, investors, bidding managers, EPCs, and on-site solar farms Today, the company can and is already integrated with API-enabled platforms such as SolarLog, MeteoControl, or even inverters like SMA, and Huawei to leverage data intelligence

“We will continue to focus on industrial-scale solutions, as this is where we believe we can have the biggest impact in terms of carbon savings We want to become the ‘brain’ of the clean energy industry, providing industry-standard analytics to support the adoption of clean energy solutions,” Upadhyay said

The renewables growth is expected to happen fast and exponentially, according to the latest IEA report and SmartHelio is ready to ensure the resilience and profitability of any assets, existing or yet to be built

SmartHelio has developed an in-house GHI and wind that uses climate dynamics and urbanization factors to predict resource availability and assess climate risk for sustainable energy infrastructure development “We ran our climate risk assessment system on a PV asset in India and we detected that due to higher irradiation forecasted, our clients could actually gain $7 5 Million Per Year for a 500 MWp Plant with a more appropriate design” – the CEO explained

The predictive analytics company automatically detects potential component failures such as inverter failures, string disconnection, and

10 years of Swiss R&D: predict and prescribe to manage assets with peace of mind

Sungrow - The Pioneer Powering Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission With Its Innovative Technology

Sungrow in India established its manufacturing footprint on Feb 2018 and currently has crossed 21GW inverter shipments worldwide which include more than 15GW of exports and around 6GW of Inverter shipments to the India Market

The journey started with a small team size that has drastically grown since Feb 2018 and currently with over 150 Employees The factory is compliant with the HQ standards and manufacturing standards of clean room ESD Floor Dustproof & Temperature and humidity control etc. were gradually incorporated to increase the productivity with the proper tools and techniques

The factory has the 10GW annual capacity to meet the demand and has equipped with 1500 kVA power to test both central and string inverters, and also kept in mind the block size of inverters to cater to the Indian market, (1 5MW to 4 MW and then 6MW test bench is added) This demonstrates the company's interest in Indian markets with huge investments, besides that the team is also developing and working on l

Sungrow in India established its manufacturing footprint on Feb 2018 and currently has crossed 21GW inverter shipments worldwide which include more than 15GW of exports and around 6GW of Inverter shipments to the India Market.

SMT line, cable harness preparation lines are some of the focus areas that the team are actively working together with support from HQ As Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a target of generating 50% of its electricity from renewable sources, so Sungrow is looking forward to t

Smart Solar Technology in Performance Driven Asset Management

DHWANI SUNKU

HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (GROWTH & PARTNERSHIPS), U-SOLAR

Smart technology is based on the creation of digital twin of solar assets through which improvements are fed back into the system For a solar power plant this is done by way of an intelligent asset management system There are various options available today to improve plant performance and thereby financial outcomes of a solar asset Solar equipment such as modules, inverters, sensors and even data analysis tools are continually evolving towards this goal. While most inverters in the market today are smart, few have intelligence features Proper selection of modules and inverters are the first step, the next would be to ensure comparative data points are available to the team In the light of which WMS are getting smaller, cheaper and have wider ranges than before The first step is to use equipment that has intelligence capabilities

It is also necessary to integrate the SCADA monitor data and create reports through which plant level intervention can be undertaken In my opinion, for any asset developer this is especially important Not only do SCADA software’s permit analysts to report on plant performance, but the data provides valuable insight into i) baseline yield of the plant ii) frequent equipment failures iii)improvements on O&M Moreover today there are services in the market to further explore the performance of the plant by thermal imaging on drones, down to the string level faults on modules While using the best equipment improves the overall comparative performance, intervention via. O&M is essential to create processes to keep the plant operationally effective for a long period of time Robotic cleaning of panels have improved significantly, however we are still looking at high prices for complete automation or reduced use of water for the best results

Further advantages of using building a digital twin solar assets are showcased in integration with the energy management system of the plant (in case of C&I consumers). Control systems can be built into the factory to manage and maintain energy, system operations, water waste, and so on It can even be enabled to build in security for the built environment Creating a smart solar asset permits further incorporation into the C&I facility’s overall management Unfortunately however, it is sometimes difficult to exemplify the importance of the numerous advantages of these advanced and often expensive technology options since the initial cost of the system / purchase tariff increases While solar energy is still cheap, aptly C&I consumers prefer the lower cost of system which is (sometimes) at the compromise of the best available technology

However, U-Solar still strives to work with multiple C&I clients as well as strategic partners to put together deal structures wherein the increase in cost is combated by the improvement in solar plant performance in the long term For instance, Enphase ® Microinverters are used in small to mid scale C&I projects to improve solar module performance in the long term While integration of the solar asset with the Amperehour battery storage and management systems can also increase clean energy consumption Not to mention that JCI’s Open Blue digital solution can be used to improve the performance and management of facilities over time We at U-Solar are committed to creating value in these areas for our clients and continue to push the envelope on solar asset management

We at U-Solar are committed to creating value in these areas for our clients and continue to push the envelope on solar asset management."

Net-Zero targets are announced almost daily and the term is now synonymous with climate leadership.

Zero is the new sustainability

As climate continues to witness one of the most dramatic changes of all times, it has become critical to adopt sustainable practices that aim to achieve a balance between environment, social and economy to reduce the disastrous effects of global warming

Net-zero targets are long-term They may seem unachievable but a welldesigned action plan can certainly take the planet closer to a more thriving future Businesses therefore need to measure their exposure to climate-related risks and subsequently manage them, and incorporate climate change in their strategic plans

At EKI Energy Services Ltd , we provide end-to-end strategic solutions that enable businesses to future proof their climate action roadmap and ESG mandates We offer a step-by-step guide to enable this transition and journey

Net-Zero & ESG

Net-Zero is the latest buzzword in the world of climate action as scientists and policy makers say it's key to keeping us safe from harm as the planet warms Net-Zero targets are announced almost daily and the term is now synonymous with climate leadership

But what do these targets mean and how can companies achieve their Net-Zero aspirations is a challenge to be solved for?

EKI’s roadmap to Net-Zero helps organizations to measure and manage their emissions, design carbon reduction strategies, and align targets for the future – all with tailored advice from our trusted experts We help businesses to set their organizational Net-Zero targets and we work with them to establish a successful route map

We are leaders in the calculation and assurance of carbon footprints and have worked with many organizations globally to measure and verify their footprints. We can help you analyze business-relevant climate risks and opportunities and ensure the outputs of this analysis feed into your Net-Zero strategy

As a climate enthusiasts brand ourself, we are also aiming to become netzero by 2030 We can enable you in your journey with a customized roadmap that is uniquely designed to empower you With strategic advices and step-by-step guide, we can help you achieve net-zero and contribute to world climate goals

Designing the net-zero framework

Reporting for net-zero

Transition to net-zero

Action for net-zero

Environmental, Social and Governance matters of any business are interlinked with each other and ESG has been gaining a greater importance among investors, policymakers, and other key stakeholders because it is seen as a way to safeguard businesses from future risks

Environmental, or ‘E’ in ESG, looks at the impact of resource consumption of any business on the environment like carbon footprint and waste water discharge, among other environmental impacting activities

s at how business interacts with communities

o looks at internal policies related to labour, olicies, among others

‘G’ or Governance relates to internal practices and policies that lead to effective decision making and legal compliance ESG facilitates topline growth in the long run, attracts talent, reduces costs, and forge a sense of trust amongst consumers.

EKI champions sustainability solutions like no other

With 14+ years of global experience in climate change & sustainable advisory services, we can empower you with a competitive edge with the best business advisory services for improved corporate governance and compliance management

Gold accredited service provider of CDP

Globally trusted consultancy for emission reduction strategies driving project development, verification and certification on best international standards

AA1000 AS assurance providers by Accountability

lobally best provider of verification and assurance services for environmental risk accounting and appropriate managementGHG inventory, Sustainability reports, CDP Disclosure, Neutrality statements.

Climate Change Services

We offer a world-class bouquet of comprehensive solutions that are climate positive This includes strategic consultations and end-to-end offerings that can empower businesses in their climate ambition(s) and net-zero goals

Sustainability and ESG services

We offer strategic solutions for sustainability and ESG mandates with a step-by-step guide to enable businesses to future-proof their climate action roadmap Developed post a detailed research on the unique requirements of businesses today, we have established a specialized team for sustainability services and offer an exhaustive bouquet of strategic services & solutions to help you fast-track your performance, for higher ESG performance & score

Sustainable supply chain services

No climate initiative can be complete without the successful implementation of sustainable practices across operations

We enable organizations in an efficient management of their supply chain for emission reduction This includesSustainable Sourcing, Green Vendor evaluation, management & engagement, Supply chain emission reductions, Customer engagement and Green Logistics & Packaging

Green certification & resource efficiency services

We champion International standards of green credentials and certifications through customized green ratings programs and guidelines for enhanced resource efficiency

Navitas Solar: A leading Solar Module Manufacturer

With one of the most advanced solar panel production lines and a wide array of solar energy solutions, Navitas Green Solutions Pvt Ltd endeavors to provide one of the best solutions for solar energy in India

The company has a total installed capacity of 500 MW p a for solar module production, Navitas is one of the largest solar module manufacturers in India All in-house facilities and advanced quality control checks translate to high quality, dependability, and durability in the solar modules manufactured

Navitas Green Solutions Pvt Ltd specializes in the production of mono and polycrystalline solar modules with high efficiency Currently, Navitas solar offers multi-crystalline and monocrystalline PV modules ranging from 5 to 600 watts per panel which include 235~260 Watts: 54 Cell Series; 260 285 Watts: 60 Cell Series; 290 310 Watts: 66 Cell Series; and 315~345 Watts: 72 Cell Series

Currently, the company offers Mono Crystalline modules in 370 400 Watts: 72 Cell Series and 310340 Watts: 60 Cell Series

With an increasing market share, the company is actively enhancing and expanding its production capacities. In the new extension of the manufacturing facility, a fully automatic line, including automatic busing has been installed by the company The company has also released a Bonito Series-Mono PERC Half Cut module Bonito Pro modules are available in 9 BB, 166 mm (M6) cell sizes, and 144 and 156 cell configurations, producing between 435 and 500 watts. Bonito Max modules are offered in 10 BB 182 mm cell size (M10) configurations with 144 and 156 cells, producing 530 to 600 Watts

In addition, as a form of backward integration, the company has set up an EVA manufacturing plant with a current capacity of 800 MW, which will be expanded to 1 8 GW in the same facility

Apart from providing hi-tech, all-inclusive, EPC solar solutions, the company itself is a carbonneutral organization It has been diligently constructing a sustainable organization and advancing the global push for clean energy through practical solutions

It is worth noting that JMK research & analytics lists Navitas Solar as one of the top 10 manufacturers in India The company employs more than 300 people More than 700 customers in India are served by Navitas Solar for various government, semi-government, and private projects

Growatt Announces New PV Inverter for OffGrid Applications

Growatt’s new 6 kW inverters have an efficiency rating of 93% and offer 12,000 VA of surge power, up to 500 V of input voltage, and 8 kW of PV input capacity

Growatt has unveiled its new SPF 6000 ES Plus inverters for residential off-grid solar power systems

“The inverter’s string input current reaches up to 16A, making it compatible with 500W+ large power PV modules,” the manufacturer said “The inverter includes dual MPP trackers for houses with multiple rooftop areas, supporting panel installation at different orientations and higher energy generation.”

The 6 kW inverters have an efficiency rating of 93% and 12,000 VA of surge power They also feature input voltage of up to 500 V and 8 kW of PV input power

The inverters are housed in IP20 enclosures and measure 460 mm x 395 mm x 132 mm They weigh 15 5 kg Their operating ambient temperature ranges from 0 C to 50 C, with an integrated automatic transfer switch (ATS) and two AC terminals for power input.

“In terms of performance and reliability, the new product has a power factor of 1 0 that allows the system to draw a power output of 6kW for the loads and 2kW for charging the battery when solar energy is sufficient,” said the Chinese inverter maker “Also, by adding the dust-proof design, it prevents faults caused by excessive dust and improves product reliability, making maintenance easier while extending its operational lifespan ”

Growatt has unveiled its new SPF 6000 ES Plus inverters for residential off-grid solar power systems.

Freezers to vegetable data

How tech and solar power are changing lives in rural India

PROGRAMME ASSOCIATE, COUNCIL ON ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND WATER (CEEW)

Mahendra, a fisherman in Karnataka’s Kundapur, procured a solar-powered deep freezer that would help him store his produce and sell at a better price But due to technical issues and uneven cooling, the storage is out of use Mahendra is back to using ice boxes and losing additional earnings of Rs 5,000-6,000 Similarly, horticulture farmers in Odisha and Gujarat have access to solar-powered cold storage, however, limited understanding of the correct temperature settings for different fruits and vegetables leads to losses

These cold value chain issues are rife among small and marginal farmers, and micro-entrepreneurs in India In a study by the Central Institute of PostHarvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) , about 16 per cent of perishable produce goes to waste in India The country is the largest producer of milk and comes second in farm output production, but this critical gap limits the incomes that farmers could potentially earn, thereby, deepening socio-economic inequalities Even where the technologies are present, adoption of affordable smart infrastructure to support effective and quick troubleshooting and real-time monitoring are largely missing.

So, there are innovations being built at the intersection of sustainability, affordability and accessibility at the grassroots At Powering Livelihoods, a CEEW-Villgro initiative, we have been supporting smart technologies powered by solar energy with an aim to mainstream decentralised clean energy

Cool Crop, an enterprise that provides cold storage infrastructure at the farm gate, is integrating smart features into its systems to optimise the produce value for farmers For example, farmers would store green leafy vegetables and tomatoes at the same temperature, thereby, affecting the quality of the produce and their saleable value A remote monitoring system (RMS) has been developed and integrated within the cold storage that

monitors and controls the temperature and humidity The RMS system, being piloted in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, has resulted in improvedmanagement of produce and awareness among farmers Further, to eliminate the pen-paper recording, RMS will integrate sensorbased weighing scales and grade identification to inform farmers, financiers and market retailers This is being envisioned as a technologybased crop management platform

Similarly, Devidayal Solar Solutions uses an RMS to monitor temperatures, record data on opening and closing of the refrigerator lid, and voltage in its solar-powered deep freezers. The RMS was piloted in about 100 instalments with an intention to customise the product as per the end-users’ need and enable remote troubleshooting by identifying systems that are not being used or are faulty The pilot was conducted with small fishery vendors in Maharashtra’s Sindhadurg district Postpilot, the enterprise has productised the RMS for deep-freezers However, the cost remains a challenge The technology cost (Rs 6,0007,000) is almost 10 per cent of the refrigerator cost, thus, leading to low uptake among its target population – small-scale retailers or road-side vendors. The development and integration of advanced data analysis, like the Internet of Things, can have a high- impact potential by giving end-to-end visibility on temperature settings, storage details, ensuring longer shelf-life of the produce and enabling farmers to get a better price

Smart technologies are a powerful innovation to enhance productivity and efficiency in a business using automation and data, especially at the last mile Especially in regions where the sun shines the most Powering Livelihoods has enabled at least 17,000 livelihoods through the programme The changing lives of Mahendra and many more farmers and small business owners give hope to leverage the potential of solar and advancing technologies to light the way to sustainable prosperity

The changing lives of Mahendra and many more farmers and small business owners give hope to leverage the potential of solar and advancing technologies to light the way to sustainable prosperity."

DIVYA GAUR

Sineng Electric to Supply Solar Projects in Greece

Forging ahead and embarking on a zero-carbon journey, Sineng Electric brought its high-reliability solar PV solutions into the romance of Greece and felt proud to be part of the 54MW and 47MW solar projects, supporting the country to derive more of its power needs from new energy

With more than 250 days of sunshine per year, Greece is richer in sustainable energy potential compared to the Northern European countries. Amidst the ongoing energy crisis the local government has to cope the sudden surge in gas prices and protect people from the unstable environment Thus, the demand for affordable energy has rocketed, which also boosts Greece’s deployment of renewables

As per the European Union’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), by 2030, Greece’s electricity mix tends to surpass 61% by new energy And Greece’s new national energy plan mandates 7 7 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity at the end of 2030 In order to reach its 2030 renewables target, large clusters of PV stations in Greece have been put into operation and Sineng Electric supplies its 275kW high-current string inverter solutions to the projects The SP275K-H1 inverters, featuring maximum efficiency of 99 0%, have been commissioned to power the 54MW ground-mounted solar plant in

Anthili and the 47MW PV power station in Mikro Vouno, generating clean electricity and powering thousands of households

With advanced designs such as IP66+C5 anti-corrosion protection, the inverters have superb adaptability to complex and harsh environments By virtue of 12 MPPTs, the inverters also secure the power station’s stable output by optimizing the match between PV panels and the utility grid More importantly, the world-leading smart IV scan diagnosis technology allows for rapid and accurate troubleshooting without the need for additional on-site experts It greatly helps improve maintenance strategies At the same time, the smart air-cooled system ensures that the inverters won’t derate even under extreme temperatures, significantly guaranteeing the electricity generation and long-term benefits

In terms of efficiency, reliability, safety, high performance, and power quality, the inverters from Sineng Electric have become a preferred choice in this industry Fully committed to providing solar solutions tailored for various scenarios, Sineng Electric will further contribute to green energy development and spare no effort to build a net-zero carbon future with its technological innovations in exploring the most efficient and cost-effective ways

Sineng Electric brought its high-reliability solar PV solutions into the romance of Greece and felt proud to be part of the 54MW and 47MW solar projects, supporting the country to derive more of its power needs from new energy.

LONGi Modules used to generate Clean energy for one of the largest steel manufacturers in Karnataka, India

With our EPC partner Dexler Energy Pvt Ltd, LONGi supplied 6 5MW of HiMO4m modules for the solar system at the dairy farm of Sunvik Steels, one of the largest steel manufacturers in Karnataka, India in May 2021 On average, the system produces 5 87 kWh/kWp of clean energy daily, and 90 million kWh in the past year since its completion on October 1, 2021! It is one of the largest C&I rooftop projects in the state, spanning 17 tall structures with multiple orientations and tilts Since there are no GI sheets or tin sheets used as roofing, the panels also provide waterproof shelter for the dairy farm LONGi provides full-scenario PV+ solutions and full lifecycle value to customers This project will save around 226,443 tons of carbon over its lifecycle, which is equivalent to 754,810 trees as a carbon sink for 30 years or 85,129 tons of coal saving (LONGi project case study)

Waaree Energies high efficient DCR 520-550 Wp Mono PERC Modules

DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) was, incorporated in the year 2010 in India to promote domestic solar manufacturing with a vision of making India a solar manufacturing hub. Waaree DCR modules consist of all raw material components and modules manufactured in India to promote our honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji's vision of 'Make in India'

Waaree Energies Limited manufacturing facilities are registered under MNRE’s ALMM (Approved List of Module Manufacturers) 2022 Waaree is among the top players in India, with the largest manufacturing facility for supplying high and ultra-high power mono-facial and bi-facial modules

Waaree’s highly efficient DCR Mono-facial and Bi-facial MONO PERC modules

High power density

High performance

Highest module efficiency

Highest Durability and Reliability

Power reached Upto 550 Wp

Product and Performance

Our fully automated manufacturing facilities are NABL-accredited, ensuring stringent quality control practices, and our modules are tested extensively inhouse with all tests performed as per BIS, IEC, and third-party testing standards

Waaree’s 520-550 Wp DCR modules are available in mono-facial and bi-facial G2G (glass to glass) and G2TS (glass to transparent backsheet) variants. Waaree has the highest power output and most efficient solar modules w r t different module manufacturers in India Our modules outshine and represent the ultimate and perfect solution for numerous applications focused on domestic, commercial, and ground mount utility (MWp) scale applications as well as in special applications such as PV installations with trackers, BIPV (Building-integrated Photovoltaics) and Floating PV systems

Increased Efficiency & High Power Output

More Durable

High Bifaciality Factor ensuring High Energy Yield & Higher Profitability

Better Performance and Reliability

Excellent PID Resistance

Excellent Low Light Performance

Grid Stability with RE penetration

RAJESH TIWARI

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT (AVP)CENTRAL DESIGN & ENGG (SOLAR GRID)

HERO FUTURE ENERGY

In current scenario for completing our Prime minister vision for becoming global leader in Renewable Energy India need to develop mechanism for stabilizing the grid during highly variable state of generation

The huge amount of Renewable Energy penetration in Electricity Grid, required stability of power system voltage, Frequency control, Active and reactive power control, isolation protection, and generating power quality

To safeguard the electrical power system under liberalized electricity market, grid codes were need to built-in considering different generating units’ timings and considering fact that the Sun does not shine for all hours of the day in a given location or wind will not flow continuous

The system should be understanding the criterion of (n-1) and feeder protection in absence of basepower we can say thermal power contingency planning for Black start, Re-Synchronization of islands and transmission plan should be strengthened

Important aspect considering operational planning and management for Restoration, Maintenance and communication, Network maintenance including Telemetry and demand control should be followed with routine guidelines

Developers should ask from OEMs for compliance of NLDC, RLDC, SLDC requirement Inverters is supporting and working as per requirement, but

they should record those events where they supported the grid function of SCADA completes only when the events should be captured and stored during dynamic fault condition inverters have this capability they should provide either with additional cost

The development of frequency & voltage control with DSM integration and primary response with real time market demand capturing, the devices should support all functions

Till date generating units are working for support of grid basically they should develop the capability for grid formation by introducing BESS or any storage facility for Energy transition.

More focus required for cross border measures like cyber security and mandatory reserve for primary response also they should do the Audit for existing RE plants and suggest the stability and protection parameters

I hope with the above article we all have to take necessary measures for grid stability for RE power plants and will achieve desired numbers in GWs for achieving our national solar & wind missions.

The huge amount of Renewable Energy penetration in Electricity Grid required, stability of power system voltage, Frequency control, Active and reactive power control, isolation protection, and generating power quality."

Bigger is not always the Better!

Concerns for quality are increasingly common in the discussion in the Indian context for solar and rightly so since a solar module is made to perform for the next 25 years. The recent discussion also has some specific concerns when it comes to the reliability of the module with bigger sizes and heavier weights in the context of its use in the smaller capacity residential rooftop segment

Therefore it’s interesting to look into the lessons from China’s oldest solar panel installation which goes back 39 years and still performing The Gansu Energy Institute owns the 39-year-old power facility. According to the institute, when the size of a highefficiency module increases, the area and weight of its aluminum frame will grow and mechanical strength will be significantly reduced Awareness of the risk of module deformation is vital, as the frequency of breakage of large modules and the formation of micro-cracks need to be addressed Product costs cannot be cut at the expense of quality, as the primary concern for a plant owner is its long-term stability and guaranteed income The importance of product quality should also not be underestimated, with growing price consciousness amongst the installers

Monocrystalline silicon is itself very stable, but components such as glass ribbons back sheets and aluminum frames must also be reliable to ensure the long-term stability of power generation.

In terms of the future development of the PV industry, LCOE is an essential factor in driving the technological upgrade of module products, with a power plant’s power generation capability during its lifespan a key consideration A module must not only pass standard laboratory testing but also be able to withstand extreme weather conditions such as snow pressure, high wind speed, hail and hurricane As a result, module size should have some limitations, on the basis that a bigger module is not automatically a better module, especially considering the small capacity residential rooftops where there’s not much saving in terms of space considering the tentative 1-5% difference in module efficiency and where the modules are to be retrofitted on the available existing structure It is vital that bold assumptions are thoroughly checked and challenged to avoid excessive risk-taking bringing about an endless number of concealed dangers

A successful power plant should combine high e reliability is the crucial aspect, since a plant is expecte end to the equipment end Module size design must chain driven by demand rather than manufacturin emphasis on reliability Efficiency is the goal, safet guarantee All three are non-negotiable

Contendre products fully integrate the PV industry's their planning and design Being a responsible m change and up gradation in technology but not at th are carefully selected, production is strictly monitored with such an approach can PV modules achieve a life to adverse weather conditions. As we all know that th chain, with its quality and safety a matter of the utmos term strategy that is not merely a methodology, but al Creating long-term value is beneficial to everyone For we are now moving towards a maturing solar industr countries that have seen solar energy installation believes in bringing standardization in the industry b that addresses the concerns and risks associated safeguarding developers’ concerns and investment

Contendre products fully integrate the PV industry's upstream and downstream activities into their planning and design.

Kehua PV project in the land of folk songs put into operation

Engineer Zhang has recently been hearing a lot of Shanxi folk songs with melodious tunes, which is an unusual experience for him He learned from a customer that this is the national intangible cultural heritage "Zuoquan Folk Song" He was responsible for delivering inverters for a 50MW project in Zuoquan County, the home of Chinese folk culture We should build a better ecological environment for this culturally rich county and nourish the land with green power

Kehua's SPI250K-B-H string inverter is equipped with 18 DC inputs, each DC input supports a high current of 20A and is highly adaptable to 210 modules The string inverter solution with multiple MPPT is suitable for mountainous PV plant construction scenarios, effectively reducing the power generation loss caused by DC side mismatch, effectively increasing the power generation during the operation cycle of the plant and improving the overall profitability of the customer

This 50MW PV project is located in Zuoquan County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province This PV plant uses all 650W Type 210 modules and every power generation unit uses a smart on-grid string inverter SPI250K-B-H and supporting equipment from Kehua Digital Energy A total of 200 string inverters of the same type are installed in the station to efficiently convert the DC power from the PV modules into 800Vac output power and connect it to the sub-array substation, which will continuously feed the green power into the grid through voltage boosting This is another successful application of Kehua Digital Energy inverters adapted to 210-type high-power modules in mountain PV projects

The 50MW PV power generation project in Zuoquan County can provide about 80 million kWh of clean electricity per year, meeting the electricity demand of about 50,000 households, which is equivalent to saving nearly 30,000 tons of standard coal consumption and reducing about 60,000 tons of air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and soot, with good economic and energy-saving benefits

This is another successful application of Kehua Digital Energy inverters adapted to 210-type high-power modules in mountain PV projects.

Navitas Solar’s Bonito Series-Mono PERC Half Cut Modules 435-600 Watts

Leading Indian module manufacturer Navitas Solar has extended its portfolio with a powerful and reliable Half Cut Mono PERC Solar Modules Series-Bonito Bonito is launched in two series: Bonito Pro and Bonito Max Bonito Pro is available in 9 BB (M6 wafers) in 144 & 156 cells which can generate from 435 to 500 watts Bonito Max is available in 10 BB (M10 wafers) in 144 & 156 cells, which can generate from 530 to 600 watts Bonito modules offer efficiency of up to 21 64%

The Bonito Series modules are ideal for large-scale installations. Half-cut modules function as two parallel modules which help in the case of partial shading Bonito offers better shading tolerance as it generates high power in low-light conditions like haze or clouds The unique cell design leads to reduced electrode resistance and smaller current and thus enables a higher fill factor Meanwhile, it can reduce losses of mismatch and cell wear, and increase total reflection

The half-cut technology not only cuts the cells into two but also cuts the overall cost of a solar system that ensures lower LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) Half-cut solar modules have a smaller payback period compared to conventional modules, especially for the sites where area and shading are the main constraints, selecting half-cut modules for such sites is a worthy decision keeping upfront cost in mind The Bonito series cells are cut by the No-Water Non-Destructive Laser Cutting (NDLC) method,

which separates the solar cell into half using the principle of separation by varying temperatures which can increase the power output of the solar panel

The modules are fabricated with a white back sheet and anti-reflective, high-transmissive tempered glass with a thickness of 3 2mm, and a frame made of anodized aluminum alloy and silver The panel can be used in PV systems with a maximum voltage of 1,500 V Navitas Solar can make Bonito series modules with a transparent back sheet and dual glass on special requirements

Bonito is a cost-effective solution where customers do not have to compromise on quality and output Navitas Solar foresees strong & steady demand for high-power modules in the future of the solar market

#DidYouKnow

Bonito is launched in two series: Bonito Pro and Bonito Max. Bonito Pro is available in 9 BB (M6 wafers) in 144 & 156 cells which can generate from 435 to 500 watts. Bonito Max is available in 10 BB (M10 wafers) in 144 & 156 cells, which can generate from 530 to 600 watts.

DEYE unveils SUN-80/110K-SG03 for C＆I applications

The rapidly developing solar inverter manufacturing enterprise Deye has launched the on-grid SUN-80/90/100/110K-SG03 series grid-tie inverter for C＆I application scenarios in India India has huge potential for the solar photovoltaic energy segment As the third generation of Deye’s leading three-phase grid-tie inverter, SUN80/90/100/110K-SG03 is compatible with Max 6 MPPTS and 24 strings, which Max DC input power of 150kW for the 110KW model Also, Max efficiency rating up to 98 7% for the rapidly increasing Indian market demands of C＆I usage applications

Deye demonstrates its industry-leading grid-tie inverter has a nominal power ranging from 80k to 110kW SUN-80/90/100/110K-SG03 is one of the world’s most multifunctional large power range string inverters what's new is that this series inverter system can work with the generator together which is suitable for power shortage or unstable Areas

The SUN-80/90/100/110K-SG03, with a maximum input current of 40A per MPPT, makes it fully compatible with large power range bifacial modules. It is also equipped with a Type Ⅱ DC/AC SPD and optional Anti-PID function, which can further safeguard the safety of C ＆I buildings And the large power range string inverter will satisfy the increasing demand for high-current PV module compatibility and ensure long-term considerable ROI

In addition, The new grid-tie inverter measures 838W×568H×324D and weighs 81kg. It supports IP65-rated protection and a smart

cooling system It is compatible with intelligent monitoring equipment, which makes it easier for users to monitor the device's power generation and consumption at any time.

In September 2022, Deye showcased the new C＆I string inverter in the REI India Expo exhibition, which is one of Asia’s largest and most influential expos in the renewable energy domain SUN-80/90/100/110K-SG03 gained positive feedback from clients of its multifunction, compact design and cost optimization It is expected to have excellent performance in commercial and industrial application scenarios

Deye has been exploring the Indian market strategically for several years and established a complete sales and pre-sales, after-sales team Deye is expected to provide our customers with more efficient PV solutions and reliable local services Deye would try our best to accelerate the energy transition of India toward a green future

In September 2022, Deye showcased the new C＆I string inverter in the REI India Expo exhibition, which is one of Asia’s largest and most influential expos in the renewable energy domain.

Saatvik introduces premium

high-

Saatvik, India’s fastest-growing solar module manufacturing brand, has recently introduced Mono Perc and Bifacial DCR modules up to 540wp for the domestic market in order to meet escalating market demand Modules introduced in the Indian market are officially approved in accordance with government policies in order to serve end users in subsidiary terms. After the installations are successfully completed end customers can take advantage of government subsidy schemes and receive immediate benefits

Saatvik DCR modules will play a significant role in supporting and encouraging solar EPC installers and developers since the modules are made using Indian Solar PV cells and are an ideal fit for government projects and programs that demand the use of DCR PV modules

These modules reduce current losses with M-10 and Multibus bar technology and deliver better efficiency output even in low-light conditions owing to cutting-edge technology embedded in the glass and cell surface Modules have delivered mechanical support up to 2400 Pa of wind stress and 5400 Pa of snow load following rigorous testing prior to launch

Saatvik manufactures premium quality Solar PV modules for both domestic and international markets and has recently added an EPC segment to their business verticals. Introducing the EPC Segment, the Company intends to provide end-to-end EPC services and solutions to end users, from project conception to procurement and construction By the end of the fiscal year, the company plans to launch a green field project in Gujarat Gandhidham with an integrated module and cell production line with an annual production capacity of 2GW/Annum Currently, Saatvik is manufacturing Mono Perc, Bifacial and Polycrystalline modules at Ambala having an annual production capacity of 1 5 GW/annum

quality

efficiency Mono/Bifacial DCR Modules up to 540Wp for the domestic market.

Saatvik DCR modules will play a significant role in supporting and encouraging solar EPC installers and developers since the modules are made using Indian Solar PV cells and are an ideal fit for government projects and programs that demand the use of DCR PV modules.

MARKET STATISTICS

TOP SOLAR PV INSTALLATION BY STATE AS OF DECEMBER, 2022

India installed around 14 GW of Solar PV projects in the calendar year 2022 from January to December 2022 The country's total installation crossed 63 3 GW by the end of the CY 2022 Rajasthan installed over 16 34 GW, there is a growth of 60% year over year with the installation of over 10 GW by the end of 2021. Among the Top Solar States such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, each state stepped one position ahead compared to their position in 2021 in the same period except Karnataka which slipped to third position from the second among the top solar PV Installation states There was a growth of over 28% year over year compared to the total Solar PV installation of 49 3 GW by end of December 2021

SOLARQUARTERRESEARCH

In the above pie-chart, Renewable capacity additions continue to increase at a rapid pace in India, accounting for approximately 29 5% of total India’s power capacity at the end of December 2022 India’s total installed power capacity stood at over 410 GW at the end of the calendar year 2022 from all the sources, with renewables accounting for ~120 9 GW making up 29.5% compared to cumulative renewable energy installations of 104 87 GW at the end of December 2021, which represented a growth of 15 28% yearover-year Solar power accounted for approximately 63 3 GW of installations, which represents 15 4 % of the total installed power capacity. The share of Solar power in the installation mix grew by 28 28 % in December 2022 compared to December 2021

Among the renewable, Wind and Solar constitute around 87% of the total renewable, Wind Power installed capacity at the end of Calendar Year 2022 was around 41.9 GW which represents 10.2% of the total power capacity installed

INDIA RENEWABLE MIX

INDIA POWER MIX

SOURCE:MNRE

SOURCE:CEA,SOLARQUARTERRESEARCH

Total renewable energy generations in November 2022 reach 13,393 41million units, there is a growth of RE generators by around 20% over November 2021, where the RE generations were 11,158 26 million units, also there is a decrease of around 21% over September 2022 where generation from RE was 16,943 29 million units Solar Power generation has been increasing by over 59% year-over-year from November 2022 to November 2021, Wind Power generation has declined by almost 16% in the same period

ALMM APPROVED CAPACITY BY STATE (JANUARY 2023)

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued an Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) order dated 2nd January 2019 Many large Solar PV tenders are mentioning the requirement of ALMM registered panels, also to decide the tariff based on that, but the Indian Solar market is being dominated by Chinese players who are not able to get their capacity enlisted under ALMM -I to be supplied to these projects As per the latest update from MNRE, around 21,681 MW of module manufacturing production capacity has been enlisted under ALMM- l with 89 companies

The Solar PV module manufacturers from Gujarat got the maximum approved capacity under the ALMM List-l, having a capacity of 11,072 MW with 39 manufacturers, followed by Telangana with 10 manufacturers of 2,411 MW capacity Karnataka got with 2,229 MW, Maharashtra (8 manufacturers with 915 MW), and Uttar Pradesh got 9 manufacturers listed with 1,061 MW of production capacity West Bengal (four manufacturers with 1 766 MW) while Rajasthan and Haryana got three manufacturers each with 161 MW, and 591 MW of production capacity Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Goa, and Himachal Pradesh with just a single manufacturer listed under ALMM List-l as of January 2023

SOURCE:MNRE,SOLARQUARTERRESEARCH

SECI MONTHLY PAYMENT TO SOLAR/WIND POWER GENERATORS IN 2021-22

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) paid ₹26 63 billion ( $326 2 million) to Solar and Wind developers for power purchased in the third quarter of 2022 from ₹22 691 billion (~$288 59 million) in Q2 2022 there is an increase of over 17 36% over the previous quarter The disbursed amount was highest in the third quarter of CY 2022 since the Q3 CY 2021 There were many ups and down in the payment to generators from October 2021 to September 2022 as shown in the above chart While SECI paid ₹15 94 billion for the purchase of Solar & Wind in the first two month of the fourth quarter of calendar yaer 2022.

TREND OF SOLAR TARIFF, 2022

After the imposition of BCD on Solar PV modules and Cells, the tariff rate of Solar auctions has increased. Other factors for the increase in tariff rate are the exchange rate fluctuation along with the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. But the relief for the developers is that the government is extending the commissioning due date due to ongoing disruption in the solar supply chain

STATE LEADERSHIP MAHARASHTRA AWARDS2022 2022

AWARDS

Congratulations to all the BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS

STATE LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Solar Developer Of The Year

GSE Renewables India Pvt. Ltd.

Solar EPC Company Of The Year: Rooftop (Residential & C&I)

Waaree Renewable Technologies Limited

Solar Consulting Company of the Year

REInitiatives Energy & Infra Pvt Ltd (REI-INFRA))

State Market Leader AwardInverter

State Customer's Choice Award Inverter

Best Service Provider of The Year: Solar Inverter

Celestial Renewexperts LLP

State Market Leader Awar Modules

LONGi

Best Service Provider Of T Year: Data Analytics

Intello Tech Solutions

State Customer's Choice Award - Solar Mounting

Solar Technology leadership Award- Solar Mounting

HelioFix Energy Pvt. Ltd.

State Customer's Choice

Award: PV Module

Novasys Greenergy Pvt. Ltd.

Solar System Integrator Of The Year

Sanchay Solar

Most Trusted Inverter Brand of the State

Havells India Limited

State Distributor of the Year

Best Project Team of the Year

Icon Solar-En Power Technologies Pvt Ltd

Impulse Green Energy Pvt Ltd r

AWARDS

Congratulations to all the

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS

COMPANY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Company of the Year: Inverter (Platinum)

Sungrow (INDIA) Private Limited

Company of the Year: Inverter (Gold)

Solis

Module Company of the Year: International

LONGi

Module Company of the Year: National (Platinum)

Company of the Year: EPC

Vikram Solar

Module Company of the Year: National (Gold)

Saatvik Green Energy Pvt. Ltd.

Company of the Year: Tracker

Arctech India Pvt. Ltd.

Company of the Year: Structure (Platinum)

SNS Corporation

Company of the Year: Structure (Gold)

MTE Structures Pvt Ltd

Company of the Year : BOS

M/s Guru Mehar Products And Services Pvt Ltd

Company of the Year: Raw Materials & Components(EVA Films)

Pixon Green Energy Private Limited

SOLAR PROJECT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Best Solar Project Engineering of the Year (Solar Ground Mounted)

Best Solar Project Deal of the Year (Financing)

Enel Green Power India Private Limited

Best Solar Project Engineering of the Year Solar-Wind (Hybrid)

ReNew Power Limited

Best Performing Project of the Year

Sineng Electric Co. Ltd

PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION AWARDS

Outstanding product Innovation of the year- "1+X" Central Inverter

Sungrow (INDIA) Private Limited

Best Solar Technology of the Year - FutrOS

Futr Energy (formerly visualAI)

SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Service provider of the Year : O&M (Inverter)

Sungrow (INDIA) Private Limited

Service Provider of the Year: O&M (Structure & Tracker)

Arctech India Pvt. Ltd.

Best Smart technology Innovation of the Year

Hero Future Energies Pvt. Ltd.

Smart Inverter Technology Innovation of the Year- MAX 253KTL3-X HV

Shenzhen Growatt New Energy Co; Limited

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Rising Star of the year

Alok Kumar Mishra, Business Lead (APAC), DNV

Business Leader of the Year

Sunil Badesra, Country HeadSungrow (India) Private Limited

Influential Leader of the Year

Gaurav Wadhwa, Head Design Engineering & Power EvacuationReNew Power Limited

Emerging Business Leader of the Year

Sharad Pungalia, Managing Director & CEO- Amplus Solar

Service Provider of the Year : Insurance

Beacon Insurance Brokers Private Limited

Disruptor of the Year

Naveen Kumar,CTO (APAC Region)- TBEA Xi’an Electric Technology Co Ltd

Emerging Leader of the Year

Honey Tiwari, Head Business Development & Regulatory Affairs- Alfanar Global Development

Exemplary Leader of the Year

Mr. Vaibhav Roongta, Chief Business Officer, Rays Power Infra

CEO of the Year

Sandy Khera, Country Manager & Chief Executive Officer- Enel Green Power India Private Limited

Congratulations to all the BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS

BEST SOLARIS INDIA AWARDS:

Best O&M Team of the Year Stride Climate Investments

Best Engineering Team of the Year

Best Finance Team of the Year

ENEL GREEN POWER INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

Best Technical Team of the Year

RADIANCE RENEWABLES PRIVATE LIMITED

Best Construction Team of the Year

Best O&M Team of the Year

Larsen & Toubro Limited

Best Asset Management Team of the Year

TruBoard Credit Monitoring Services Pvt Ltd

Best Emerging Team of the year

GameChange Solar

Best Design Team of the Year

SWELECT Energy Systems Limited.

Best Business Development Team of the Year - Tracker

Arctech Best Business Development Team of the Year - Inverter

Sungrow India Pvt. Ltd.

STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING AWARDS WINNERS IN THE NEXT ISSUE Awards 2023