SolarQuarter July 2018

Special Focus - Solar PV Module Technology

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Volume 08. l Issue 7

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July 2018

Central Distributed Inverter Solution Higher yields Lower system Smart O&M

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 2

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 3

India’s Most Read Solar Energy Magazine

Index

To book your space in the upcoming issue, please contact: Vipul Gulati M: +91 9920917193  E: bd@firstviewgroup.com

Exclusive Interviews

News At Glance � Indian News ..................................................06 � International News......................................08

Industry Insights � A Legal and Commercial Checklist for Bankable Solar Epc Contracts: Mr. Ajay Rattan GM - Sales, Construction & Engineering, Lysaght Business, Tata BlueScope Steel

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A Developer’s Guide.......................... 12-16

� Is your PV Remote Monitoring/

Scada System Functional?........................17

� Status of the Energy Transition:

A Mixed Picture.............................................18

� Global Landscape of Renewable

Energy Finance 2015/2016.............. 20-21

company Feature � Our Aim is to Provide Clean and Green Electricity at Affordable Price

Mr. Yashwant K Jain CEO, OORJA ON MOVE INFRA PVT. LTD

Publishing: Vijay Kumar

10

Editor: Varun Gulati

to One and All...............................................26

� Saatvik’s Mission is to Lead the Global Transition To Renewable

Energy in India..............................................27

� Ginlong Solis Inverter Products have an

Outstanding Field Record in India.........28

Circulation : Chandan Gupta subscribe@firstviewgroup.com

Editorial: Neha Barangali Sanjana Kamble ANUSHARON NAIR publishing@firstviewgroup.com

� Sanelite Solar is a Preferred Manufacturer of High-Quality PV Modules of Capacity 40Wp To 335WP.........................29 � N-Type Or P-Type Cell: What is the World Mulling For?......................................30

Product Feature � SofaR SOLAR ..............................................33 � Sineng.............................................................36 � GSolaR...........................................................37

tech insights � To Store or not to Store.............................31 � Longi Solar has enough Technology Preparation to Keep Perc Competitiveness for the Next 3-5 Years...............................................32 � Renewable Energy Auctions - Cases from Sub-Saharan Africa...........................35 � Solar Power System Installation and Operation: Best Practices in the Industry...............................................35

Infographics � Global Landscape of Renewable Energy Finance 2015/2016............... 19,39

Business Development: Vipul Gulati bd@firstviewgroup.com

Printing/Processing Vaibhav Enterprises

Office: FirstView Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd. 907, NMS Titanium, Plot No. 74, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 400614. • E: publishing@firstviewgroup.com • W: www.firstviewgroup.com

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Indian News

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ABARD sanctions over Rs 735 cr for solar, irrigation projects in Bengal

NABARD on Monday said it has sanctioned Rs 735.53 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund for West Bengal for facilitating the execution of 86 projects

After bagging 125 MW solar capacity, the company’s total

The Conference will be inaugurated by Shri R K Singh,

portfolio in Uttar Pradesh stands at 155 MW while its total

Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable

portfolio will increase to 2900 MWp, the company said.

implementation of various ongoing Schemes/ Programmes

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uwi completes 135 Megawatt Solar Park in India

The Juwi Group, one of the world’s leading renewable

They include six solar power, one medium irrigation, five

energy development companies, today announced that it

minor irrigation and 12 flood protection projects, besides

has completed construction of a 135 megawatt DC utility-

57 projects for the widening and strengthening of roads

scale solar power plant for Energon Soleq Ravi India Power

and five rural bridges, according to a statement.

Resources Pvt Ltd.

According to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

The plant covers an area of 243 hectares and is situated near

Development, the entire loan amount was provided to the

the village of Guttigoli in the southern part of Karnataka,

state at a concessional rate.

India. It is expected to generate more than 226 million

Elaborating on the projects, the financial institution said the grid connected solar power projects would generate 88.61 MU of green energy per annum.

The work on the irrigation projects is expected to benefit 11,554 hectares of land besides addressing the problems of water wastage in the upstream areas, seepage loss,

kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to avoid the emission of 122,743 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Operation and maintenance of the solar power plant will be performed by juwi India, which provides maintenance, monitoring and reporting services. With this project, juwi India’s current total O&M portfolio has become 347 MWp and is expected to cross 500 MWp by this year’s end.

deposition of silt and insufficient height of canal, which have been resulting in erratic and short supply of water in

Energy. The aim of this one-day conference is to review the & deliberate on a host of issues pertaining to Power and Renewable Energy sectors.

Ministers and Secretaries of the States and Union territories and senior officials of the power & renewable energy sectors and Public Sector Undertakings under them will meet up to discuss issues like- 100 per cent Household Electrification by December, 2018, UDAY performance assessment, shifting to prepaid system in three years and 24X7 Power for All – From 1st April 2019.

S

olar Projects Deadlines Extended: Government

The government has allowed solar power developers more time for executing projects, a move which may bring down project costs and tariffs of power generated from this source.

As per recent amendments in the competitive bidding guidelines for solar projects, for capacities above 250 MW,

The flood protection measures were aimed at addressing

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the erosion of river banks and about 155 villages would

To boost solar and wind power generation in the state,

with the procurer. The earlier deadline was 15 months. The

benefit, it claimed.

the Gujarat government has announced a new Wind-Solar

deadline for commissioning projects within solar parks has

Hybrid Power Policy. Energy minister Saurabh Patel and

also been extended to 21 months from the date of signing

minister of state for energy Pradeepsinh Jadeja told the

PPA from 13 months earlier.

media that the policy is meant to promote the production

A senior official from the ministry of new and renewable

the command area.

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00 MW hybrid power plant coming up at Ramagiri

of wind and solar power simultaneously. Under the policy,

Land acquisition for the 200 MW wind-cum-solar hybrid power project at Ramagiri town in the district is on the verge of completion, according to National Renewable Energy

Development

Corporation

district

ujarat govt announces hybrid power policy

manager

Kodandarama Murthy.

A committee constituted by Joint Collector Dilly Rao with NREDCAP and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) would look into the land compensation issues.

The project will be spread in 1,000-acre land located in Ramagiri and Kanaganipalle mandals. Already, 750 acres have been acquired in Ramagiri and another 250 acres in Kanaganapalle.

developers can set up wind power unit on the land meant for a solar power unit, or vice versa. The policy allows the establishment of wind-solar hybrid power producing units.

The objective of the new policy is the optimum utilization of land and grid land for clean energy.

The electricity produced from such hybrid wind and solar units will be exempted from electricity duty, allowing land use for dual purpose. The new policy has the provision for 50% exemption from electricity duty for selling electricity to a third party. For hybrid captive plants, total exemption will be given from cross-subsidy surcharge and additional surcharge, and 50% relief in wheeling charges and distribution loss.

The World Bank-aided project costs Rs 1,400 crore and is being implemented by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and the SECI. The unique project is another feather in the cap of Ramagiri town which hosted several

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ndia to bring forward 100,000 megawatts of new solar power

developers now have two years to commission the project from the date of signing the power purchase agreement

energy said the relaxation will allow developers more time to source equipment and help reduce the cost of setting projects up. “When timelines are relaxed, costs come down naturally,” the person said.

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hina’s new solar policy may delay India’s panel-making plans

The shift in policy next door is expected to cause a glut in global supplies and thus a fall in prices. With India’s high capital cost and corporate taxes, locally made supplies can’t compete.

India’s efforts to build out solar power equipment manufacturing capacity may be set back as China’s recent policy shift is expected to trigger a global equipment supply glut and price crash.

The Indian Government has signalled its intention to

An auction for building new capacity scheduled for

launch the largest tender for new solar power capacity in

September by state-owned Solar Energy Corp. of India

the world.

“can be delayed depending on global cues,” said Managing

area of 10 acres. The National Institute of Wind Energy and

Power Minister R K Singh told an event in New Delhi

Director J.N. Swain, referring to the impact of China’s

the Solar Energy Corporation of India will be overseeing

this week that the government plans to launch an

the solar and wind energy project, the largest ever in the

unprecedented bid for 100,000 megawatts (MW) of new

projects, undercutting demand in the world’s biggest

power town of Ramagiri mandal.

clean energy.

renewable power producer.

wind and solar power projects.

The power project is likely to be completed by 2019. The APTransco will set up power pooling stations (PPS) in an

“The biggest tender was floated in Spain. We brought out

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a single tender of 10,000 MW which would be opened in

ACME Group bagged another 75 MW Solar PV capacity

told the event, according to The Economic Times. One lakh

CME bags 75 MW solar project in UP at Rs 3.32/unit

for Parasan solar park in Uttar Pradesh under a tariff-based reverse auction conducted by state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) today.

ACME Group had won a 50 MW solar power project at Gujrai solar park in Uttar Pradesh in an auction conducted by the SECI yesterday.

July. Now we will bring out a bid of one lakh MW which would also include solar manufacturing and storage,” he represents 100,000 units.

The 100,000MW tender, or 100 gigawatts (GW), would far

in Uttar Pradesh. Today ACME bid for 75 MW at Parasan solar park in Jalaun District of Uttar Pradesh and won it at a tariff of Rs 3.32/unit. The second best tariff offered was

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MRC TO PROCURE 99 MW SOLAR POWER FROM MP

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is all set to procure 99 Megawatts renewable power supply from the Rewa Ultra Mega solar project in Madhya Pradesh.

exceed anything that has ever been constructed, although

There would be a huge savings to the Delhi Metro due to

the minister didn’t provide exact timings for the project.

the 99MW as per unit cost of power will reduce from over

Saudi Arabia has announced similar plans to build a $200 billion solar project, with the first phase coming in at 7.2GW.

Rs 4.50 to Rs 3.30.

In 2017, the DMRC signed a power purchase agreement with Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company to

“The SECI had invited solar tenders with cumulative capacity of 275 MW to be executed at multiple solar parks

decision last week to withdraw some state support for

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onference of States Power Ministers to be held at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

get 24 per cent of the electricity generated from 750 Mega Watt Rewa Ultra Mega Power Project. The prestigious solar park will start supplying power to the DMRC from October.

Currently, the DMRC has 23 MW of solar powers that has

3.34/unit,” a company statement said.

A conference of Ministers for Power, New & Renewable

been produced by on its own by setting up solar plants and

ACME Solar is an independent power producer which

Energy of States & Union Territories will be held on 3rd July

panels in the rooftops of the station, buildings, residential

constructs, owns and operates solar power plants in India.

at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

colonies and depots.

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International News

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irst Solar, Inc. to Announce Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results on July 26, 2018

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merican Airlines switches away from plastic straws to cut waste

First Solar will report financial results for the second

The world’s largest airline is ditching plastic straws in

quarter ended June 30, 2018, after the market closes

favour of more sustainable alternatives.

on Thursday, July 26, 2018. The Company will hold its

American Airlines, which flies around 200 million

quarterly conference call to discuss these results and

passengers a year, will from this month eliminate the use

updated outlook for 2018 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Investors may

of plastic straws on all planes and within its lounges.

access a live webcast of this conference call by visiting

Biodegradable straws and bamboo stir sticks will be used

investor.firstsolar.com.

instead, which the airline estimates will remove 71,000

An audio replay of the conference call will be available

pounds of plastic each year. Further commitments to move

approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The audio replay will remain available until Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be accessed by dialing 888203-1112 if you are calling from within the United States or 719-457-0820 if you are calling from outside the United States and entering the replay pass code 6703587. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Investors section of the Company’s website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and remain available for approximately 90 calendar days.

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to more sustainable cutlery will also be made, although precise details weren’t made.

“We’re very excited and proud to share this initiative with our team members and customers,” said Jill Surdek, Vice President, Flight Service. “We’re cognizant of our impact on the environment and we remain committed to doing our part to sustain the planet for future generations of travelers.”

Comments on Mixed Trade SEIA Case Recommendation

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eading corporate buyers & clean energy suppliers join forces to unlock huge untapped renewable energy sourcing opportunities in Europe The companies were announced today at the official launch of the Platform during the EU Sustainable Energy Week. These major corporate energy users and supply side companies were highlighting the growing demand for clean energy and the need for clear and enabling policy frameworks.

“As the world’s largest corporate buyer of renewable energy, we are excited to support the RE-Source platform to accelerate the growth of renewables in Europe.” – Marc Oman, Senior Lead, Energy and Infrastructure, Google.

The RE-Source Platform aims to raise awareness and accelerate

renewable

investments

and

corporate

renewable Power Purchase Agreements in Europe. Several deals have been signed in Europe in recent years, providing major corporate buyers with reliable and competitivelypriced power, but the potential for more is huge. In 2017 more than 1 GW of PPA deals were signed in Europe and therefore the phenomenon is growing.

K raises over £4bn to tackle climate change in developing countries

Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO of the Solar

(ITC) announced a split remedy recommendation for the

anadian Solar launches the C next generation solar modules at Intersolar Europe

Over the past seven years £3.3 billion of public money

Section 201 trade case

Canadian Solar’sBiKu modules are at the forefront of high

“The commissioners clearly took a thoughtful approach

efficiency dual-cell bifacial modules in the industry. Its poly

has been spent on supporting climate adaptation and mitigation in developing nations. A further $910 million was mobilised from private sources.

Energy Industries Association (SEIA), issued the following statement after the U.S. International Trade Commission

to their recommendations and it’s worth noting that in no case did a commissioner recommend anything close to

The money is channelled through the International Climate

what the petitioners asked for. That being said, proposed

Finance (ICF) programme and has gone into a variety of

tariffs would be intensely harmful to our industry.

projects which have helped an estimated 47 million withstand the impacts of climate change. 590 megawatts of clean energy has been installed which has helped improve electricity access to 17 million people.

These initiatives also avoided an estimated 10.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

While we will have to spend more time evaluating the

HiKu poly modules are developed specially for utility market with power output exceeding 400 W. This product

“We remain committed to working with all parties to

uses the latest high efficiency cell technology, coupled with

find a solution that supports domestic cell and panel manufacturing without cratering demand for American-

government.

and we will continue to work with our broad coalition of

climate, people and ecosystem services.”

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erano Capital wins large portion of Argentina’s solar tender to deliver 100 MW project

solution with the launch of larger-capacity three-phase

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RG Systems and Lasser Eólica Partner to Offer Lattice Tower Solutions in Europe, North Africa and Middle East

U.S.-based NRG Systems announced today that Lasser

a large chunk of the Chilean energy auction just 2 weeks

and maintains met tower systems across Europe, North

ago.

Africa, and the Middle East.

deliver power on a must-run basis. CAMMESA, Argentina’s national utility company, on the other hand, must integrate all of the plant’s output, or remit compensatory energy payments if it fails to do so.

“We are very pleased that our bid was able to meet the demanding qualification criteria of this second round of tender. We are taking pride in delivering a very sound

NRG Systems, which has been a major force in the wind resource assessment industry for over 35 years, is best known for its turnkey tubular tilt-up towers. However, as wind turbines continue to grow in scale, so does the demand for lattice tower systems, which excel at capturing hub height measurements greater than 80 meters, when tubular towers are not an option.

Thanks to NRG’s partnership with Lasser Eólica, the company is now able to offer complete lattice tower solutions to customers in regions where this method of wind resource assessment is preferred. These systems include a Lasser Eólica-manufactured lattice tower as well

project, in terms of economics and prices of course, but

as NRG sensors and data logger. Lasser will provide project

also mindful of the Argentinian people and economy

support from development through operation for lattice

with the inclusion of local content sourcing,” commented

tower systems, as well as installation support for NRG

Ramiro Marquesini, Country Manager of Verano Capital in

tubular tower systems in Europe, North Africa, and the

Argentina.

Middle East.

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SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. is expanding its commercial

dealers. Based in Spain, Lasser Eólica engineers, installs,

takes on the production risk, with its plant expected to

installation costs.

U.S. economy.”

for an approach that will not inflate the cost of electricity

completed the development of a project that was awarded

agreement. Within this PPA framework, the generator

reduce EPC cost of solar projects in terms of lower BOS and

for all Americans and harm workers, consumers and the

supporters to impress upon the administration the need

Eólica has joined its global network of service partners and

2019 and will run on a 20-year “take-or-pay” power purchase

Canadian Solar’sKu module technology. HiKu modules can

olarEdge presenting expanded commercial PV ofering for improved scalability and performance at Intersolar

This is yet another achievement for the company, who

The VeCaSo-1 100 MW project is set to be completed in

modules will certainly help you maintain IRR on your project

mechanisms, including our import license fee proposal.

with the Trump administration to arrive at such a solution

cutting issue with inextricable links between forests,

thus lowering LCOE dramatically. Canadian Solar’s BiKu

three commissioners’ reference to alternative funding

2021 with an extra £5.8 billion already commitment by the

global environmental issues. Climate change is a cross-

up to 30% with backside contributions under certain albedo,

investment, in case project PPA decreases year after year.

produced solar energy. We look forward to collaborating

continues to demonstrate our leadership in dealing with

front side and 75% bifaciality. It can increase energy yield by

details of each recommendation, we are encouraged by

This high level of investment will also continue out to

Environment Minister, Thérèse Coffey said: “The UK

bifacial modules have up to 365 W power output on the

inverters with synergy technology and a multi-input power optimizer in order to further improve the scalability and performance of its commercial PV systems.

SolarEdge is increasing the capacity of its three-phase inverters by 20% to now include 33kW and 40kW, while the range of its three-phase inverters with synergy technology will now reach up to 120kW. The new range of inverters adds a number of innovative features, including the introduction of SolarEdge’s new user interface for simplified installation and commissioning. In addition, its innovative PID Guard mitigates and prevents the build-up of PID and is fully embedded into the inverter.

Furthering the scalability of its commercial power optimizers, SolarEdge is launching its M1500 power optimizer that has two inputs and two MPPTs for connection of up to four panels. The new commercial power optimizer allows for up to 35% more power per string, with strings up to 20.5kW. “After introducing our commercial inverters with synergy technology, we are committed to continuing to enhance the features and capabilities of our solutions through innovation and engineering excellence,” stated Lior Handelsman, VP of Marketing and Product Strategy of SolarEdge, founder. “With the industry looking for solutions to improve the scalability and economics of commercial PV systems, while still benefiting from optimization and highresolution monitoring, we are leading the way with our new solutions that drive future progress.”

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In Conversation “We believe in constant innovation through customized solutions that are strong, durable and sustainable” What are your different products and service offerings in the Indian market?

MR. ajay rattan GM - Sales, Construction & Engineering, Lysaght Business, Tata BlueScope Steel

Tata BlueScope is a leading solar mounting systems engineering company. What is your growth strategy for the year 2019?

India is the 3rd largest solar market worldwide with an installed capacity of 8.8GW installed capacity and aiming to power 60 million homes with solar energy. An ambitious plan that can only be met with the right technology that optimises resources and is affordable. Design optimisation for better affordability and customisation has been our forte and we will continue with the same for it to be our key focus area. Our strategy is to have a strong presence within the ground and roof top solar mounting markets with brand ILIOS™. Ensuring our solutions are well within the reach for our customers, we will further improvise our deliveries through efficient supply chain management and by harnessing our strategically located manufacturing plants which are located in all the four regions of the country. Our experienced engineering team, fully backed

by Lysaght Technology (Australia),is all set to roll out innovative and optimum solutions for this sector.

Tata BlueScope Steel’s solar mounting solutions holds a significant presence in the solar value chain – module mounting structures. Our products and solutions span across design, supply and installation of roof and ground mounting applications through our brand ILIOS™. For Ground our structural members offered are in C and Hat sections. For Roof-Top Solutions, LYSAGHT® profiles are provided with special clips that are tested for the wind uplift forces for safe design factors. We also provide module mounting structures for RCC roofs. These high strength structures are manufactured from cold rolled Zn/ Al-Zn alloy coated steel and are available in various coating thicknesses and dimensions as per project requirements.

ILIOS™ offers a wide range of sectional dimensions and thicknesses; making it suitable for every requirement.

Our strong engineering support for design and detailing steered by experts offers customized design solutions for weight optimization and cost efficiency. We also have a dedicated pool of preferred builders/ contractors who take up turnkey projects. Our solutions also contribute to the green credentials as they are 100% recyclable. Our service offerings differentiates us from the other suppliers such as safety in construction which is a global benchmark.

Solar project should be designed for a life of 25 years. What quality parameters should mounting structures adhere to sustain over this period?

First and foremost any given solar project starts with an optimum design. With increased cost pressures, it is critical to consider the longevity of the project as a whole. Our design capabilities assure longer project life.

The next critical aspect is the kind of material chosen considering the geographical conditions of the solar plant.

Our customized mounting structures are manufactured from cold rolled Zn-Al/Zn coated steel and offers high corrosion resistance, aptly suitable for extreme weather conditions. The alloy coated steel ensures longer life and its high strength provides better load carrying capacity with longer spans. This is extremely critical for solar fields which are often subject to extreme weather conditions and directly exposed to harsh environments.

Quality in Project delivery which is on site, is also another aspect which one needs to be considered for a long term performance. Our dedicated specialists, project execution capabilities and best-in-class contractors are all well equipped for delivering excellence. Manufacturing facilities, equipment and processes ensure quality to its core. As a result of the best practices being followed by us, we have till date not received a single claim from any of our customers in the 1.20GW of MMS (module mounting structure) we have partnered & supplied.

Any top few distinguishing factors you would give to a project developer in India while choosing your products/ services for its Solar PV plant?

Tata BlueScope Steel’s trust cascades further, down in its Best-In-Class solutions. We are one stop shop for your roof top and ground mounting solutions. Our on-time delivery promise ensures agility. Consistency in quality with “Zero” rejections further propels our confidence in offering customer centric solutions. Our reach in terms of coverage spans across India, with notable green field projects.

Anything else you would like to add for our readers.

At Tata BlueScope Steel, we believe in constant innovation through customized solutions that are strong, durable and sustainable. Our tried and tested solutions are a result of long term investment in R&D and Lab Tests.

“Our state of the art technology range of Hybrid SOLAR PV INVERTERS are unique in terms of performance” � Mining | Communications & Automation solutions for Metals & Mining,

Mr. Yashwant K Jain CEO, OORJA ON MOVE INFRA PVT. LTD

Let’s begin with a glimpse of your company’s presence and offerings in India?

Our company “Oorja on Move”, HQ at Gurgram, India is pioneer in Engineered Green Energy Solutions such as � Solar & Renewable Energy | Green Energy Generation and Storage Solutions, � Manufacturer of Solar Inverters (On-Grid, Off-Grid, Hybrid), Li-I Battery & Grid storage solutions, � Supplier of all major products for rooftop projects (Solar PV Inverters, Cables, Junction Boxes, Remote Monitoring Solutions, Lightning arrestors, earthing, Li-I batteries….), � “All in one Box – Solar Kit” for small Rooftop Solar Projects requirements � Provide Turnkey EPC for Solar Rooftop projects. � Smart City & Infrastructure| Energy & Automation Engineered Solution provider � Energy & Automation Engineered Solution provider to Banks, Defense, Smart City, Telecom, Railway, E-vehicles, Mining etc. � EV Charging Infrastructure � Energy Storage Solutions for Mobility � Telecom | Telecom Infrastructure & FTTH (Optical fiber Networking) solutions etc.

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What have been some of the recent developments at your organisation?

We are expanding our operations in Renewables such as launching our Solar Inverters (On-Grid, Off-Grid, Hybrid & Grid storage solutions and “All in one Box – Solar Kit” for small Rooftop Solar Projects requirements.

how he is been fed and what is that status of his backups.

This has proven track record of satisfied customers globally and very much appreciated in India also.

What are your growth plans for the Indian market? What are the milestones you wish to achieve by the end of this fiscal?

We are now supplier of all major products for rooftop projects (Solar PV Inverters, Cables, Junction Boxes, Remote Monitoring Solutions, Lightning arrestors, earthing, Li-I batteries….) In addition to our EPC & I&C activities.

We are now working on to reach out to all through our distribution network and got encouraging response. We plan to have our network serving clients in most major towns and thus in active discussions with distribution & channel partners.

We are working on opportunities for international collaboration and growing together.

For institutional and projects requirements, we have dedicated Sales & Engineering team.

We are regularly training the technicians & Engineers and skilling them to work on Solar System installations.

Very soon we will be able to organize these trainings open to all interested on a regular basis.

We are also supporting development of “Collaborative Knowledge sharing Portal – www.e4utech.com” which will help the professionals to engage, share the knowledge and grow together.

Tell us a bit about the recent technology advancements in your sector?

Most Indian cities has power-cuts and use of backup DGs is a big problem. We are now providing Uninterrupted Energy solutions to Residential and consumers (2, 3 & 5 kW), which is capable to work together with SOLAR, GRID & Battery storage (Conventional & Lithium Ion) and thus feed continuously, efficiently, silently (no noise) at an affordable cost.

Our state of the art technology range of Hybrid Inverters for the purpose are unique in terms of performance. They have big Clear pictorial display of instantaneous value and directions of power flow for anyone to understand

What have been the latest trends in demand for your products & services in India? Where do you see the next demand growth coming from?

We have grown steadily on our own strengths, passion and quality delivery on promises. The leadership is professionals of more than 20 years’ experience in senior management in large corporates blended with young dynamic team. We are seeing very good demand to our solutions from quality energy deprived cities of India.

Anything else you would like to add for our readers.

We are expanding and welcome collaborations with likeminded organizations, individuals to drive further our passion. We welcome enquiries for Solar PV projects, products purchase or services requirements. Its our continuous endeavor to provide solutions on engineering challenges and serve the nation.

Solar Quarter • July 2018 10

Solar PV Module Manufacturer

Winner of Rising Star Solar Module Company of The Year Utility Scale 2018 Rising Star Solar Module Company of The Year Utility Scale 2017 Mission Energy Awards 2017 Pre & Post Test for defect

Low Light

Insolation Energy Pvt. Ltd.

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 11

Industry Insights A Legal and Commercial Checklist for Bankable Solar EPC Contracts: A Developer’s Guide Introduction Large-scale solar development is big business, and solar EPC Contracts are big business by association. In Q2 2017, the U.S. solar market installed 2,387 MWdc, an 8% increase year-over-year, and the largest second quarter everi. Utility PV accounted for 58% of those installations, making that the seventh consecutive quarter that the utility-scale space

The Checklist below addresses each of the items listed

large-scale solar project, lenders and investors will require

above from both a legal and a commercial perspective by

a risk-mitigating mechanism in place to ensure that the

grouping them into five fundamental risk categories and

facility will perform in line with how it was presented for

providing a checklist of items and questions to ask internally

investment. As such, EPC Contracts contain performance

when negotiating the EPC Contract.

guarantees (one of the distinguishing characteristics of

Price Risk

added more than 1 GWdc. In today’s solar market, there is

Lenders and investors will not generally take construction

significant competition among project developers in search

cost risk and will instead require that the EPC Contract be

of debt lending and equity investment partners. This means

a fixed price lump sum turnkey contract. As such, a well-

that in order to develop a competitive edge, developers

constructed EPC Contract should be fixed price, with only

need to prepare a solar project with the strongest level

limited, customary exclusions that permit price increases. A

of guaranteed revenue in order to increase the likelihood

few of the developer’s tools for mitigating price risk are:

of selling the project to such potential debt and equity

� Change Orders: The EPC Contract should limit the

companies. Given that the majority of a solar project’s capital expenditure is EPC costs (approximately 70%-90%), the cornerstone of any bankable solar project is a properly negotiated EPC Contract. As such, developers must offer lenders and investment partners bankable EPC Contracts that centralize the responsibility for meeting many of the perceived challenges associated with a big solar project and make the risk profile of the entire solar project more attractive to such potential partners. This article identifies the five fundamental risks facing any project developer in an EPC Contract and lays out an easy to use checklist of legal and commercial tools to mitigate them and to ensure the developer is able to present debt lenders and equity investors with the most bankable EPC Contract possible one that is the most likely to deliver a well-performing solar project on time and on budget.

Bankability A “bankable” EPC Contract is an agreement between the EPC contractor and the developer that establishes a risk allocation profile for the construction of a project that satisfies the requirements of lender or equity provider. As discussed below, lenders and equity investors are primarily concerned with whether or not the EPC contractor can claim additional costs or extensions of time under the EPC Contract.

Additionally, they are concerned with the EPC Contractor’s ability to perform its obligations under the EPC Contract and the security provided by the EPC contractor or its parent company to secure its performance. These elements should be top of mind for every developer because, the further the terms of the EPC Contract are from the requirements of the lenders or investors, the greater amount of equity support the developer will have to provide for its project.

In assessing the bankability of an EPC Contract, lenders and investors will look at a range of factors and assess a contract as a whole. Generally speaking they will require the following: � Fixed completion price; � Restrictions on the ability of the EPC contractor to claim extensions of time and additional cost; Output and performance guarantees;

grounds on which the EPC contractor can ask for additional compensation to a very narrow, well-defined subset of excusable events and a very clear change order process for addressing such events. In addition, the parties may negotiate whether certain events like force majeure or change in law, which are commonly

EPC Contracts) that place the EPC contractor “on the hook” for performance liquidated damages if the EPC contractor fails to meet the performance guarantees. The end result is that, upon completion of the project, the EPC contractor is responsible to deliver a facility that actually meets all preagreed performance criteria by a specified date. A few of the developer’s tools for mitigating performance risk are: � Minimum Guaranteed Capacity: The EPC contractor should incur delay liquidated damages in the event the project fails to meet the minimum guaranteed capacity (and which should be a condition to substantial completion) by a date certain. The minimum guaranteed capacity should be set at the level at which the project must operate to support the developer’s capacity requirements under the Power Purchase Agreement.

accepted excusable events, warrant an adjustment to

� Guaranteed Capacity: The EPC contractor should also

the contract price or only an extension in the completion

incur liquidated damages for any failure to achieve the

schedule.

guaranteed capacity for the project. The guaranteed

� Invoice Approval Process: The EPC Contract should clearly define the procedural and documentation requirements with which the EPC contractor must comply when submitting its requests for payment. Minimum criteria should include supporting documentation for all invoicing and an adequate period allowed for developer

capacity should be set at the level higher than the minimum guaranteed capacity and at a level at which the project must operate to support the developer’s capacity requirements under the Power Purchase Agreement, its debt repayment obligations and revenues forecasted in the developer’s model.

to review invoices before being obligated to make payment. � Right to Dispute in Good Faith: The EPC Contract should allow for the developer to dispute those invoices or items in an invoice that it believes are inaccurate or not due and owing. In order for both parties to keep the project moving, it makes sense for the developer to be obligated to make full payment for those undisputed items in the invoice, but to withhold payment on the disputed portions until the parties can agree on such items or such items are resolved via the EPC Contract’s dispute resolution mechanism.

Commercially, developers can protect themselves from price

In today’s solar market, there is significant competition among project developers in search of debt lending and equity investment

increases by ensuring that the work they perform on their

partners. This means

end, such as subsurface investigations, is done thoroughly.

that in order to

In addition, developers should also have a firm grasp of the local labor and transportation issues that may face the project. � Subsurface Investigations: Subsurface soil conditions

develop a competitive edge

are one of the larger design and cost risks associated with large-scale solar projects. Developers can keep risk premiums to a minimum by doing a professional and thorough soils investigation, including driven pile load testing. � Extensive Knowledge of Local Labor and Transportation:

A “bankable” EPC

Large-scale solar projects require significant man-hours

Contract is an

� Limited to no technology risk;

to fabricate and install. To keep costs and risks to a

� Fixed completion date;

minimum, the EPC contractor needs to have a thorough

agreement between

� Liquidated damages for both delay and performance; � Security and guarantees from the EPC contractor (or its parent company); and � Single point of responsibility resting with the EPC contractor.

understanding of the local labor rates and rules.

the EPC contractor

Additionally, the EPC contractor should have experience

and the developer

mobilizing large labor forces to remote areas, including

that establishes a risk

a plan for how to deal with transportation, housing and labor rates to get the crews to the site.

allocation profile for the construction of a

At a minimum, an EPC Contract delivers each of the

Performance Risk

requirements listed above, making it the predominant

At the most fundamental level, a project’s revenue will be

form of construction contract used on large-scale project-

earned by the operation and performance of the facility.

the requirements

financed infrastructure projects. A properly negotiated

Therefore, it is imperative that lenders and investors are

of lender or equity

EPC Contract, however, provides both the aforementioned

entirely satisfied with the technical risk of the project and

requirements as well as incentives and management tools

that the facility will perform properly in terms of reliability,

provider.

for the developer to manage the EPC contractor over the

efficiency and output. In order to get comfortable with

course of the construction of the project.

the performance risk of the project in order to finance a

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project that satisfies

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 13

� Performance Liquidated Damages: In a perfect world,

� Contractor Obligations: Since the permits for the project

completion. In each of these cases, if the EPC contractor

liquidated damages would cover the developer’s

also typically contain a number of conditions to be

fails to achieve any guaranteed milestone date, the EPC

lost revenue and inability to meet its debt payment

met prior to construction, the EPC contractor should

contractor is obligated to pay the developer liquidated

obligations as a result of such failure. In practice,

be directly responsible for satisfying any such permit

damages for each day of delay until such milestone is

however, the EPC contractor will often limit its liability

conditions.

achieved.

under the EPC Contract to a certain percentage of the

� Contractor Permits: Aside from the permits required

� Delay Liquidated Damages: From the developer’s

for the project, the construction of the project will

perspective, it will be incurring delay damages under

also require the EPC contractor to have and maintain

the Power Purchase Agreement, interest under any

Commercially, the developer can make sure that the EPC

certain permits in its own name. The EPC contractor

financings during the construction period and certain

contractor takes certain steps to ensure that the system

should be responsible for all permits applicable to

other fixed costs in the event of a construction delay. The

performs to its highest potential.

the EPC contractor’s tools, equipment, personnel and

developer is also losing revenue from the sale of power

operations.

for every day the project is delayed. The EPC Contract

EPC Contract price, and the developer will bear the risk of any shortfalls.

� Equipment Procurement: The EPC contractor should be procuring Tier 1 equipment and double-checking that

Commercially, choosing a well-known EPC contractor that

the manufacturers are in good financial standing. Often

has strong relationships within your area of construction

times, switching out equipment for a cheaper model

can help mitigate approval and meet constrained deadlines.

results in incompatibility with other parts of the overall

� Relationships with the Utility and Others: Constructing

system. Additionally, foreign parts will need to undergo a certification process before being accepted by wiring and electrical inspectors. Throughout the construction process, the developer should verify that the equipment models being procured by the EPC contractor are in line with the construction drawings.

a large-scale solar project involves meeting numerous deadlines, whether SRECs, or COD and often times both the developer and the EPC contractor can be thrown off track to meeting them. When tweaks and adjustments are required, having a positive rapport with the utility, local wiring inspector, building inspector and engineer

� Inventory: Every EPC Contract should include a provision

of record can help ensure those deadlines are met. That

dedicated to the EPC contractor’s obligation to provide

way you can expedite the turnaround time of any fixes

an inventory of spare parts. It is extremely beneficial for

and get back on track to COD.

the developer to have the EPC contractor order extra equipment so that there are spare modules, inverters,

Completion Risk

bushing wells, buss bars, fuses, fuse holders, insulators,

In order to protect its own interests and to ensure it will

clamps quickly and easily accessible.

a Power Purchase Agreement will require that the project

Some EPC Contracts provide the installation labor for

complete construction by a certain outside date. In the event

any damaged equipment while others only serve as a

the project fails to be constructed by the outside date, the

pass-through entity for filing a manufacturer’s claim.

offtaker will enforce this deadline by requiring the developer to pay delay liquidated damages. If the delay in completion

The construction of a large-scale solar plant requires a myriad of permits and approvals from governmental authorities and regulatory bodies, including land use and zoning, building permits, federal and state authorizations, and environmental permits. The EPC contractor should remain responsible for obtaining and maintaining the vast majority, if not all, of all such required permits and approvals. The EPC contractor should be required to obtain not only those permits and approvals in its own name but also those needed in the name of the project company. A few of the developer’s tools for mitigating permitting and approvals risk are:

is long enough, however, the offtaker will typically have the right to terminate the Power Purchase Agreement at some point. While lenders and investors are concerned with liquidated damages under a Power Purchase Agreement to a certain extent, their primary concern with a delay in construction is that it does not result in the Power Purchase Agreement being terminated and the project losing its source of revenue entirely. A few of the developer’s tools for mitigating completion risk are: � Guaranteed Milestones: In every EPC Contract, the parties will negotiate the substantial completion date,

costs for each day that it is delayed in meeting the guaranteed milestone. � Termination: The EPC Contract should also state that if the EPC contractor is too delayed, and misses the outside date, the developer has the right to declare a default and terminate the EPC Contract. A more protective approach is to establish a right for the developer to declare a default and terminate the EPC Contract prior to the outside date if the EPC contractor could reasonably be expected to miss an outside date.

In this second approach, the developer does not have to wait for the actual Power Purchase Agreement outside date to be missed and for the fallout to come from the

A properly negotiated EPC Contract, however, provides both the aforementioned requirements as well as incentives and management tools for the developer

the most important project milestone. The substantial completion date is the date the solar plant is complete and functional (capable of generating electricity) except

� Project Permits: While the permits for the project are

for punch list items and interconnection. In many EPC

obtained in the project company’s name, the EPC

Contracts, the developer will also negotiate a series

contractor is typically responsible for applying for

of interim milestones that are on the critical path

and pursuing all applicable permits necessary for

to achieving substantial completion in the hopes of

the construction of the project (with the developer’s

keeping the contractor’s “feet to the fire” each step of

cooperation).

the way as opposed to simply waiting for the project come together for one critical milestone at substantial

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pay liquidated damages in an amount equal to all such

receive the supply of power as agreed, the offtaker under

� Warranty: Understand your EPC contractor’s warranty.

Permitting and Approvals Risk

should ensure that the EPC contractor is obligated to

to manage the EPC contractor over the course of the construction of the project.

Solar Quarter • July 2018 14

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Solar Quarter • March 2018 21

Solar Quarter • July 2018 15

default under the Power Purchase Agreement. Instead,

stipulate a variety of tests that can often be overlooked

performance bond. The performance bond provides

while not desirable, the developer can terminate the

by the developer. Some utilities require a single-phase

a guarantee that the bonded company, the EPC

EPC Contract prior to any default under the Power

islanding test, revenue meter testing for accuracy and

contractor, will perform its obligations in good faith.

Purchase Agreement, hire another contractor to take

functionality, etc. If a developer is interconnecting to

The EPC contractor’s failure to do so may trigger a

over the project, and hopefully salvage the project and

a municipal utility, the paperwork will be different in

the Power Purchase Agreement on an accelerated basis.

each municipality. The developer should make sure

requirement that the surety, the company who provided

Commercially, it is imperative to review the final completed

both it and the EPC contractor communicate with the

system before the substantial completion is declared in order to ensure that everything is squared away before the EPC contractor can leave the site. Additionally, the developer can hedge completion risk by not relying solely on the utility providing test power before the witness test and instead penciling in as many tests as possible before the witness test in order to guarantee a smooth process on the day of testing. � Third Party Audit: In order to get comfortable with the electrical, and technical details of the system, lenders and investors will want to hire a third-party to conduct an audit after the system achieves mechanical completion.

This third-party engineer will compile audit results in a non-conformance report from which the developer can direct the EPC contractor to make any corrections. � Test Before the Witness Test: A lot can be tested before the witness test. In fact, inverter commissioning and transformer commissioning will require some test power. There are examples of certain utilities who have recently stopped providing test power before a witness test for grid-related safety reasons. If this is the case, it is important that the EPC contractor have access to a back-up generator and a load bank at its disposal.

The EPC contractor should coordinate the engineer of record and the inverter technician to be on-site the day of inspections and the day of witness testing. This is a simple way to ensure that any questions or necessary fixes can be performed immediately. � Detailed Testing: Different off-takers will require different tests. The developer should make sure all necessary testing is properly identified as a condition for substantial completion in the EPC Contract, including: PV module flash test analyses; String I-V Curve Tests; Megger tests; Continuity tests; thermal scans of main components; DAS and monitoring system tests; reliability tests, etc. � Review

Interconnection

Requirements

Closely:

Interconnection agreements, including the footnotes,

local utility to verify the project has purchased the correct revenue meter, received any necessary account numbers, paid any down payments, etc. Often times, a local utility will require the installation of their own billing meters and check meters at the expense of the

the performance bond, is obligated to the developer for the financial loss incurred. A typical performance bond would ensure that the project was built to specification, within the contractual time allotted and for the agreed upon price.

Commercially, the developer will want to ensure that the

developer. These responsibilities will be outlined in the

EPC contractor is incentivized to perform.

Power Purchase Agreement, and should be passed on

� Offsets:

to the EPC contractor.

Credit Risk

Regardless

of

the

EPC

contractor’s

creditworthiness, the EPC Contract should allow the developer to offset any amounts that are owed by the EPC contractor to the developer against any amounts

While it is imperative to negotiate a well-defined contractual

owned by the developer to the EPC contractor. The

arrangement that clearly sets out the rights and obligations

offset is intended to protect the developer from sending

of each party, in practice, lenders and investors will be

additional cash out the door to the EPC contractor

concerned not only with the written terms of the EPC

while it is still waiting for the EPC contractor to make

Contract, but also the ability of the EPC Contractor to actually

payments to the developer under the EPC Contract

perform the terms of the EPC Contract. As a result, lenders

(delay liquidated damages owed by the EPC contractor

and investors will require an entity with an investment grade rating to guarantee both the construction of the project on time and the ultimate performance of the project. If the EPC contractor as counterparty to the EPC Contract is not itself creditworthy, credit support from another entity will be required. The EPC contractor’s credit support is provided in one or more of the following forms: � Parent Guarantee: In an EPC Contract, the parent company of the EPC contractor performing the work under the EPC Contract will typically provide a parent company guarantee to enhance the financial credibility of the subsidiary company and backstop the obligations

for missing a milestone, for example). � Retention:

Regardless

of

the

EPC

contractor’s

creditworthiness, the EPC Contract should provide for the developer to retain a percentage (typically between 5% and 10%) of an invoiced amount. This retention amount is deducted from the amount due to the EPC contractor and is retained by the developer to ensure that the EPC contractor completes the remainder of its obligations under the EPC Contract before the retention amount is released to the EPC contractor.

of the EPC contractor. In the event the subsidiary

Conclusion

performing the work cannot fulfill its obligations under

The cornerstone of any bankable solar project is a

the EPC Contract, the developer can look to such parent

properly negotiated EPC Contract. Ideally, the Checklist

company to “step into the shoes” of the non-performing

above provides solar project developers with a framework

subsidiary to either make payments in the event of a

for creating a bankable EPC Contract that will attract

financial guarantee or perform the work in the case of a performance guarantee.

lenders and equity investment partners by mitigating the top risks found in large-scale solar projects while also

� Performance Bond: In order to protect itself from non-

centralizing the responsibility for meeting many of the

performance by an EPC contractor with a less than

perceived challenges associated with a big solar project

acceptable credit rating, the developer may require a

with the EPC contractor.

Credits- © 2018 AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 16

Industry Insights Is your PV Remote Monitoring/SCADA System Functional?

Have you invested in a best in class Solar PV SCADA and now unable to monitor your PV Plant? You are not alone!

There are several Solar PV Plant owners repenting their decision on the choice of PV Monitoring system/SCADA. At Avi Solar Energy, our Analytics & Monitoring team studied and analysed over 1GW of Solar PV plants across India. Here is the summary of our analysis: For a Solar Plant Developer, getting the Inverter up and pumping power to the grid has been the focus when a new plant is built. SCADA is the last item in punch list, because even if it is not functional, the generation is still ON! Its only after couple of years after the plant is commissioned, when the O&M team reports issues at the site, plant owner realizes that monitoring is important to figure out the performance of the plant.

Here are some of the major issues with SCADA / Remote Monitoring systems that we have experienced in field

1. Leased line connections not working. � Most SCADA needs a high bandwidth internet connection like leased lines, which are very expensive to maintain.

4. No Service / Support engineers visit the plant

EagleSun SCADATM is one of the cost-effective solution to

ÂÂ Many leading SCADA suppliers provide you telephonic support. But to resolve major issues you need to depute service engineers at these sites which are usually in remote areas.

equally important. Avi Solar team being the leading provider

for the EagleSun SCADATM across India.

6. No String Level Monitoring � Data collection is limited to Inverter monitoring only.

String level faults cannot be detected.

The good news is that, there are retrofit solutions available which can replenish your existing SCADA and bring the plant data to your remote monitoring centre. IoT being the buzz word today, there are several options to get the data from your plant to the cloud in a cost-effective manner. There are several IoT platforms which can monitor data from PV plants. EagleSun SCADATM is one such platform exclusively developed for Solar PV Plants.

� Most traditional SCADA systems were interconnected using Kilometres of Fibre Optic / Copper cables, which have been damaged by unskilled labourers at the plant.

The history of your plant will not only give insight into the performance parameters, it can also help you a great deal in forecasting & scheduling.

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team of engineers and technicians can provide local support

ÂÂ Many plants have a monitoring system at the control room, which means you are at the mercy of site engineer.

Data accuracy and relevance could be at stake if the plant can’t be monitored remotely.

3. Cables connecting the SCADA systems are damaged.

� Many suppliers sold their system at low prices initially, but owners didn’t know that you need to pay a heavy premium every year.

of O&M services for Solar PV assets, with their professional

5. SCADA is limited to control room only.

As the PV plant gets older, one needs to watch for performance degradations, losses due to aging of plant BOS like connectors, cables and terminations. Your SCADA needs to be operational and you need to have the plant data. It is strongly recommended that you monitor all the equipment, mainly the Inverter, Weather Station, String Combiner Box, Transformers, VCB and Energy Meters. If cost concerns exist for string-level monitoring, Zonal level monitoring solution can be considered.

2. Developers have not renewed the AMC with SCADA supplier

retrofit your remote monitoring system. Service support is

Solar Quarter • July 2018 17

Industry Insights STATUS OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION: A MIXED PICTURE The energy transition is underpinned by the rapid decline

The integration of renewable power in power systems also

Electrification opens up the prospect of decarbonised road

of renewable energy costs. Additions to renewable power

broke records in 2017. Remarkably, solar and wind power

transport. In 2017, an estimated 1.2 million new electric

capacity are exceeding fossil fuel generation additions

provided over half of the power produced in the eastern

vehicles were sold globally (around 1.5% of all car sales), a

by a widening margin. In 2017 the sector added 167 GW

region of Germany. In that region, the utility 50Hertz has

record level (Spiegel, 2018). China passed the United States

of renewable energy capacity globally, a robust growth

demonstrated the economic and technical feasibility of

to become the largest market. Sales of electric vehicles have

of 8.3% over the previous year and a continuation of

running power systems reliably with a high share of variable

grown rapidly in the last five years at a compound annual

previous growth rates since 2010 averaging 8-9% per year.

renewables (50Hertz, n.d.). Many jurisdictions around the

growth rate of 52%. Over one billion electric vehicles could

For the sixth successive year, the net additional power

world deployed higher levels of renewable power than

be on the road by 2050 if the world starts soon on the path

generation capacity of renewable sources exceeded that of conventional sources. In 2017, 94 GW were added by solar PV and 47 GW by wind power (including 4 GW of offshore wind) (IRENA, 2018a). Renewable power generation accounted for an estimated quarter of total global power generation in 2017, a record.

At the same time, costs, including the costs of solar PV and wind, continue to fall. Lower costs open the prospect of electricity supplies dominated by renewables, but also herald a shift to clean renewable energy for all kinds of uses.

The decline in costs of some new emerging technologies are also surprising. In 2017, offshore wind projects were

they ever had before, for days, weeks or months. There is

to decarbonisation detailed in this report.

ample evidence by now that power systems dominated

The building sector consumes proportionately more

by renewables can work and be an important asset,

electricity than other end-use sectors. Fossil fuels are mainly

underpinning economic growth.

used for heating and cooking. Electrification for cooking

These recent trends show clearly that growth in renewable power is accelerating. At the same time, current growth rates are insufficient to achieve the level of decarbonisation required by 2050. Significant additional electrification of heating, transport and other energy services will be required, and growth in renewable power must continue to accelerate to make this possible.

and modern cookstoves are important alternatives for hundreds of millions of people who cook using traditional biomass. In terms of heating, heat-pump deployment achieved a new record in 2017. Building codes are aiming for near-zero or even energy positive buildings in the near future, for example in Japan. However, the slow rate at which the energy efficiency in the sector is improving, due in part to the low building renovation rates of just 1% per

offered at market prices without requiring subsidy for the

Outside the power sector, progress is lagging. Electricity

year of the existing stock, remains a major issue. A three-

first time, and concentrated solar power including thermal

accounts for 20% of the total final energy consumption

fold increase in the renovation rate is necessary.

storage was being offered at less than 10 US cents per

for transport, heat and other energy services (broadly

The most challenging sector is industry. The high energy

kilowatt-hour (kWh) (IRENA, 2018c).

defined as the end-use sectors of building, industry and

demands of certain energy intensive industries, the high

Auction results and continued technical innovations

transport). Around 80% is obtained from other sources,

carbon content of certain products, and the high emissions

suggest that costs will fall further in the future. Solar PV

notably fossil fuels and direct use of renewable thermal

of certain processes make innovative solutions and

costs are expected to halve again by 2020 (relative to 2015-

energy or fuels. In the end-use sectors, energy efficiency

lifecycle thinking necessary. Heavy industry as a whole has

2016). Between early 2017 and early 2018, global weighted

is critical, but renewable sources such as solar thermal and

advanced far in increasing its use of renewables in 2017

average costs for onshore wind and solar PV stood at USD

geothermal energy, and bioenergy, can play an important

or in the immediately preceding years; but electrification

6 cents and USD 10 cents per kWh, respectively (IRENA,

role. Furthermore, increasing the share of electricity, and

and the development of innovative technological solutions

2018c). Recent auction results suggest that some future

the share of renewables in electricity supply, will raise the

for biochemical and renewable hydrogen feedstock (for

projects will significantly undercut these averages.

share of renewables in end-use sectors.

example, for primary steel making) continue apace.

Credits - ŠIRENA 2018

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 18

Infographics E XECUTIVE SUMMARY

global landscape of renewable energy finance 2015/2016 GLOBAL LANDSCAPE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE 2015/2016 Sources and Intermediaries Instruments What types of investors are the sources of finance?

Public sources Governments (4.4) Climate funds (1.0)

5.4

What types of instruments are used?

Grant 1.0

Technology

Where is finance flowing?

Which technolo gies are funded?

Public 10.7

No region mapping 1.4

Hydropower

Transregional 6.8

Marine <0.1

Latin America and the Caribbean 13.7

0.7 Bilateral (2.7) National (9.0) Multilateral (8.6)

Public-Private

State Owned Enterprises (10.0) Institutional investors (2.2) PE, VC, infra. funds (1.4) Commercial Financial Institutions (62.2)

Africa (0.2) America (<0.1) Asia (0.9) Pacific (<0.1)

2.0

Geothermal 2.4 Other 10.5

Concessional debt 5.8

3.2

Biomass

South Asia 14.4

6.3

Unknown Equity

4.8

Africa and Middle East MENA (4.0) 8.6 Sub-Saharan (4.6) Western Europe

128.1

-

4.4

Central Asia and Eastern Europe

Private Financial Intermediaries 75.8

Region

Are recipients of finance public, private, or both?

Unknown

Public Financial Intermediaries 20.3

Recipients

60.6

Biofuels 0.9 Solar thermal incl. CSP 18.3 Wind

Private OECD Private sources

81.0 Corporate Actors (36.7)

Asia (25.3) Oceania (3.6)

119.6

Onshore (92.2)

Americas (52.1)

Debt

Households (31.0)

279.1

195.1

East Asia and Pacific

161.0 Project developers (127.5)

106.9

Solar PV

134.6

15

Credits- © Irena 2018

AARVI ENCON LIMITED ISO9001-2008 Company

ENGINEERING

MANPOWER

+

30

Years

OUTSOURCING

Deputation of Technical Manpower · Project Management · Construction Supervision · Inspection · Testing and Commissioning · Operation & Maintenance

Aarvi Encon Limited

Formerly known as Aarvi Encon Private Limited B1-603, Innova, Marathon NextGen, G.K.Road, Opp. Peninsula Park, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai - 400013. INDIA Tel.: 022-4049 9999, Fax: 022-4049 9998 E Mail: info@aarviencon.com, WWW. aarviencon.com Contact person: Mr. Mahesh Repal, Mobile No. : 9757024238

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 19

Industry Insights GLOBAL LANDSCAPE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE 2015/2016 The landscape of renewable energy finance has evolved rapidly. Since 2012, renewable power capacity installations have exceeded non-renewables by a rising margin, representing about 60% of all new power-generating capacity added worldwide in 2016 (IRENA, 2017a).

Investment reached a comparable milestone in 2015, when renewable power technologies for the first time attracted more finance than non-renewable power technologies (Buchner et al., 2017), a trend that has continued subsequently.

This report analyses the renewable energy finance landscape. It outlines key trends globally in 2013-2016, regionally and by technology, examines the differing roles and approaches of private and public finance, highlights the important role of risk mitigation instruments, and provides an outlook for renewable energy finance in 2018 and beyond.

EMERGING TRENDS Global overview � Global annual investment in renewable energy rose steadily in 2013-2015, peaking at USD 330 billion in 2015 before falling to USD 263 billion in 2016. � While annual investment declined in 2016, capacity additions in the same year were up from 2015. This is partially due to declining costs and partially to the time lag between financial closure (i.e., the time of investment) and the completion of construction, after which an installation becomes operational. � Cost declines for key technologies have influenced finance flows. Lower solar and wind power costs, in particular, reduced the total value of renewable energy investment in 2015 and 2016, as each dollar of investment financed more capacity than in previous years.

Investment by region � The East Asia-Pacific region was the dominant

CONTRASTING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT

destination for renewable energy investment, seeing

� Direct public investment has typically constituted a small

rapid growth from USD 64 billion in 2013 to USD 114

share of total renewable energy finance, fluctuating

billion in 2015, before a dip to USD 88 billion in 2016.

between 12% and 16% in 2013-2015, and dipping to

China was the main driver, with investment peaking in

8% in 2016. The bulk of renewable energy investment

2015 in response to policy support, before incentives

– more than 90% in 2016 – is financed from private

� Policy changes contributed significantly to global

were scaled back in 2016. Investment in OECD Asia

sources.

investment trends. The peak in 2015 was partially driven

(consisting of Japan, Israel and the Republic of Korea)

by a rush to complete projects before an expected fall in

grew from USD 32 billion in 2013 to USD 37 billion in

policy support in key markets. Examples included cuts in

2014, then declined sharply in 2016 as Japan reduced

feed-in-tariffs in China, Germany, Japan and the UK.

solar PV feed-in tariffs.

Technology trends � Investment in solar power (both photovoltaic, or PV, and thermal) and wind power (both onshore and offshore) dominated spending in the sector globally. Investment in these technologies rose from 82% of total renewable energy finance in 2013 to 93% in 2016. � Offshore wind investment saw an almost fourfold increase in the same period, with its share of total wind investment rising steadily from 10% in 2013 to 25% in 2016. Offshore wind kept growing in absolute terms in 2016 while investment in other technologies declined. � Investment in biomass-fired power peaked at USD 9 billion in 2014, before trending downwards to USD 5 billion in 2016. � Investment in geothermal power was stable, averaging USD 2 billion per year over 2013-2016. � Investment in biofuels averaged USD 1.7 billion per year in 2013-2015, but fell by 84% to USD 250 million in 2016. � Investment in hydropower fell steadily as fewer large projects were financed. Yet this is not necessarily an ongoing global trend, as 2013-2014 investment levels reflected large hydropower projects in Brazil that may prove to be outliers.

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� Western Europe and the Latin America-Caribbean region were the two largest destinations for public renewable energy finance. Western Europe accounted for USD 14

� Western Europe saw investment peak in 2015 at USD 73 billion before falling to USD 53 billion in 2016. While offshore wind investment in the same region rose steadily, it was insufficient to offset the 2016 decline in solar PV and onshore wind investment, driven primarily by policy changes in Germany and the UK. � OECD Americas (Canada, Chile, Mexico and the United States) saw investment peak at USD 52 billion in 2015 mainly driven by strength in the US solar PV and wind markets. � The Latin America-Caribbean region mirrored the global trend, peaking at USD 17 billion in 2015 before falling to USD 9 billion in 2016. Financial instruments � Grants and concessional finance accounted for nearnegligible shares of total renewable energy finance during the period. � Utility-scale solar PV and onshore wind were largely financed by a mix of commercial debt and equity, with average debt-to-equity ratios hovering between 60% and 70% globally. � Although most development finance institutions (DFIs) favoured loans, USD 793 million worth of risk mitigation instruments in Asia and USD 552 million in Africa were extended, primarily to assist in establishing renewables

Policy changes contributed significantly to global investment trends.

The peak in 2015 was partially driven by a rush to complete projects before an expected fall in policy support in key markets.

Examples included cuts in feed-in-tariffs in China, Germany, Japan and the UK.

in countries with a limited track record for such projects.

Solar Quarter • July 2018 20

billion, or 36% of public finance in the sector, in 2013-

the bulk of investment comes from private sources. The

2015, while Latin America-Caribbean accounted for USD

East Asia-Pacific region had the highest levels of private

9 billion (22%). Public finance for renewables fell in both

finance, averaging USD 101 billion annually in 2015-

regions in 2016.

2016, followed by Western Europe, which averaged USD

� Public investment did not favour a particular technology;

55 billion during the same timeframe.

rather it supported a variety of projects, ranging from

� Overall, private renewable energy investment stayed

advisory work on renewable energy infrastructure to

predominantly (93%) within the country of origin; by

investment in community programmes and upgrades

contrast, public investment saw a much more balanced

to transmission and distribution networks.

split of public investment between in-country financing

� DFIs (national, bilateral and multilateral) have accounted

� Investment in solar and wind (onshore and offshore)

average of 85% of the total in 2013-2015. This dropped

accounted for, on average, 90% of total private finance

to 73% in 2016.

between 2013 and 2016. This reflects the maturity of

� Project developers contributed 40% of private finance

mechanisms to support renewable energy. These are not

each year, mostly concentrated in China, Japan, the UK

counted as investments and are therefore additional to

and the US. Commercial financial institutions accounted

the figures cited above. In Western Europe, for example,

for 23% of investment of such private finance in 2014-

annual expenditures for renewable electricity support

2016, hitting a high of USD 69 billion in 2015.

2017), while public investment amounted to just over USD 14 billion.

photovoltaic, or PV, and thermal) and wind power (both onshore and offshore)

solar and wind power technologies.

regulatory instruments and fiscal incentives, seen as key

policies totalled at least USD 66 billion in 2015 (CEER,

solar power (both

and international financing.

for the majority of public investment, with an annual

� Significant public resources are allocated to establish

Investment in

dominated spending in the sector globally.

Investment in these technologies rose

� The share of investment from corporate actors fell from 27% on average in 2013-2014 to 14% on average in

from 82% of total

2015-2016. This was driven largely by a decline in solar

� By the end of 2016, 147 countries had renewable energy support policies in place. While feed-in tariffs/premiums continue to be implemented, falling costs and grid integration issues have driven an increase in the use of auction mechanisms.

PV investments by Japanese corporations, apparently in

renewable energy

response to changes in feed-in tariffs.

finance in 2013 to 93%

� Institutional and private equity investors contributed less than 1% each to global renewable energy investment

in 2016.

during the period. Their investment peaking in 2015 at

� While public finance plays a significant enabling role,

around USD 3 billion and USD 2 billion, respectively.

Credits: © IRENA 2018

SWITCH TO ENERGY SAVINGS

SOLAR PARK

TURNKEY EPC ROOFTOP

TURNKEY EPC UTILITY SCALE

400 MW+ SUCCESSFULLY COMMISIONED sales@harsha-abakus.com | www.harsha-abakus.com

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 21

GATEWAY TO A GREENER FUTURE! Commercial & Industrial Solar System Solutions

18-20 SEPTEMBER,2018 INDIA EXPO CENTRE,GREATER NOIDA

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Hall 9

Booth No. 9.48 Solar Quarter â&#x20AC;¢ July 2018 22

10-70kW Three-Phase Solar Inverters

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Solar Quarter â&#x20AC;¢ July 2018 23

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Solar Quarter â&#x20AC;¢ July 2018 24

Industry Update Andhra Pradesh solar park in Kadapa: Lowest bid at Rs 2.7 per

launch the largest tender for new solar power capacity in the world.

enabling them to generate electricity for their captive and earn an extra buck.

Three companies backed by global financiers have bagged

Power Minister R K Singh told an event in New Delhi this week that the government plans to launch an unprecedented bid for 100,000 megawatts (MW) of new clean energy.

unit

the tenders to build 750 MW of solar power projects in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, with the lowest bid under the reverse auction process coming in at Rs 2.7 a unit.

While these auctions were held on Friday, earlier last week, the reverse auction for 2,000 MW capacity haf discovered tariff of Rs 2.44 per unit, which matched the lowest ever rate that was found in May 2017 for Rajasthan’s Bhadla projects.

Before the latest two auctions, an impending threat of hefty 70% safeguard duties on solar cells and panels had pushed up the tariffs to as high as Rs 3.54 per unit, giving credence to the analysts’ fears that the lower rates would be unsustainable.

According

to

sources,

“The biggest tender was floated in Spain. We brought out a single tender of 10,000 MW which would be opened in July. Now we will bring out a bid of one lakh MW which would also include solar manufacturing and storage,” he told the event, according to The Economic Times. One lakh represents 100,000 units.

Gujarat launches SKY Scheme for

consumption as well as sell the surplus power to the grid

Announcing the pilot project of the scheme in Gandhinagar, chief minister Vijay Rupani termed it a revolutionary step towards empowering farmers to generate their own electricity using solar energy and help doubling their income.

As per the scheme, farmers having existing electricity connection will be given solar panels as per their load requirements. The State and Central governments will give 60 per cent subsidy on the cost of project. The farmer is

farmers to generate solar power

required to take 5 per cent cost, while 35 per cent will be

The Gujarat government on Saturday launched a solar power scheme for farmers- Suryashakti Kisan Yojana

4.5-6 per cent.

provided to him as an affordable loan with interest rates of

SoftBank’s SB Energy and UK private equity firm’s Sprng Energy won tenders for

250

MW

each

for

Kadapa projects by quoting the lowest tariff of Rs 2.70 a unit. Ayana Renewable Power, which is backed by the UK government’s CDC Group was awarded the remaining 250 MW capacity for Rs 2.71 a unit.

Solar Projects Deadlines Extended: Government The

government

allowed

solar

has power

developers more time for executing projects, a move which

may

bring

down

project costs and tariffs of power generated from this source.

As per recent amendments in the competitive bidding guidelines for solar projects, for capacities above 250 MW, developers now have two years to commission the project from the date of

signing

the

power

purchase agreement with the procurer. The earlier deadline was 15 months. The deadline for commissioning projects within solar parks has also been extended to 21 months from the date of signing PPA from 13 months earlier.

A

senior

official

from

the ministry of new and renewable

energy

said

the relaxation will allow developers more time to source

equipment

and

help reduce the cost of setting projects up. “When timelines are relaxed, costs come down naturally,” the person said.

India to bring forward

100,000

megawatts of new solar power The Indian Government has signalled its intention to

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Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• July July 2018 2018 25 25

Company Feature Our aim is to provide clean and green electricity at affordable price to one and all Insolation energy, a state of the art manufacturing facility

Insolation Energy Pvt. Ltd. has been offering both Multi-

specializing in high efficiency PV Module is located in Jaipur.

crystalline & Mono-crystalline in various sizes from 75Wp

We develop India’s best utility scale solar PV Module. We

to 360Wp. Made in India with highest grade raw materials

strive to provide one of the best solutions for sustainable solar electric power. Our aim is to provide clean and green electricity at affordable price to one and all.

Insolation Energy has been formed by the combined efforts of senior industrialists Mr. Manish Gupta and Mr. Vikas Jain having experience of more than 17 year in various sectors like Steel, Industrial Solutions, Real Estates, Health & Fitness and Independent Solar Power Producer business etc.

Insolation Energy, an ISO 9001:2015 certified company

certified for ISO 9001: 2015 qualities. Some of our most

strive to provide our customer with product & services

popular Modules

which exceed their expectations. We use timely preventive

� Sapphire Series 72 Poly Crystalline

processes & Inline testing to drive the highest quality standards and to ship products that meet our quality goal.

� Sapphire Series 60 Poly Crystalline

We invite most of the customers to witness the in line

In recognition of our products highest standards of quality

process quality and test facilities available at our facility

we have been awarded with � Mission Energy Award - “Emerging Module Manufacturer

60MW per annum for solar PV Modules in the range of

2017

75Wp to 360Wp using poly & mono crystalline cells. We

� India Solar Week Excellence Awards 2017 - “ Solar

have most modern production line with a robotic plant

Module Company of the Year Utility Scale (Domestic

as well as finished products.

consideration. Insolation is always at the fore front to upgrade the technology and provide new solutions. We

of the Year” in Solar Innovation & Excellence Award

enough care is taken to avoid manual handling of material

Enhancing the existing technology is always under

from international suppliers. Our manufacturing facility

has state-of-the-art fully automatic manufacturing facility

in a very hygienic and fully air- conditioned environment

Technology Advancement

Manufacturer) for Outstanding Achievements in Solar Energy Sector From First View Group

before they start journey with us. Some of the salient features of our line are: � Fully automatic line with least manual intervention and continuous automatic process � Automatic Stringers with 2200 cells/ hr capacity � Pre & Post Inline EL Tester � Automatic Framing Machine for seamless framing � AAA class inline Sun Simulator

Technology Specifications

Insolation Energy Pvt. Ltd. has been

Best quality raw material conforming to latest standards is procured for manufacturing

offering both

of modules. Testing is done at each stage so that module performs well throughout its

Multi-crystalline &

life span of 25 + years..

Mono-crystalline

� Superior Module Efficiency as per International Benchmarks

in various sizes

� Positive Power Sorting, 0 to +5 Watt.

from 75Wp to

� PID Free Modules with long term reliability

360Wp. Made in

� UV anti-glare Resistance and All Weather Load Resistance Glass. � Salt mist, Ammonia, Blowing sand and Hail resistant � Excellent Energy generation in weak light

India with highest grade raw materials from international suppliers.

Targeted/ Benefitted Customer Segment Due to consistent quality & committed deliver schedules Insolation Energy has

Enhancing the existing

become one of the emerging key players amongst Photovoltaic Modules across India

technology is

& Focuses on to export to Nepal, Dubai, Africa, Japan & many other countries

always under

With the start of production in April 2017, the company has so far supplied 30 MW

consideration.

Solar modules. The company has so far supplied in both Government and Private Projects with a single biggest order of 2 MW in Madhya Pradesh. Due to high quality standards many leading players have preferred us for their OEM requirements. We are

Insolation is always at the fore

also targeting rooftop project developers & EPC players for high efficiency 72 cells

front to upgrade

modules. The company has a extensive network of distributors & dealers to cater to

the technology

the retail segment.

and provide new solutions.

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 26

Company Feature Saatvik’s mission is to lead the global transition to renewable energy in India Saatvik is a part of a bigger business group with diversified business activities with major interests in edible oil and oleo chemicals. The group has multiple manufacturing facilities for extraction and refining of edible oil, refining non-edible oil and manufacturing of soap. The group has over 25 years of experience serving the highest quality products to FMCG giants in India. With the interests of the group lying in renewable energy, it forayed into solar panel manufacturing, hence setting up Saatvik Green Energy, in 2016.

What the Company Does: Saatvik Green Energy is a new age solar technology company, involved in the manufacturing of high quality solar modules. The current product portfolio includes solar modules of all ranges starting from 40Wp up to 350Wp in both 4BB and 5BB. Saatvik uses both poly-crystalline and mono-crystalline cells to assemble these solar modules, coupled with multiple rounds of testing during and after the manufacturing process, ensuring the highest quality product for its esteemed customers. All module ranges have been certified to highest global quality standards.

Strategy Vision Statement: At Saatvik Green Energy, we actively support the global effort to energise the world through alternate and greener sources of energy, by manufacturing and distributing world class solar photovoltaic modules, globally. We seek to attain and establish our position as the most reputed, customer centric, significant solar module provider to Solar Industry.

Mission Statement: Saatvik’s mission is to lead the global transition to renewable energy in India. Our part to play in that transition is to deliver cost effective utility scale solar energy solutions to customers and governments through the set of cohesive company principles. These principles are the foundation of everything we do at Saatvik:

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Integrity. Safety. Innovation. Sustainability. Teamwork.

Strategy. Respect.

Business Goals & Objectives: As a business, we continuously seek to improve our products and services, to deliver the best quality to our clients. Given the vast amount of options in the industry, only a satisfied client leads to repeat purchases. We want to become a consumer centric company, by not only providing high quality products, but also research and innovate to make solar industry in India integrated and greener.

Business Strategy: Saatvik wants to be a one stop solution for solar technology and services, and it is moving towards the ambitious goal, step by step. 2018 will see Saatvik expand from 200MW to 500MW annually, as it has made a mark as a rising star in solar module manufacturing. At present, when we view the industry holistically, there is an oversupply of solar companies throughout the value supply chain. Two valuables that are missing is quality and innovation. Rather than integrating vertically, we have strategically partnered with regional engineering companies to provide services to our customers.

Products & Services The current product portfolio includes solar modules of all ranges starting from 40Wp up to 350Wp in both 4BB and 5BB. Saatvik uses both poly-crystalline and mono-crystalline cells to assemble these solar modules, coupled with multiple rounds of testing during and after the manufacturing process, ensuring the highest quality product for its esteemed customers. All module ranges have been certified to highest global quality standards, through a global certification body, TUV Rheinland.

Business Competitiveness Price competitiveness is the foremost issue faced by solar equipment manufacturers. As a fact, India still imports 88-90% of its total solar panel requirement. This gives

a very limited breathing space to plethora of solar PV manufacturers in India. The inability to compete with imported equipment in terms of price, ultimately leads to fierce competition within the Indian manufacturers for limited number of avenues using Indian made solar PV equipment.

Quality Policy Of The Company: ISO ratings, standards & specifications etc.

Not only does Saatvik comply with ISO, but it has also implemented SAP H4 HANA which helps in automating a lot of manual processes, for superior records and quality implementation. If your people and processes are sorted, precision comes naturally, and we are a very quality conscious company, hence precision plays a very important role. To assist our people and processes, we have all necessary quality control/inspection equipment both in-line and in the laboratory, to ensure precision in our production for highest quality products.

Team & Management Saatvik, being a young company, managed by people in 20’s and early 30’s, has very dynamical horizontal organizational structure. Saatvik believes in smaller team and greater efficiency. This way, every person working for Saatvik feels a sense of ownership.

Customers & Projects Saatvik has been able to make a good portfolio of customers already, including India’s leading IPPs and solar developers, apart from regional and national EPC companies. Saatvik solar modules have been successfully installed at various government buildings, government utilities, railway stations, hotels and universities, such as Delhi Jal Board, DMRC, Western Railways, Ambala Airforce Station etc.

Saatvik’s constant strive towards quality, delivery and commitment has made its products lucrative to many clients, and will continue to do so in future.

Solar Quarter • July 2018 27

Company Feature Ginlong Solis inverter products have an outstanding field record in India Established in 2005, Ginlong Solis is one of the oldest and

� The switching frequency of the inverter exceeds 30kHZ,

largest global string inverter specialists that manufacture

whereas the common inverters are usually at 20kHZ or

string inverters for converting DC to AC power and

below, and this in turn, will greatly reduce the inductance

interacting with utility grid, which help reduce the carbon

loss and at the same time results in lower temperature

footprint of human society. Residential, commercial and

increase , As all know, with the ambient temperature

utility scale solar market include homeowners, business

lower for every 10 degrees, the electronic components

owners, utilities, solar developers and investors benefit

lifespan can be doubled each time. The noise frequency

from a complete product line of ultra-reliable, bankable,

range that can be captured by human being is below

cost effective and innovative string inverter technologies,

20 kHz, and the 4G product breakthrough the switching

selling under Ginlong Solis brands. These products are

frequency of 30 kHz, and hence brings the users a real

installed globally, optimized for local markets and serviced

pure mute mode.

by local experienced teams, to deliver significant long-

� The innovated main circuit board design greatly

term return on investment for stakeholders and accelerate

improves EMC+EMS performances of the inverter as

the transition to a more sustainable future. Ginlong is a

well.

publicly traded company. For more information please visit us at www.ginlong.com

II. The second strength is its safety improvement, the product applies hardware dead zone technology and achieves double safety guarantee.

Strategy Ginlong Solis inverter is listed on Approved Vendor Lists of

� Customers can choice to use AFCI antiarc device.

Previously there was almost no method to automatically

leading banks and financing institutes. Third party inverter

prevent the fire in case the PV system caught a fire. With

qualification testing was completed by DNVGL. Ginlong

this technical application, Solis 4G inverter can promptly

Solis inverter products have an outstanding field record

detect the fire on the rooftop. Even if the components

in India, since introducing the product line to the India

and wire terminals produce arc ignition due to poor

in 2016. Ginlong Solis India is headquartered in Mumbai,

contact, the inverter can automatically cut off the circuit

warehoused in Mumbai, offers SOLIS training programs

within the shortest period of time to put off arc ignition.

and live, local technical support nationwide.

It can escape the fire by 99%.

Ginlong won the prestige EUPD Top Brand PV Inverter Brand

III. The third strength is its grid-friendliness improvement.

award in 2016, 2017 & 2018. and also Rank 5 at Global single-

� Solis uses a built-in EPM module to realize the intelligent

phase string inverter market shares(MWac) in 2016&2017

scheduling of the grid. In other words, the grid can

-GTM Research and Rank 4 at Global Three-phase string

realize the intelligent control of the 4G inverter through

inverter market shares(MWac) in 2017 -GTM Research;

EPM protocols, and achieve optimal grid dispatch under

Ginlong Solis inverters are installed at Eiffel Tower in Paris.

large scale distributed system grid access conditions. � The new active voltage stabilization technology

Business Concept

stabilizes the local grid voltage through no-power

a. Products & Services

compensation, At present, the grids in rural areas are

Ginlong Solis is specialized in String PV inverters for 13

will cause voltage fluctuation of the grid. The common

generally not in good condition, and the inverter access

years. Solis String Inverter range: 0.7kW – 70kW. And our

method used by a conventional inverter is to loosen up

main products following:

its voltage range to passively adapt to this situation.

Solis 4G inverter, on the other hand, sends inductive or

–

SOLIS MINI –

0.7kW – 3.6kW (1 MPPT)

–

SOLIS 1P -

2.5kW – 6kW (2 MPPT)

–

SOLIS 1P -

7kW – 10kW (3 MPPT)

–

SOLIS Three Phase -

6kw – 15kW (2 MPPT)

widely adopted in large-scale power plants in rural

–

SOLIS Three Phase -

20kw – 40kW (4 MPPT)

areas with weak grid condition, and the improvement is

–

SOLIS Three Phase -

40kw – 70kW (4 MPPT)

b. Business Competitiveness I. The new 4G string inverters have unique advantages compared to those conventional inverters in the market. � The first strength is its performance improvement, 4G represents the 4th generation.

capacitive reactive power to proactively compensate for it, in this way, it can flat the grid fluctuations and stabilize the local grid voltage. This technology is currently

very obvious.

Ginlong Solis is willing to take the responsibility on behalf of the industry, bringing a high-end, independently innovated brand new inverter technology platform. Its behavior has won high praises and good wishes for further developments and achievements from the conference attendees.

Customers & Projects ●

Projects: Eiffel Tower (5KW)

platforms, the new product can have a maximum of 2

●

Location: Paris

MPPT tracking; and can be extended to 4 MPPT.

●

Inverter: GCI-5K-2G-W-US

●

Projects: (SVW) 55GW

●

Location: Hangzhou bay, Ningbo city

� The common single-phase inverters generally can only

●

Inverter: GCI-36K-HV

achieve a maximum of 2 MPPT,The new product uses

●

Project: Mexico City (20MW)

●

Location: Mexico

●

Inverter: Solis-20K-HV

●

Project: Guadalajara (3.4MW)

●

Location: Guadalajara

●

Inverter: Solis-30K

adopted, and its CPU processing speed and PWM

●

Project: Dominica (34KW)

resolution have increased 50% over the generally-

●

Location: Dominica;

adopted 2803 series.

●

Inverter: Solis-5K-2G

� The 4G inverter uses brand new 4G inverter technology

� Multi-channel MPPT technology is one of the key factors in increasing electricity output.

the latest 5th generation of German Infineon IGBT chip technology, whereas others generally use the 3rd generation product. � The 5th generation of IGBT can increase the efficiency by 0.5-0.8% compared with the former generation. � The new US TI2806 series DSP chip technology was

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 28

Company Feature Sanelite Solar is a preferred manufacturer of high-quality PV modules of capacity 40Wp to 335Wp Sanelite Solar Pvt Ltd is a pivotal company in the area of renewable energy providing end-to-end solar PV solutions from manufacturing solar PV modules to solar EPC installations. The company carries with it many years of experience in solar industry and a strong financial background from Sanelite Group.

Sanelite Group, operating in the areas of IT, Real Estate, Construction, Energy, Education and many others, is reckoned for its reputation of for value and quality of workmanship. The group formed this Solar PV expert company with its own state-of-the-art solar PV modules manufacturing plant and expert solar EPC solutions.

By integrating research and development, manufacturing, and commercial expertise across the entire solar value chain, Sanelite Solar Pvt Ltd provides industry-leading solar energy solutions that not only include components manufacturing, but also package services throughout the entire life cycle of solar power plants, from project design, financing, engineering, procurement, and construction management through operations and maintenance services.

What The Company Does: Sanelite Solar is a preferred manufacturer of high-quality PV modules of capacity 40Wp to 335Wp. The state-of-the art production line is carefully designed ultra-modern line with high efficiency automatic laminator and auto-tabber & stringer machines.

The company also offers end-to-end solar EPC solutions, grid-connected solar PV systems, off-grid solar PV systems, solar power plants, rooftop solar PV systems as well as integrated PV systems. We are authorized channel partner of MNRE and GEDA for solar rooftop projects.

Strategy Vision Our vision is to become a leading manufacturer and EPC provider of India in the field of solar energy with focus on

quality of workmanship and delightful service.

‘High performance, superior quality’ is our motto.

Mission Our mission is to create high quality solar PV solutions at consumable costs by pivoting highest level of engineering and innovation.

Business Goals & Objectives: What the company wants to achieve The sole purpose of Sanelite Group is to create value for the society, its customers and partners. On the same line, Sanelite Solar believes in prospering through people partnerships. Being a channel partner of GEDA and with growing market of domestic solar rooftop in the state of Gujarat, the company channelized the efforts through oneof-its-kind franchisee network. Over past 2 years, Sanelite has grown its franchisee network in Gujarat to more than 25 in numbers, and it’s still growing. In a similar way, for channelizing the sale of PV modules and other products, the company is working on a dealership network to reach the vast corners of the country.

Business Concept Sanelite Solar is India’s leading solar PV module manufacturer. SSPL PV modules are engineered with highest grade raw material to get optimum performance and high efficiency. They are quality-tested at every stage of production with a stringent QC process. The end product is an aesthetically superior absorber of sunlight – the Sanelite Solar PV Modules. SSPL modules are tested at TUV and UL for latest IEC standards and are MNRE certified.

The company has also applied for BIS certification and is in process.

From extensive experience of solar installations and strong franchisee/dealer network feedback, we have crafted out a plug and play solution for small-scale rooftop systems – the solar DIY kit. The kit is an all-in-one solution which carries all required components of a small-scale solar

rooftop system. Similar concept is used for the solar pump market where we offer two variations: one has only the DC part of the solar system which is useful for solarising existing pumps, and second comes with the pump set as well to provide a full solar pump solution.

Sanelite is ISO 9001:2015 certified to meet highest quality procedures.

Team & Management Sanelite Solar is a group company of Sanelite Group operating in the area of Renewable energy. Its managing director, Mr Bhavesh Modi, is an M Tech from DA-IICT, Gandhinagar and has more than 14 years of industry experience. Mr Sunil Modi, director – sales and marketing, is an MBA from Nirma University, and has been instrumental in enabling new ventures for Sanelite Group. The company employs more than 60 professionals across its offices.

The core team consists of technically sound experienced consultants.

Customers & Projects Sanelite Solar has been supplying A grade solar PV modules across the state of Gujarat and in many parts of India. The product arsenal is now also loaded with solar DIY kits for solar rooftops and pumps. The company also has completed more than 2 MW of solar installations across the state of Gujarat.

PV MODULES Posiive power tolerance Tested for highest quality levels Ann-refleccve coated glass Highest grade raw materials PV Modules Inquiry +91-7226995509/10

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 29

Company Feature N-type or P-type cell: What is the world mulling for?

A solar photovoltaic (PV) cell comes with variety of technology. This means that for a layman or a novice in the

Figure 1: Average stabilized efficiency values of Si solar cell (Source: ITRPV 2018)

field, it becomes quite puzzling to select the right type of technology. For instance, the basic technology that could be found in today’s market is p type & n type solar cell.

While their purpose remains the same i.e. to capture sun’s irradiance and turn it into energy, it’s their manufacturing process which differentiates them. Anyone with knowledge on history of solar cell would know that the first solar cell was fabricated at Bell labs in 1954 which was of n-type mono-crystalline. Until 1980s, with the application of solar cells being mainly on satellites, the p-type solar cell had shown less degradation to exposure of cosmic rays. Thus for decades, the industry had kept continuous focus on p-type PV cell development. However with the changing market trends and the continued research on n-type solar cell in previous decade, its ability to outperform the currently in use p-type solar cell cannot be ignored.

With the currently available diverse technology of solar cells and the predictions of advancement in efficiency of (almost) all these solar cell (both p-type and n-type) (Figure 1), it is important for us to understand what would be market inclined towards. Additionally, this blog would also give its readers an insight on technical advantages and disadvantages of both n-type and p-type solar cells.

From figure 1 above it is evident that both p & n-type solar cell shall experience a jump in their efficiency. However from

Figure 2: Basic cell structure of p-type cell (on left) compared to n-type solar cell (on right)

an investor/ end user’s perspective, it is important that you know the basics of these types of cells. As evident from figure 2 below, the p-type solar cell has p-type semiconductor at its base and vice versa (for n-type solar cell). This difference (in base) arises only when the doping on wafer (both multi and mono) is performed (Figure 3). Necessary to create a semiconductor junction which inducts the flow of current, the wafer is either doped with phosphorus (leading to n-type wafer) or boron (leading to p-type wafer).

Let us now understand the advantages of both these technology. The first advantage of p-type cell is economics of the scale, due to the current and previous market trend which had demanded for p-type solar cell, they have an

Figure 3: Value chain of silicon wafer manufacturing

upper hand on economics of scale in manufacturing.

Figure 4: World market share for different wafer types (Source: ITRPV)

This is because the entire value chain right from sand to solar cell is optimized as per p-type solar cell. Its next advantage is its cost competiveness compared to its opponent. In the current market scenario, initial cost may become a determining factor which gives p-type an upper hand. Coming to the advantages of n-type cell, firstly they are more efficient compared to their counterpart.

This means that one can expect more power output and hence more revenue from the same area. Secondly they are susceptible to various degradations (explained later) experienced by a p-type solar cell. This means that we can have an increased lifetime of module made from such kind of cells. Additionally they are also less sensitive to impurities (compared to p-type cell). Thirdly levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) (a ratio of total cost incurred to total energy generated over plant’s lifetime) can be moderately significant (sometimes even plant’s return of investment (ROI)) when compared to p-type cell.

As we had mentioned in introduction of this blog, p-type cell are currently dominant in the market. With the introduction of highly efficient cell technology like PERC for commercial use, the solar market is expected to bolster.

The PERC alike other cell technology comes in both p & n-type. However there are still lots of challenges which are needed to be addressed and the major being Light Induced Degradation (LID) and Light enhanced Temperature Induced Degradation (LeTID) for p-type cells. LID & LeTID are known to have cause significant reduction in power output in PERC module. A lot of efforts are necessary to

increase the few practical remedies possible for (partially) eliminating LID & LeTID. N-type PERC cell however are known to be LID & LeTID free. This means that a steady power output can be expected out of such modules. As predicted by ITRPV, the market share of n-type mono solar cells shall rise to around 30% (Figure 4). We however believe that its market share would rise to around 40% by 2028 given its advantages.

We at Waaree Energies have understood such technology trend and have capability of producing both p-type and n-type cell based solar module. Our modules are backed up by the stringent quality certificates we have received from various national and international certifying agency.

Mr. Sunil Rathi

This means that the EPC player/ end customer shall be

Director- Sales and Marketing

fully ensured that the modules they are using would be

Waaree Energies Ltd

of premium quality.

Let us all pledge to make solar energy the primary source of energy in the near future.

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 30

Tech Insights To Store Or Not To Store Is the emerging market for energy storage a standalone “new tech” development or is it part of a bigger movement in which different interconnecting technologies, business models, and regulations are revolutionizing the way we generate, transport, sell, buy, and consume energy? At Capgemini, we believe it’s the latter. To gain insight, the Energy & Utility team of Capgemini Netherlands composed a research topic in cooperation with Erasmus University Rotterdam around “Emerging Business Models in homes with Energy Storage.” The University assigned this topic to graduate student Michael Zigo and the Capgemini Energy & Utility team hosted and guided the assignment.

The research sought to provide a power storage simulation under a variable time-of-use pricing scenario. The outcome of this simulation shows typical household production and consumption with and without the use of power storage. In addition, the simulations provide net energy consumption cost benefits of using power storage. For the research, an optimization function to simulate household energy storage use was developed. The analysis was based on real data from 300 households with a 15-minute realtime pricing scheme located in a microgrid community in the Netherlands. The microgrid featured a number of wind turbines and half of the households were equipped with solar panels. In addition, no power storage was implemented in the microgrid to store power.

The use of home energy storage capacity in a microgrid community mitigated the “duck curve” effect: a graph of power production over the course of the day, showing the timing imbalance between declining renewable power production combined with peak demand after sunset. Despite the fact that the “duck curve effect” is mitigated in the mid-afternoon hours, steep ramps and drops were observed. Such steep fluctuations are caused by a “herd effect,” when all households in a microgrid trigger discharging or charging their energy storage unit at the same time.

The typical household in the community was able to achieve a cost benefit of €14, a 28% decrease from the original monthly energy bill of €50 per month. We simulated this case with a 7KW storage unit; however, if a more expensive 10KW solution were to be implemented, the energy bill could be reduced by €18. The calculation is based on the fundamental principle of net metering, according to which the same price of energy is used in the simulation when consumed from and supplied to the grid.

Variables such as charging speed, capacity of storage, and discharge speed to a grid directly influence the behavior of an energy storage solution. Optimal values should be developed per each use case.

“The typical household in the community was able to achieve a cost benefit of €14, a 28% decrease from the original monthly energy bill of €50 per month”.

Credits- ©2018 Capgemini

TM

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 31

Tech Insights LONGi Solar has enough technology preparation to keep PERC competitiveness for the next 3-5 years The challenges posed by the new policy released on May 31 by Chinese government cannot stop PV enterprises from pursuing high-efficiency technologies. The first half of 2018 witnessed a particularly booming industry.

HJT has accelerated its industrialization, TOPcon has been introduced into mass production, MWT has gradually become a force that cannot be ignored, N-PERT is accumulating strength… Facing intense competition from various efficient technologies, Dr. Li Hua, Vice President of LONGi Solar, firmly believes that PERC will remain the most competitive and cost-effective cell technology in the next five years, and LONGi Solar’s technology reserves absolutely can support the efficiency improvement of PERC technology in the next 3-5 years.

Like most technologies, PERC technology did not originate in China, but has blossomed in China, and brought too many surprises to the industry over the past year. At the initial stage of development, many industry experts claimed that PERC cell technology had its own bottleneck, and it would be ideal to have a mass production efficiency of 21%. However, contrary to the original forecast, PERC lab efficiency is now close to 24%. The history of efficiency improvement of LONGi Solar, the backbone of PERC

cells, the open circuit voltage significantly increased,

technology, is a microcosm of the great development of

and the defects that were originally difficult to be found,

PERC. Since September 2017, LONGi Solar’s cell conversion

such as minor scratches and black spots, will be exposed.

efficiency has broken the world record for many times,

Through the optimization of production technique and the

and the mass production efficiency has been rising, which

transformation and upgrading of equipment, LONGi Solar

proves that PERC technology has strong vitality and broad application prospects.

“PERC cell only needs to add Al2O3/SiNx rear coating and laser opening mask techniques on the basis of the traditional cell techniques. Compared with other highefficiency cells and technologies, PERC cell technology is less difficult, and the investment cost of equipment is lower. In recent years, the cost of PERC cell has dropped quickly, and has been more and more close to that of conventional cells. At present, other high-efficiency cells do not have such a cost performance,” said Tong Hongbo, Cell Research Center, LONGi Solar.

Based on its technical advantages of silicon wafer, LONGi Solar has continuously optimized cell techniques to achieve a maximum cell conversion efficiency of nearly 24%, to which the material selection of silicon wafer and the design of cell technique are particularly crucial. “The core of monocrystalline PERC cell is passivation. The impurities in silicon wafer and the surface defects of silicon wafer have a negative effect on the performance of cell. Passivation is to ensure the efficiency of the cell by reducing the impact

has successfully solved the problem of yield. At present, LONGi Solar’s yield of PERC cell is more than 97%, which is close to that of conventional cells.

Manufacturing equipment plays an important role in the development of PERC cell technology. At present, automation has become the standard configuration of new PERC production lines. The rear passivation technology route of key PERC equipment is clear, the mass production equipment and techniques are gradually mature. “At the initial stage of PERC cell technology, restricted by the equipment support for mass production, the cell conversion efficiency only remained at lab efficiency.” Zhao Xufei, Cell Research Center, LONGi Solar, introduced, “based on the demand for cell performance improvement, LONGi Solar has worked with equipment suppliers to transform and improve the equipment structure and performance.

The equipment performance is becoming more and more satisfactory, enhancing the competitiveness of PERC cell technology continuously. At present, the high-efficiency cell technology is developing fast, which requires equipment

of surface recombination and internal defects. This has

manufacturers to aim far, and constantly improve the

posed increasingly higher requirements on the quality of

equipment performance to meet the needs of developing

silicon wafer. LONGi has stockpiled several generations of

higher-efficiency cell technologies in the future. This will be

technology in silicon wafer, and is continuing to explore to

a challenge, but also an opportunity.”

meet the needs of higher-efficiency cells in the future.” Dr.

“Technology and product R&D also require a deep insight

Liu Peidong, Cell Research Center, LONGi Solar, introduced.

and far-reaching strategy. LONGi Solar is not contented with

The key value of R & D lies in the transformation of lab

its current technological leadership, but rather continues

research results into practical productivity, and the mass

to increase investment in R&D to accumulate more

production of high-efficiency cell has always been the

technologies so that its PERC technology will continue to

goal of LONGi Solar’s R&D work. LONGi Solar integrates

maintain competitive advantages in the next 3-5 years. At

quality and market awareness into the process of

present, LONGi Solar is introducing its new high-efficiency

technology and product development, carries out mass

PERC cell technologies into mass production, and will

production verification at the state of R&D, assesses the mass production risks of some technologies or techniques, and solves the problems with priority to speed up the realization of mass production. According to Tong Hongbo, the transformation from conventional cell technologies to PERC cell technology poses great challenges to the yield of cell. PERC cell technique requires the introduction of rear passivation technology. Compared with conventional

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realize average conversion efficiency over 22.5% in the second half of the year to meet the demand for 315W+.” Li Hua said, “we believe that the mass production conversion efficiency of monocrystalline PERC cell will exceed 24% in the future with the use of mass production technology, and we will continue to work hard to continuously improve product performance, bring more value to the application

LONGi Solar integrates quality and market awareness into the process of technology and product development, carries out mass production verification at the state of R&D, assesses the mass production.

side, and accelerate the progress of PV grid parity.”

Solar Quarter • July 2018 32

Product Feature Small but Powerful SOFARSOLAR 4.4kW to 12kW three phase inverters SOFARSOLAR’s 4.4kW to 12kW on-grid inverters already be available in Indian market for nearly one year. We got

Datasheet

SOFAR 3.3KTL-X

SOFAR 4.4KTL-X

SOFAR 5.5KTL-X

SOFAR 6.6KTL-X

SOFAR 8.8KTL-X

SOFAR 11KTL-X

SOFAR 12KTL-X

3900W 3600WW (300-850V)

5200W 4800W (440-850V)

6500W 6000W (545-850V)

7800W 7200W (660-850V)

10400W 8800W (800-850V)

13000W 8800W (800-850V)

15600W 8800W (800-850V)

380-850V

480-850V

575-850V

Input (DC) Max. input power Max DC power for single MPPT Number of independent MPPT Number of DC inputs

2 1 for each MPPT

Max. input voltage

1000V

excellent feedback from our customers. Such as, stable, no

Start-up input voltage

180V

operating failure, easy to install, etc.

Rated input power

In SOFARSOLAR, this series of string inverter, we call them small three phase inverters. Not only because the volume of inverter is small, but also the smallest type is 4kW (in some countries is 3kW).

MPPT voltage range Full load DC voltage range Max. input current per MPPT Max. input current per string Output (AC)

600V 160-960V 190-850V

190-850V

240-850V

290-850V 11A/11A 14A

Rated power

3000W

4000W

5000W

6000W

8000W

10000W

12000W

There are plenty of advantages of this series of inverters.

Max. AC power

3300VA

4400VA

5500VA

6600VA

8800VA

11000VA

13200VA

For example, output 10% more power on AC side;

Nominal grid voltage

30% overload on DC side; high efficiency; wide MPPT voltage range; 4 inch industry level LCD screen; multiple communication mode. As a 12kW inverter, its volume is small, but its maximum output power is 13.2kW. So it is

multiple protection components, such as SPD on both AC

EU efficiency Self-consumption at night

and DC sides, DC reverse polarity protection, DC switch,

MPPT efficiency

warranty.

0~100% ＜3% 1 (Adjustable +/-0.8)

Performance

safety issues. Because these inverters have integrated

prices for these inverters to customers with 7 years

50Hz/60Hz

Power factor [cos φ] Max efficiency

The most important thing is we provide very competitive

184-276V (According to local standard)

Nominal frequency Active power adjustable range THDi

small but powerful. Customers don’t need to worry about

anti-islanding, RCMU, ground fault monitoring, etc.

3/N/PE, 220/380 3/N/PE, 230/400 3/N/PE, 240/415

Grid voltage range

98%

98.3%

97.5%

45W

Feed-in start power Protection DC reverse polarity protection Integrated DC switch Zero voltage ride through Overvoltage Insulation resistance monitoring on DC side String detection Protection class / overvoltage category Safety protection

>99.9%

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes I / III Anti-islanding, RCMU, Ground fault monitoring

SPD Certification

98% <1W

MOV: Type III CE, CGC, ZVRT, AS4777, AS31000. VDE 4105, C10-C11, G59, IEC 62116, IEC 61727, IEC 61683, IEC 60068 (1, 2, 14, 30), IEC 61000, IEC 62109-1/2

Communication Power management unit

According to certification and request

Communication mode

RS485; Wi-Fi; SD card; GPRS (optional)

Operation data storage

25 years

General data Ambient temperature range Topology

-25°C ~ +60°C Transformerless

Degree of protection Allowable relative humidity range Max. operating altitude

IP65 0% ~ 100% no condensing 2000m

Noise Weight Cooling Display Dimension Warranty

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<29dB 21kg

22kg Natural LCD display 483x452x200mm 7 years

Solar Quarter • July 2018 33

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Solar Quarter â&#x20AC;¢ July 2018 34

Tech Insights RENEWABLE ENERGY AUCTIONS - CASES FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Renewable energy has come to dominate new investment in the global power sector. The year 2015 was crucial, marking not only the largest annual addition of new renewable power (155 gigawatts [GW]) and the sector’s highest level yet of capital investment (USD 312.2 billion), but also the lowest-ever prices for long-term renewable power contracts. It was also the year that renewable energy investment levels in low- and medium-income countries surpassed those of high-income countries for the first time (FS-UNEP, 2017; IEA and IRENA, 2017).

Figure 1 Utility-scale (> 5 MW) solar PV: Average bidding tariff (USD/MWh), 2010 17

In 2016, the trend in record installed capacities continued, with 161 GW added. Yet investments fell by 23% to USD 241.6 billion, and developed economies regained the lead in renewables development. Nevertheless, the latest data show that installed capacity for renewables has now overtaken coal and that renewables remain the fastest growing source of electricity generation (IEA, 2016).

Prices for renewable energy installations continued to fall in 2016, a trend that was also evident in the outcomes of renewable energy auctions. In February 2016, Peru’s renewable energy auction saw solar photovoltaic (PV) prices of USD 48 per megawatt-hour (MWh); in March that record was broken by prices of USD 45/MWh coming out of Mexico’s auction. Chile’s auction in August produced a price of USD 37.8/MWh, and in September, in Mexico’s second auction, the average price came in at USD 32/MWh. Dubai’s auction in June was the first in which the USD 30/ MWh barrier was broken, and Abu Dhabi announced prices bid in at USD 24.2/MWh for its anticipated 1.17 GW installation, following an auction in September. Figure 1 illustrates recent price developments over time for solar PV auctions (average prices), differentiated by country.

Significantly, prices do not always fully incorporate the total costs associated with a project and/or do not necessarily fully reflect a project’s entire (required) revenue stream. For example, in some cases projects are required to cover costs associated with system integration, while in other cases these costs are socialised amongst end users.

In other examples, the indicated prices reflect a maximum payable price to be received during specific times of the day, season or year, with lower prices applicable during the remainder of the period.

As these price-driving differences exist, a comparison of auction prices (as in the graph below) can only be the starting point for a deeper comparative assessment, which would account for the relevant price-driving differences, accordingly.

The global trend in renewable energy investment – both in terms of increasing volumes as well as falling prices – is in large part driven by favourable governmental support mechanisms, such as feed-in tariffs (FiTs) and auctions. Auctions are interchangeably referred to as competitive tenders or bids for long-term contracts between independent power projects (IPPs) and offtakers (typically the national or local utility). These are gaining global relevance, as more than 67 countries – most of them developing – are using these competitive procurement mechanisms to contract renewable power.

While in absolute terms there are still more countries using FiTs as their renewable energy support mechanism (80+), the overall growth trend suggests that more countries will use auctions than FiTs very soon (REN21, 2016).

Based on IRENA (2017).

Running effective renewable energy auctions requires good planning, procurement, and contracting capacity, and can involve significant transaction costs. These costs are, however, usually offset by the benefits of lower tariffs.

Some auctions face the risk of “low balling” in bid prices, which might result in delays in reaching financial close (FC) and construction. While these are important to consider, a well designed programme can effectively mitigate these risks (Eberhard and Naude, 2016a; IRENA and CEM, 2015).

A recent article has touched upon the value of auctions as a mechanism for price determination and policy support for renewables in the sub-Saharan African context (Lucas, del Rio and Sokona, 2017).

Based on IRENA (2017).

This report investigates the design of renewable energy auction programmes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), focusing specifically on three groundbreaking countries in their pursuit of new renewable power: South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Guiding the analysis is a framework developed by IRENA and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) suggests four broad categories to investigate (IRENA and CEM, 2015): � Auction demand: This is the choice of the volume auctioned and the way it is shared among different technologies and project sizes. This includes specific demand bands, determining the auctioned volume, periodicity and long-term commitments, and demand side responsibilities.

selection criteria, clearing mechanism and marginal bids, and payment to the auction winner. � Sellers’ and buyers’ liabilities and obligations:3 These are the characteristics of the product being auctioned, along with certain responsibilities and obligations spelled out in the auction documents. These include commitment to contract signing, contract schedule, remuneration profile and financial risks, the nature of quantity liabilities, the settlement rules and underperformance penalties, delay and underbuilding penalties, assigned liabilities for transmission delays, and risk mitigation and credit enhancement.

� Q u a l i f i c a t i o n requirements: These determine which suppliers are eligible to participate in the auction, as well as the conditions with which they must comply and the documentation that they must provide prior to the bidding/evaluation stage.

This includes reputation requirements, technological requirements, production site selection and documentation, securing grid access, and measures to ensure socio-economic development (SED). � Winner selection process: This involves the bidding and clearing rules as well as the process of awarding contracts to the winners.

This includes bidding procedure, requirements of minimal competition, winner Credits-

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 35

Product Feature Sineng’s outdoor EP-3125-HA-UD is designed for higher reliability, higher durability and lower cost

FAN

FAN

Two phase heat dissipation

IGBT module Reactor

Introduction

b. Technology Specifications

Sineng Electric Co., Ltd. is a leading solar inverter

c. Technology Advancements

manufacturer in the world. According to the GTM Research

Electrical Data

EP-3125-HA-UD

2017 Report, Sineng Electric is the world’s fifth largest solar

Max. input voltage

1500V

Max. input current

4106A

MPPT voltage range

893~1300V

No. of MPPTs

1

With single capacity of 3.125 MW, the EP-3125-HA-UD is

for the Indian market. The Indian company’s annual solar

Rated output power

3125kW

flexible in 6.25MW or 12.5 MW block design.The 6.25MW

inverter production capacity is expected to reach 2GW.

Max. output AC power

3594kW

transformer. The 12.5 MW block solution uses four inverters

Rated grid voltage

630V

to access five winding transformer. It will greatly reduce

inverter manufacturer. In 2014, following integration with a Fortune 500 company’s PV business, the company became a leader in terms of R&D, management and marketing in the global PV market. Currently, Sineng Electric has completed the establishment of its local sales and service system

Sineng Electric is capable of meeting the diversified needs of its customers with the widest portfolios of solar inverters ranging from single and three-phase string inverters up to megawatt-sized central inverters and central distributed inverters. This extensive range of solar inverters is suitable for the smallest residential photovoltaic systems right up to multi-megawatt PV plants.

Features and Benefits of EP-3125-HA-UD a. Product Introduction In the context of increasingly large photovoltaic power station monomer, the traditional 1000V system is losing its advantage in reducing system cost. Compared with 1000V system, 1500V system’s advantages are as follows: Enhance the dielectric strength level of components, inverters, cables, combiner boxes and other equipments; 1500V system has high dielectric strength level, thus more modules can be series-connected in one string, then it can save the investment of cable, combiner boxes,

Consider the above advantages, Sineng developed the EP-3125-HA-UD series inverter. It is a compact all-in-one outdoor device which eliminates the need of traditional inverter containers. Compared with the same power inverter, the EP-3125-HA-UD has smallest size, highest power density and highest cost performance.

Adopts advanced three-level technology, the highest DC bus voltage 1500V, the maximum conversion efficiency of 99%. Maximum DC/AC ratio can be up to 1.5. Highest power density in all centralized inverters above 3MW.

block solution uses two inverters to access three winding

the cost of transformers and high-voltage RMUs that is

Optional Grid voltage range

536~693V

Rated output current

2864A

Max. output current

3294A

Rated grid frequency

50Hz/60Hz

Adjustable displacement factor

0.8(lagging) ~ 0.8(leading)

Max. / European efficiency

99.00% / 98.70%

Standby consumption

<200W

Dimensions (W × H × D)

2350x2153x1200mm

Weight

2500kg

Operating temperature range

-30~60°C

Cooling concept

Temperature controlled air-cooling

Degree of protection

IP54

Max. permissible value for relative humidity

0~95%, non -condensing

Max. altitude

4500m (derating> 3000m)

Communication port/ protocols

Standard: RS485, Ethernet

transformers and other equipments; Reduce ac-dc side loss and transformer low-voltage side loss.

Low system cost

suitable for utility plant such as large flat surface and water surface photovoltaic power stations over 25MW.

Convenient for O&M Outdoor design without container. It is designed for easy and fast installation.With all the key components such as IGBT models are in front space and modular design that is convenient for O&M.

High reliability & durability As shown in figure, the cold air enters through the filter follow the heat dissipation channel. The cold air is guided from top to bottom by the cooling fans to educe the heat produced by the inverter. The key components are sealed and contact the external duct through the radiator. This isolation design improves the adaptability of the inverter to different environments, protects the key components, and ensures the long-term stable operation of the system.

d. Targeted/ Benefitted Customer Segment As a leader in the industry, Sineng is committed to maximizing customer benefits. The EP-3125-HA-UD is most suitable for large scale projects, so that they can maximize their solar generation. With the advanced aircooled design, it can work without derating at 50 °C, which is very suitable for the hot climate in India. High protection performance for outdoor use, IP54 protection level of inverter and IP65 protection level of key components are suitable for all kinds of harsh environments.

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Solar Quarter • July 2018 36

Tech Insights Solar Power System Installation and Operation: Best Practices in the Industry In most cases, solar power systems are simpler to install than other energy generation equipment. However, this does not mean you can get careless when deploying a rooftop PV system, since things can go wrong if the design and installation procedure are not performed correctly. Of course, the opposite also applies: with smart decisions and best practices, you can maximise the benefits obtained from solar power.

Optimise Your Solar System Design to Avoid Problems Later The underlying principle of solar power systems is simple: photovoltaic modules produce DC power from sunlight, and the inverter converts it to AC power usable by your home appliances. However, it is also important to consider site conditions in actual projects. In the case of rooftop PV systems, the following aspects should be analysed carefully: � Rooftop condition: Does it have the structural strength to support a solar array? Are some areas of the roof better suited for solar panels? Does the roof have a steep slope that complicates work?

be suitable for use with solar panels, considering they are also exposed to the weather. Wiring should be optimally sized: there are power losses if the conductors are too small, but oversized conductors represent an unnecessary expense.

routine cleaning. Maintenance personnel should avoid stepping on the modules, although this is not an issue if you work with professionals, and maintenance is under the provider’s responsibility if you deploy solar power through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The cleaning procedure should also be performed avoiding damage to the surface of modules, since it causes a performance degradation over time; for this reason, cleaning modules with a high-pressure water jet is not recommended.

Solar Array Monitoring and Maintenance Although a solar power system can operate without monitoring, many benefits are achieved by tracking performance. For example, if a sudden drop in generation cannot be attributed to the weather or the passing seasons, a performance issue is very likely. Problems can range from solar array areas covered by leaves to loose connections or malfunctioning modules, but the first indication is a performance drop indicated by the monitoring system.

Many modern inverters come with built-in monitoring capabilities, and they often include a mobile application.

Conclusion To summarise, you will get the best results with a solar power system if it is custom-designed for your property, while using high-quality equipment and keeping in mind that some system components last less than solar modules.

The combination of a monitoring system and adequate maintenance ensures that issues are prevented, which is much cheaper than solving problems after they occur.

Author: Mr. Cameron Quin

When no system components have failed, the most common maintenance activity for solar installations is

National Business Director Commercial | Solar Bay | Co-Founder

� Presence of shadows: The output of solar panels is drastically reduced under shadows, so they must be avoided whenever possible. If shadows cannot be avoided completely, the solar array layout must minimise their impact. � Ease of maintenance: Solar panels should not be packed too tightly, to provide space for maintenance personnel. For example, if three rows of solar modules are installed in a tight arrangement, the middle one will be more difficult to service- maintenance personnel should not walk on solar panels!

Grid-Tied String Inverters “Oorja On Move” 3-70 KW

� Interconnection: Depending on where it is installed on your property, a solar power system may be more difficult to connect. Consider that long runs of wire are expensive and they also cause a voltage drop, similar to how long water pipes cause a drastic pressure loss.

You can tell you are working with qualified solar designers if they pay close attention to all the factors above. Avoid generic offers where the same solar system configuration is offered for all properties.

RELIABLE AC & DC SPD

Purchasing High-Quality Equipment

Fault diagnosis Wide input range

Quality is often associated with a higher price, but it would be more correct to say that quality is an investment; you pay more upfront to get even greater benefits in the long run. In solar power systems, the main benefits of using top grade equipment are more productivity and solid warranties.

Of course, you should also perform a background check of equipment suppliers.

You will want to work with companies that will be around in the future if warranty claims are required.

Solar panels typically come with two warranties: a 10-year warranty against manufacturing defects, and a 25-year energy generation warranty - if production drops below a value specified by the manufacturer, you can get the faulty panel replaced. Note that the term of these warranties may change, but these are the typical values in the industry.

Unlike solar panels, inverters are normally rated for only 10 years, which means you can expect two replacements over the 25-year life of panels. Also consider that solar panels are built for direct exposure to the weather, while many inverters are not - they should be installed in a protected area where they will be easy to service, and eventually be replaced.

EFFICIENT

String detection

MPPTs Efficiency 99.9% Transformer less

Financing options for

IP65

RESCO o o o o o

For business enquiries, please contact:

CQC, TUV, IEC certification Multiple Com- RS485/RS485/WIFI/GPRS Industry Standard Warranty Local Stock at Gurgaon Pan India Service Support

Oorja On Move Infra Pvt Ltd

Unit no 1067, Tower B1, Spaze IT park, Sohna Road, Gurgaon Haryana (122002) T: +91 124 6500901, pa@oom.co.in, marketing2@oom.co.in

Solar EPC

EV Charging

E Storage

Li-ion Battery

E-Vehicle

Inverter

Solar Module

Junction Box

Cables

SCADA

Telecom

Traceability

Towards a greener tomorrow

Finally, the wiring and racking should also

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Infographics

Whether you are a residential, commercial or utility scale PV operator, Seaward have a range of solar PV testers to suit your commissioning, maintenance and operational requirements.

PV200 Kit:

Solar Utility Pro:

> Run a sequence of tests in the blink of an eye with the ‘auto’ function. > Holds up to 999 test records. > Instantly view detailed I-V curves in the field using the Android PVMobile App. > Records irradiance wirelessly. > All in one commissioning tests and I-V curve tracing.

> Test up to 1500V/40A systems – ideal for today’s more modern powerful PV installations. > Highest rated PV tester on the market. > Record up to 999 full sets of string data. > Rugged case design – giving more protection while being transported around large utility scale sites.

Isothermal Technology Private Limited 410, 4th Floor, K M Trade Tower, Radisson Hotel building, Sector -14, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh – 201010, India Email: solar@isotech.co.in | Website: www.itplindia.co.in Phone: +919810339072 / +919810134932

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Product Feature We are serving top 20 solar module manufacturers in PV industry and over 1300 solar module manufacturers in the world Since 1990, GSOLA focus on solar cell, module testing and processing equipment development, production, sales and service, including Solar Cell Tester, Solar Simulator, EL Tester, Cell Laser Cutter and so on. We are serving top 20 solar module manufacturers in PV industry and over 1300 solar module manufacturers in the world.

Featured Product GIV-20A+ model Sun Simulator (perfect Testing Solution for half-cell, MBB-cell, Black Silicon and Shingled high efficiency Solar Module )

Product Information: GIV-20A+ model Sun Simulator is the latest testing solution in current market, which is compatible for testing all new generation solar modules, such as PERC, HIT, HJT, N type, IBC, CIGS……

Specifications: 1. A+A+A+ Class 2. 10-100ms pulse duration 3. 300-1200nm spectrum, could be extended in the future

Technology advancements: 1. Bigger illuminated area: 2000mm*1400mm

2. For half-cell, MBB-cell, Black Silicon and Shingled solar modules testing, GIV-20A+ has much higher testing

Since 1990, GSOLA focus on solar cell, module testing and processing equipment development, production, sales and service.

accuracy compared to table-type sun simulator

Targeted/ Benefitted Customer Segment High efficiency solar module manufacturers, Metrology Institute and Laboratory

company bytes

ASSESS EQUIPMENT HEALTH

Excelsior Engineering Solutions has successfully provided services to over 1000 MW`s of solar projects across 13 states of India In an industry that’s ever evolving, Excelsior Engineering Solutions is a pioneer in providing specialized technical solutions to IPP`s, EPC`s, system integrators and end customers in the solar domain. EES`s distinctiveness lies in its ability to service the entire bandwidth of engineering and technical requirements essential in setting up of a solar power plant anywhere across India. Being able to closely work with the design and execution team to understand their needs has equipped EES with the agility to tackle critical challenges that are unique to a project.

The organization has successfully provided services to over 1000 MW`s of solar projects across 13 states of India. Services provided by EES are one of its kind and tailor made to suit the Indian solar industry. They have been carefully crafted keeping in mind the pain points faced by the industry members. With a spectrum of service like Design & Engineering, Project Management Consultancy, Owner`s Engineering, 3rd Party Validation and Bid Assistance; it has enabled EES to develop a vast and varied client base that consistently relies on it for accurate and effective results. Based on the current scenario and a growing demand for quality engineering, EES has developed certain exclusive services such as Specialized Independent Plant Audits and Retrofitting that focus on enhancing the performance of existing projects.

Along with turnkey engineering, EES also provides technical solutions to customers who are looking solely for DC engineering or MMS Design or Civil Design or PV Simulations alone. EES has also provided project Consultancy under Owner’s Engineering for several marquee projects and locations.

A team of world class engineers from electrical, civil, structural and mechanical engineering backgrounds with extensive expertise in design and on-site execution ensures that clients always receive optimum solutions without impacting the economic feasibility of the project. Professionals utilize powerful software simulations to engineer site specific solutions that are tailor made to ensure optimal generation for the project. Industry`s powerhouses depend on EES`s technical expertise and market intelligence to strategize bids for large projects over 100`s of MW`s.

With an assortment of failures coming to light at several solar projects, EES has become a recommended name for project owners to turn towards to for assistance in fault finding and revival of such distressed assets in the shortest period of time thereby minimizing the overall loss of generation. A diverse team that believes in a meticulous approach to each project irrespective of the size has made EES the solar experts the industry relies on when they want to be assured of a hassle-free service life of the project for 25 years.

At a juncture where solar energy is set to redefine the way we generate electricity, it is crucial that such a leap should not be left to a gamble of economics. EES believes that quality engineering is as essential and noble as the necessity for green and clean energy.

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CARRY OUT ADVANCED TESTS

GENERATION ANALYSIS

SOL AR PL ANT

AUDIT DETAIL DESIGN REVIEW

REVIEW OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

INDEPENDENT REPORT

BENEFICIAL FOR Under Performing Solar Plants

Prior to Project Handover

Frequent Equipment Breakdowns

During Purchase or Sale of Asset Better Preventive Maintenance Activity

Design & Engineering | Project Management Consultancy Owner’s Engineering | System Integration | Retrofitting Plant Audit | Operations & Maintenance 022–27783636

info@excleng.com

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25 5 0

Solar Quarter 11 July 2018 14:54:08

9

Government of India Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises NITI Aayog

www.ee-foundation.org

THEME

Renewable Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future

Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Shri R. K Singh

Hon'ble Union Minister Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry of Power & New and Renewable Energy Government of India Government of India

21 22 23 AUGUST 2018

Shri Anand Kumar

H.E. Ms. Harinder Sidhu

Mr. K.S. Popli

Secretary Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Government of India

Australian High Commissioner Australian High Commission

CMD, IREDA Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd

Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra Chanakyapuri New Delhi | India

Energy And Envirnoment Foundation

August 22 & 23, 2018 Energy And Environment Foundation

Environment Award 2018 Energy And Environment Foundation

Dr. Ajay Mathur

Mr. I. S. Jha

Mr. Ricardo Gorini

Mr. Sanjiv Singh

Dr. Wolfgang Bauer

Director General The Energy and Resources Institute

CMD Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd

Senior Programme Officer & Head of Renewables Roadmaps IRENA, Germany

Chairman Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.

Distinguished Professor & Senior Consultant Michigan State University, USA

Sustainability AWARD 2018 Energy And Environment Foundation

WasteMet AWARD 2018

Energy And Environment Foundation

GreenBuilding

For details contact at dranilgarg2011@gmail.com

AWARD 2018

Mr. Rajinder K. Kaura

Dr. P. V. Ramesh

Ms. Sukla Chandra

Mr. Anil Shrivastava

Mr. Manuj Khurana

CMD Bergen Group of Companies

CMD Rural Electrification Corporation Limited

Managing Director Licensing and Technology Ventures GE India

Director General, DMEO NITI Aayog

Assistant Vice President Invest Indiaa

Reserve your exhibition space today!

- Meet with industry leaders, policy and decision makers at networking events.

- Position your company as the leading brand for future energy solutions.

For More Information

Dr. Anil K. Garg

9th WRETC & Expo-2018 is an excellent platform to promote your organization to influential players & investors in the industry. Showcase your technology, products and services.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE. Contact Dr. Anil Garg 91 9971500028

President, WRETC-2018 Cell : 9971500028, 9999071071 dranilgarg2011@gmail.com dranilgarg@ee-foundation.org

Punit Singh Cell : 9213901510, 011-22758149 Telefax : 011-43019379 punit.nagi@ee-foundation.org

www.wretc.in For regular update join

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