UPDATED: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a request for bids (RfB) for a 160MW hybrid solar and wind project combined with battery energy storage in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
The lowest bid quoted in Indian state-run utility NTPC’s auction for 2GW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar was INR2.59/kWh (US$0.037), a 14 paisa rise from the L1 tariff in the most recent 2GW PV auction in India.
India’s Ministry of Finance has temporarily deferred its imposition of a 25% safeguard duty on solar cell and module imports in compliance with a stay issued by the High Court of Orissa.
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued an amendment to its National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, clarifying that any form of energy storage, not just batteries, can be used in hybrid projects.
PV developer and manufacturer Solar Philippines plans to enter the Indian solar market, but then use that experience to become even more competitive in Southeast Asia.
A consortium including InfraCo Africa and Smart Energies International has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Chad’s national utility La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNE) for a 60MW solar project.
Major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has once again reiterated sales and earnings guidance for 2018, after reporting first half year results but has become increasingly bearish on the global solar market, while its solar product order backlog takes a dive.