Indian state-run utility NTPC has issued a tender for 1.2GW of solar PV to be connected to the national grid (ISTS) through NTPC Generating Switchyards in Western Region.
Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) member LONGi Solar, a subsidiary of LONGi Green Energy Technology, has reported that TUV-SUD has verified its 60-cell P-type monocrystalline PERC module to have a conversion efficiency of 20.83% - yet another new industry record.
Starting with a 250MW first phase factory by July next year, the director of Pakistan-based conglomerate ACT Group has said it should be able to sell PV modules to the customer's doorstep at equal to or cheaper than Chinese import prices.
Trade delegations from India and Taiwan have failed to reach an agreement in a dispute regarding India’s safeguard duty on solar cell and module imports from developed countries as well as China and Malaysia, according to a World Trade Organisation (WTO) filing dated 2 November.
Indian solar developer Azure Power has commissioned a 95MW solar power plant in Gujarat as the first phase of a 260MW capacity award from the distribution company Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) .
Singapore's EDB consults on 100MW floating solar, ADB funds Mongolia 41MW distributed solar-wind-storage project, Solarcentury to install solar panels at Moi International Airport in Kenya.
The distributed renewable energy (DRE) sector, necessary in a world with millions of people without power, is being held back by a chronic shortage of skilled workers. Indeed, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) has just 16,000 people working in renewable energy in a region with 600 million un-electrified people, according to the founders of a new campaign aiming to fill this skills gap.
Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has awarded 150MW (3x50MW) of solar projects to Giriraj Renewables at a tariff of INR2.92/kWh (US$0.04), and awarded 100MW (5x20MW) to Asian Fab Tec with a tariff of INR2.89/kWh (US$0.039).
South Korea’s government is planning for nearly 3GW of solar PV alongside smaller capacities of wind and batteries on reclaimed land in Saemangeum, an area of land created by a huge Seawall project completed in 2010.
Indian solar developer Azure Power has had a hugely successful period of raising financing, but consultancy firm Bridge to India has said that the overall domestic PV sector is facing hard times in raising debt finance.
