India’s unusual tender for 5GW of PV manufacturing capacity linked with 10GW of solar projects has been called many things, ranging from pioneering to fanciful, but the earliest stages have seen some of the global industry’s biggest names toss their hat in the ring.
A group of private companies is pioneering a new approach to powering the agricultural industry in rural India that could significantly increase productivity of small-holder farmers, by combining mobile and stationary solar-powered mini-grids and linking them to a range of agricultural services, beginning with irrigation.
India installed more than 10GW of solar during the financial year 2017/18 for the first time ever, according to the latest Solar Map from consultancy firm Bridge to India.
Indian state-run utility NTPC has invited bids for a 22MW grid-connected floating solar project to be set up at Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Plant (RGCCPP) at Kayamkulam in Kerala.
Indian PV manufacturer Waaree has started commercial production at a 1GW solar module assembly factory in the state of Gujarat, with several large tenders soon coming to fruition expected to counter the lull in activity brought about by a lack of tenders in H2 2017, according to a company official.
Not-for-profit association Global Solar Alliance has signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an India-led venture hoping to spur investment in solar across developing countries, to promote solar worldwide.
India has given the option to solar power procurers to extend the timelines for land acquisition, financial close and PV project commissioning, which should help developers working on interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected plants.
As an investor from a matured solar market in the West looking at India, Jonathan Selwyn, chairman of the UK retail investor-backed Downing Indian Solar EIS, discusses the experience of investing in Indian solar.
