India installed 6.2 GW solar capacity in FY2021: JMK Research and Analytics said in FY2021 (period ending March 2021), India installed about 3.7 GW of utility scale and 2.5 GW of rooftop solar power capacity. It adds up to about 36 GW of utility scale solar capacity in the country, with another 45 GW in the pipeline. For FY2022, it sees the country commissioning another 10 GW of utility scale solar and 3.2 GW of rooftop or onsite solar capacity. During FY2021, maximum solar modules were shipped into the country by LONGi, JinkoSolar from China, and also from Adani in India. A growing number of modules, 52% came in as monocrystalline modules, showing the preference for this technology.
Previously, JMK said over the next 18 months, India is likely to bring online 13.75 GW of new solar module and 6.9 GW of solar cell production capacity, which will add to the country's current domestic manufacturing capacity of 16 GW and 4 GW, respectively.
1 GW renewable energy for GAIL: State-owned natural gas company Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is looking to expand beyond natural gas to bring down carbon emissions and has planned to add 1 GW renewable energy capacity to its portfolio. To be able to achieve this growth from the current renewables portfolio of 120 MW over the next 3 years to 4 years, The Times of India (TOI) reported, the company plans to invest INR 40 billion ($534 million). Among the plans is bidding for a 400 MW solar power project of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, under an open-ended tie-up with another state entity Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). Remaining INR 10 billion of the budget will be invested on producing ethanol and compressed biogas from municipal waste.
Coal industry wants solar projects: The Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI) has entered a memorandum of association (MoA) with the Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) in Ranchi to develop solar power projects. CCL is headquartered in Ranchi, Jharkhand and is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). A brief statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) read that the MoA will open a new path for CIL to become a net zero company. Set to enter into manufacturing of solar value chain, CIL recently bagged its 1st solar power purchase agreement (PPA) (see Coal India Limited Signs Its 1st Solar PPA).
MNRE extends project commissioning timeline: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended renewable energy project commissioning deadline for facilities impacted by the 2nd wave of COVID-19 in the country. Considering the period of disruption from April 1, 2021 to June 15, 2021, the ministry has extended the deadline for projects being implemented though implementing agencies designated by itself or under its various schemes. According to the ministry's office memorandum, this extension will facilitate the ease of doing business and as a measure of relief to projects to deal with difficulties arising out of the lockdown related restrictions. In May 2021, the ministry said it will provide an extension to projects that have their scheduled commissioning date on or after April 1, 2021 (see India PV News Snippets: MNRE, Vikram Solar, IHS, PLI Scheme).
Saatvik Green bags BHEL module contract: The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has selected Saatvik Green Energy as the L1 bidder for the 141.76 MW solar modules auction. The company announced it will supply 71 MW out of the total capacity sought, to be deployed by BHEL for its 100 MW AC Raghanesda Ultra Mega Solar Park in Gujarat which it is building for GSECL. The company claims to have 500 MW annual solar module production capacity in Haryana's Ambala facility. In March 2021, BHEL launched a tender for balance of system (BOS) package for the 100 MW AC capacity at the Raghanesda Solar Park (see India PV News Snippets: Greenko, EMITS, Sangam, BHEL).