India PV News Snippets: NTPC, Ladakh, DST, CIL, EY

• NTPC has signed a MOU with SDMC to set up solar panels for more than 200 buildings in Delhi
• Leh IAF station has got a 1.5 MW solar PV project commissioned ahead of the officially scheduled date
• Advanticsys has delivered its 1^st wireless monitoring solution in a 4 MW floating solar plant in AP
• DST has selected 8 research proposals including for perovskite solar cells to be pursued by Indian and Israeli researchers
• CIL has issued a tender to empanel EPC and O&M companies for up to 100 MW and above 100 MW capacity projects
• EY's RECAI report has placed India on 4^th spot, moving up from its previously held 7^th position thanks to the progress it has made in the solar PV segment

NTPC and SDMC join hands for solar: The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will help South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to install solar panels for over 200 buildings in the country's capital. The venues include maternity centers, zonal offices, parking lots and school buildings. Both rooftop solar and ground mounted projects will be developed. Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited will design, supply, commission as well as provide O&M services for the project for 25 years, according to local media reports.

Largest solar project in Ladakh: The Leh Indian Air Force (IAF) station is the location for the largest solar project in Ladakh union territory, reported Press Trust of India (PTI). The 1.5 MW facility under project name Provision of Solar Photovoltaic Powerplant was completed within 12 months, ahead of its official schedule of March 31, 2021. The project was commissioned under Make in India. The report says it is the largest installed solar project out of 300 MW targeted 3 phase solar project development for defence sectors and 14 MW for Leh region as set out by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Wireless monitoring for floating solar: Advantic Sistemas y Servicios S.L. or advanticsys of Spain says it has delivered its 1^st wireless monitoring solution in a floating solar power plant in Andhra Pradesh. The 4 MW plant is located at the Kailasagiri Reservoir for which the company has used a full wireless mesh string monitoring solution with radio frequency with a DM-108 bridge in each of the string monitoring boxes at site. It is connected to a master station on land where all data is logged and integrated into the plant SCADA.

Solar energy research by Indian and Israeli researchers: The Department of Science & Technology (DST) says both India and Israel will support 8 research proposals to be explored jointly by the researchers of the 2 countries. To be conducted over the next 2 years, some of the topics covered include perovskite solar cells. Details about the research projects selected can be found on DST website.

Coal India's solar empanelment tender: Coal India Limited (CIL) has issued a tender for empanelment of EPC and O&M contractors for the development and O&M of ground mounted/floating solar PV power projects of the company and its subsidiaries. Selected companies will be empaneled for 2 categories of up to 100 MW and above 100 MW capacity. The empanelment will be for 1 year. Last date to submit applications is December 17, 2020. Details of the tender can be found on CIL's website.

India on 4^th spot of RECAI EY: In its latest edition of Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI), Ernst and Young (EY), India has moved up to the 4^th spot from the 7^th in its previous edition thanks to its installed solar PV capacity skyrocketing in the past few years. The RECAI ranks top 40 markets in the world on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities. The US remains on the top spot, followed by China and Australia on 2^nd and 3^rd positions.