India PV News Snippets

MNRE wants project commissioning extension requests to be examined case-to-case; PTC India to source 100 MW solar from Brookfield Renewables; Mercom says RUVNL's 1 GW solar capacity auctioned; Solar Ladder raises INR 110 million in seed funding; Zest Outdoor Media claims Guinness World Record for the most extensive installation of solar panels on a single advertising billboard.

MNRE gets serious about project implementation: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) says its time extension for solar PV and solar PV-wind project commissioning till March 31, 2024 for projects with last date of bid submission being April 10, 2021 is not a general blanket extension. Any such requests received by the Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIA) from developers need to be examined on case-to-case basis. Time extensions will only be granted where the developer is found to have diligently taken steps to complete the project by giving proof of land acquisition or module orders placed, and the like. If despite this, he hasn't been able to complete the project for reasons beyond control, then the extension will be granted. The ministry has bluntly also stated that if it is found that the developers has taken no steps to implement the project but is merely sitting on the award, such projects do not qualify for any extension and will consequently be cancelled.

PTC India signs up for 100 MW: Power trading company PTC India has signed an agreement with Brookfield Renewables for the purchase of 100 MW solar power from 400 MW the latter is developing in Bikaner of Rajasthan. The duo has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the supply of power on a long-term basis. There is also an arrangement to increase the capacity to 200 MW at the time of project commissioning. PTC plans to market this power to various utilities and commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers.

RUVNL's 1 GW PV auction: Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (RUVNL) has auctioned 1 GW solar power capacity with Mahindra Susten, Sunfree Energy (SAEL), both securing 200 MW each for the same tariff of INR 2.61 ($0.032)/kWh. Other companies that won capacity for INR 2.61 tariff are Blupine Energy for 150 MW, Jakson for 100 MW, and Shiva Corporation for 50 MW, according to Mercom India Research. Avaada Energy won 200 MW for INR 2.62 ($0.032)/kWh. SJVN won 100 MW for INR 2.62/kWh as well. The tender was launched in January 2023 (see Rajasthan Discom Launches 1 GW Solar PV Tender).

INR 110 million for Solar Ladder: Supply chain platform for solar installation companies Solar Ladder from India has raised INR 110 million ($1.34 million) seed funding from a host of investors. The names include Axilor Ventures, Titan Capital, DeVC, Stride Ventures and angel investors from Atha Group, NIPHA Group among others. According to local media reports, the company plans to use proceeds to distribute software to automate processes for solar installers. It will enable them to expand their business 10-fold. Solar Ladder provides software-as-a-service for solar installers allowing them to make sales proposals, while also offering project management and operations and maintenance services.

Guinness record for Zest for solar installation: Zest Outdoor Media, that calls itself the world's 1^st green out-of-home asset management company based out of India, says it has achieved a Guinness World Record for the most extensive installation of solar panels on a single advertising billboard. It merged three 40 ft x 20 ft hoardings into a single 60 ft x 40 ft billboard with 84 solar panels on the rear. According to local media reports, the company says this will help it deliver more than 300,000 units of solar energy to the railways over the next 5 years. Hyundai Motor India is said to have come on board as a green partner for the company founded by Mustafa Akolawala.