India PV News Snippets: AC Energy, REIL, ReNew

100 MW project achieves financial closure: AC Energy and Infrastructure Corporation has announced reaching financial closure for 100 MW AC/140 MW DC Sitara Solar Farm it is currently constructing in Rajasthan. The project is expected to come online by H1/2021, for $67 million. Financing was raised from the US International Development Finance Corporation with a 20-year period. While it did not specify the proceeds it received from the US agency, AC Energy said the project will be funded through a 75:25 debt-to-equity financing scheme. It is constructing the project through UPC-AC Energy Solar, a joint venture between UPC Solar and AC Energy. It won the project in March 2019 under a competitive bidding round for the winning bid of INR 2.48 per kWh for 25 years (see AC Energy To Invest In 100 MW AC Indian Solar Park).

REIL issues tenders for solar cells: The Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL) has issued 2 separate tenders to procure solar cells. One of the tenders is for 150,000 multicrystalline silicon solar cells with 4.5W output each. These cells should have 156mm x 156mm wafer size, and 4 or 5 busbars, along with PECVD silicon nitride of deep blue color as the anti-reflection coating. Last date to submit bids for this one is March 20, 2021.

The other REIL tender is to source 140,000 multicrystalline silicon solar cells with 4.67W each. These also need to have 156mm x 156mm wafer size, but with 5 busbars. Last date for bid submission is March 18, 2021. Both these tenders specify that cells must be produced locally. Details of both the tenders are available on REIL's website.

ReNew Power gets WEF honor: The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recognized ReNew Power as the world's 1^st clean energy company to its Global Lighthouse Network, the company announced. It added that the WEF's recognition attributed ReNew Power's investments in digital analytics and machine learning at its Hubli facility to increase power output of its solar and wind energy assets while reducing downtime without capital expenditure, for the recognition. The network recognized companies using new technologies to achieve environmentally sustainable, community supportive and profitable growth, it added.