AmpIn Energy Transition investing INR 31 billion for 600 MW RE generation and 1.3 GW manufacturing plans; Waaree supplying PERC & TOPCon modules to Acciona Energia; MNRE updates ALMM list I for solar modules; ReNew sells 135 MW PV capacity to Technique Solaire.
AmpIn increases investments: Renewable energy company AmpIn Energy Transition, previously Amp Energy India, has announced an investment of INR 31 billion ($372 million) to expand its renewable energy business. It plans to specifically invest the money in setting up over 600 MW renewable energy projects in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Northeastern states of India. Part of the proceeds will also be invested in a 1.3 GW state-of-the-art integrated solar cell and module manufacturing fab in Odisha. AmpIn MD and CEO Pinaki Bhattacharyya said, “Time has come for the Eastern region which is the home of coal to embrace renewable energy.” He added, “Also, the integrated solar cell & module manufacturing capacity that we are establishing in the region, would strengthen the push to renewables.” In October 2023, AmpIn announced a strategic partnership with Jupiter International to set up a 1.3 GW solar cell and module plant under PLI tranche-II (see GW-Scale Solar Manufacturing Joint Venture In India).
Plum US solar order for Waaree: Indian solar module manufacturer Waaree Energies has signed a 3-year module supply agreement with Spain’s Acciona Energia for 1.5 GW capacity. These n-type TOPCon modules will be installed in Acciona’s US projects between 2024 and 2026. In a company statement referred to by local media, Waaree has already completed the delivery of 850 MW modules to Acciona comprising monocrystalline PERC panels. Acciona has installed these panels in its 56 MW Fort Bend and 375 MW Red Tailed Hawk solar projects in Texas, 129 MW at High Point in Illinois and 288 MW in Union, Ohio. The Indian manufacturer says it has now supplied over 4 GW of modules to its customers in the US in 2023.
India updates ALMM list I: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has updated the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) list I that comprises solar PV modules complying with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification. The list now comprises 79 manufacturers. It specifies minimum module efficiency of 20% for utility/grid scale power plants, 19.5% for rooftop PV and solar pumping, and 19% for solar lighting categories. Recently, the Ministry of Power via the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) launched the Standards & Labelling Programme under which it will admit modules with an effective efficiency of more than 22% as it plans to phase out outdated panels (see India Focuses On Energy Efficiency For Solar Modules).
French player laps up 135 MW PV: France’s Technique Solaire has acquired 5 solar power plants with 135.4 MW combined capacity in India from ReNew Energy Global Plc subsidiary ReNew Solar Power Pvt. Ltd. All these ground-mounted projects located in Karnataka are operational and generate a total 215 GWh/year. The projects are contracted with various local electricity and gas distribution companies under long-term power purchase agreements. With this acquisition, Technique says its total operational capacity in India expands to 210 MW, which it aims to grow further to exceed 350 MW by 2025, to contribute to a global target of 1 GW.
