India Solar PV News Snippets

MNRE waives off DCR requirement for solar cells under PM KUSUM scheme; Goldi Solar announces partnership with Desert Technologies; Bharti Airtel commits to 23,000 MWh renewable energy for Nxtra data centers; Cleantech Solar's VPPA solar project online; NTPC's NGEL signs green hydrogen MoUs with Nayara Energy and VOCPA.    

DCR waiver for PM KUSUM Projects: The Federal Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has waived off the mandatory requirement to use domestically produced solar cells for projects awarded under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana (PM KUSUM). In an office memorandum issued, the ministry has extended the domestic content requirement (DCR) waiver till March 31, 2024 for component C or the feeder level solarization (FLS) projects awarded on or before June 20, 2023. The ministry said it took the decision in view of the difficulties faced by the stakeholders. Under component C, the ministry is targeting 11.2 GW PV capacity (see MNRE Revises Solar Target Under PM-KUSUM Scheme).  

Indian module company's Saudi connection: Solar module manufacturer Goldi Solar operating 3 GW module capacity in India, will explore green energy investment opportunities in India, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere with Desert Technologies. The latter is an independent solar PV and smart infrastructure holding company based out of Saudi Arabia. Goldi plans to supply its solar modules for Desert Technologies' projects. According to a statement by the module maker to the local media, the 2 partners aim to establish an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supply system for PV module manufacturing, PV cell production, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant and backsheet production. Goldi had earlier announced its production capacity roadmap to increase its module capacity to 6 GW and add 5 GW of cell manufacturing to its portfolio (see Goldi Solar Eying 6 GW Module Manufacturing Capacity).       

Telecom operator's RE commitment: Telecommunications service provider Bharti Airtel has committed to sourcing 23,000 MWh of solar and wind energy for its data center company Nxtra by Q4 FY 23-24. This it plans to procure via open access route and acquire stake in project company of Continuum Green. The latter will supply solar and wind energy to Airtel's Edge data centers in Madhya Pradesh. It has also entered a similar stake purchase arrangement with the project company Vibrant Energy for solar power supply to its Edge data center in Vijayawada. Airtel says with these capacities, its total contracted renewable energy capacity for Nxtra data centers will have exceeded 274,000 MWh.     

VPPA project online: Cleantech Solar has announced the commercial operation of its maiden virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) for a solar power plant. It is also amongst the 1st operational VPPA plants in India, it added. The Singapore headquartered company says the project is registered under the International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) mechanism and its renewable attributes;, in this case, the I-RECs are being purchased by a leading FMCG company under a virtual PPA. The project is now selling power to the energy exchange. Cleantech says lifetime green energy generation from the project is close to 187 GWh. A bilateral agreement between the IPP and the off-taker ensures projects come online through the VPPA wherein the latter don't actually use the power generated but get associated environmental benefits, while facilitating the growth of green energy.    

MoU for green hydrogen: NTPC Limited's wholly-owned subsidiary NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with oil refiner Nayara Energy to explore opportunities in green hydrogen and green energy space. NGEL says the 2 partners will collaborate and produce green hydrogen for Nayara's captive use, accelerate decarbonization and catalyze reduction in carbon footprint. NGEL is tasked with developing renewable energy parks, projects in green hydrogen, energy storage technologies and round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy power as its parent targets 60 GW renewable capacity by 2032.  

NGEL has signed another MoU with the V.O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) to develop a green hydrogen hub at the latter's location in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. It will produce green hydrogen and its derivatives as green ammonia and green methanol on land provided by VOCPA for export and domestic usage.