India PV News Snippets

Saatvik introduces 545W bifacial solar modules; RUMSL's 600 MW floating solar Phase I and SECI's 1.2 GW tranche-V hybrid projects auctioned; MHA tasks SECI to install rooftop solar for CAPF and NSG campuses; Fimer inverters to Mahindra Susten for integrated solar project.

Saatvik launches 545W bifacial modules: Module producer Saatvik has launched bifacial half cut multi busbar solar PV module with 545W power output and 21.12% efficiency. The company claims to be one of the 1^st PV manufacturers to start production of such high power modules using M10 sized cells and says the same offers significant gains on grassland, dry sand and snowfields. The company has a production capacity of 1 GW in Haryana's Ambala, and plans to add another 1.2 GW in Gujarat's Gandhidham (see Saatvik Solar Adds 500 MW Module Capacity).

Winners of 600 MW floating solar auction phase I: Mercom India Research says phase I of Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited's (RUMSL) 600 MW floating solar park auction has been completed (see ESA Consultant For 600 MW Floating PV Project). Amp Energy secured 100 MW capacity for the winning tariff of INR 3.21 ($0.041) per kWh, NHDC laid claim to another 100 MW for INR 3.22 ($0.042) per kWh and SJVN won 100 MW for INR 3.26 ($0.043) per kWh. Remaining 300 MW under phase II will take place soon, it added.

SECI concludes 1.2 GW tranche-V hybrid auction: Amp Energy and SJVN are also winners in a 1.2 GW interstate transmission system (ISTS) connected wind and solar hybrid projects tender under tranche-V, along with Tata Power and NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC RE). While Tata Power's TP Saurya secured 600 MW for INR 2.53 ($0.0332) per kWh, NTPC won 450 MW and Amp Energy 120 MW for the same winning bid. SJVN bid for 200 MW, but won only 30 MW for INR 2.54 ($0.0334) per kWh in the auction, as per Mercom. The auction was conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for the tender launched in October 2021 (see ISTS-Connected Tranche-V Wind Solar Tender).

Solar panels for CAPF and NSG campuses: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SECI to install rooftop solar energy panels for the campuses of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and National Security Guard (NSG). SECI estimates total solar power potential of 71.68 MW for the same. It will either directly or through an agency selected through competitive bidding, will support the implementation of this project.

Italian inverters for integrated solar project: Italy's Fimer says it supplied 1MVA inverters to Mahindra Susten for battery energy storage system (BESS) and successfully executed the integrated solar energy project at Sun Temple Town of Modhera in Mehsana Gujarat. It features a 6 MW grid connected system with 6MVA BESS system and 18 MWh BESS. Fimer said the project was fully commissioned in August 2021 as the country's 1^st integrated state-of-the-art solar project, and claims the BESS is one of the largest till date under operation in India.