India PV News Snippets

• Belectric has switched on a 250 MW AC solar power plant for Fortum in Rajasthan
• Cleantech Solar has signed up Siemens Limited as the offtaker for a solar power plant to be developed by its SPV in Maharashtra
• NTPC commissions 17.5 MW floating solar and 80 MW ground mounted solar power capacity
• MNRE empowers DRC to examine additional time extension requirement of renewable energy projects to be commissioned before April 1, 2022 on case-to-case basis

Belectric commissions 250 MW solar in India: Belectric has completed and commissioned a 250 MW AC solar power plant in Rajasthan, with 40% capacity comprising bifacial solar modules, for Fortum Solar Plus Private Limited. Belectric Photovoltaic India, the Indian subsidiary of the German company, company will continue to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the plant. This takes Belectric's installed capacity in India to over 1 GW milestone.

Siemens signs solar PPA with Cleantech Solar: Cleantech Solar has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Siemens Limited for a plant to be set up by its special purpose vehicle (SPV) Sunsole Renewables Private Limited in India's Maharashtra. Power procured will be used by Siemens Limited to reduce its carbon footprint for its Kalwa, Maharashtra located manufacturing facility. At the same time, Siemens has also entered into a share subscription and shareholders agreement for the subscription of 26% of the paid-up equity share capital of the SPV.

NTPC commissions 97.5 MW solar capacity: Indian utility NTPC Limited has commissioned 97.5 MW solar power capacity for 2 separate projects. It comprises 17.5 MW out of 100 MW Ramagundam Floating Solar PV Project at Ramagundam, Telangana as the 1^st part capacity of the project. The larger part, 80 MW solar power capacity was commissioned in Rajasthan as part of the 160 MW Jetsar solar PV project. With these projects online, NTPC counts its commercial capacity has grown to 53.57 GW and that of NTPC Group has gone up to 66.99 GW.

Case-to-case basis for RE project extension: India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has decided to empower the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to look into additional time extension requirement of renewable energy projects that are to be commissioned before April 1, 2022. The extension will be granted in exceptional circumstances and make a recommendation to the ministry on case-to-case basis. The DRC will take into account all time extensions including those given for COVID-19. Notably, April 1, 2022 is when the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) kicks into effect for imported solar cells and modules. Developers have been complaining to the ministry of Chinese suppliers charging over 1.5 times the contract value considering the BCD imposition deadline and hiked prices for raw materials in the current market environment (see Ray Of Light For Solar Developers In India).