India PV News Snippets: NTPC, SECI, Adani, BSES

• AAI has contracted NVVN to set up solar power capacity at its airports across India
• SECI will help OREDA to develop grid connected agrivoltaic projects in Odisha
• AGEL subsidiary has operationalized a 50 MW solar project as an IPP for sale of power to 3^rd parties or on power exchange
• BSES launches rooftop solar power program to encourage deployment at hyperlocal level

Solar power for Indian airports: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has contracted National Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) to set up solar power capacity for its airports, along with promoting use of electric vehicles. A subsidiary of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), NVVN will get adequate land and rooftop space at no extra cost from the AAI under a MoU signed to set up the solar power capacity, according to a Press Trust of India (PTI) news report that referred to an official statement released by the AAI. To start with out of more than 100 airports owned and managed by the AAI, NVVN will set up solar power capacity in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan where solar power requirement is around 55 MW and 8 MW, respectively. This will allow them to become 100% solar powered airports. Already in 2016, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation decided to install solar power plants at all airports across India (see Indian Airports Go Solar).

NTPC aims to have 32 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2032, under its corporate plan out of 130 GW in aggregate aimed for the target year, growing from 62 GW at present. More than 20 GW is under construction currently (see NTPC Aims At 32 GW Renewables Capacity).

Agrivoltaic projects in Odisha: The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has entered a MoU with the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) to develop grid connected agrivoltaic projects in the state of Odisha. Under the arrangement agreed upon, the state government will enter a lease agreement with the farmers directly for a period of 25 years and help the latter earn extra income in terms of a determined lease amount of INR 20,000 ($270) per acre for their agricultural land, annually, reported Mercom India Research.

50 MW solar project commissioned: Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has commissioned a 50 MW solar power project through its subsidiary Adani Solar Energy Limited Jodhpur Two Limited. The project has been commissioned as an independent power producer for sale of power to 3^rd parties or on power exchange, the company shared in a stock exchange filing. This now takes AGEL's operational renewable energy capacity to 2.85 GW out of a total portfolio of 14.2 GW renewable portfolio in India. It says 11.34 GW of this is under implementation.

Delhi discoms promoting rooftop solar: The 2 electricity distribution companies BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) have launched an initiative to promote rooftop solar power in Delhi's South, West, East and Central regions. Solarise Safdurjung and Solarise Karkardooma are the 2 BSES Solar City Programs that are focused on 2 hyperlocal areas rolled out in partnership with US based non-profit SmartPower, WeeGreen and Council on Energy Environment and Water (CEEW). Under these programs, BSES aims to create a market based approach to scale up rooftop solar and introduce community-led demand aggregation for its deployment. Basis the success of the program in these 2 areas, the same will be launched in other BSES areas.

The initiative is part of a statement of intent (SoI) signed by the US Department of State and Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the US-India Clean Energy Finance Task Force in November 2018. Currently, BSES has an installed load of over 90 MW in the form of more than 2,800 rooftop solar installations in its areas.