India Solar PV News Snippets

Japanese loan for NTPC & NREL; Indosol set to kick start module production in Andhra Pradesh; relief for solar developers in GIB issue; AGEL commissions 180 MW solar in Rajasthan; India and Bhutan to cooperate on clean energy. 

NTPC bags Japan loan: India's largest state utility NTPC Limited has announced signing foreign currency loan agreements worth JPY 30 billion ($200 million) from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Both NTPC and its green energy arm NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL or NREL) receive JPY 15 billion each. NREL plans to use part of the proceeds towards capital expenditure for renewable energy projects, while its parent NTPC plans to finance a portion of its capital expenditure for Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems. The JBIC will provide 60% of the facility amount and balance will be provided by other commercial banks under JBIC guarantee. It aligns with the bank's Global Action for Reconciling Economic Growth and Environment Preservation (GREEN) initiative. Under this, it aims to support projects that prioritize environmental conservation alongside economic development. 

500 MW solar module production capacity: Indosol Solar, a subsidiary of Shirdi Sai Electricals (SSE), is set to start 500 MW solar module production at its Andhra Pradesh fab in Nellore district's Ramayapatnam from March 31, 2024. Indosol CEO Sharat Chandra told local media reporters that the production line is built on some 30 acres of land allocated in January 2024. The INR 4 billion ($48 million) project forms phase I of the 5 GW vertically integrated ingot-wafer-cell-module project the company plans to establish for over INR 13 billion ($1.56 billion). Indosol says the state-of-the-art automated production module line will be equipped to roll out PERC, TOPCon and heterojunction (HJT) modules with glass-glass and glass-backsheet configurations. Commercial operations will be Indosol is one of the winners of India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) tranche-II for 6 GW polysilicon to module manufacturing capacity (see India Allocates 39.6 GW PV Under PLI Tranche-II). SSE is also the winner of PLI tranche-I for 4 GW production capacity plans (see Solar PLI Budget Set To Increase). 

SC decides on GIB issue: The Supreme Court of India has provided relief to solar power developers whose projects have been stuck due to the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) issue. The court had previously banned installation of overhead power cables for solar energy plants in GIB habitat regions in 80,000 sq. km. in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Now, the court has agreed to release more than 67,000 sq. km. area to set up lines for transmission of solar power generated in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The remaining 13,000 sq. km. will need to remain undisturbed as core habitat region of the GIB, according to local media reports. 

180 MW online in Rajasthan: Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has commissioned a 180 MW solar power plant in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district in Devikot. The project is contracted to supply energy generated to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for 25 years. It is equipped with bifacial solar panels, horizontal single-axis solar trackers (HSAT) and waterless robotic module cleaning systems. It takes the company's total operational solar portfolio to 6.24 GW out of 9.78 GW total operational renewable energy capacity. AGEL targets to achieve 45 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030. 

Energy cooperation between India and Bhutan: The governments of India and Bhutan have released a joint vision statement on their energy partnership, available on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) website. Under the partnership, they have agreed to engage in the development of new energy projects in the fields of solar and green hydrogen, and hydro-power through the participation of Indian companies as strategic partners. Indian government will facilitate necessary access to financing from Indian financial institutions in India as well as market for power sale for new and upcoming hydro-power projects in Bhutan. Market access to Bhutanese power producers will be facilitated in accordance with applicable domestic regulations and procedures, through mutually agreed arrangements and delivery points.