The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has notified that certain provisions of the General Network Access (GNA) regulations and the first amendment to the GNA Regulations 2022 will come into effect from October 1, 2023. The scheduling and despatch of electricity will be based on the quantum of GNA, GNA (Renewable Energy), Temporary GNA (T-GNA), and T-GNA (Renewable Energy) for each of the designated interstate transmission system (ISTS) customers and other users of the grid.

NTPC Green Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, has invited bids for the appointment of a consultant and the hiring of a designated operational entity for the validation and verification of a 50 MW solar project in Rajgarh, Rajasthan, up to December 31, 2020, and renewal of the project for an additional seven years to continue receiving clean development mechanism benefits and carbon credits. The last date for the submission of bids is September 25, 2023.

In a recent ruling, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission instructed the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh to strictly adhere to the action plan aimed at enhancing the reliability and security of the electricity grid in Western India. The states must submit quarterly progress reports to the Western Regional Load Despatch Center detailing the plan’s implementation.

The future of round-the-clock  renewable energy could be remarkably affordable, costing just about ₹6 (~$0.07)/kWh when utilizing green hydrogen for storage, said Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R. K. Singh said at a conference on clean energy. He said, “Green hydrogen is cheaper than gas and battery energy storage systems. We have come up with a pilot bid for about 100 MW which we hope will establish the benchmark. Once we are able to use green hydrogen for our energy requirements, all supply chain issues, such as the availability of lithium-ion batteries, will be resolved.”

Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency has invited bids for the selection of vendors for the design, manufacture, supply, transport, installation, testing, and commissioning of off-grid solar photovoltaic water pumping systems of 1 HP -7.5 HP capacities. The winning bidder will also have to look after the complete system warranty and its repair and maintenance for five years under component B of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program.

Gujarat Industries Power Company has invited bids for the supply of 750 MW of bifacial solar modules with a minimum wattage output of 540 Wp for a 600 MW solar power project at the Khavda Renewable Energy Park in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Bidders must submit ₹100,000 (~$1,203)/MW as an earnest money deposit. The successful bidder will have to submit an amount equivalent to 10% of the total contract price as a performance bank guarantee within one month of the issuance of the letter of intent.

Public infrastructure finance company REC Limited has approved a funding of ₹60.75 billion (~$730.8 million) to Greenko to develop a 1,440 MW standalone pumped storage project. REC is also in advanced discussions with Greenko and is poised to extend financial support for multiple clean energy projects. It has also approved debt funding of over ₹30.81 billion (~$370.6 million) to Serentica Renewables’ 560 MW peak greenfield solar-wind hybrid project at Gadag, Karnataka.

Bengaluru-based battery technology startup Dreamfly Innovations has secured $300,000 in funding through a round led by Rebalance Angel Community, with participation from IIM Ahmedabad’s Center for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship. The startup plans to utilize the funds for product commercialization and expanding its team. Dreamfly aims to revolutionize the future of energy by leveraging software-defined battery technology which employs software algorithms to optimize battery performance, efficiency, and safety.

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has invited bids to develop the 1.5 GW Khazna solar power project in Abu Dhabi. The scope of work will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the project and associated infrastructure. The project will follow the independent power project program of Abu Dhabi, where developers enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer of electricity.

A consortium of battery scientists, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), is working to advance battery technology without reliance on metals like nickel and cobalt, which are in short supply. The goal is to expedite the development of battery cathodes known as DRX (disordered rock salt) to enhance energy density in batteries. The consortium focuses on creating DRX cathodes using more readily available materials like manganese and titanium to ensure a stable supply for the automotive industry and prevent price fluctuations.’