Author Archives: Saumy Prateek
About Saumy Prateek
Saumy is a senior staff reporter with MercomIndia.com covering business and energy news since 2016. Prior to Mercom, Saumy was a copy editor at Thomson Reuters. Saumy earned his Bachelors Degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University. More articles from Saumy Prateek.
Is Unconditional Letter of Credit the Answer to Solar, Wind Payment Issues?
Cases of payment delays to renewable generators have become common and on the rise. However, the Ministry of Power has given these developers a shot in the arm by introducing ...
SOLA Group Secures 400 Million Rand for 40 MW of Solar Projects in Southern Africa
The SOLA Group has committed to set up 40 MW of solar projects in Southern Africa. It has secured 400 million Rand (R) ($26.28 million) to build commercial and industrial ...
Only Manufacturers of Solar Pumps and Modules Allowed to Bid Under KUSUM Program
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued an amendment to the guidelines for implementing the KUSUM program for India’s farmers, which would help solarize agriculture. Now, the ...
DISCOMs in the Top Renewable States are the Biggest Defaulters as Dues Reach ₹69 Billion
Distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the top renewable energy generating states of the country are the biggest defaulters when it comes to paying dues for the power procured from renewable projects ...
Top 5 Chinese Solar Inverter Companies Account for 36% of Total Exports
In the first half (1H) of 2019, the top five solar inverter manufacturers in China accounted for 36.44% of inverter exports globally from China according to the latest trade data ...
MNRE Issues New Rooftop Solar Guidelines, Incentivizes DISCOMs to Install 18 GW
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued operational guidelines to implement the second phase of its grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) program. Overall, 22 GW of rooftop ...
Andhra Pradesh Government Now Says it Will Only Target PPAs of Corrupt Wind Projects
In a welcome development, the ongoing feud between the renewable industry and the new administration in the state of Andhra Pradesh could be deescalating. The state government may take a ...
SECI’s 1.8 GW Wind Tender Left Undersubscribed with Bids for Only 551 MW
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)’s tender to set up 1,800 MW of inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind power projects under tranche VIII has been undersubscribed by 1,249 MW ...
US Appeals Against WTO Ruling in Solar DCR Trade Case with India
The United States’ delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) has appealed to the Appellate Body against the verdict in the recently concluded India-U.S. solar case. The U.S. says that ...
Central Electronics Calls for Domestic Manufacturers to Supply 100,000 Chip Solar Cells
The Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a public sector enterprise of the government of India, has issued a tender to procure 100,000 chip solar cells of 2.97-Watt capacity from domestic manufacturers ...
Maharashtra DISCOM’s Request to Adopt Higher Solar Tariff for 1.2 GW of Projects Rejected
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has dismissed a petition filed by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) seeking the approval of tariff for 1,170 MW of solar projects to be set ...
Energy Vault Raises $110 Million from SoftBank Vision Fund for Gravity-Based Storage
Energy Vault, an Idea lab company that has developed a transformative technology to store energy has raised $110 million in Series B funding. The investment was made by SoftBank Vision ...
Gujarat Commission Allows DISCOMs to Procure Power from Small Solar Projects to Meet RPO
The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has passed an order allowing Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) and the other distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the state to procure power from ...
JERC Issues Draft Generic Tariff Order for Solar, Wind and Small Hydro Projects in Goa
The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for the state of Goa and union territories has issued draft regulations for determining tariffs from renewable sources including solar, wind and small hydro ...
DISCOMs Across States Owe Nearly ₹30 Billion to Renewable Generators: CEA
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has found that distribution companies across the country owe dues totaling ₹30.12 billion (~$420 million) to renewable energy projects aggregating 5,982 MW. Last week, Mercom reported that ...
Goa Issues Net Metering Regulations for Solar Projects
The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for the state of Goa and union territories has finalized the net metering regulations. The new rules have been in effect since July 24, ...
Assam Announces Tender to Install 8 MW of Rooftop Solar for Residential Consumers
The Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) has issued a tender to set up 8 MW of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects with the net metering facility. The rooftop solar projects ...
Andhra Floats RESCO Tender for 15 MW of Rooftop Solar on Government Buildings
The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) has tendered 15 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be set up atop government buildings across ...
India Likely to Hike Import Duty on Solar Equipment in the Coming Years
The Minister for Power R. K. Singh has announced that the import duty that’s currently being levied on solar equipment will be raised in the coming years. According to a ...
Andhra Pradesh Issues Empanelment Tender for CAPEX Rooftop Solar Projects
The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) has issued an empanelment tender for rooftop solar installers in the state. The tender covers rooftop solar projects with ...
Demand for Solar and Non-Solar RECs Increased in July 2019
In July’s renewable energy certificate (REC) trading session, there was a rise in the number of solar and non-solar RECs that were traded. A total of 129,056 solar RECs were ...
Central Electronics Calls for Empanelment of Solar Pump Manufacturers Under KUSUM Program
The Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a public-sector enterprise of the central government, has invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) for empanelment of manufactures of solar water pumps in tenders under ...
Was Setting Upper Tariff Cap a Deterrent for NTPC’s 1.2 GW Solar Tender?
Tariff caps are often not acceptable to developers planning on executing solar projects in India. The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), has had to extend again the bid-submission deadline for 1.2 ...
Power Grid to Build Transmission Network in Gujarat & Rajasthan to Evacuate Renewables
The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has won two contracts to set up transmission infrastructure to evacuate power generated from renewable projects. PGCIL emerged as the successful bidder ...
After June’s Dip, Spot Power Price Rises Slightly to ₹3.38/kWh in July 2019
In July 2019, the spot power prices witnessed a surge, rising to ₹3.38 (~$0.048)/kWh. This was a 15% increase month-over-month (MoM) when compared to June 2019, in which spot power ...
