The government’s decision to keep the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) policy in abeyance for a year has prioritized expeditious solar capacity addition over injecting some uncertainty among module manufacturers. A top government official privy to the deliberations said that the decision to postpone ALMM mandate for a year is because of the steep target of 280 GW by 2030.

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) has invited bids to procure 225 MW of power from decentralized solar projects of 500 kW to 2 MW under component-A of the Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program. MSEDCL has set a ceiling tariff of ₹3.30 (~$0.040)/kWh. The projects should be commissioned within 12 months of the work order. The last day to submit the bids is April 28, 2023.

PFC Consulting Limited has invited bids to build an inter-state transmission system for the evacuation of power from Rajasthan renewable energy zones on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis. These zones are Ph-IV (Part- 1) (Bikaner Complex): PART-C and PART-D. The last date for the submission of bids is May 8, 2023. Bids will be opened on the same day.

SAEL, an India-based waste-to-energy producer, has raised ₹13.25 Billion (~$161 million) via the sale of rupee bonds, which will mature in 2033. India Infradebt, Aseem Infrastructure Finance, TATA Cleantech Capital, and Kotak Infrastructure Debt Fund subscribed to the bonds. SAEL’s green energy initiatives will benefit from the proceeds of the long-term, secured, unlisted, rated, redeemable, non-convertible debt securities. The global analytical company Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited rated the bonds’ AA’.

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved an additional surcharge of ₹0.76 (~$0.0092)/ kWh, which will apply to consumers availing power through open access from April 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023 period. The Commission arrived at the levy through the revised methodology for calculating the additional surcharge.

Britain has unveiled a series of measures to strengthen the country’s long-term energy security and independence, reduce household bills for the long term, and achieve net zero. The measures include a commitment to Carbon Capture Usage and Storage, investment in the offshore wind industry, new green hydrogen production projects, the announcement of Great British Nuclear, planning process reform, expanding energy efficiency support, and investment in electric vehicle charging points.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy will issue renewable project bids worth 50 GW annually for the financial years 2024-28, which includes at least 10 GW will be wind tenders. Industry stakeholders, especially developers, have been demanding a predictable bidding trajectory, which they have argued would help them prepare better for competitive bids. Additionally, it would also help iron out grid connectivity issues and provide more visibility and certainty for upcoming tenders, besides attracting more international capital.

Norway has invited bids for offshore wind projects worth at least 1.5 GW, which can be expanded by another 2.25 GW depending on the conclusion of the ongoing survey. The Norwegian government said that the announcement of bids was the first big step towards its ambition of allocating areas for 30 GW offshore wind capacity by 2040.

The Indian Institute of Science’s Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics has created an ultramicro supercapacitor that can store a large amount of electric charge despite its small size. Unlike batteries, capacitors are unable to discharge energy continuously, making them unsuitable for powering devices such as mobile phones. However, supercapacitors offer the benefits of both batteries and capacitors as they have the capability to both store and release large amounts of energy, making them highly sought after for advanced electronic devices.