Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids for manufacturing, testing, packing, forwarding, supplying, and transporting 400 MW domestically manufactured solar modules. The cells used in these modules must be manufactured in India. The last date for the submission of bids is December 23, 2023. Bids will be opened the same day. Bidder must submit bids for a minimum of 100 MW solar module supply capacity. They must submit bids for capacities in the multiples of 100 MW. Bidders cannot quote for any intermediary package capacities.

SJVN Green Energy, a subsidiary of SJVN, has invited bids to purchase or lease up to 1,000 acres of land in Assam for 28 years to develop 200 MW of solar power projects, including connectivity with the state transmission utility system. The selected land should have all necessary regulatory approvals, including chain link fencing around its boundaries. The last date for the submission of bids is December 26, 2023. Bids will be opened the same day. Bidders have to submit ₹5,900 (~$70.75) as the cost of the bid document.

The Asian Development Bank has approved a $250 million (~₹20.8 billion) policy-based loan to strengthen India’s power sector, supporting a speedy transition to renewable energy. The Power Sector Reform Program (Subprogram 1), the first phase of a two-part initiative, aims to develop markets for power trade and ancillary services, including policy actions to accelerate solar and renewable energy deployment, encourage renewables in agriculture, and optimize power project dispatch for emission reduction.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India’s tenders to set up 450,000 metric tons (MT)/annum production facilities for green hydrogen and 1.5 GW of electrolyzer manufacturing capacities across India has received an overwhelming response from industry majors in the country, according to Mercom sources. The tenders for green hydrogen and electrolyzer manufacturing were issued in July this year under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s Tranche-I of the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program.

Independent renewable power producer ReNew has blocked transmission capacity in advance for its 3.1 GW of awarded projects, which are pending power purchase agreements. At a recent investors’ conference call, ReNew Chairman Sumant Sinha emphasized the critical nature of blocking transmission capacity as a proactive approach. The letters of award for these projects have given the company a strategic advantage in securing transmission capacity.

The average cost of large-scale solar power projects in India declined by 13.4% year-over-year in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 following the drop in module prices. Large-scale solar system costs fell for the third quarter in a row. The average project costs decreased by 4.9% quarter over quarter (QoQ). The average selling price of Chinese mono PERC modules fell 29% QoQ and 52% YoY. The MNRE suspended the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers order, allowing developers to import low-cost modules until March 31, 2024.

The Department of Science & Technology has invited proposals to upgrade lab-scale technologies, which are at technology readiness levels (TRL) 3-4, to reach prototypes (TRL 5) and pilot plants (TRL 6) for establishing a complete hydrogen value chain in India.  The projects funded under this initiative are expected to be completed within two to two to three years, with a maximum funding limit of ₹50 million (~$599,776)