Daily News Wrap-Up: MNRE Amends Bidding Rules for Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects

Oman issues consultancy tender for 500 MW Ibri III solar power project

thumbnail

Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has amended the guidelines for tariff-based competitive bidding to procure power from grid-connected wind-solar hybrid projects. According to the amendments, if there is a delay in the grant or operationalization of long-term access by the central or state transmission utilities and there is a delay in the readiness of the intra-state or interstate transmission system connected substation at the delivery point, the projects will be eligible for a time extension. However, the generator must have complied with the complete application formalities as per the connectivity procedure, and the delay should be solely attributable to the transmission licensee.

The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has issued a tender for technical consultancy services to develop the 500 MW Ibri III solar power project. The last date to submit the bids is December 7, 2022. The project is scheduled to reach commercial operation by the last quarter of 2026.

Hero Future Energies signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Karnataka to set up hybrid renewable energy projects and green hydrogen manufacturing facilities with an investment of ₹200 billion (~$2.44 billion).

Maersk and the Spanish Government inked a general protocol for collaboration to explore opportunities for large-scale green fuel production in Spain. If implemented in full, the partnership could deliver up to 2 million tons of green fuel annually. The project aims to explore the feasibility of covering the full value chain from renewable energy sources to the bunkering of vessels. The parties are reviewing production opportunities in the Andalusia and Galicia regions. The availability of green energy and fuels in sufficient quantities and at cost-competitive price levels remains the main challenge for the decarbonization of global shipping. Maersk alone needs approximately 6 million tons of green methanol per year to reach its 2030 milestone fleet emissions target and even larger amounts by 2040 for its fleet to reach net zero.

Chemicals company Evonik signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for wind energy with EnBW. The PPA provides Evonik with 100 MW from the new 900-MW He Dreiht wind farm in the German North Sea. This agreement alone will enable Evonik to cover around a quarter of its electricity needs in Europe with renewable energy from 2026. EnBW will supply green electricity over 15 years. Since chemical production requires a constant energy supply, Evonik will compensate for fluctuations in the wind energy feed-in through its balancing group management. The cooperation will reduce Evonik’s Scope 2 emissions by 100,000 tons of CO2 annually. The He Dreiht is scheduled to start operating at the end of 2025.

Westbridge Renewable Energy Corporation announced the addition of the Eastervale Project to the company’s growing portfolio. The project’s target capacity is 300 MW solar photovoltaic and 200 MW/400 MWh battery energy storage system with a two-hour battery duration. The Eastervale Project has secured site control through a long-term solar lease with private landowners. It is currently in Stage 2 of the Alberta Electric System Operator interconnection process, with environmental and wildlife field studies underway per Alberta Environment and Parks guidelines.

EE North America has partnered with Elio Energy to develop a pipeline of 2 GW of solar power generation and energy storage in Arizona and surrounding states. The projects are expected to start construction gradually between 2023-2025. Earlier this year, EE North America announced its entrance into the U.S. market, leveraging its renewable energy project development expertise and partnerships with other industry-leading firms. EE North America aims to develop 10 GW of renewable energy in the United States by 2026, helping state and local governments across the U.S. achieve net-zero goals.

RELATED POSTS

thumbnail
Top 5 States for Open Access Solar Installations in CY 2022

India added an impressive 2.5 GW open access solar capacity in 2022, registering a growth of 92% year-over-year (YoY), according to the 2022 Q4 & Annual Mercom India Solar Open Access Market Report. Karnataka emerged as the to...

March 23, 2023

Markets & Policy

Government Clarifies ALMM Enlistment Guidelines for Co-branded Solar Modules

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has modified the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) guidelines and provided exceptions to broaden the qualification criteria for modules produced under agreements betwe...

March 24, 2023

C&I

In Bengaluru, a 100 kW Solar System Can Save C&I Entities ₹1 Million Annually

Mercom India successfully concluded the C&I Clean Energy Meet 2023 in Bengaluru, where stakeholders in the solar sector and commercial and industrial entities converged to enthusiastically discuss the benefits of renewable ene...

March 24, 2023

Other

Gensol Acquires Solar Tracker Maker Scorpius for ₹1.35 Billion

Gensol Engineering, a part of solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company Gensol Group, has acquired India-based solar tracker manufacturer Scorpius Trackers for ₹1.35 billion ($16.4 million). Gensol said the ac...

March 23, 2023

Magazine

DON'T MISS AN ISSUE!

Mercom Cleantech Magazine

Get Your Copy Today!

magazines

Latest News

thumbnail
Government Clarifies ALMM Enlistment Guidelines for Co-branded Solar Modules

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has modified the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) guidelines and provided exceptions to broaden the qualification criteria for modules produced under agreements...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
Intra-State Sections of Evacuation Infrastructure for Renewables Delayed

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy that the intra-state stretches of the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) have been delayed due to various reasons, including...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
EnBW Takes €2.4 Billion Final Investment Decision on Offshore Wind Project

German electric utility company Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg (EnBW) has made its final €2.4 billion (~$2.6 billion) investment decision on He Dreiht, a major wind project in the German North Sea. The project has a capacity of 960...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
India Missed 2022 Renewables Target as Rooftop Solar and Wind fell Short

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy report has isolated underwhelming progress on rooftop solar and wind energy projects as the primary reason for India falling short of achieving its renewable energy capacity target...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
Researchers Aim to Accelerate Delivery of Space-Based Solar Power to Earth

Researchers at Northumbria University are studying ways of producing wireless electricity from space to Earth by harvesting the Sun’s energy. U.S.-based aerospace, defense, and information security organization Lockheed Martin...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
Regulator Directs Wind Energy Firm, MSEDCL, to Recompute Delayed Payment Charge

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) recently directed Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) to recompute the delayed payment charge from...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
One-Step Coating Could Make Perovskite Solar Cells Commercially Viable

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has devised a new way to produce perovskite solar cells that could speed its commercialization. Different layers are typically added sequentially to a conductive glass substrate to...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
ACWA Power to Develop Solar and Energy Storage Projects in Uzbekistan

Saudi Arabia-based energy company ACWA Power has signed power purchase and investment agreements with  National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan, and the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade to develop new solar and battery...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
China Securities Regulatory Commission Approves Canadian Solar’s IPO

The China Securities Regulatory Commission has approved the registration of CSI Solar, the engineering, procurement, and construction arm of solar module maker Canadian Solar, to issue an initial public offering (IPO). The...

March 24, 2023

thumbnail
Renewables Accounted for 83% of the Total Generation Capacity Added in 2022

Renewable capacity grew by 9.6% in 2022, adding a record 295 GW worldwide. This accounts for 83% of all power capacity added last year and brings the global renewable generation capacity to 3,372 GW by the end of last year, a...

March 24, 2023

MORE NEWS