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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has notified the implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulation effective April 1, 2024. The new notification, however, eliminates the exemptions for projects under open access and rooftop solar by private parties, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/almm-reimposed-exempt-open-access-solar-projects-advanced-stages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in the February order.</p>
<p>While MNRE did not provide any clarifications on the exemptions, it mentioned that the ALMM <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-announce-list-of-approved-solar-manufacturers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order</a> 2019, which was held in abeyance for a year, i.e., the financial year 2023-24, will come into effect on April 1, 2024.</p>
<p>The removal of open access and unsubsidized rooftop solar projects from exemption comes as a surprise for most industry stakeholders who expected the government to continue the relaxation promised in the February directive.</p>
<p>For projects where the solar modules have been received at the project site by March 31, 2024, and are not able to be commissioned by that day due to reasons beyond the control of the project developer, the ministry will examine it separately.</p>
<p>According to Mercom India Research, the pipeline of open-access solar projects stands at 14 GW as of December 2023.</p>
<p>The ministry first issued the ALMM reimposition order in February 2024, with exemptions announced for projects in advanced stages, open access/captive projects, and non-subsidized rooftop solar projects.</p>
<p>The order was later <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-holds-almm-reimposition-order-abeyance">kept</a> in abeyance following questions from stakeholders on the ambiguity around the definition of ‘advanced stages of construction,’ the phrase used by the MNRE in the notification reviving the ALMM mandate.</p>
<p>The MNRE recently <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-new-solar-module-almm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> 3,501 MW of new solar module capacity in the ALMM, increasing the cumulative module manufacturing capacity in the list to 37,421 MW. With the latest addition, ALMM now has 81 module manufacturers.</p>
<p>According to Mercom India Research’s recently released <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/state-solar-manufacturing-india-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of Solar PV Manufacturing in India 2024 Report</a>, the country’s cumulative solar module manufacturing capacity reached 64.5 GW, and solar cell manufacturing capacity reached 5.8 GW as of December 2023.</p>
<p>The report forecasts module manufacturing capacity to exceed 150 GW and cell capacity to reach over 75 GW by 2026.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/satish-shetty/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Satish Shetty</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Satish-pic-1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Satish Shetty,</strong> Associate Editor at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/satish-shetty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Satish Shetty.</a></p>
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<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Satish-pic-1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/satish-shetty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong style="color: #00b451">Satish Shetty</strong></a> is an Associate Editor with Mercom India. Prior to Mercom, Satish was a multimedia news producer at Reuters, where he gained experience in digital news media. Satish has his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Broadcast Journalism from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Malaysia.<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/satish-shetty/" rel="noopener noreferrer">More articles from Satish Shetty.</a></div>
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ALMM Reimposed from April, No Exemptions for Open Access Solar Projects


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					</table><p>The <a href="https://hareda.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New and Renewable Energy Department of Haryana</a> has proposed the draft &#8220;Haryana Green Hydrogen Policy 2024,&#8221; aligning with the Government of India&#8217;s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cabinet-approves-%E2%82%B9197-billion-hydrogen-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Green Hydrogen Mission</a> (NGHM).</p>
<p>Stakeholders can share their suggestions and comments by March 15, 2024.</p>
<p>The Haryana Green Hydrogen Policy 2024 envisions reaching a production target of 250 kilotons per annum (TPA) of green hydrogen by 2030, coupled with a 2 GW electrolyzer and associated components manufacturing.</p>
<p>The policy seeks to address environmental concerns by utilizing biomass for green hydrogen production, particularly aimed at mitigating emissions from crop burning.</p>
<p><strong>Eligible Projects</strong></p>
<p>Eligible projects under this policy encompass green hydrogen and its derivatives projects within the state that procure renewable energy (RES) from various sources.</p>
<p>These include third-party RES procurement through the open access route within the state, either co-located or differently located RES within the state; deployment of captive RES plants within or outside the state, either co-located or differently located within the state; RES procurement from distribution licensees within the state; green energy procurement from power exchanges; and a combination of the above, including energy storage facilities within the state charged from these sources.</p>
<p><strong>Nodal Agency for Green Hydrogen</strong></p>
<p>The Haryana New &amp; Renewable Energy Department will establish the &#8220;Haryana Green Hydrogen Planning Committee (HGHPC)&#8221; to serve as the nodal agency under this policy.</p>
<p>HGHPC will be responsible for driving all aspects of green hydrogen-related policies, coordination, implementation, monitoring, compliance, and associated work. HGHPC will consist of designated officers from relevant departments and authorities of the state government involved in the development of the green hydrogen ecosystem.</p>
<p>HGHPC is expected to provide a single-window facility and facilitate the time-bound approval/allotment of all green hydrogen projects.</p>
<p>Project developers establishing green hydrogen and its derivatives projects within the state will pay a facilitation fee of ₹10,000 (~$120.83)/MW of green hydrogen plant capacity as a one-time facilitation fee to HGHPC for coordination, implementation, monitoring, and compliance-related work.</p>
<p><strong>Eligible Project Developers</strong></p>
<p>The projects that involve the electrolysis of water using renewable energy, biomass-based production, municipal solid waste-based production, or clean hydrogen produced through other innovative technologies, as specified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>), are eligible.</p>
<p>These projects may involve captive use and/or the sale of green hydrogen and its derivatives to third parties.</p>
<p>Eligible project developers are required to submit a request for approval of green hydrogen and its derivatives projects, along with the tagged renewable energy projects, to HGHPC to avail of exemptions and benefits under this policy.</p>
<p>The registration fees for the associated renewable energy capacity will be applicable as per the state&#8217;s latest renewable energy policy.</p>
<p><strong>Wheeling Charges Exempted</strong></p>
<p>To ensure a continuous supply of renewable energy for green hydrogen production, the state will facilitate the development of renewable energy hybrid projects, battery storage, and pumped hydro storage projects within the state.</p>
<p>Renewable energy hybrid projects and pumped hydro storage projects associated with green hydrogen and its derivatives will receive priority in land allocation and connectivity to transmission and water infrastructure.</p>
<p>All relevant clauses under the Haryana bio-energy policy 2018 will apply to the cost-effective supply and processing of biomass used in green hydrogen.</p>
<p>Distribution licensees within the state can procure and supply renewable energy to green hydrogen and its derivatives projects. In such cases, the distribution licensee will only charge the cost of procurement and a small margin determined by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC).</p>
<p>Wheeling charges will be exempted for this procurement, subject to periodic review by HERC.</p>
<p>Cross subsidy surcharge and additional surcharge will not be applicable for electricity procured for the production of green hydrogen in green hydrogen and its derivatives projects, subject to approval from HERC.</p>
<p>Contract demand charges will not be applicable for green hydrogen and its derivatives projects procuring renewable energy through open access in accordance with HERC regulations.</p>
<p>Obligated entities can fulfill their Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) by purchasing green hydrogen and its derivatives. The quantum of green hydrogen or its derivatives will be calculated based on the equivalence to the production of one MWh of electricity from renewable sources.</p>
<p>The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission will notify the norms for this calculation.</p>
<p>Excess renewable energy beyond the RPO of obligated entities will count towards RPO compliance of distribution licensees, following provisions of central policies and regulations related to renewable energy for green hydrogen.</p>
<p>RPO benefits associated with the excess renewable energy taken by different beneficiaries shall not exceed 100% of the RPO benefits accrued from renewable energy required for the production of green hydrogen.</p>
<p><strong>Special concessions and waivers</strong></p>
<p>There will be a 100% exemption from electricity duty for ten years from the commissioning date of green hydrogen and its derivatives projects consuming electricity from renewable energy projects with or without storage.</p>
<p>The policy also proposes a 100% exemption from intra-state transmission charges and wheeling charges for ten years from the commissioning date of green hydrogen and its derivatives projects procuring electricity from renewable energy projects with or without storage.</p>
<p>Intra-state transmission and wheeling losses, as well as banking rules and charges, will apply as determined by HERC.</p>
<p><strong>Creation of Green Hydrogen Demand</strong></p>
<p>HAREDA will facilitate demand aggregation in the state through an appropriate mechanism to support the creation of green hydrogen demand.</p>
<p>Subsidy of up to ₹50 (~$0.60)/kg of green hydrogen shall be provided for five years from the start of blending of green hydrogen with natural gas for CNG and PNG networks, green ammonia production, use in mobility, steel production, and in other industrial processes.</p>
<p>HAREDA will support the identification of a land bank for the development of hubs/clusters for the production, conversion, storage, transportation, and hydrogen refueling stations of green hydrogen and its derivatives within the State.</p>
<p>There will be a 100% exemption from the payment of stamp duty for land acquired for green hydrogen and its derivatives production, conversion, storage, transportation, and hydrogen refueling stations projects and associated co-located renewable energy projects within the state and commissioned during the policy operative period.</p>
<p>HAREDA will coordinate with the water resource department to identify and facilitate the development of water infrastructure for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives projects.</p>
<p>It will also identify potential sites for the development of renewable energy projects, facilitating the development of transmission infrastructure for connectivity through relevant state authorities.</p>
<p>Grid connectivity to green hydrogen and its derivatives projects and associated renewable energy and storage projects will be granted priority.</p>
<p>The Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (<a href="https://hsiidc.org.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HSIIDC</a>) will contribute by providing land, water, and basic infrastructure within its area for green hydrogen hub development.</p>
<p><strong>Electrolyser and Equipment Manufacturing</strong></p>
<p>HAREDA aims to simplify the import process of rare earth materials necessary for this electrolyzer manufacturing equipment.</p>
<p>Land allocation in HSIIDC areas for a manufacturing zone dedicated to green hydrogen supply chain equipment, renewable energy plant &amp; equipment, and related components will be facilitated by HAREDA.</p>
<p>Guidelines for land allocation from this bank to potential manufacturers will also be formulated. Additionally, HAREDA will assist in the development of essential infrastructure like roads, electricity, and water in these manufacturing zones through relevant state authorities. HAREDA will facilitate time-bound statutory clearances for setting up manufacturing units through the coordination of relevant state authorities.</p>
<p><strong>R&amp;D and Pilot Projects</strong></p>
<p>HAREDA will facilitate funding for R&amp;D units on a case-by-case basis and promote collaboration between academia and industries.</p>
<p>Additionally, HAREDA would support innovation and incubation centers focused on green hydrogen production from biomass and waste, promoting advancements in sustainable practices.</p>
<p>In the realm of pilot projects, HAREDA will actively endorse the demonstration of initiatives employing green hydrogen technology for the transport sector, specifically long-haul heavy-duty buses and trucks, and suggest fiscal incentives based on individual project merits.</p>
<p>HAREDA will identify and implement demonstration projects in areas like biomass and municipal waste, subject to necessary approvals from the Government of Haryana.</p>
<p><strong>Single-window Agency </strong></p>
<p>A single-window facility will be established to streamline approvals for projects related to green hydrogen production, conversion, storage, and transportation.</p>
<p>The Haryana State Hydrogen Advisory Committee will facilitate the implementation of the green hydrogen policy.</p>
<p>Chaired by the Chief Secretary, the committee will be responsible for reviewing and approving green hydrogen-related projects under the policy.</p>
<p>Recently, MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-pilot-projects-hydrogen-trucks-buses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> pilot projects to use green hydrogen in the long-haul transportation sector under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Gautamee Hazarika</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Picture1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Gautamee,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Gautamee.</a><br />
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<a href="gautamee@mercomindia.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gautamee@mercomindia.com</a></p>
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<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Picture1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" rel="noopener">Gautamee</a> is a reporter at Mercom India. Prior to Mercom, Gautamee was working as a multimedia news journalist at ThePrint in New Delhi. She has received her Bachelors in English Honors and Masters in English Literature from St.Stephen&#8217;s College, University of Delhi.<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" rel="noopener">More articles from Gautamee</a></div>
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Haryana Targets 250 KTPA Green Hydrogen, 2 GW Electolyzer Production by 2030

<p>The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://jercuts.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">JERC</a>) for the state of Goa and union territories has ruled in favor of a solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company seeking connectivity for a solar power project and exemptions for it under the Commission’s open access (OA) regulations.</p>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<p>Waaree PV Technologies Limited had signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Chemfab Alkalies Limited for the supply of solar power from 10 MW of projects in Karikal, Puducherry for 25 years. The PPA was signed on January 5, 2019.</p>
<p>Waaree had signed the PPA after a written confirmation from the Puducherry Electricity Department (PED) that open access charges and losses for wheeling of power did not apply to the project. PED further clarified that the charges will not be levied if the power generated from the projects is fed into the grid for meeting its renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets.</p>
<p>Waaree is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sangam Renewables. However, the PED had incorrectly interpreted that Sangam Renewables was a completely separate entity, and as a result, had denied the exemption of the charges.</p>
<p>Further, Waaree went on to explain that it had started work on the project in early 2018 under the provisions of the JERC Regulations, 2018 and that it had achieved all milestones before the JERC Regulations, 2019, was passed.</p>
<p>Waaree spent about ₹200 million (~$2.7 million) towards the project construction. It has completed most of the preparatory work, including the execution of the PPA, acquisition of land, obtaining financial assistance from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), and grid connectivity.</p>
<p>Waaree sought for the Commission to relax the provisions of the JERC Regulations, 2019, and to allow for the exemption of open access charges for the duration of the PPA.</p>
<p>It explained that in the absence of new regulations, it proceeded based on the earlier regulations as it was left with no other choice. It was, therefore, eligible for relief under the principle of “Legitimate Expectation.”</p>
<p>The electricity department also claimed that Waaree’s petition was not maintainable since the relief it sought did not pertain to the JERC (Solar PV Grid Interactive &amp; Net Metering <a href="https://mercomindia.com/jerc-draft-solar-net-metering-regulations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Regulations</a>), 2019. It stated that Waaree has mixed up the provisions of these regulations with the JERC (Connectivity and Open Access in Intra State Transmission and Distribution) Regulations, 2017.</p>
<p><strong>Commission’s Observations</strong></p>
<p>After an analysis of the submissions by both parties, the Commission said that the petitioner’s claims were covered under the JERC (Solar PV Grid Interactive &amp; Net Metering) Regulations, 2019 and that the petition was indeed maintainable. It added that it was not convinced by the arguments put forth by the Puducherry Electricity Department regarding the maintainability of the case and rejected all its contentions.</p>
<p>It took note of Waaree’s concerns that the entire project and its large investments towards it would go to waste if open access is denied.</p>
<p><em>“It is not out of place to mention here that due to the absence of new regulations, the petitioner proceeded on the basis of earlier JERC Regulations 2015. It is submitted that apart from proceeding on the basis of exemption granted under the JERC Regulations 2015, there was no other option for the petitioner as the JERC Regulations 2019 were issued much later,”</em> the Commission said in its analysis.</p>
<p>It noted that the Waaree had made a case on merits after achieving significant milestones during the extended period during which the JERC’s regulations from 2015 were in effect. Subsequently, it declared that Waaree’s petition was covered under the principle of “Legitimate Expectations.”</p>
<p><strong>Commission’s Order</strong></p>
<p>In its final order, the Commission ruled in favor of Waaree and rejected the submissions of the Puducherry Electricity Department. It directed the department to grant connectivity to the solar project along with all the open access exemptions under the JERC Regulations, 2015. It further directed the electricity department to execute a long-term open access agreement with Waaree for 25 years.</p>
<p>Additionally, the Commission directed Waaree to complete its project to achieve commercial operation by March 31, 2021, and to submit a report of completion within two weeks of this date. It also directed the electricity department to monitor the progress of the project and grant long-term open access and grid connectivity subject to the project meeting the timelines specified by the Commission.</p>
<p>Open access policies are highly inconsistent and vary across the country. Mercom has <a href="https://mercomindia.com/adoption-solar-open-access-roadblocks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">written</a> about the open access market in India and how it offers parallel opportunities for stakeholders, including large corporates, solar project developers, investors, and power distribution companies, to participate in India’s solar dream.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Nithin Thomas</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Nithin Thomas,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas.</a></p>
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<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">Nithin Thomas</a> is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Reuters News, he has covered oil, metals and agricultural commodity markets across global markets. He has also covered refinery and pipeline explosions, oil and gas leaks, Atlantic region hurricane developments, and other natural disasters. Nithin holds a Masters Degree in Applied Economics from Christ University, Bangalore and a Bachelor&#8217;s Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas Prasad</a></div>
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Electricity Regulator Rules in Favor of Open Access Solar Project Developer

<p>The Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China has issued a notice on ways to promote financial subsidies for new electric vehicles.</p>
<p>The ministry said it had issued the order to support the new electric vehicle industry. It has highlighted a few areas of the subsidy policy for the new EVs that must be addressed.</p>
<p>It said that the notice would be implemented starting April 23, 2020, and the transition period will be from April 23, 2020, to July 2020. The topics were related to the extension of the duration and improving the accessibility of subsidies, optimization of technical indicators in the industry, and improving the capital settlement system.</p>
<p>The ministry also noted that the current subsidies for fuel cell-based vehicles must also be adjusted and that the industry must strive to establish a hydrogen energy and fuel vehicle industry chain in about four years.</p>
<p>It added that the local departments for new EV promotion should strengthen fund supervision, management, and ensure fund safety. In conclusion, the ministry stated that the supporting policies must be improved and that steps must be taken to create a conducive environment for the growth of the industry.</p>
<p>This notice followed an earlier notice issued on April 16, 2020, by the Chinese ministry of finance and the ministry of industry and information technology, which contained policy announcements regarding the exemption of vehicle purchase tax on new EVs.</p>
<p>It stated that new EVs purchased between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, would be exempted from vehicle purchase tax. This also covered plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.</p>
<p>New energy vehicles exempted from vehicle purchase tax will be managed through the “Catalog of New Energy vehicle Models Exempted from Vehicle Purchase Tax,” issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration of Taxation.</p>
<p>The announcement stated that the current policy of exempting vehicle purchase tax on new EVs that have been included in the catalog before December 31, 2020, would remain in effect.</p>
<p>Recently, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/byd-toyota-join-hands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that China-based BYD Company Ltd (BYD) and Toyota Motor Corporation have announced that the operation of their new company will be launched in 2020. The name of the new company will be called BYD Toyota EV Technology Co. Ltd (BTET). The company will be involved in the design and development of battery-run electric vehicles and their platforms and related parts. The equity participation of both companies is 50% each.</p>
<p>Earlier, Fourth Partner Energy, a distributed solar energy management company, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/fourth-partner-lithium-urban-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that it has partnered with Lithium Urban Technologies, a commercial electric vehicle (EV) fleet provider, to set up solar-powered EV charging infrastructure across the country under a joint venture (JV) Shuchi Anant Virya (SAV).</p>
<p>In February 2020, Toyota Motor and Panasonic Corporation <a href="https://mercomindia.com/toyota-panasonic-to-develop-automotive-prismatic-batteries-evs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">joined hands</a> to establish a joint venture specializing in automotive prismatic batteries for electric vehicles. The joint venture will be called Prime Planet Energy &amp; Solutions, Inc.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, last month, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-claim-double-range-electric-vehicles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercom</a> reported that a team of researchers led by Hun-Gi Jung at the Center for Energy Storage Research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has claimed to have come up with silicon anode materials that can increase the battery capacity by four times as compared to the traditional graphite anode materials.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Nithin Thomas</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Nithin Thomas,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas.</a></p>
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<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">Nithin Thomas</a> is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Reuters News, he has covered oil, metals and agricultural commodity markets across global markets. He has also covered refinery and pipeline explosions, oil and gas leaks, Atlantic region hurricane developments, and other natural disasters. Nithin holds a Masters Degree in Applied Economics from Christ University, Bangalore and a Bachelor&#8217;s Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas Prasad</a></div>
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China Likely to Improve its Subsidy Policy for Electric Vehicles

<p>The Ministry of Shipping (<a href="http://shipmin.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MoS</a>) has issued a notice directing all major ports of the country to allow free storage time to all port users for the lockdown period. India is currently on a nationwide lockdown until May 3, 2020, to arrest the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>
<p>The present situation has led to a drop in import and export volumes, delays in the evacuation of cargo, and cash flow issues.</p>
<p>Under the remission of charges to port users, the Ministry has directed the ports to allow deferment of annual lease rentals or license fees on a pro-rata (proportionate) basis without any interests for April, May, and June. However, this can be availed only on request from the lessee or licensee.</p>
<p>Further, the MoS has stated that ports should ensure that no penalty charges, demurrages, detention charges, dwell time charges, anchorage charges, berth hire charges, and performance-related penalties are to be levied on any port for the delay in berthing, loading/unloading operations or evacuation or arrival of cargo during the lockdown and another 30 days of the recovery period.</p>
<p>According to the new guidelines, if additional land is available within the port area, the port should make all efforts to provide additional storage land to port users temporarily. The Ministry has also pointed out that all these should be provided without any charges up to June 30, 2020.</p>
<p>Additionally, the ports are directed to extend the public-private partnership (PPP) concessionaries. Ports have been asked to allow deferment of revenue, royalty, and equipment hire charges without any interest in April, May, and June 2020. The charges due in April 2020 will be paid in August 2020 or through six-monthly equated installments.</p>
<p>The Ministry has also asked the ports to allow waiver of lease rentals, license fees, and similar charges for April, May, and June 2020.</p>
<p>Further, the ports have been asked not to levy any penalty for any shortfall in performance standards such as berth output, transit storage, or turnaround time for the lockdown period, and one month of the recovery period.</p>
<p>For now, ports will allow interest-free 60 days deferment of marine dues or vessel-related charges to the Indian coastal vessels. For this, the ports will obtain the bank guarantees as security from coastal vessel operators. However, only deferment requests received by May 30, 2020, will be considered.</p>
<p>The notification further added that all ports are to remain operational during the COVID-19 pandemic despite the <em>force majeure</em> declarations.</p>
<p>Given the situation arising due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry has directed the ports to extend the completion period of any project under the PPP model or otherwise.</p>
<p>All major port trusts have been asked to issue orders for both remission and <em>force majeure</em> in their respective ports and submit them to the Ministry of Shipping within seven working days from the date of the issue of the order.</p>
<p>In April 2020, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/major-ports-asked-not-to-impose-penalties/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercom</a> reported that the Ministry of Shipping issued its first notice to major ports with directions to deal with issues caused due to the Coronavirus outbreak.</p>
<p>Earlier, the Directorate General of Shipping (<a href="https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DGS</a>), Mumbai, had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/shipping-lines-asked-not-impose-detention-charges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> an advisory to shipping lines asking them not to impose any container detention charges on import shipments at Indian seaports to maintain proper supply lines in these tough times.</p>
<p>In a recent online survey <a href="https://mercomindia.com/indian-solar-industry-coronavirus-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">conducted</a> by Mercom India Research, almost 70% of the respondents said their business would be affected by over 15% because of the Coronavirus, while 83% of the survey participants expect solar component supply shortages because of Coronavirus. The Coronavirus pandemic is proving to be the solar industry’s biggest challenge this year, and the repercussions are being felt across industries all over the globe. Read Mercom’s in-depth report <a href="https://mercomindia.com/indian-solar-industry-coronavirus-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p>According to several developers, even though ports are clearing the materials, there are no workers to transport the materials. According to a government official,  about 6-7 GW worth renewable energy components are currently stuck in Chinese ports.</p>
<p>Image credit: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada / CC <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BY-SA</a></p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/anjana/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Anjana Parikh</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><p><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Anjana2.png" width="112" height="121" />Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.</p>
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India’s Ports to Allow Free Storage Time During the Lockdown

<p>The Office of the United States Trade Representative (<a href="https://ustr.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">USTR</a>) has withdrawn the exclusion of bifacial solar panels from safeguard measures, applicable on imported panels. The revocation will be effective, starting May 18, 2020.</p>
<p>In its notice, the USTR said that in January, it started looking into whether to maintain, withdraw, or take some other action concerning the exclusion of bifacial solar panels from the safeguard measure.</p>
<p>It stated that based on an evaluation of comments received, and responses to those comments, and in consultation with the secretaries of commerce and energy, it determined that the exclusion on bifacial solar panels was undermining the objectives of the safeguard measure.</p>
<p>This is the second time the exemption is being revoked after it was first revoked in October 2019, only to be reinstated by the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) in December 2019.</p>
<p>Previously, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/trump-withdraws-tariff-exemption-bifacial-solar-modules/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that the Office of the United States Trade Representative withdrew the exclusion of bifacial modules from the ambit of safeguard measures that were applicable on imported solar equipment. The change in policy took effect on October 28, 2019, and a 25% duty was imposed on bifacial modules. The USTR also modified the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) to withdraw the exclusion of bifacial solar panels from the application of the safeguard measure. The USTR also modified the HTSUS to make certain technical changes in connection with the safeguard measure.</p>
<p>In June 2019, the USTR <a href="https://mercomindia.com/us-exempts-bifacial-solar-modules-safeguard/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> an order exempting bifacial and a few other types of solar panels from the levy of newly-imposed safeguard duty of 25%. The exemption came into effect on June 13, 2019. It exempted bifacial solar panels that absorb light and generate electricity on each side of the panel and that consist of only bifacial solar cells that absorb light and generate electricity on each side of the cells; flexible fiberglass solar panels without glass components other than fiberglass, such panels having power outputs ranging from 250 to 900 watts.</p>
<p>Several module suppliers from China have been pitching bifacial modules to Indian solar developers because of its better output, but the cost has been a major impediment. Once prices become competitive, bifacial solar modules could be a good fit for large-scale solar projects in states like Rajasthan, which has the highest irradiation levels in the country.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Nithin Thomas</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Nithin Thomas,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas.</a></p>
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<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">Nithin Thomas</a> is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Reuters News, he has covered oil, metals and agricultural commodity markets across global markets. He has also covered refinery and pipeline explosions, oil and gas leaks, Atlantic region hurricane developments, and other natural disasters. Nithin holds a Masters Degree in Applied Economics from Christ University, Bangalore and a Bachelor&#8217;s Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas Prasad</a></div>
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US Revokes Exemptions on Bifacial Solar Panels for the Second Time

<p>The Republic of Mali, a country in West Africa, has announced that it will exempt renewable energy equipment from value-added taxes (VAT), duties, and other taxes to boost the reduction of carbon footprint in the country.</p>
<p>Renewable energy equipment will be exempted from all VAT, duties, and taxes payable at the customs cordon with the exceptions of community levy, community solidarity levy, and statistical royalty, the country’s council of ministers noted in their notice.</p>
<p>The council added that these exemptions would go a long way in improving the country’s energy mix, increasing investments in solar energy, and towards the government’s commitments towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It noted that this was also aimed at promoting clean energy generation and environmental conservation efforts.</p>
<p>According to a report by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Republic of Mali has excellent potential for solar energy generation. The country’s estimated solar irradiation is well distributed over the national territory, with the capacity to generated about 5-7/kWh/m2 per day with about 7-10 hours of sunlight a day. This is well above the typical global average of 4-5/kWh/m2 per day.</p>
<p>Previously, the World Bank <a href="https://mercomindia.com/world-bank-off-grid-solar-west-africa-sahel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">approved</a> an International Development Association (IDA) fund of $150 million and another $74.7 million contingent recovery grant from the Clean Technology Fund to help increase off-grid electricity access for people in West Africa and Sahel regions. Mali was one of the beneficiaries of this fund.</p>
<p>Earlier, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/west-african-countries-solar-corridor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had taken the initiative to create a West Africa Clean Energy Corridor (WACEC) to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix of the region. The primary objective of WACEC is to support the development of utility-scale renewable energy-based power, to promote the integration of renewable energy sources into the West African power systems and to create a market for trans-border regional power trade.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Nithin Thomas</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Nithin Thomas,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas.</a></p>
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<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nithin-2-1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">Nithin Thomas</a> is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Reuters News, he has covered oil, metals and agricultural commodity markets across global markets. He has also covered refinery and pipeline explosions, oil and gas leaks, Atlantic region hurricane developments, and other natural disasters. Nithin holds a Masters Degree in Applied Economics from Christ University, Bangalore and a Bachelor&#8217;s Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/author/nithin-thomas-prasad/" rel="noopener">More articles from Nithin Thomas Prasad</a></div>
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