Multi-faceted Approach Key to Scaling Green Hydrogen Production in India

Inspire Clean Energy Wins Mercom India’s Second Startup Pitch Competition

Daily News Wrap-Up: Winners of 4th Annual Mercom India Awards Announced

JSW, Hero, Vena, Hexa Climate and Serentica Win SECI’s 630 MW FDRE Auction

Adani Green’s Q1 FY 2025 Revenue Rises 24% on Higher Capacity

The Evolution and Challenges of Hybrid Power Projects in India

IndiGrid’s Q1 Revenue Surges 32.7% on Strategic Acquisitions

Winners of Mercom’s 2024 Renewable Industry Awards Announced

Policies Must Focus on Entire Value Chain of Domestic Solar Manufacturing

Rays Power Infra Raises ₹1.27 Billion Via Equity Sale


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.thdc.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THDC India</a> has invited bids to empanel a technical consulting agency to prepare feasibility reports for floating solar power projects at various locations across India for three years.</p>
<p>The projects are intended to be developed in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.</p>
<p>The last day to submit the bids is August 5, 2024. Bids will be opened the next day.</p>
<p>Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹86,000 (~$1,029).</p>
<p>The selected consultant must furnish an amount equivalent to 5% of the contract price as a performance bank guarantee within 28 days of the issue of the letter of award.</p>
<p>Bidders must familiarize themselves with local conditions at their own expense and formulate their proposals. THDC has recommended that bidders visit the project site and attend the pre-bid conference to gather information on local conditions.</p>
<p>Bidders must have at least three years of experience providing consultancy services for pre-feasibility studies or detailed project report studies of solar projects within or outside India.</p>
<p>They must have prepared and submitted at least two pre-feasibility reports or detailed project reports for grid-connected floating solar projects with an installed capacity of at least 10 MW, which their client has accepted during the last seven years.</p>
<p>The average annual financial turnover of the bidders during the last three financial years should not be less than ₹2.59 million (~$31,019).</p>
<p>Their net worth should not be negative as of the last financial year and should not have eroded by more than 30% in the last three years.</p>
<p>Last December, THDC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/thdc-issues-solar-projects-in-maharashtra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a request for proposals from consultants and expert agencies to create a feasibility report to set up floating solar power projects on reservoirs in the Godavari Marathwada region of Maharashtra.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of real-time tender activity.</p>


THDC Issues Consultancy Tender for Floating Solar Projects Across India


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					</table><p>To accelerate the adoption of rooftop solar, the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://www.orierc.org/">OERC</a>) has announced that as of July 2, 2024, installations of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems up to 10 kW in capacity will no longer require a technical feasibility study for approval.</p>
<p>This decision, communicated by the OERC to distribution companies in Odisha, aligns with the recent amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2024, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rooftop-solar-10-kw-exempted-feasibility-study-mandate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> by the central government. Under the new guidelines, applications for smaller systems that are complete in all respects will be accepted automatically.</p>
<p>The policy change aims to simplify and expedite the installation process for residential and small commercial consumers keen on adopting solar energy. Karnataka and Gujarat have also <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/karnataka-guidelines-rooftop-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">notified</a> similar rules to accelerate residential rooftop solar installations.</p>
<p>Distribution companies are now mandated to perform any necessary enhancements to the consumer&#8217;s sanctioned load without additional procedures.</p>
<p>The official memo said that OERC&#8217;s directive supersedes all previous directions.</p>
<p>The state predominantly relies on thermal power, which accounts for ~64% of the state’s power mix. Renewable energy sources account for around 36%, with large hydro contributing around 76% to the state’s renewable capacity.</p>
<p>Solar power accounted for slightly more than 6% of the state’s power mix and around 18% of renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, as of the end of the first quarter (Q1) 2024, India&#8217;s cumulative rooftop solar capacity reached 10.8 GW. Within this national total, the state of Odisha contributes merely 29 MW, representing 0.27% of the country&#8217;s rooftop solar installations, according to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/rooftop-solar-market-report-q1-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Rooftop Solar Market Report</a> for Q1.</p>
<p>The Odisha government earlier this year gave the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/in-clean-energy-push-odisha-worth-%e2%82%b9557-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">green light</a> to a number of green energy projects with a promised investment of roughly ₹557 billion (~$6.7 billion). Among the proposals approved by the Odisha government was an investment by Hindalco Industries for a solar power project in Koratpur at a cost of ₹2 billion (~$24.1 million). Besides this, the state government gave the go-ahead for Tata Steel’s 22 MW solar project in Sundergarh, with an investment of ₹1.26 billion (~$15.1 million).</p>
<p>It also <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/jupiter-1-2-gw-solar-cell-manufacturing-facility-odisha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> solar cell and module manufacturer Jupiter International’s proposal to set up a 1.2 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in the state.</p>


Odisha Streamlines Rules to Facilitate Rooftop Solar Installations


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cerc-unveils-draft-renewable-regulations-2024"><strong>The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has formulated the draft regulations to determine the tariff for renewable energy projects in 2024.</strong></a> These regulations are applicable to situations where the Commission needs to determine the tariff for a grid-connected generating station or a unit thereof commissioned during the control period and relying on renewable energy sources. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination from Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, 2024, will be effective starting from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2027.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-land-transmission-package-solar"><strong>NTPC Renewable Energy has invited bids for a land and power evacuation package to develop 2 GW interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar power projects in Barmer</strong></a>, Rajasthan. The last date to submit the bids is March 28, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day. Bidders must secure five acres of land per MW, either government or private, situated close to the Barmer ISTS substation. This land should be acquired on a freehold or leasehold basis, with the lease extending for at least 29 years and 11 months. Government land proportion should not exceed 10% of the total land area secured for the project.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rooftop-solar-10-kw-exempted-feasibility-study-mandate"><strong>The Ministry of Power has mandated that the technical feasibility study for the installation of all rooftop solar photovoltaic systems must be completed within fifteen days,</strong></a> and the outcome of it is to be shared with the applicant. Failing to meet the deadline, the system will be presumed technically feasible and approved. The Ministry notified the amendments as its latest rules under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2024. The new rules also exempt rooftop solar systems up to 10 kW from technical feasibility study requirements, considering they have completed all other due processes. The distribution licensee will be responsible for carrying out any corresponding enhancement of the consumers’ sanctioned load for such systems.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/no-manual-bids-strict-trading-hours-cerc-power-exchanges"><strong>The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has ordered a comprehensive audit of all three power exchanges in the next six months and the elimination of manual entries of bids</strong></a> and cancellation/modification of bids outside of trading hours, citing multiple violations. In a suo motu order, the CERC said its staff will conduct an audit of the processes and software of all three power exchanges with the help of suitable agencies to ensure the provisions of Power Market Regulations 2021 are followed.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/serentica-to-provide-a-mix-of-renewables-interview"><strong>Renewable energy developer Serentica Renewables is strategically employing a diverse mix of solar, wind, and energy storage technologies.</strong></a> The company has recently embarked on a collaborative effort centering around a standalone energy storage offtake contract. This strategic move is anticipated to position Serentica as a key player in delivering 1,500 MW of uninterrupted power, with a specific emphasis on industries highly sensitive to power disruptions. In this exclusive interview with Mercom India, Akshay Hiranandani, CEO of Serentica Renewables, delves into the company’s ambitious plans for installing 4 GW of green energy projects, their customer-centric approach, financing strategies, challenges in the green energy open access market, and insights into the future growth trajectory of this dynamic sector.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cleanmax-to-supply-green-power-project"><strong>Mumbai-based renewable energy firm CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions (CleanMax) has entered into a 25-year-long power purchase agreement with Bangalore International Airport (BIAL)</strong></a> to supply power from a 45.9 MW solar-wind captive power project. The project, located in Jagaluru, Karnataka, is operating under the special purpose vehicle named Clean Max BIAL Renewable Energy. It comprises 36 MW of solar power and 9.9 MW of wind power projects.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/yulu-raises-1-6-billion-to-meet-demand"><strong>Bengaluru-based shared electric two-wheeler company Yulu has raised ₹1.6 billion ($19.25 million) in equity funding from existing investors Bajaj Auto and Magna International.</strong></a> The company will use these funds to scale up vehicles, operational locations, product and technology innovation, and strengthen market leadership to meet the user demand. Over the last year, the company said it has experienced a 5x growth in its revenue due to the increasing demand for shared mobility.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sunnovas-q4-losses-balloon"><strong>U.S.-based residential solar firm Sunnova Energy‘s fourth-quarter net loss ballooned by about 800% to $187.6 million from $20.9 million last year, hurt by higher interest and operating expenses</strong></a>. Quarterly operating expenses for the quarter soared by 474%, but lower inventory costs partially mitigated the negative impact. Interest expenses rose by 171% when compared to the same period last year.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gamechange-solar-expand-tracker-manufacturing"><strong>Solar tracking solutions supplier GameChange Solar (GCS) is expanding its annual tracker manufacturing capacity in the U.S. from 24 GW to 35 GW.</strong></a> This increase in domestic manufacturing capacity allows GCS to incorporate over 85% domestic content in its ‘Genius Trackers.’ The company said it can now deliver solar tracker systems that contain 70% of domestic content with the potential to increase the percentage to over 85%.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/researchers-discover-new-fast-material"><strong>Researchers at the University of Liverpool have discovered a solid material that rapidly conducts lithium ions, which are essential components in the rechargeable batteries that power</strong></a> electric vehicles and many electronic devices. Consisting of non-toxic earth-abundant elements, the new material has high Li-ion conductivity to replace the liquid electrolytes in current Li-ion battery technology, improving safety and energy capacity.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Draft Renewable Energy Tariff Regulations 2024


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					</table><p><a href="https://ntpcrel.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NTPC Renewable Energy</a>, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC, has invited bids to enlist technical consultants for green ammonia feasibility studies.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes feasibility studies to assess requirements for green ammonia projects, including capital expenditure (CAPEX), operational expenditure (OPEX), and gestation period. The consultant is also expected to determine the optimum levelized cost of green ammonia.</p>
<p>The last date to submit the bids is April 7, 2023. Bids will be opened on April 10.</p>
<p>Bidders should have previously completed a feasibility study, front-end engineering design, or engineering procurement and construction management work for green ammonia production for a minimum of 10 tons per day during the last three years in a single work and at a single location.</p>
<p>Alternatively, they should have completed a feasibility study, front-end engineering design, or engineering procurement and construction management work for green hydrogen production for a minimum of 2 tons per day during the last five years in a single work and at a single location.</p>
<p>Also, they should have completed a feasibility study for grey ammonia production for a minimum of 1,000 tons per day in the last 12 years in a single work and at a single location.</p>
<p>The average annual turnover of bidders should not be less than ₹4 million (~$48,691) for any three of the last five financial years as of the bid submission date.</p>
<p>If the bidder fails to satisfy the annual turnover criteria stipulated above on its own, its holding company would be required to meet the stipulated turnover requirements. The net worth of such a holding company as on the last day of the preceding financial year should be at least equal to or more than the paid-up share capital of the holding company.</p>
<p>Last year, NTPC Renewable Energy <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-invites-bids-from-electrolyzer-technology-providers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a notice for upcoming invitations for bids to select electrolyzer technology providers to participate in green hydrogen tenders for two years. The scope of work included design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packing, insurance, transportation, storage, installation, testing, commissioning, trial operation, and performance test of electrolyzers-based hydrogen generation plants.</p>
<p>Earlier, NTPC had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-invites-eoi-green-hydrogen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> an expression of interest (EoI) for Indian and global companies to set up a pilot project on green hydrogen blending with natural gas in the city gas distribution network in India.</p>


NTPC Seeks Consultants for Green Ammonia Feasibility Studies

<p>The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited (<a href="https://nredcap.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NREDCAP</a>) has floated a tender for reports on techno-commercial feasibility of pumped storage power (PSP) projects at 30 tentative locations in the state.</p>
<p>The deadline for the submission of bids is November 26, 2019, and interested bidders are expected to pay an earnest money deposit of ₹10,000 ($140) for each location.</p>
<p>Pumped storage power projects are systems where water is pumped uphill into reservoirs from lower elevations, and power is generated by the force of water flowing back downhill through water turbine generators. This is helpful when there is a higher peak power demand.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes conducting studies to verify the feasibility of setting up PSP projects on and off-rivers at the 30 identified sites across the state. The project aims to generate power to balance the variable renewable energy power and to meet the peak demand in the state.</p>
<p>The successful bidder will be expected to study the site conditions with the help of expert engineers consisting of concept and layout designers, hydrology experts, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers involved in hydropower/pumping projects.  The filing added that an experienced geologist must be a part of the team as well.</p>
<p>Bidders are expected to have experience in preparing pre-feasibility reports for hydro or PSP projects should be experienced in conducting topographical and hydrographical surveys, and must have completed at least two such studies in India.</p>
<p>The tender noted that bidders are allowed to quote separately for each location, and NREDCAP can allocate projects to single or multiple bidders.</p>
<p>Previously, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/nredcap-tender-off-grid-solar-andhra-pradesh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that NREDCAP also issued a tender for the supply, installation, and commissioning of 1,490 solar lanterns and 235 solar street lights in nine villages of Durgi and Veldurthy mandals located in the state’s Guntur District.</p>
<p>Earlier, the Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (APSPDCL) <a href="https://mercomindia.com/andhra-tenders-4-mw-rooftop-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tendered</a> 4 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects to be developed in Tirupati and Vijayawada.</p>
<p>Image credit: Snowy Hydro Limited</p>


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