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Daily News Wrap-Up: RECPDCL’s Tender for 223 MW Solar Projects


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					</table><p>Mobility service provider <a href="https://www.uber.com/in/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uber</a> has signed a memorandum of understanding with <a href="https://www.tatamotors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tata Motors</a> to bring 25,000 electric cars onto its platform.</p>
<p>The collaboration will help Uber electrify its transport services across the Indian metropolises of Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.</p>
<p>Under the agreement, Tata Motors will start delivering XPRE-T electric sedans to Uber in a phased manner from February 2023.</p>
<p>Tata Motors launched the XPRES brand, particularly for fleet customers in 2021. The XPRES-T sedan is equipped with two range options7— 315 km and 277 km that are certified by the Automotive Research Association of India.</p>
<p>Uber has <a href="https://mercomindia.com/daily-news-uber-zero-emission/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">committed</a> to 100% of rides taking place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transit, or with micro-mobility by 2040.</p>
<p>The personal mobility service provider also aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions from its corporate operations by 2030 and has committed $800 million to help its drivers shift to EVs by 2025.</p>
<p>The company targets to electrify all of its cars in the United States, Canada, and other European cities by 2030.</p>
<p>Managing Director for Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Shailesh Chandra said, “With this association, we have taken another leap towards enhancing electric mobility across the country and will continue our work in ‘Moving India’ to a safer, smarter and greener future. Working towards our aim of growing India’s e-mobility market, we are delighted to announce our partnership with Uber, India’s leading ridesharing app, for their expansion of sustainable mobility options.”</p>
<p>President of Uber India and South Asia Prabhjeet Singh said, “Uber is committed to bringing sustainable, shared mobility to India, and this partnership with Tata Motors is a major milestone on that journey. It represents the largest EV partnership yet between an automaker and a ridesharing platform in India. It will supercharge the transition to zero emissions on the Uber platform as we work towards building a sustainable future. We are committed to doing our part to bring down the barriers to going electric by working with industry partners that are leading the change.”</p>
<p>In 2019, Uber <a href="https://mercomindia.com/uber-sun-mobility-deploy-e-autos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a pact with SUN Mobility, a leading energy infrastructure provider, to deploy electric autos which would help provide an affordable and clean commuting option to its riders. Under the partnership, SUN Mobility committed to offering its unique energy infrastructure platform, which includes swappable smart batteries and quick interchange stations to select original equipment manufacturers for building electric autos.</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/gourav-mishra/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Gourav Mishra</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/WhatsApp-Image-2022-04-06-at-6.37.25-PM-1-1.jpeg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Gourav,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gourav-mishra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Gourav.</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/WhatsApp-Image-2022-04-06-at-6.37.25-PM-1-1.jpeg" width="89" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gourav-mishra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gourav</a> is a staff reporter with Mercom India with over six years of experience in various roles with NewsX, The New Indian Express, IBTimes India, and U.S., Republic, and Analytics India Magazine. Gourav has a Master&#8217;s in journalism from Jain University, Bengaluru. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gourav-mishra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Gourav Mishra</a></div>
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Tata Motors to Supply 25,000 Electric Sedans to Uber


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					</table><p>Here are some noteworthy cleantech developments from around the world:</p>
<p><strong>REC India, a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Power, <a href="https://recindia.nic.in/rec-inks-three-strategic-mous" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a></strong><strong> a memorandum of understanding with Rewa Ultra Mega Solar (RUMSL) to commit to funding ₹10 billion</strong> (~$122.6 million) for the development of renewable energy parks and projects, and the associated infrastructure including power evacuation. REC also partnered with the World Bank for a program under which the former committed ₹50 billion (~$613 million) to the state’s distribution companies to carry out reforms.</p>
<p><strong>The New York State Office of Renewable Energy (ORES) </strong><a href="https://ores.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-approval-siting-permits-three-major-solar-energy-centers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>issued</strong></a><strong> three siting permits totaling approximately 309 MW of renewable energy capacity to deliver sufficient clean energy to power over 69,000 households in New York for at least two decades. </strong>Coupled with the eight previously permitted facilities, the latest siting permits mark the approval of 11 projects, totaling around 1.8 GW of capacity since 2021. The State has approved 20 new renewable energy projects since 2021.</p>
<p><strong>UK-based </strong>measurable.energy<strong> said it has </strong><a href="https://measurable.energy/news/series-a-funding" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>raised</strong></a><strong> £4.5 million in a series A funding round to further its growth and to eliminate energy waste along with carbon dioxide emissions.</strong> The company targets using the funds to remove over 1 million tons of CO2 emissions worldwide until 2033, equal to taking 130,000 cars off the streets for a year. UK-based venture capital fund, Clean Growth Fund led the round, along with existing investor Bonheur ASA, Vectr7 Investment Partners LLP, RO Capital Partners, and MMC Ventures. The company will use the funds for increasing production and sales across the UK and globally. It also plans to enter the residential market.</p>
<p><strong>Southern Current, an energyRE company, </strong><a href="https://www.energyre.com/news/2023-01-11/southern-current-energyre-company-secures-power-purchase-agreement-dominion-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>signed</strong></a><strong> a power purchase agreement with Dominion Energy South Carolina (DESC) for the Lone Star Solar Plant based in Calhoun County of South Carolina.</strong> Once the plant is operational by 2024, the plant will have 107.8 MW of renewable capacity. The project will deploy a 108 MWh battery energy storage system in the facility spread across 572 acres, making Lone Star Solar one of the largest battery storage systems in the region and the largest battery on the DESC network.</p>
<p><strong>India-based <a href="https://enkingint.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EKI Energy</a>, a global developer, and supplier of carbon credits, collaborated with <a href="https://www.dnv.com/about/supplychain/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DNV Supply Chain &amp; Product Assurance</a>, a Norway-based independent assurance, and risk management provider, to foster a climate transition ecosystem with innovation and digitalization. </strong>EKI will extend advisory services to DNV’s customers and help them achieve carbon neutrality and net zero targets in addition to ESG and sustainability assurance services.</p>
<p><strong>Sydney-based </strong><a href="https://www.provaris.energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Provaris Energy</strong></a><strong> inked a memorandum of understanding with </strong><a href="https://www.norwegianhydrogen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Norwegian Hydrogen</strong></a><strong> which develops hubs for hydrogen production across the Nordic region, to collaborate on the development of green hydrogen value chain projects.</strong> The two companies will use their respective expertise to conduct the technical and economic review for the production and supply of compressed gaseous green H2 to cover the large-scale production and export of hydrogen to key European ports. The pact will create a framework for the firms to jointly undertake concept design aimed at reviewing identified sites and selecting a preferred location for domestic and export volumes of H2.</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/gourav-mishra/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Gourav Mishra</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/WhatsApp-Image-2022-04-06-at-6.37.25-PM-1-1.jpeg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Gourav,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gourav-mishra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Gourav.</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/WhatsApp-Image-2022-04-06-at-6.37.25-PM-1-1.jpeg" width="89" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gourav-mishra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gourav</a> is a staff reporter with Mercom India with over six years of experience in various roles with NewsX, The New Indian Express, IBTimes India, and U.S., Republic, and Analytics India Magazine. Gourav has a Master&#8217;s in journalism from Jain University, Bengaluru. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gourav-mishra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Gourav Mishra</a></div>
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Daily News Wrap-Up: REC India Commits ₹10 Billion for Renewable Projects in MP

<p>The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (<a href="http://mcdonline.gov.in/tri/sdmc_mcdportal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SDMC</a>) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil and NTPC Limited to develop a demonstration waste-to-energy project at the Okhla landfill site in Delhi.</p>
<p>This project will use gasification technology to process about 17,500 tons of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) per year. Combustible components from municipal waste will be used to generate ‘syngas’ which will then be used to generate electricity.</p>
<p>Biomass gasification refers to the process of converting solid biomass fuel into a combustible gas, called “producer gas,” which is then used to produce power.</p>
<p>“Solid waste management is a big challenge in the national capital. The city can process only half of its waste. The commissioning of such plants would not only provide a clean and environment-friendly way to handle solid waste but also generate gas and manure,” said Anil Baijal, Lt. Governor of Delhi.</p>
<p>The Minister of Power, R.K. Singh, who was also present for the signing, said that the Ministry would support such projects, regardless of the cost of the production of gas from them. He said that technology used in the Delhi project would result in fewer emissions, and also provide usable residues.</p>
<p>The gas generation from waste will also help in cutting imports of petroleum products and saving precious foreign exchange, noted Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas &amp; Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan</p>
<p>In March, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-municipal-solid-waste-to-energy-program-guidelines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> revised guidelines for its waste to energy program. One new addition to the guidelines is the inclusion of municipal solid waste-based projects, based on the clarification by the Department of Expenditure.</p>
<p>Last year, NTPC Limited and East Delhi Municipal Corporation <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-edmc-jv-waste-to-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">joined hands</a> to form a joint venture company to harness municipal waste into green energy. As per the terms and conditions of the proposed JV, NTPC and EDMC will have a 74:26 equity involvement, respectively. The JV aims to develop and operate a state-of-the-art integrated waste management and energy generation facility.</p>
<p>Then, it was also <a href="https://mercomindia.com/delhi-metro-power-waste-to-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (<a href="http://www.delhimetrorail.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DMRC</a>) started utilizing power from a 12 MW waste to energy project set up by the East Delhi Waste Processing Company Limited in Gazipur, Uttar Pradesh. This was the first of a kind initiative where a Metro Rail company in India is receiving power from a waste to energy project. A total of 2 MW capacity will be supplied to the DMRC through this facility.</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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NTPC and Indian Oil to Set Up a Waste-to-Energy Project in Delhi

<p>The <a href="https://ens.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Danish Energy Agency</a> has announced that India’s Ministry of Power (<a href="https://powermin.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MoP</a>) and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help India work towards its target to install 450 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.</p>
<p>Through the memorandum, the countries plan to speed up the green energy transition in India for over five years. This new collaboration between the energy agencies of both countries is called the India-Denmark Energy Partnership (INDEP).</p>
<p>The INDEP cooperation will focus on the areas of energy planning and scenario modeling, integration of a higher share of renewable energy, power system flexibility, and electricity markets. Its goal is also to facilitate valuable knowledge exchange for the green energy transition in both countries.</p>
<p>“Green energy transition can help kickstart economies after the COVID-19 pandemic. The choices we take now to restart our economies will determine our ability to create new and permanent jobs and mitigate the impacts of pollution,” said Freddy Svane, the ambassador to Denmark.</p>
<p>The Indo-Danish cooperation can help green energy transition to deliver jobs and economic growth while also ensuring that our energy systems are modernized, more resilient, and less polluting,” Svane added.</p>
<p>Last year, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-and-denmark-offshore-wind-sector/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that the Union Cabinet approved a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India (MNRE) and Denmark’s Ministry for Energy, Utilities, and Climate in offshore wind energy. The Cabinet had approved a letter of intent to establish an Indo-Danish Centre of Excellence for renewable energy in India. The Indo-Danish Centre of Excellence in Integrated Renewable Power would work on renewable energy resource assessments with a focus on the onshore and offshore wind; hybridization of wind, solar, hydro and storage technologies, integration of renewable energy, testing, R&amp;D, and skill development.</p>
<p>Previously, India <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-france-mou-expansion-renewable-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">signed</a> an MoU with France to cooperate in the field of renewable energy. Through the agreement, the two countries would work to establish a cooperative institutional relationship to promote technical cooperation on renewable energy issues. Both sides will collaborate on mutually identified areas through research, demonstration, and pilot projects between India’s National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and France’s Commissariat aI’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives.</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>
</div>
<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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India and Denmark Sign Pact to Work Towards Renewable Capacity Expansion

<p>The tea planters of North East India have urged the central government to allow 90% subsidy on the installation of solar projects in the tea industry.</p>
<p>The representatives of the tea planters’ body, the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) have submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal, apprising him about the demand of the tea growers. The stakeholders also met Darpan Jain, the joint secretary (plantations), Department of Commerce, Government of India in New Delhi.</p>
<p>The memorandum states, “Energy consumption constitutes one of the major costs of the tea industry, the power tariff for the sector is distinctly categorized and is rather high. We request the government to subsidize the power tariff to the tea industry by half for at least a period of five years.”</p>
<p>In its memorandum, NETA stated, “The government may please allow 90% subsidy on the installation of solar projects in the tea industry, as is being done in case of educational institutions, etc. This will not only encourage the industry to produce the energy required by them but will also enable them to sell the additional energy and generate revenue. All tea estates have wastelands that are not suitable for agricultural activity. This fallow land can be utilized to install solar photovoltaic panels and generate solar power.”</p>
<p>Speaking to Mercom from New Delhi, NETA adviser, Bidyananda Barkakoty said, “The tea industry is going through a rough phase. If we can install solar panels on fallow lands of the tea gardens, then we can not only generate power to run the tea estate, but the excess power can also be sold which will ease our financial problem.”</p>
<p>Assam produces nearly 630 million kilos of tea per annum.</p>
<p>Citing an example, Barkakoty stated that in Danguajhar Tea Garden in West Bengal, the consumption of electricity is approximately 70 kWh/kilo of tea made but for the tea garden that produces one million kilos of CTC (tea produced by using crush, tear, and curl method) the consumption is nearly 0.90 kWh/kg.</p>
<p>“The electricity rate in West Bengal, including tariff rates, electricity duty, and meter rent comes to ₹11 ($0.15)/kWh. So, the electricity charge for CTC totals to ₹9.90 ($0.14)/kilo,” he added.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal <a href="https://mercomindia.com/assam-foundation-70-mw-solar-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">laid the foundation</a> stone of the 70 MW Amguri Solar Park in Sivasagar district. The Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (<a href="http://www.apgcl.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">APGCL</a>) had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/assam-calls-develop-70-mw-solar-amguri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> a Request for Proposal for the development the grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects in Amguri Solar Park in the state in January 2019.</p>
<p>The state is slowly warming up to the idea of maximizing solar power in its energy mix.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/assam-tender-rooftop-solar-residential/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Just a few weeks ago</a>, the Assam Energy Development Agency (<a href="https://aeda.assam.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AEDA</a>) had issued a tender to set up 8 MW of rooftop solar projects with the net metering facility. The rooftop solar projects will be developed under CAPEX mode. All the projects will be set up for residential customers. The bid-submission deadline is August 29, 2019.</p>
<p>Assam produces approx. 630 million kgs of tea per annum.</p>
<p>According to Barkakoty, in a study conducted in Danguajhar Tea Garden, the consumption of electricity is approx.. 70 unit/kg of tea made but the tea garden that produces 10 lakhs of CTC (tea produced by using crush, tear, and curl method) is .90 unit/kg of tea made. “The electricity rate in West Bengal including tariffs rate and electricity duty and meter rent comes to ₹11 (~$0.15)/ unit. So, the electricity charge for CTC  totals to ₹9.90 (~$0.14/kg)”</p>
<p>Image Credit: Vikramjit Kakati &#8211; Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,</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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North East Tea Planters Demand 90% Subsidy for Solar Projects in Tea Gardens

<p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued new guidelines incorporating changes in the project timelines for the development of solar parks in the country.</p>
<p>These guidelines are a modification of a memorandum that was issued on February 5, 2019. In March 2019, Mercom reported about the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-modification-solar-park-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MNRE memorandum</a> proposing modifications to the guidelines issued for its Solar Parks Program. In that memorandum, the MNRE included a new mode (Mode-7) for development of renewable energy parks inclusive of hybrid, solar and wind energy. It also addressed issues like power evacuation and land availability for projects.</p>
<p>The modifications state that solar parks approved in and after FY 2017-18 under Phase II of the Solar Park Program will be completed in two years from the date of the in-principal approval or one year from February 5, 2019, whichever comes later.</p>
<p>In the event of a breach of a deadline, the central grants allocated under the program must be returned with interest. In certain exceptions, extensions of the timelines can be granted in instances where the solar power developer was chosen through a competitive bidding procedure with land allocated in the solar park. In this instance, financial closure should be completed before the deadline of the solar project ends. An assurance that the solar park will generate electricity is also a pre-requisite, although the time extension will depend on factors like the magnitude of solar projects that are tied up at present.</p>
<p>Under the new draft, if the solar park is canceled at any stage and funds have been released as per the earlier program, the recovery may be executed in the following manner: An adjustment can be made against any other dues that are pending for the same purpose with the developer.  The amount can be recovered from lease, rent, and operation and maintenance charges. The project developer will deposit the amount with the government.</p>
<p><strong>Release of central financial assistance:</strong></p>
<p>As per the order dated May 22, 2019, the CFA of ₹1.2 million (~$ 174,000)/MW will be released to the developer after the issue of the letter of award (LOA). In this instance, the solar developer should have fulfilled two criteria: The LoA for the solar projects should have been issued by SECI or NTPC or MNRE and the administrative guidelines mentioned in the initial solar park program notice should be adhered.</p>
<p>Solar parks in India were designed to reduce bottlenecks and bring down large-scale project development costs by the government allocating land and providing transmission infrastructure, a challenge when developing projects privately.</p>
<p>Earlier, the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-land-owning-criteria-solar-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MNRE</a> had come out with a memorandum amending provisions of its solar park program for Central Public Sector Undertaking units.</p>
<p>Image Credit: Florian Pépellin [CC BY-SA <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0">3.0</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/ramya/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Ramya Ranganath</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><p><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ramya1.png" width="92" height="94" data-default="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/plugins/simple-author-box/assets/img/default.png" /></p>
<p>Ramya Ranganath is an Associate Editor and Writer for Mercom Communications India. Before joining Mercom, Ramya worked as a Senior Editor at a digital media supply chain solutions company. Throughout her career, she has developed end-to-end content for various companies in a wide range of domains, including renewables. Ramya holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology and is passionate about environmental issues and permaculture.</p>
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Central Grants to be Repaid with Interest If Solar Parks Are Not Developed on Time

<p>The Ministry of Finance has issued a new memorandum clarifying that only goods specifically classified under tariff item 8541 40 11 (solar cells whether or not assembled in modules or panels) will be subject to the safeguard duty.</p>
<p>Recent confusion arose as the <a href="http://www.cbic.gov.in/resources/htdocs-cbec/customs/cs-act/notifications/notfns-2018/cs-sg2018/cssg01-2018.pdf;jsessionid=D2C0EE198678C1273AD26AF2280F4437" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earlier notification</a> No. 1/2018-Customs (SG), issued on July 30, 2018 said that &#8220;solar cells whether or not assembled in modules or panels”  falling under heading 8541 or tariff item 8541 40 11 of the first schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 will attract the safeguard duty.</p>
<p>There are many items, other than solar cells and modules, that are classified under heading 8541 in the customs tariff act, such as: diodes, transistors and similar semiconductor devices, photosensitive semiconductor devices, including photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels, light emitting diodes (led), and mounted piezoelectric crystals.</p>
<p>After the imposition of the safeguard duty, the port systems were detecting any bill of entry filed under heading 8541 and sending it to the accessing officer to check the levy of the safeguard duty on that item. This was creating confusion, as other commodities were also sent for evaluation.</p>
<p>Therefore, the department of revenue, under the Ministry of Finance, circulated a memorandum clarifying that since the goods are specifically classified under tariff item 8541 40 11, only this tariff item should be subject to system intervention and sent for safeguard evaluation.</p>
<p>Currently, all these goods are being accessed provisionally following the instruction of Madras High Court.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/madras-court-customs-solar-modules-safeguard/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom reported earlier that</a> the Madras High Court had instructed customs officials at the Chennai port to provisionally release a module shipment without paying the safeguard duty. The court had asked customs authorities to make a provisional assessment of the safeguard duty payable in the event of upholding the notification and company to furnish a bond.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/safeguard-duty-25-percent-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recently</a>, the Ministry of Finance had announced the levy of a 25 percent safeguard duty based on the final <a href="https://mercomindia.com/25-percent-dgtr-safeguard-duty-recommendation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommendations</a> proposed by the <a href="http://www.dgtr.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DGTR</a>. The decision, which caught the industry off guard, was then challenged by solar developers filing a petition at Orissa High Court.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/orissa-court-solar-safeguard-duty-hearing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In the latest development</a>, the Orissa High Court fixed September 19, 2018 as the next date of hearing for the case. This means the safeguard duty imposition will be on hold until that date.</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/nitin/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Nitin Kabeer</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><p><img class="alignleft wp-image-9822" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/nitin-2.png" alt="" width="99" height="105" /><span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="color: #000000"><span>Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism &amp; Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/nitin/">More articles from Nitin Kabeer</a></span></span></span></p>
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