Backdrop: Energy Efficiency at the moment is not in the priority list of the policy making. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has a miniscule staff of only 50, with a paltry annual budget of Rs. 350 crore, completely disproportional to considering it as a priority task.   There are various disproportions which exists within [...]

The REC trading for the month of January 2012, concluded yesterday. Keeping up with the trend last, the opening month of this year has posted strong gains in both price and volume. The total non-solar REC volume traded surged to 1,71,524 RECs, showcasing an impressive 53% growth over last month’s trading session. In total 1,71,524 [...]

It is no secret that the explosive growth in the wind energy sector in India is chiefly attributed to the accelerated depreciation incentive that has been adopted. AD is a mechanism through which project developers can show that their asset has depreciated at a significantly faster rate over its life thereby reduce their tax liabilities. [...]

As I had briefly mentioned in our solar manufacturing whitepaper, the solar PV panel manufacturing segment (to a large extent in China) is expected to consolidate over the coming years. China, which hosts a signifcant percent of the global manufacturers (over 500) is set to see the number of manufacturers reduce to less than 20 [...]

It seems the India has finally caught the offgrid wind energy fever. C-WET – the leading wind energy R&D institute in the country has started putting together plans to undertake an offshore wind energy feasibility study in Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. It should come as no surprise that the state which has the [...]

The REC market in India which is currently worth Rs. 30 crores, is expected to reach Rs. 100 crores (monthly traded amount) by year end 2012 – a number quoted by one of the top officials at MNRE. As discussed earlier, the clearance price of the REC certificates has been increasing steadily each month over [...]

Madhya Pradesh Power Trading Company recently released the list of guidelines for project developers planning to setup solar PV projects in the state (available here). Prior to this announcement, the state had come up with policies for only two other RE sources – small hydro and biomass, both of which were announced last year. Keeping [...]

The REC trading for the month of December concluded yesterday. The results of the trading session are hearting. Non-solar REC reached record trading volumes at IEX with the traded volume peaking at 1,05,942 RECs In total 1,11,621 RECs were sold. IEX extended their dominance in the REC trading market with 1,05,952 (95%) RECs traded while [...]

Long reeling under indefinite delays and lack of consensus at the various talks, the Kyoto protocol has been given a new lease of life. The protocol, set to expire in 2012 had not been renewed for some time now as the various nations of the world could not agree on the contents of a legally [...]

The financing community has long known to be reserved and watchful about funding solar power projects mainly because of the lack of familiarity with the industry and due to their natural instincts about investing in safe projects with short term returns. It was only recently that the banks have slowly understood the solar energy sector.  [...]

The recently concluded bidding for solar PV project allotment under the second round of JNNSM phase I and the results from the bidding has shown signs of solar becoming genuinely cost competitive with grid power. While sub 10 bids were obviously expected, the bid price falling below 8 was indeed a stunner for many. The Rs [...]

The cost of solar will be Rs7.49 /kWh by 2012 and the journey towards grid parity has received significant boost. The journey was accelrated by French project developer Solaire Direct’s astonishingly low bid in the recently concluded aggresive bidding for project allotment under JNNSM batch II under first phase. The allocation of solar PV projects in Phase-1 [...]

The call for RfP concluded today and the bid prices were disclosed. Preliminary information suggests that the tariffs were in the region of about Rs. 7.49 per kWh to Rs. 9.39 per kWh (concrete numbers will be known at a later time). Some sources suggest that the lowest price was quoted by Solar Direct, Welspun [...]

The REC trading for the month of November concluded yesterday. Figures reveal that the trading has increased significantly both in volume of RECs traded as well as the price. In total 105,527 RECs were sold. Keeping with the trend of previous months, IEX had a higher share of the market with 96,154 (90%) RECs traded [...]

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission(CERC) has announced the floor and forbearance prices to be used for solar/non-solar projects from the FY 2012-13 upto 2016-17. The prices set are shown in the table below Non Solar (Rs.) Solar (Rs.) Prices (2012-2017) Current % Reduction Prices (2012-2017) Current % Reduction Forbearance Price 3300 3900 15.38 13400 17000 [...]

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) has revised the benchmark cost of the solar PV system and the capital subsidy w.e.f 2011. At present(2010-11), the benchmark cost is Rs. 300/Wp(with battery) and Rs. 210/Wp(without battery) for solar PV off-grid and decentralised applications and the subsidy limit is Rs. 90/Wp(with battery) and Rs. 70/Wp(withough battery). [...]

With the increase in wind energy penetration, the interaction between the grid and the wind farms generating electricity becomes more and more critical. In this interview with EAI, Mr. Jayateerth Managoli, Country Sales Manager, American Superconductor Corporation., talks about the status of current technology in the electric power infrastructure, advances in technology, grid codes and shares his views about what the Government of India should do about grid codes.

India is currently the fourth-largest generator of wind power in the world. During the 10th Plan (2002-2007), India saw installation of 5,426 Mw of wind power generation capacity, as against the target of 2,200 Mw. The XIth Five Year Plan Period (2007-12) has fixed a target of 10,500 MW. To help promote power generation through [...]

July 2009 As the countdown to the Budget 2009 begins, it is vital that the Government revisits the extant policies and the fiscal framework in order for it to boost long-term investments and energy security of the country, says Gokul Chaudhri, Partner and Leader of the Energy and Infrastructure Practice at BMR Advisors in an [...]

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) addressed that all power state utilities in the country will have to buy at minimum five percent of their grid purchase from renewable energy sources from 2009-10 onwards and 15 percent by 2020. There will be one per cent raise in the purchase of renewable energy for every year [...]

Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA) urged the Centre and Power Ministry to formulate a uniform long-term national wind energy policy to make sale of wind power from one state to another easily affordable by having a uniform intra-state and inter-state transfer policy. The association also wanted the government. to insist utilities to purchase at least [...]

Here is a link for interesting article on “Future Direction of Renewable Energy Policy for India” This paper outlines some of the broad policy directions for accelerated development and application of renewable energy in the country. It also explains the various renewable energy sectors operating in India and its current status. click here for the [...]