Grid curtailment of solar power is already affecting Germany and China despite billions being spent on grid projects. With a target of 100GW, India is hoping to get 8% of its power requirements from solar PV by 2022, which is a higher penetration than both Germany and China today. Jasmeet Khurana, associate director, consulting, Bridge to India, investigates the potential for future curtailment of solar power in India and its consequences while identifying which states might be most affected.
India’s latest 400MW solar auction saw limited competition compared to recent tenders with just six bidders for the PV capacity in an Andhra Pradesh solar park.
The share of renewables, excluding hydropower, in India’s energy mix has reached 5.7% as of February this year, up from 4.97% in 2012/13, according to data released by the Central Electricity Authority.
India’s Ministry of new and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is moving forward with its off-grid solar programme, as part of the National Solar Mission (NSM), after a year of the utility-scale sector stealing the limelight.
India-based companies have dominated the latest solar auction for 350MW in the state of Telangana with winning tariffs ranging between INR4.66-4.77/kWh (~US$0.07).
India-based solar EPC firm Sterling & Wilson (S&W) has been awarded EPC and O&M contracts for 350MW of solar projects in India by Canada-based developer SkyPower.
Grid integration and availability are the key challenges ahead for India’s solar sector, according to the latest report from consultancy firm Bridge to India.
India has officially appealed against the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) ruling that upheld the US' finding that India’s Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) was discriminatory and in breach of international trade rules.
Difficulties in financing Indian solar projects with extremely low tariffs and the wobbling of major solar player SunEdison will not impact the long-term prospects of India’s PV market, according to two senior banking and finance representatives.
