From pv magazine India

German PV module manufacturer Axitec has revealed plans to set up 600 MW of its own pilot lines to produce solar modules in India.

Tanmoy Duari, chief executive officer at Axitec Energy India, told pv magazine that out of the planned 600 MW, 300 MW will be built in Gujarat. Another 300 MW will be installed in Tamil Nadu to overcome the transportation challenges in catering to the markets in the south.

The two plants will produce n-type TOPCon PV modules in bifacial glass-glass variants with power outputs of 580Wp to 585 Wp, though the same lines can also be used for mono PERC modules.

Duari said the production will begin in the first quarter of 2024.

“Our focus being on quality, we will primarily target the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment, not the massive utility-scale projects,” he added.

From pv magazine India

NGEL has tendered an EPC package with land for the development of 300 MW of solar projects. The projects can be located anywhere in India and must be connected to the interstate transmission system.

MSPGCL has started accepting bids for an EPC package with land for 600 MW(AC) of grid-connected, ground-mounted solar PV projects under the RE Bundling Scheme. The projects can be located anywhere in Maharashtra.

From pv magazine India

Swelect has introduced its new TeSirius series of monofacial mono PERC modules, with power outputs ranging from 575 Wp to 595 Wp and efficiency levels of 20.46% and 21.17%, respectively. The modules feature 156 monofacial half-cut cells based on M10 (182 mm) wafer sizes.

The company said the modules are suitable for commercial, residential, utility, and industrial applications. They are certified to withstand extreme wind pressures of up to 2,400 Pascal and snow loads of 5,400 Pascal, thanks to their robust 18-micron thick anodized aluminum frame.

These modules can be seamlessly integrated into PV systems with a maximum voltage of 1,500 V and can operate effectively within a temperature range spanning from -40 C to 85 C.

In terms of dimensions, these modules measure 2,470 mm × 1,138 mm × 35 mm and weigh 29.5 kg.

From pv magazine India

SECI has started accepting bids to set up 1 GW of solar projects on a build-own-operate basis in India. The projects can be located anywhere in India, as long as they are connected to the interstate transmission system (ISTS).

SECI will sign 25-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with the developers selected through the tender. Power procured by SECI from the projects will be sold to different buying entities in India.

“Bidders who have already commissioned solar PV plants/storage plants or are in the process of constructing such plants and have untied capacity may also participate,” said the tender document. “In such case, they will be given the benefit of a longer period of PPA, commensurate to the duration between the actual date of commencement of supply of power and scheduled commencement of supply date.”

From pv magazine India

The Renewable Energy India Expo 2023 – held last week in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – was much bigger and more crowded than last year’s event. The organizers of the show told pv magazine that the event recorded 621 exhibitors and 43,182 trade visitors. The numbers exclude the Battery Show India, which was co-located with REI Expo 2023 for the first time in India and showcased over 200 brands to more than 8,000 visitors.

Most of the solar PV manufacturers showcased their offerings in the latest n-type technologies. It is now clear that n-type TOPCon is going to take the driver’s seat for the Indian PV manufacturing sector.

“Currently, n-type TOPCon modules cost INR 1-2/W more than mono PERC, but as the technology advances, their price is bound to come down. Also, TOPCon allows for BOS cost savings of up to 3.26% while offering up to 5% increase in power output,” Shubhra Mohanka, director at Gautam Solar, told pv magazine. “So, if you consider all these factors, the user is going to benefit from the use of TOPCon.”

All major module manufacturers in India are embracing the shift from p-type to n-type technology, with TOPCon emerging as their preferred choice.

“Many of the leading cell manufacturers in China have already started producing TOPCon cells,” said Vikas Arya, AVP-product strategy and marketing for solar at Jakson Group. “This development is expected to narrow the price gap between M10 p-type and TOPCon technologies by the end of 2023 or early 2024.”

A Pixon representative said that if Indian manufacturers do not upgrade their production lines to adopt advanced technologies such as TOPCon, they c0uld lose the opportunity to emerge as a viable alternative.

“After three months, more than 50% of the module production globally will adopt TOPCon. Going with the flow, Goldi Solar is expanding its TOPCon-ready PV module capacity to 4 GW with the addition of 1 GW of new production lines,” said Bharat Bhut, co-founder and director of Goldi Solar.

Most HJT manufacturers at the show said that HJT adoption could take a bit longer [than TOPCon] due to its more complex manufacturing process and higher costs.

“The efficiency of TOPCon modules is somewhere around 24.5%, whereas HJT offers 24.5% to 25%,” said Bhut. “There is only half a per cent difference in efficiency between the two technologies but the costs involved with HJT is very high.”

From pv magazine India

Adani Green Energy said this week that its Adani Solar Energy Jaisalmer Two unit has completed the commissioning of a 150 MW solar project in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The owner of the installation in Bikaner district will sell power to third parties or on power exchanges.

Adani Green Energy recently commissioned a 2 GW solar cell and module factory under a manufacturing-linked tender by Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI). The plant is located in Mundra, Gujarat.

From pv magazine India

India's Grew, a unit of Chiripal Group, is set to increase its solar module manufacturing capacity to 6 GW.

From pv magazine India

From pv magazine India

NLC India, a mining company under India’s Ministry of Coal, has won an 810 MW solar PV project from Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (RRVUNL).

“Considering the good solar radiation in Rajasthan, a higher capacity utilization factor (CUF) for the project is possible and [the project is expected to] generate green power of more than 50 billion units and offset more than 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during its lifetime,” stated NLC.

From pv magazine India

NHPC has launched a tender to select developers to set up interstate transmission grid-connected renewables projects coupled with energy storage systems to supply 1.5 GW of firm, dispatchable renewables. The projects can be developed anywhere in India, on land identified and arranged by the developers. These are to be set up on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.

From pv magazine India

Beijing-based Sol-Bright Technology, the world’s largest supplier of automatic robotic cleaning systems (ARCS) for solar panels, has introduced its Gen.6 Robot for utility-scale solar projects in India.

The Gen.6 ARCS features a lightweight design, an aluminum frame to minimize corrosion, and curvilinear body to withstand high winds.

“The robot uses gear transmission, unlike the chain and sprocket mechanism used conventionally. It provides four different levels of protection. Cleaning efficiency is more than 99.5%. Availability is also more than 99%,” Kumar Shailendra, country head for Sol-Bright Technologies India, told pv magazine. “So, if you have bought 100 robots, out of 100 only one robot will go under breakdown at one point of time.”

Shailendra said Sol-Bright Technology has shipped solar panel cleaning robots for around 17 GW of PV projects around the world.

The robot uses a roller brush rotating at a speed of 130±10 rpm to dry-clean the panels. The Gen.6 ARCS measures 2,500 mm x 418 mm x 238 mm.

“The robot can handle land undulations up to 15 degrees,” said Shailendra. “The torsional structure allows it to twist from zero to forty degrees while walking.”

From pv magazine India

Loom Solar showcased its Atlanta series of all-in-one energy storage solutions for homes and businesses at the recent REI Expo 2023 in Greater Noida, India. The systems are designed for commercial and residential applications.

The systems are based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. These are available in energy storage capacities of 5 kWh and 10 kWh, with MPPT-based high-frequency solar inverter modules of 5 kW (single-phase) and 10 kW (single- or three-phase), respectively. Battery charging time for both the models is two hours. 

From pv magazine India

Gautam Solar is showcasing its n-type TOPCon solar modules this week at the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo 2023.

The modules will be available in power ratings of 565 Wp to 580 Wp, with a maximum efficiency of 22.45%. These are designed for ground-mounted projects. They are certified according to UL and IEC standards and are already available for the US and European markets.

“Gautam Solar’s n-type TOPCon modules have a lower degradation rate of 1% in the first year and 0.4% in subsequent years unlike 2% in the first year and 0.55% in subsequent years for p-type modules. This increases the longevity of the solar modules. The module degrades only to 87.4% of its initial rated power at the end of 30 years compared to p-type modules which degrade to 84.8% in their 25 years lifecycle,” according to Gautam Solar. “In addition, Gautam Solar’s n-type modules also provide BOS cost savings of 3.26% and LCOE reduction of 1.56%.”

The modules are based on M10 cells and are composed of 144 half-cut cells produced using non-destructive cutting process for better low-light performance and negligible chances of micro-cracks. In addition, they feature multi-busbar design with round ribbon connectors for lower electrical losses and the better use of light.

Gautam Solar said the modules will be available in monofacial and bifacial variants, with the bifacials providing an additional 10% to 30% power from the rear side, depending on the installation conditions.

From pv magazine India

Jakson has unveiled n-type dual-glass solar panels based on TOPCon technology. The JN-590W model offers peak power output of 590 W (under standard temperature conditions) and an efficiency of 22.86%.

The module is built with M10 half cells and 16 busbars. It offers bifacial gain of up to 25% with the module capable of energy generation with both direct and reflected sunlight. The bifaciality factor is 80±5%. The module measures 2,278×1,133×35 mm in size and weighs 33 kg. It can operate within a temperature range of -40 C to 85 C .

From pv magazine India

Nextracker has more than 200 staff at its Hyderabad office, which is engaged in R&D, engineering, manufacturing, after-sales support, etc. Some of its prominent customers include engineering companies such as Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy, Amara Raja Infra Private Ltd., and Rays Power Infra, as well as established developers such as NTPC.

From pv magazine India

Waaree released its Plexus series of dual-glass solar modules this week at REI 2023 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. They are based on n-type heterojunction (HJT) technology.

The modules are available in power ratings ranging from 685 W to 715 W, with efficiencies up to 22.88%. The rear side of the panels are bifacial, which enhances power generation by up to 30%, with a bifaciality factor of 85±5%, according to the company.

The modules are based on M12 n-type bifacial HJT solar cells. The number of solar cells per module is 132. They feature 2 mm low iron tempered anti-reflective glass. They measure 2,400 mm × 1,302 mm × 35 mm and weigh 39 kg.

Waaree told pv magazine that it is making HJT solar modules with cells from Japan’s Kaneka, and Russia’s Hevel Solar.

*The article was amended on October 5 to reflect that Germany's Meyer Burger is not a supplier of Waaree.

From pv magazine India

India’s 14th National Electricity Plan (NEP14) sets out solar capacity targets of 185.6 GW by fiscal 2026-27, reaching 364.6 GW by fiscal 2031-32.

To achieve these targets, India needs to increase its current annual solar capacity addition by about 36% each year leading up to 2026-27, according to a recent report by Ember.

“The recent addition of 12.9 GW in FY 2023 [bringing the total national solar capacity to 66.7 GW] will be insufficient to reach the FY 2027 NEP solar capacity target of 185.6 GW. As the target year approaches, India would need to achieve a 36% year-on-year increase in solar capacity to remain on track for the 2027 goal,” states Ember. “This means that India would need to commission a minimum of 17.5 GW in FY 2024, with a further ramp-up to 41 GW by FY 2027.”

Ember adds that beyond fiscal 2027, even if India continues to sustain its annual build rate of 41 GW per year, it will surpass its fiscal 2032 target capacity of 365 GW by a comfortable margin. Solar and wind will fuel two-thirds of India’s power generation growth in the 10-year period from fiscal 2022-32, should India meets its renewables targets, as outlined in NEP14.

NEP14, published by India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA), estimates India’s total annual electricity generation to grow by 1,174 TWh in fiscal 2022-32, reaching a total of 2,666 TWh in fiscal 2032. Solar generation is expected to rise from 73 TWh in fiscal 2022 to 666 TWh in fiscal 2032. Wind power will increase from 69 TWh to 258 TWh over the same time frame.

“Annual solar and wind generation are expected to rise by 593 TWh and 189 TWh, respectively, which combined constitute 66% of India’s power generation growth in this 10-year period,” said Ember. “This marks a significant transition from the preceding decade when coal power accounted for around 80% of generation growth.”

From pv magazine India

Indian PV manufacturer Gautam Solar said it will double its annual solar module manufacturing capacity to 2 GW by the end of the 2024 calendar year.

It will invest around INR 150 crore ($18.1 million) to set up the manufacturing capacity, which will be used to produce n-type TOPCon and mono PERC modules. 

Gautam Solar supplies modules for rooftop, utility-scale, and C&I solar plants. It recently exhibited its n-type TOPCon solar modules at the RE+ conference in Las Vegas, as it is introducing the new products to the US market.

Gautam Solar has recently expanded its module manufacturing capacity from 400 MW to 1 GW via the deployment of a 500 MW of TOPCon module production line.

It procured the fully automated, n-type TOPCon production line from China's Jinchen. The supply deal between the two companies was signed at SNEC, 16th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition. 

From pv magazine India

Luxra Group and Rayzon Solar have signed agreed to form a joint venture for solar module production in India. They said their venture will strategically focus on PV module quality, extensive R&D, skills, and knowledge sharing for PV module production.

Luxra recently started PV module production near Solapur, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, becoming the first European company to start a solar factory in India. Luxra will provide the joint venture with access to markets in India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

“Joint contribution of our technology and Rayzon’s operational expertise to the said joint venture will strongly allow us to position both the companies in the industry in a much faster way,” said Unmesh Jagtap, the CEO of Luxra India.

Luxra claims more than  1 GW of global shipments. It started its Indian operations in 2017 and is targeting more than 3.5 GW of capacity by 2025.

From pv magazine India

Tesla wants to set up a battery storage factory in India and has submitted a proposal to the Indian government. The US electric car and battery manufacturer, which makes the Powerwall range of battery systems, aims to target residential and industrial customers with its battery storage systems. 

Reuters reported that Tesla recently proposed a plan to support India’s battery storage capabilities with Powerwall, a system that can store power from solar panels or the grid for use at night or during outages. The company is keen to tap residential and industrial customers for its battery storage systems.

Tesla has sought a number of incentives to set up a battery storage factory in India. Indian officials have declined these incentives, but have offered to create a fair business model for the company by offering subsidies to customers for Tesla products, according to Reuters.

Tesla recently showcased its new hybrid battery, the Powerwall 3, at RE+. It offers 11.5 kW of continuous power to homeowners and requires an installation time of between 30 to 40 minutes. It comes with an integrated inverter, which simplifies installation. As a hybrid system, it is suitable for new solar installations, but not for households with existing rooftop solar systems.

From pv magazine India

Solar energy plants typically underperform due to a range of factors, such as the selection of the wrong location or wrong technology, the environment, pollution, extreme weather, and dirt.

Researchers at IIT Mandi evaluated seven NTPC solar PV plants in India with the goal of determining the best-performing solar PV plant in terms of cost, environment, technicality, and location. The researchers said the methodology used in their study will help decision makers to find suitable sites for solar power plants. 

The researchers chose the following criteria in decreasing order of importance: economic, technical, environmental, and connectivity. They gave the most significance to economic criteria because of the large initial investment cost associated with the PV plants and the high operation and maintenance costs. 

The researchers, Shweta Singh and Satvasheel Pawar, used hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making methods such as F-SWARA, F-COPRAS, and F-ELECTRE to compare these solar PV plants based on four main criteria and twelve sub-criteria. They referred to the data available from the existing literature, the NTPC website, other internet resources, and through NTPC field visits for the evaluation.

The study concluded that Unchahar solar PV power plant is the best alternative in terms of performance, location, development, and management, while Faridabad solar PV and Port Blair solar PV plants are the least preferred on these parameters. 

In comparison to other solar plants, the amount of CO2 reduction (environmental criteria) in the case of the Unchahar solar PV plant (1,389.5 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent per annum per MW) is the third best. Regarding location, Unchahar solar PV also has very good connectivity values, with the nearest railhead connectivity (5 km) and nearest city/town connectivity (3.8 km).

The operation and maintenance cost for Dadri solar ($4,092.57/MW per year) is less in comparison with Unchahar ($5,600.35/MW per year) and Faridabad solar PV ($7,215.84/MW per year) due to installation of 64 robots for dry cleaning on daily basis.

From pv magazine India

SJVN has started accepting bids to set up 1.5 GW of wind-solar hybrid projects on a build-own-operate basis. The projects can be developed anywhere in India, as long as they are connected to the interstate transmission grid.

SJVN will sign 25-year power purchase agreements with the successful bidders. Power procured by SJVN from these projects will be sold to different buying entities across India.

A single developer can bid for 50 MW to 750 MW of cumulative contracted capacity in multiples of 10 MW.

Bidding closes on Nov. 2.

From pv magazine India

CRISIL, an S&P Global company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bridge To India Energy Pvt Ltd (Bridge To India), a renewable energy consulting firm.

Bridge To India offers its clients insights into the renewable energy market.

“Sustainability and climate change are drawing sharper attention from clients worldwide,” said CRISIL CEO Amish Mehta. “The acquisition of Bridge To India, with its positioning and expertise in the space, will strengthen our bouquet of offerings spanning sustainability services and decarbonization.”

Vinay Rustagi, the managing director of Bridge To India, said that the company has established its strong position in the Indian renewables sector through more than a decade of consulting experience, comprehensive research coverage, and a strong network.

“Being part of CRISIL will further enhance value to clients through adoption of global best practices,” said Rustagi.

The acquisition is subject to applicable regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, and is expected to close within the next three months.

From pv magazine India

GR2L, a small clean-tech company in Surrey, England, has secured a GBP 4 million ($4.9 million) order to supply its argon recycling technology to Mundra Solar for a planned 2 GW solar facility in India.

Solar panel makers use argon gas to purify silicon crystals, which are then used in solar cells. This process requires vast amounts of argon, with some producers needing to ship in multiple tankers of the gas each day.

GR2L has developed a closed-loop, argon purge gas recovery and purification system. Its ArgonØ tech recycles the high-purity argon purge gas used in the fabrication of silicon wafers for PV applications.

GR2L claims that its ArgonØ machinery is a world first, as it allows solar cell production – as well as other advanced manufacturing activities like microelectronics production, 3D metals printing, and aerospace heat treatments – to recycle up to 95% of used argon. The technology helps solar manufacturers to cut waste, emissions and costs.

“With production of brand-new argon creating up to a tonne of carbon dioxide for every tonne of argon, our cutting-edge gas recycling technology helps solar facilities reduce their scope 3 CO2 emissions and produce solar fuel cells more efficiently,” said Rob Grant, the CEO and founder of GR2L.

From pv magazine India

A single developer can bid for 50 MW to 630 MW of cumulative contracted capacity, in multiples of 10 MW. 

SECI will sign 25-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with the successful bidders. SECI has provisioned 1,250 MW out of the total tendered capacity of 1,260 MW for sale to Delhi discoms BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), while the remaining 10 MW has been allocated to GIFT Power Co. Ltd (GIFT PCL) in Gujarat.

“Bidders who have already commissioned RE plants/storage plants or are in the process of constructing such plants and have untied capacity may also participate under this RfS. In such case, they will be given the benefit of a longer period of PPA, commensurate to the duration between the actual date of commencement of supply of power and scheduled commencement of supply date,” said SECI.