Saur Energy International Magazine October 2016

SAUR ENERGY I N T E R N A T I O N A L EDITOR

MANAS NANDI Editorial@saurenergy.com

SR. JOURNALIST

SANTANU MUKHERJEE santanu@saurenergy.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

NILOY BANERJEE niloy@saurenergy.com

TECHNICAL EDITOR

RAHUL SETHI rahul@saurenergy.com

FEATURE SPECIALIST

LAIQUE KHAN laique@saurenergy.com

MANAGER MARKETING

HEMANT ARORA hemant@saurenergy.com

MANAGER MARKETING- EAST

MAINAK CHAKRABORTY mainak@saurenergy.com

DESIGN HEAD

ABHISHEK GUPTA

WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

JITENDER KUMAR

WEB PRODUCTION

BALVINDER SINGH

SUBSCRIPTIONS

S.RADHIKA subscription@saurenergy.com

EDITORIAL CONTENT

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. While the publisher makes every effort to ensure that the contents in the magazine are correct.

However, he can accept no responsiblity for any effects from errors or omissions. Any unauthorised reproduction of Saur Energy International content is strictly forbidden.

Saur Energy International is printed, published, edited and owned by Manas Nandi and published from 303, 2nd floor, Neelkanth Palace, Plot No- 190, Sant Nagar, East of Kailash, New Delhi- 110065 (INDIA), Printed at Pearl Printers, C-105, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi.

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

Editorial...

E

The Celebration Continues!

From September REI to October Intersolar the Solar celebration in India is setting new benchmarks perennially. Industry is pretty busy signing contracts as the solar market in India is on a roll. Good times are really ahead.

MNRE formed a committee to draft National Lab Policy for Renewable Energy Sector for Testing, Standardization and Certification. The committee has prepared a draft Lab Policy Document. This draft policy document brought out a strategic action plan and structure for developing a comprehensive plan for strengthening, establishing, operating and monitoring the testing, standardisation and performance certification services for quality assurance.

This shows the forward looking approach on quality control for Renewable Energy Sector.

Notching the consistent tune with industry Saur Energy International is committed to keep the highest editorial standards and bring you the most in-depth and powerful information on the booming Solar Industry.

In this issue we bring you the latest on trackers and storage. Both the industries are at a nascent stage in India but as per emerging trends in the developed solar markets worldwide, India holds a lot of promise for this industry.

This month we have focused on the topics like- Challenges faced by EPC’s , Role of Semiconductors in Power conversion , how to get your Subsidy and should you buy or lease your roof top system.

More updates and research inside.

Happy reading.

ManasNandi manas@saurenergy.com

CONTENTS 20

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Atul Arya, Head Energy Systems

Vinay Goyal,C.E.O,

Division - Panasonic India

Ganges Internationale (P) Ltd.

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Dr. Gundu Sabde, CMD RelyOn Solar Pvt. Ltd. NATIONAL NEWS - Vikram Solar CEO bags Bengal Entrepreneurship Award 2016 - Adani Group inaugurates world’s largest 648 MW solar power plant

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- Rays Power Infra launches 100 MW solar project in Uttarakhand

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SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

TRACKING THE SUN

CONTENTS 46

- Ujaas commission’s three EPC projects across the country - Hartek Power eyes for substation orders of 500 MW solar in South India

- Madhya Pradesh’s new Energy Policy 2016 prom ises 30% subsidy to consumers INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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- JinkoSolar with SEIA launches PV recycling program

- SunPower's Sr. Vice President Eric Branderiz joins Tesla - Canadian Solar and Recurrent Energy announces a 15-year PPA for 100 MW in California - Sungrow to showcase string and central inverters at SEUK & Clean Energy Live 2016 and IGEM 2016

The Impact of Semiconductors in Solar Power Conversion industry

- Azure Power announces the launch of its IPO - Panasonic Announces The Launch of New HIT N295 PV Module For Europe

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STO-'RAGE'

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- Tesla to address the California’s power demand with massive 20 MW Powerpack system - Sentinel Solar unveils AHI Wave ESS plug and play residential storage system - India to aid solar with a proposed 10 GW of pumped

Why EPC are Treading in the Solar Race?

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hydro storage - Hawaii Gets First Utility-scale Energy Storage Providing 1MW of Power in 15 Minutes

MARKET GLANCE

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- Solar Micro Inverters Market expected to expand at CAGR of 16.6% between 2016 and 2026 - Aluminum powders, pastes, and flakes market to grow at a CAGR of 4.87%: Research and Markets

BUY OR LEASE Your Solar panel system?

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- Global EPC and EPCM Services Market to grow consistently at a CAGR of 4.5%: Technavio

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ROOF TOP SUBSIDY

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S AU R

Joy Saxena Executive Director, Vikram Solar

Gyanesh Chaudhary MD & CEO, Vikram Solar

&

Syed Abbas Head PV,

TMEIC Industrial Systems India P. Ltd

David Zhao

Senior VP, PV & Storage Division President, SUNGROW

SENSE Vinay Shetty Country Manager, Indian Subcontinent, Canadian Solar

ENERGY I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Rohit Kumar

Vipul Sabharwal MD, Luminous Power Technologies

Head of Indian Subcontinent, REC

POW E R Varun Jairath Director Investments, Rays Power Infra Pvt. Ltd.

Schmitt Gerald MD, Fronius India Pvt. Ltd

NATIONAL NEWS Hindustan Power conferred Best Solar Develop by IPPAI Hindustan Power, India’s leading integrated power player – has been awarded the ‘Best Solar Developer’ by the Indian Power Producers Association of India” during its 17th Regulator and Policy makers Retreat.

The company has distinction of commissioning India’s first 5 MW and 30 MW solar projects and has pan India presence.

Deloitte as the Knowledge partner short-listed the entries as per the set criteria for the jury to finalize the winner based on their contribution to the sector over the years.

Solar Park at Pavagada in Karnataka will be operational from April 2017 Karnataka will soon be able to harness solar power from the Pavagada solar park in Tumakuru district. The first phase of 2000 MW solar park is expected to be operational

by April-May 2017.

Power sale agreements have been signed with NTPC for support of 600MW power to the state through various electricity companies in next year.

The Pavagada solar park in Tumakuru district of Karnataka will have a total power generation capacity of 2000 MW.The solar plant is expected to be operating in full capacity by September 2018.

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Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust to harness solar power to reduce its dependency on conventional electricity Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has decided to harness solar energy installing solar power plant on several rooftops in its township and commercial premises and reduce its dependency on conventional electricity from the grid.

This green initiative by the port trust is part of its push towards becoming the most sustainable energy generation port organization in India.

With this new initiative, JNPT is expected to get a payback on its investment on rooftop solar within 2.5 years.

This 822 KWp of solar rooftop capacity is being installed at an expense of Rs 4.5 crore, supported by a 15% subsidy from Solar Energy Corporation of India.

This is a significant step in the Central Government’s widespread initiative to promote solar energy in the country and will contribute to the government’s ambitious target of having 100GW of solar capacity by 2022.

Vikram Solar CEO bags Bengal Entrepreneurship Award 2016 Gyanesh Chaudhary, MD and CEO, Vikram Solar, the globally recognized leading solar energy solutions provider won The Bengal Entrepreneurship Award 2016 in the manufacturing sector. The Bengal Entr-epreneurship Award is organized annually by The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I). Dr. Amit Mitra, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Commerce & Industries, West Bengal presented the award at the ceremony.Three successful entrepreneurs were adjudged and awarded as best entrepreneurs each from the manufacturing, service and start-up sectors.

The Bengal Entrepreneurship Recognition initiative is undertaken to identify and reward entrepreneurs of West Bengal who have outstanding entrepreneurial vision irrespective of their size, capital and competencies and who are instrumental in the socio-economic development of the state. The aim of the initiative is to encourage dynamic, sustainable and forward thinking entrepreneurs of West Bengal, who are contributing to the development of the State’s economy.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Adani Group inaugurates world’s largest 648MW solar power plant The 648MW solar power plant from Adani Group, which is also said to be the world’s largest solar plant at a single location has been inaugurated at Sengapadai in Kamudhi taluk in Ramanathapuram district.

Adani Green Energy, part of the Adani Group, stated that it has connected the 648MW solar power plant with Kamuthi 400 kv sub-station of Tantransco in Tamil Nadu. The company has the world's largest solar power plant of 648 megawatts to the nation.

The 648MW solar plant is setup at Kamuthi in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs 4550 crore.

It is part of the state government's ambitious target of generating 3000MW as per the solar energy policy unveiled by the government in 2012.

The plant consists of 3.80 lakh foundations, 25 lakh solar modules, 27000 mt. of structure, 576 inverters, and 154 transformers along with 6000-km cables.

CleanMax aims to install 400MW rooftop solar in next two years

Buoyed by the Centre's increased focus on renewable energy sector, solar solutions provider CleanMax Solar is looking to enhance its rooftop installed capacity by nearly eight-fold to about 400 MW in the next two years.

Kuldeep Singh, Managing Director of CleanMax stated that with a current installed rooftop solar capacity of 55 MW across the major metros in the country, the company is looking at increasing it to up to 400 MW in the next two years.

The company, which enjoys nearly 28 percent share in the total rooftop solar market, has presence in six metros including Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Jaipur, Chennai and Hyderabad.

The company develops solar projects on a turnkey basis, providing power on a per-kWh basis, under long-term power purchase agreements, typically at rates cheaper than grid tariffs. It has also installed solar power plants on a CAPEX basis, and can supply off-site solar power through open access in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Ujaas commissions three EPC projects across the country Ujaas Energy Limited has announced successful commissioning of 25 MW EPC projects, executed at three different locations across the nation, that are expected to generate 898.90 million units of electricity in the next 25 years.

The projects include: 9 MW Oil India Project at Raghawa Dist Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

6 MW Daman & Diu Electricity Dept. Project in village Fudam / Malala, Diu. 10 MW West Bengal Electricity Company Ltd. Project in Canal Bank in between Tailrace Channel of Teesta Canal Fall .

Hartek Power eyes for substation orders of 500 MW solar in South India Hartek Power is expecting orders of setting 500 MW of substations in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka in the next fiscal year.

Company's Chairman and Managing Director Hartek Singh said that considering the opportunities in the South, the company will consolidate its operations in South Indian states by targeting orders for 500-MW solar projects.

Hartek Power has currently installed substations for 258 MW solar projects. Out of this, 70 MW, or nearly 27 per cent, came from south India.

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NATIONAL NEWS

WTO rules against India in solar mission dispute with the United States The India’s solar mission dispute with the United States has met with an ending; with India losing its appeal to overturn the US complaint that New Delhi had discriminated against importers in the Indian solar power sector.

The dispute, which the US first launched in February 2013, involved an increasingly common target of trade disputessolar power, with increasingly common com-plaint-local content requi-rements.

Tata Power acquires WREPL through SPA Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, an arm of Tata Power, has completed 100 percent share purchase in Welspun Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd and its subsidiaries.

In June, the company had announced that TPREL will acquire WREPL through a share purchase agreement (SPA) at an enterprise value of Rs 9249 crore, subject to closing adjustments.

WREPL owns one of the largest operating solar portfolios in India spread across ten states. It has about 1141 MW of Renewable Power Projects comprising about 990 MW solar power projects and about 150 MW of wind power projects, it said.

TPREL, with all the WREPL’s assets, will have renewable assets portfolio of about 2300 MW.

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Madhya Pradesh’s new Energy Policy 2016 promises 30% subsidy to consumers

The MP state Government has approved the Madhya Pradesh Renewable Energy Policy 2016- that was released with a slogan 'Har Chhat Par Muskurata Suraj (Smiling Sun on Every Rooftop)'. The notification is expected to come into execution by end of September. Under the new policy, the State Government will provide 30% subsidy to domestic consumers to install solar panels on rooftops or in any space available on the ground. Government buildings will get 45% subsidy and certain government undertakings will get a subsidy of 50%. Colleges and educational institutions can also install solar power units wherever free space is available on the ground.

This is said to be one of the biggest steps from the Madhya Pradesh Government towards green energy since the 151MW Welspun Solar Project started operations in February 2014. The plant is located on 305 hectares in Jawad tehsil of Neemuch. Also, a 750MW of solar plant is under construction in Gurh tehsil of Rewa.

Rays Power Infra launches 100 MW solar project in Uttarakhand India’s leading Solar Energy Company, Rays Power Infra Pvt. Ltd. has announced the launch of its 100 MW Solar Power Project in Uttarakhand. The project’s execution began in August, 2016, and is expected to be commissioned by February, 2017. It will be executed by Rays Power Infra on turnkey basis – from land acquisition to commissioning.

Pawan Sharma, DirectorProjects, Rays Power Infra stated that after the successful commissioning of 55 MW Solar Power PV project in U.P., company’s 100 MW project in Uttarakhand will be the biggest project.

The 100 MW project is spread over a sprawling land area in Tehsil-Bhagwanpur in the Roorkee District of Uttarakhand. It comes under Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency’s (UREDA) competitive bidding for 2015-16.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

JinkoSolar with SEIA launches PV recycling program JinkoSolar in partnership with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and a coalition of other solar companies has launched China’s first PV recycling program. It includes a network of cost-effective recyclers that can responsibly dispose of decommissioned PV modules.

PV system owners now have dedicated resources to help aid in responsible disposal of modules once they reach the end of their life cycle.

JinkoSolar modules recently passed toxicity characteris ic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests.

Products that do not leach toxic materials at levels exceeding regulatory limits are termed TCLP compliant. TCLP compliant JinkoSolar modules will give system owners more time and flexibility to dispose of the modules.

Maxim replaces SunPower's Sr. protection diodes with Vice President Eric new cell-string optimizer Branderiz joins Tesla Tesla on Friday antechnology New cell-string optimizer technology from Maxim Integrated Products allows photovoltaic (PV) panels to harvest significantly more energy and simplifies design complexity for solar installation projects.

Maxim’s cell-string optimizers are highly integrated DC-DC converters that replace the bypass diode and perform MPPT deep inside the PV module.

By replacing each diode with a MPPT device, the on-off response to performance mismatch is eliminated; every cell-string contributes maximum power without interfering with the power production capability of others. This enhanced degree of flexibility leads to increased energy production; eliminating collateral performance loss due to module mismatch, degradation, soiling, localized shading, and row shading loss mechanisms.

Based on the company’s industry leading power semiconductor technology, Maxim’s cell-string optimizer is the first integrated power IC to perform MPPT and first to be embedded within the PV module.

nounced that Eric Branderiz will join the company on October 24, 2016 as Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.

Eric was most recently Sun-Power's Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.Eric brings accounting and solar expertise to Tesla after spending 6 years at SunPower Corporation.

The Tesla boss Elon Musk revealed his plan to introduce a roof integrated with solar panels, at an event on October 28 in San Francisco.

Musk via his personal twitter account said “Aiming for Oct 28 unveil in SF Bay Area of new Tesla/SolarCity solar roof with integrated Powerwall 2.0 battery and Tesla charger.” Eric’s experience is expected to make Tesla one of the top players in the solar segment.

GameChange Solar bags an order for 100 MW MaxSpan racking system GameChange Solar has announced that it has bagged an order for a 100 MW Max-Span post driven racking system from a leading worldwide solar developer.

The project will be installed on the east coast of the United States starting in late 2016.

Derick Botha, Vice President of Business Development at GameChange Solar in a statement said “The value pricing of our product helped to make this project feasible given tight economic requirements.

The scale of manufacturing that GameChange possesses, as well as the ability of meeting the required delivery timelines for a quality product were also keys that allowed GameChange to win this significant order.”

Canadian Solar and Recurrent Energy announces a 15-year PPA for 100 MW in California Canadian Solar and Recurrent Energy announced a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 100 MWac of solar power in California with MCE. Power from the Recurrent Energy-developed 8 solar project, located in Fresno County, California will supply MCE with 100 MWac of clean solar electricity, which according to the company is enough to power 48,300 homes.

Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2017 and the project will begin providing power to MCE by late 2018.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Panasonic Announces The Launch of New HIT N295 PV Module For Europe Panasonic has announced the launch of its new HIT N295 solar module for the European market. The company is touting it as the most powerful sub-1.6m² solar panel available on the continent.

The N295 combines a compact module size with Panasonic’s high performance technology, offering 19.1% panel efficiency. Measuring less than 150 cm in length, the compact design of the N295 will empower European residential solar installers to maximize their customers’ available roof space by installing an additional mod-ule row. Panasonic’s N295 will be available to installers in late October 2016.

Ingeteam achieves UL1741 compliance for its new 1500 Vdc Central Inverter Product line up Ingeteam has announced that it has achieved UL 1741 compliance for the new 1500 Vd Central Inverter product line up. Ingeteam INGECON SUN PowerMax U B Series inverters are dimensionally 111” x 35” x 80” inches.

According to the company these inverters are able to supply up to a maximum power of 1,637 kVA in a single unit - making it the solar inverter with the highest power density in the market.

The 1500 Vdc INGECON SUN PowerMax B Series inverter family comes with Smart Cooling System which makes it possible to optimize and reduce the auxiliary services consumption.

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Sungrow to showcase string and central inverters at SEUK & Clean Energy Live 2016 and IGEM 2016 Sungrow has announced that it will present string inverters SG36KTL-M and new SG60KTL as well as the central inverter SG2000-MV at SEUK & Clean Energy Live 2016 (Birmingham, Booth: C34). The company will also showcase its new string inverter SG60KTL and the central inverter SG2500-MV at IGEM (International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia) 2016 .

Sungrow’s central inverters SG2000-MV and SG2500-MV integrate inverter, transformer and the switchgear. Its standard 20 foot shipping container design lowers the transportation cost.

Based on Sungrow’s three-level topology design, the SG2000-MV/SG2500-MVturnkey solutions are able to lift the inverter efficiency up to 99%, which according to the company is highly costeffective. The SG2000-MV/SG2500-MV turnkey solutions are also easy to maintain due to the modular design and the current monitoring function for fast trouble shooting.

“Sungrow’s is always committed to technical innovation. We keep introducing cutting-edge technologies to our products in order to offer better products and services to customers” said Renxian Cao, President of Sungrow.

Azure Power announces Elon Musk to the launch of its IPO introduce Tesla/ SolarCity solar roof on 28 October 2016 Azure Power Global Limited (“Azure Power”) has announced the launch of its initial public offering of 6,818,182 equity shares. 5,863,637 equity shares will be sold by Azure Power, while 954,545 shares will be sold by certain selling shareholders says the official statement.

The company expected to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,022,727 equity shares at the initial public offering price.

Azure Power has applied to list its equity shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AZRE.” The company aims to use the net proceeds from the offering primarily to fund the purchase by Azure Power of equity shares of its subsidiary, Azure Power India Private Limited (“AZI”), and to fund future operating expenses of Azure Power.

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The boss of Tesla, SolarCity and SpaceX – Elon Musk is planning to introduce a roof integrated with solar panels, at an event on October 28 in San Francisco. According to reports the roof will be made entirely out of solar cells and integrate products from his electric car company. Early this year in August Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the SolarCity’s conference call announced that SolarCity will develop and sell a roof integrated with solar panels. Musk didn’t detailed on the product itself; however, he made it clear that his company will go after the roof industry with its new products as the market for home rooftop solar systems got more competitive. It is worth noting that handful of companies are already selling these products, however they have failed to gain traction because of its efficiency and cost. It will be interesting to see if Tesla can create its own space in the solar market.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BayWa Group acquires Australian PV distributor Solarmatrix BayWa group has entered the solar module and component business in Australia acquiring photovoltaic distributor Solarmatrix based in the West Australian city of Perth. The activities of Solarmatrix will be continued with the company BayWa r.e. Solar Systems Pty Ltd. formed specifically for this purpose.

“After entering the market in South East Asia a good half year ago, we now continue our international growth strategy in the Southern hemisphere. Given its high levels of sunlight, Australia is a most interesting business field for photovoltaic energy,” said Klaus Josef Lutz, Chief Executive Officer of BayWa AG. BayWa intends to benefit from the long-standing experience in the Australian solar market and good customer loyalty of the former Solarmatrix to further increase market shares Down Under.

BayWa r.e. will present itself and exhibit its comprehensive product and service portfolio for the first time at the “All Energy” trade fair in Melbourne on October 4 and 5.

SNEC 2017 PV Power Expo scheduled from April 19 to 21,in Shanghai New International Expo Center SNEC 11th 2017, an International Photovoltaic Pow-er Generation Conference & Exhibition (SNEC PV POWER EXPO) is scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China, on April 19-21, 2017.

The expo showcases PV manufacturing facilities, materials, PV cells & modules, PV application products, and PV project and system, covering every section of the whole PV industry chain.

The event was initiated by Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), Shanghai Federation of Economic Organizations (SFEO), Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES), Shanghai Science & Technology Development, Shanghai New Energy Industry Association (SNEIA), Exchange Centre (SSTDEC) and is jointly organized by 19 international associations and organizations including Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

DAS keeps smart grid equipment safe from faults while improving power delivery Analog Devices has announced a Data Acquisition System (DAS), the AD7616 DAS that enhances smart grid equipment monitoring in order to protect equipment from harmful system faults and improve power delivery to residences and businesses. . The new DAS supports Class 0.2 measurement accuracy and enable the development of faster, more sensitive and affordable fault detection equipment that helps protection relay operators minimize the high costs associated with repairing and replacing damaged components.

The AD7616 DAS is suitable for a range of distribution applications such as relay protection for low-voltage distribution and feeder terminal units. The new device is also ideal for multiphase motor control and industrial instrumentation applications.

PHP Systems-Design Launches Solar Panel Mounting System Designer and manufacturer of high-performance rooftop pipe and equipment support systems; PHP Systems Design (PHP) has launched a solar panel mounting system. The new panel mounting system addedto their comprehensive line of rooftop support system products to meet market demands and further ongoing commitment to sustainable building practices.

The company notes that PHP Solar Panel Mounting System is designed to support a wide variety of solar panels. The system's base is made out of injection molded high density/ high impact polypro-pylene with UV-inhibitors and antioxidants with a carbon steel framing that is hot dip galvanized per ASTM A 123.

PHP's solar panel mounting system can be used on virtually any type of flat or low slope roof and ideal for commercial and industrial buildings. Seismic and High Wind applications are available for all solar support applications.

Art Valentz, Owner of PHP Systems/Design stated that "The solar panel mounting system is a product we previously offered as a custom order option for our customers.

After receiving great feedback from previous orders and installations, we are proud to announce that the PHP Solar Panel Mounting System is now re-introduced as a widely and readily available product for any type of rooftop solar installation project."

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WHAT'S NEW?

Liquid Batteries is the Most Promising Approach for Grid-Level Electricity Storage As solar cells produce a greater proportion of total electric power, a fundamental limitation remains: the dark of night when solar cells go to sleep. Lithium-ion batteries, the commonplace batteries used in everything from hybrid vehicles to laptop computers, are too expensive a solution to use on something as massive as the electric grid.

Song Jin, a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has a better idea: integrating the solar cell with a large-capacity battery. He and his colleagues have made a single device that eliminates the usual intermediate step of making electricity and, instead, transfers the energy directly to the battery's electrolyte.

Jin chose a "redox flow battery," or RFB, which stores energy in a tank of liquid electrolyte.

Jin, graduate student Wenjie Li, and colleagues at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia have demonstrated a single device that converts light energy into chemical energy by directly charging the liquid electrolyte.

Discharging the battery to power the electric grid at night could hardly be simpler, Jin says. "We just connect a load to a different set of electrodes, pass the charged electrolyte through the device, and the electricity flows out."

Solar charging and electrical discharging, he notes, can be repeated for many cycles with little efficiency loss.

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which store energy in solid electrodes, the RFB stores chemical energy in liquid electrolyte.

"The RFB is relatively cheap and you can build a device with as much storage as you need, which is why it is the most promising approach for grid-level electricity storage," says Jin, who also works on

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several other aspects of solar energy conversion.

In the new device, standard silicon solar cells are mounted on the reaction chamber and energy converted by the cell immediately charges the water-based electrolyte, which is pumped out to a storage tank.

Redox flow batteries already on the market have been attached to solar cells, "but now we have one device that harvests sunlight to liberate elec-trical charges and directly changes the oxidation-reduction state of the electrolyte on the surface of the cells," says Li, the first author of the new study. "We are using a single device to convert solar energy and charge a battery. It's essentially a solar battery, and we can size the RFB storage tank to store all the energy generated by the solar cells."

"The solar cells directly charge the electrolyte, and so we're doing two things at once, which makes for simplicity, cost reduction and potentially higher

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

efficiency," said Jin. Having proven the concept of an integrated, solar-charged battery, Jin and Li are already working on improvements.

One would be to match the solar cell's voltage to the chemistry of the electrolyte, minimizing losses as energy is converted and stored.

The aqueous electrolyte used in the current study contains organic molecules but no expensive rare metals, which raise costs in many batteries. Jin and Li are also searching for electrolytes with larger voltage differential, which currently limits energy storage capacity.

As solar energy use grows, the storage problem becomes more acute. "People say the solar electricity capacity cannot exceed about 20 percent of overall grid capacity, because of supply shortages at night or during cloudy weather," Jin says. "In some places, further solar installations may have to wait until better storage is available."

WHAT'S NEW?

Chemists Finds the Gist to Manufacture More Efficient Solar Cells Columbia scientists have demonstrated it is possible to manufacture solar cells that are far more efficient than existing silicon energy cells by using a new kind of material, a development that could help reduce fossil fuel consumption.

The team, led by Xiaoyang Zhu, a professor of Chemistry at Columbia University, focused its efforts on a new class of solar cell ingredients known as Hybrid Organic Inorganic Perovskites (HOIPs). Their results, reported in the prestigious journal Science, also explain why these new materials are so much more efficient than traditional solar cells—solving a mystery that will likely prompt scientists and engineers to begin inventing new solar materials with similar properties in the years ahead.

"The need for renewable energy has motivated extensive research into solar cell technologies that are economically competitive with burning fossil fuel," Zhu says. "Among the materials being explored for next generation solar cells, HOIPs have emerged a superstar. Until now no one has been able to explain why they work so well, and how much better we might make them. We now know it's possible to make HOIP-based solar cells even more efficient than anyone thought possible."

Solar cells are what turn sunlight into electricity. Also known as photovoltaic cells, these semiconductors are most frequently made from thin layers of silicon that transmit energy across its structure, turning it into DC current.

Silicon panels, which currently dominate the market for solar panels, must have a purity of 99.999 percent and are notoriously fragile and expensive to manufacture. Even a microscopic defect—such as misplaced, missing or

extra ions—in this crystalline structure can exert a powerful pull on the charges the cells generate when they absorb sunlight, dissipating those charges before they can be transformed into electrical current.

In 2009, Japanese scientists demonstrated it was possible to build solar cells out of HOIPs, and that these cells could harvest energy from sunlight even when the crystals had a significant number of defects. Because they don't need to be pristine, HOIPs can be produced on a large scale and at low cost. The Columbia team has been investigating HOIPs since 2014. Their findings could help boost the use of solar power, a priority in the age of global warming.

Over the last seven years, scientists have managed to increase the efficiency with which HOIPs can convert solar energy into electricity, to 22 percent from 4 percent. By contrast, it took researchers more than six decades to create silicon cells and bring them to their current level, and even now silicon cells can convert no more than about 25 percent of the sun's energy into electrical current.

This discovery, Zhu said, meant that

"scientists have only just begun to tap the potential of HOIPs to convert the sun's energy into electricity."

Theorists long ago demonstrated that the maximum efficiency silicon solar cells might ever reach— the percentage of energy in sunlight that might be converted to electricity we can use—is roughly 33 percent. It takes hundreds of nanoseconds for energized electrons to move from the part of a solar cell that infuses them with the sun's energy, to the part of the cell that harvests the energy and converts it into electricity that can ultimately be fed into a power grid. During this migration across the solar cell, the energized electrons quickly dissipate their excess energy.

But those calculations assume a specific rate of energy loss. The Columbia team discovered that the rate of energy loss is slowed down by over three-orders of magnitude in HOIPs – making it possible for the harvesting of excess electronic energy to increase the efficiency of solar cells.

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WHAT'S NEW?

Amazon and Facebook’s commitment to better renewable energy technologies It has not been long ago Facebook and Amazon were heavily criticized for their carbon-intensive operations, but both companies have rapidly transformed from laggards to leaders.

First, the Amazon announced about the Amazon Wind Farm Texas project, which will be a 253-megawatt power station located Scurry County, Texas.

The facility will generate 1,000,000 megawatt hours of wind-sourced electricity each year; enough to provide the power needs of close to 90,000 U.S households. More than 100 wind turbines will be constructed at the site, which are expected to be completed and supplying electricity by the end of 2107.

Combined with the company’s other wind and solar farms in Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina, Amazon will be generating 2.6 million MWh of

cheap, green electricity each year. The clean energy projects will be powering current and future Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud data centers. AWS has committed to achieving 100% renewable energy usage for its global infrastructure footprint.

On the other hand, Facebook, the giant of social networks has announced its next data centre, which will be developed in the village of Los Lunas, New Mexico, and will be powered by 100% wind and solar energy. Ken Patchett, Facebook’s Director of Data Center Operations, West Region mentioned that “By powering our data center with renewable energy versus natural gas, we also reduce the water usage associated with the data center by 30 percent.” Patchett also added that the data center will be the one of the most energy-efficient in the world. Facebook

had set a goal of reaching 25 percent of renewable energy in 2015 for all data centers; which it met and exceeded. Last year, it again set a new target; aiming to have at least 50 percent of clean and renewable energy in its mix in 2018.

Facebook also holds a number of related projects including, Aquila – a massive solar powered drone that will be part of a fleet of similar aircraft beaming internet connectivity to people in underserved communities.

New Solar Panel Integrates Storage, Inverter, and Smart Software in Single Unit In strive make it imagine that solar panel can integrate storage, inverter, and smart software to make the word smart viable solar for every home. A new entry in the residential solar segment has sought to disrupt this space. SunCulture’s SolPad solar device is sought to be a standalone solar and battery unit which can be used singly or connected in an array, and which may be able to lower the overall costs considerably. SunCulture's SolPad solar device integrates solid state batteries directly into the solar panels themselves, offering its users the ability to not only generate their own clean electricity, but to also store if for use after dark or during peak demand times, when electricity costs are higher.

The SolPad units also incorporate an

18

inverter, which converts the electricity from the DC generated and stored by the device to the AC required by most household appliances, and includes "intelligent software" that communicates with both the users and with their home's systems, allowing for granular control over which rooms or devices will receive the solar power.

The SolPad can be used as a single unit, which could be placed on a patio or deck and used only when needed, or can be strung together into a more powerful array, which may allow more people to start going solar by purchasing one unit and then adding more over time (as opposed to having to purchase an entire array at once). And with the integration of energy storage and software

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

directly in the units, the SolPads can function as a solar microgrid during power outages, which is something that most current solar arrays can't do, due to their automatic disconnection feature (to protect utility workers from electricity flowing from panels onto the grid during outages). The company says it will be bringing the SolPad to market during the second half of 2017, and while final pricing has yet to be announced.

VIZ-A-VIZ

Atul Arya, Head Energy Systems

"

Division - Panasonic India Q

We see a lot of potential in application of energy storage across Indian Railways.

"

The solar storage sector has emerged as a wakeful technology wherein it is echoing solar + storage as the next big thing.

Amid, government recent helm to pilot MW projects with storage, this sector is rejigging the innovationdriven companies’ stimulus. To name one is Panasonic; the company has decisively benchmarked its position compelling to rethink on the rock-bottom market sentiments of lead-acid batteries. In an effusive conversation with Mr. Atul Arya, Head Energy Systems Division P ‎ anasonic traversed Niloy Banerjee, Associate Editor – SEI across the nitty-gritty of Indian Solar Storage Sector and pinned Panasonic’s role to edify the next big wave of Liion technology in the Indian solar market. Excerpts.

Solar sector in India is today reiterating Gigawatt, what opportunities do this pragmatic unit of power keeps for Panasonic India?

At Panasonic, we believe in creating a clean, unbreakable grid that fuels India’s economic prosperity. Infact, we are running “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project" globally, that has reached passed its halfway mark with the cumulative number of solar lanterns donated exceeding 50,000 on March 10, 2016. Through this Panasonic aims to donate 100,000 solar lanterns by 2018 to offer relief to communities stricken by large-scale natural disasters or by epidemics.

In India Panasonic has successfully completed supply of 2.9 MW of Photovoltaic Module HIT™ to a large sanitary ware manufacturing company in India (for its roof top project) and now executing ~2 MW roof top project for the same customer on EPC basis. Additionally, we have also successfully completed and commissioned 700kWp of roof top power plant on EPC basis with the photovoltaic modules for a large IT company in South India and currently, executing an additional ~1 MW of roof top plant for the same customer in western India.

Q

What are the key nuggets of AES and Panasonic India’s strategic partnership in India?

Panasonic has been working in the “Energy Storage Solutions” space in India since FY 2013. We are the market leaders in supplying lithium-ion batteries to telecom sector as well as multiple other mission critical applications. We have recently partnered with AES India Private Limited to further strengthen our position in the market and ensure a continued supply of energy across the aforementioned mission critical areas such as hospitals, hotels and data-centres.

At Panasonic, we aim at transforming the energy storage infrastructure to deliver more value from the initial investment, while ensuring a clean, unbreakable grid that fuels India’s economic prosperity for decades to come. For instance, we have been monitoring potential growth in lithium-ion batteries and their usage in ATM’s during power outages. Here, Panasonic has partnered with NCR – a global leader in ATM machines. By 2020, we have set ourselves a target of supplying batteries for 100,000 machines in the country

Q

Which sectors and the key technologies primarily the company aims to cater in the Indian market?

The top five segments that are vital for Panasonic’s Lithium-Ion energy storage business are:yyMobile Phones / Smart Phones / Tablets Industry yyTelecom Back Up Systems yyPortable Hand Held Devices - POS, Power Drills, etc. yyAutomotive Applications like Lawn Movers / Golf Carts / Ebike yySolar Street Lights Meanwhile, for Lithium Ion Battery Performance, the most important aspect is to understand the conditions in which the Battery is going to be used. So, we first check the Application Condition for e.g. Automotive is the most stringent. Followed by Out Door Applications and then followed by High Load Conditions, These operating conditions drastically affect the performance of the Lithium Battery Performance. As OCTOBER 2016 l SAUR ENERGY.COM

21

VIZ-A-VIZ a thumb rule, we simulate the Conditions and then decide the Critical Parameters / Envelope for the Performance of the Battery. At Panasonic, we do not compromise on the safety of the product.

We rather degrade the life of the battery than taking any risk on the safety of the usage.

Q

Many big names are been gossiped to enter the Indian market soon.

Panasonic India has a long-driven market in India, what will be your strategies to be upfront with the emerging competition in the Indian storage ecosystem?

At Panasonic, whether it is about application in solar installations or, EV charging stations Panasonic’s smart energy storage solutions are customized to meet all requirements.

Some of the many useful benefits of implementing a Panasonic system are: • Stability - Energy storage systems act as a stabilizer for fluctuating electric power.

• Scalability - Comprised of storage batteries and control units to manage charging and discharging, storage systems are suitable for a variety of applications.

• Reliable resource - When an outage occurs, power from the storage system can be used as a backup energy source. yy Cleaner form of energy storage - By simply storing and recycling electricity, energy storage systems have no direct emissions. yySavings - Energy storage systems help customers avoid premium pricing during peak demand. yy A forward facing solution - Storage shifts consumption forward for optimal energy management.

Q

Rooftops in India and now even MW solar projects are opting for highoptimized power storage technologies to stabilize the sporadic energy flown from Grid. How is Panasonic India aiming to provide consistent energy regardless of the instable grid’s behavior?

At Panasonic, we cater to energy requirements in 3 broad categories: 1. Small scale – applications in Telecom,

22

Banking, ATMs; 5-15 KW 2. Mid-Size scale – applications in Buildings, Industrial segments; 100KW – 1MW 3. Large scale applications; 5MW< Panasonic’s smarter, more secure power grid, energy storage and energy management system balances power generation to demand, reduce the potential for blackouts, and integrate current energy sources.

Q

Indian practices a strict certification procedure to qualify the battery through the tests corresponding to capacity, efficiency of watt-hour and amp-hour, and charge retention shelf life irrespective of type/capacity of battery.

How the company does accomplish the regulations?

Globally we follow UL, VDE, CE, JIS, etc. besides our own Internal Testing standards and procedures. We also Test and Certify our products from Case to Case basis like TUV. In India recently BIS has been introduced and we are ensuring all our products are compatible with this.

Q

What are the current or proposed projects of the company?

We are currently working with Banking and Telecom sector players. We see a lot of potential in application of energy storage across Indian Railways.

Q

A large portion of the Indian market is still driven by Lead-Acid batteries because of its application, pricing etc.

How do you think Lithium-ion will make its mark in the Indian market?

Lead-acid batteries although easily accessible are relatively less efficient and unsafe than a Li-ion storage. Meanwhile, we at Panasonic safety is the prime factor that needs to be taken care of.

The safety level of the battery has to be at an optimum level and Panasonic’s separator technology contributes to improve the safety. Furthermore, the designing of the cells and the batteries is such that it ensure the safety of the battery module. The advancing of cathode and anode material technology

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

contributes to improve the stability and the energy density. The recyclability of the charge and discharge is also improved with advancing those electrodes and electrolyte. Charging method is also improved and it leads to the higher recyclability.

Q

Lately, SECI has afoot to integrate ‘Storage’ in large-scale solar projects, through its latest tender of 100MW in Andhra Pradesh, The Govt. body mandated ‘STORAGE’ for every 50MW of solar and the same has been practiced for a 200MW solar in Karnataka. Alongside, Panasonic 10 MWhr battery array with AES in Haryana has significantly sparked the storage corridors bringing India’s first utilityscale storage project. How optimistic is the company with ongoing projects and what more do you envisage in this sector.

The Indian power market is expected to grow up to 350 GW by 2022, from current installed capacity of 288GW. In addition, there is a target to install 160 GW of solar and wind generation. While this rapid growth in renewables will help improve energy security, increase access to electricity, reduce reliance on energy imports, and reduce air emissions, it will also strain the system, as the current infrastructure is not designed to meet these modern demands. Energy storage can easily transform this infrastructure to deliver more value from the initial investment, while ensuring a clean, unbreakable grid that fuels India’s economic prosperity for decades to come.

Q

What are the key business models of Panasonic India for the indigenous market?

At Panasonic, we have three key priority areas that also reiterates our business model: • Creation of demand - across the industry/stakeholders • Develop demand • Develop and build on capabilities

STO-'RAGE'

Aquion Energy, Azimuth Energy and Schneider Electric commission AC/DC nanogrid with solar-plus-storage Aquion Energy, Azimuth Energy, and Schneider Electric have together completed an AC/DC nanogrid using solarplus-storage technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology's (IIT) Keating Sports Center in the US. Solar EPC firm Azimuth Energy designed and installed the nanogrid. The system also uses Aspen batteries from Aqueous Hybrid-Ion batteries from Aquion Energy, and power control electronics from Schneider Electric.

The nanogrid, which will increase energy efficiency and provide backup power, supports both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) loads. While the Keating center nanogrid is connected to the campus microgrid, it can also operate independently using just solar and batteries as an islanded off-grid system.

The project demonstrates the application of such systems for critical building loads such as for police stations and

hospitals where power outages must be avoided.

Chief Commercial Officer of Aquion Energy, Tim Poor said that“This is the future of distributed generation, where isolated loads powered by renewables combined with energy storage can stand alone and operate without the grid.

“Our safe and sustainable Aspen batteries are the optimal choice for longduration storage and deep daily cycling, from nanogrids like this one at IIT to microgrids, island communities, and other nanogrids such as telecom base stations."

Aquion’s Aspen batteries are capable of operating at high ambient temperatures and do not degrade from partial state of charge cycling, it claimed in a release.

Schneider provided its Conext XW+ 6848 Hybrid Inverter and the Conext XW MPPT80-600 Charge Controller for the nanogrid.

Vice President of solar off-grid and resi-

dential at Schneider Electric, Xavier Datin stated that “We were a proud partner in this innovative project, ready to demonstrate the benefits of the flexib-ility and intelligence of our Conext XW+ family of products. It supports multi-mode operation to create a perfect test-bed for validating a true hybrid system with mixed energy sources and loads on DC and AC distribution.”

Tesla to address the California’s power demand with massive 20 MW Powerpack system Tesla just struck a deal to build one of the largest battery storage facilities in the world. It will provide a 20 MW Powerpack system at a substation in Mira Loma, California. The lithium-ion battery system will store 80 MW hours of energy, enough to power more than 2500 households for a day, according to a Tesla blog post.

Tesla expects the grid to be completed by 2016. Southern California Edison owns the substation.

The contract is part of a state-mandated plan to improve grid reliability. It was or-ginally ordered in 2013 and got expedited after a massive leak at a natural gas well in Aliso Canyon threatened power supplies.

As reported on CNBC, Southern California

Edison spokesman Paul Griffo said that the Powerpack will charge whenever excess energy is on the grid (often during off-peak hours) and then deliver it later when it's needed.

The California Public Utilities Commission in 2013 ordered three utilities— Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and San Diego Gas & Electric — to install 1325 gigawatts of storage capacity by 2024. One GW is 1000 MW. After the leak, the government sped up the plan to procure the necessary storage.

These three other companies were awarded contracts to provide another 27 megawatts of battery storage services to Southern California Edison, but the Tesla

system will be the only one the utility actually owns, Griffo mentioned.

OCTOBER 2016 l SAUR ENERGY.COM

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STO-'RAGE'

BYD Showcases "Energy + Solar = Zero Emissions" at SPI Conference in Las Vegas A world leaders in energy storage, BYD Company Ltd. has introduced new home- and grid-tied "Energy + Solar = Zero Emissions" Vision and Products at the Solar Power International 2016 held in Las Vegas.

The company’s comprehensive renewable power proposition was first launched at the 2016 Intersolar Europe in Munich this June. Visitors to SPI saw two types of BYD solar modules: the Multiple Busbar (MBB) and 4 Busbar modules with 60 or 72 cells; and several Energy Storage solutions including 40-ft container ESS, miniHome ESS and the BYD B-BOX system. BYD currently has more than 60% market share for frequency regulation energy storage in the US. “We’re proud to be able to showcase these amazing new affordable solar systems and energy storage products here at SPI this year,” said Micheal Austin, Vice President of BYD, who attended the

conference. “Everyone has known for years that solar is the future. What we’re trying to do here is prove that with these energy storage solutions, it can also be the present.”

BYD’s “Energy + Solar = Zero Emissions" solutions aim to break through the traditional bottleneck of photovoltaic power generation, so that PV projects meet more diverse market needs and allow for new growth potential in the renewable energy industry. The global PV industry has been developing rapidly in recent years, but there are a number of remaining challenges in production capacity and reliability, as well as in market trends and public policies. In terms of power production, BYD’s Solutions are designed such that the energy generated through PV goes first into energy storage equipment, in order to resolve instabilities in energy flow and improve distribution. This represents a

breakthrough for power plant owners to be able to provide more diverse services to a wider variety of customers.

In concept, the idea of combining PV generation with energy storage is not new, but BYD is the first to do so with an Iron-Phosphate battery, and is the only company to make both photovoltaic and energy storage products. BYD’s solution is able to provide the best possible value and experience to fulfil its customers solar and energy storage needs.

Sentinel Solar unveils AHI Wave ESS plug and play residential storage system The Sentinel Solar has unveiled its new energy storage system at Solar Power International Conference in Las Vegas.

The new launch from Sentinel Solar is a storage system based on the safest, cleanest and most reliable battery chemistry ever.

The AHI Wave ESS is the latest ‘plug-andplay’ energy storage system designed by the Canadian manufacturer Sentinel Solar for residential use. Engineered for solar and storage applications, the new battery features minimal hardware and simplified wiring inputs, facilitating for easy installation and set-up. Its base unit affords a continuous 4kW output, which can be expanded with energy demands.

The AHI Wave ESS does not require

24

regular maintenance.

The Ontario-based firm said it “closes the loop in the clean energy cycle” as a sustainably developed means to produce, store and consume clean energy. It has been designed for peak load shaving, grid stabilisation, self-consumption and remote power applications.

Sentinel Solar has partnered with US firms Outback Power and Aquion on the system; it integrates a battery from the former and an inverter from the latter, including all wiring and communications devices.

Aquion claims its popular Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) batteries, including the Aspen range used in the AHI Wave ESS, are non-flammable and non-explosive,

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

and certified for their sustainable components, which include no heavy metals or toxic chemicals.

STO-'RAGE'

India to aid solar with a proposed 10 GW of pumped hydro storage India is embarking on a plan to build out gigawatts of pumped hydro facilities to help store the massive levels of renewable energy it will be producing within a decade.

Chairperson of India’s Central Electricity Authority, S.D. Dubey last month confirmed plans for 10GW of pumped hydro storage across the country. The plan will cost 80,000 crore rupees (about $17.2 billion) over the next five to six years.

Dubey mentioned that pumped hydro storage costs could be a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion batteries. He further said the capital costs of the plants would be between 6 and 8 crore rupees ($1.3 million and $1.7 million) per megawatt.

This compares to a per-megawatt capital cost for solar projects between 5 and 6 crore rupees ($1.1 million and $1.3 million). India has a potential for up to 90GW of pumped hydro storage, said the report.

Pumped hydro would be useful not just for storing excess renewable energy, he noted, but even thermal power produced during periods of solar or wind overload.

“In addition to providing grid flexibility, these plants can use cheap offpeak power to pump up the water and

generate power during peak hours, at higher rates,” he said.

Brett Simon, energy storage analyst with GTM Research, stated that there were advantages and drawbacks to the pumped hydro concept.

“Today, pumped hydro accounts for the bulk of deployed electrical energy storage capacity worldwide and is often cheaper than other forms of storage, such as batteries,”Brett commented.

For now, it is unclear which locations are being studied for pumped hydro development by the Indian government, although a number of projects are already underway, and the concept has been alive in India since well before the current solar boom.

One of the most significant pumped hydro storage projects currently underway is Sillahalla, which is a 7000-crorerupees ($1.5 billion), 2GW plant in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu.

The plant is being developed by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation and involves construction of a dam across the Sillahalla River and a 2.75-kilometer tunnel connecting it to the existing Avalanche-Emerald reservoir.

The dam is scheduled for completion in 2018 or 2019, while the rest of the

project is due to start operation in 2022, according to news reports last year. A tender is currently open for laboratory tests on borehole core and bedrock samples at the site.

Other pumped hydro projects known to be under consideration include the 1-gigawatt Turga project in West Bengal, the 600-megawatt Upper Indravati plant in Odisha, and a 450-megawatt development based around the existing Kundah hydro stations in Tamil Nadu.

Storage is likely to become a pressing issue across the country as it moves forward with ambitious solar targets.

According to GTM Research’s latest Global Solar Demand Monitor, India is set to have a cumulative PV demand of 46.1 GW between 2016 and 2020.

BioSolar commence development of high energy anode for current and Next Gen lithium batteries BioSolar has announced that it has started a new program for the development of a high energy anode for current and next generation lithium batteries. While this anode is an independent technology; the Company will seek synergies with the Super Cathode technology it has been developing.

BioSolar's cathode technology, which had been the primary focus of its university-

led research and development efforts, exploits a new chemistry instead of conventional lithium-ion intercalation chemistries. The company in a statement notes that its new anode technology is compatible with existing lithium-ion intercalation chemistries.

The high energy anode is expected to be compatible with existing battery manufacturing processes, thereby

enabling seamless integration and speedy adoption.

The Company believes its new anode technology has the potential to reduce costs, improve range, and enable faster charging times across various markets, including electric vehicles, personal technology, and storage for renewable energy, such as solar.

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STO-'RAGE'

SimpliPhi Power brings complete plug-and-play ESS for on and off grid Developed in partnership with solar and energy storage installers to optimize equipment and streamline cost calculations, SimpliPhi Power has released a complete plug-and-play Energy Storage System (ESS) that easily integrates power storage into new and existing solar installations both on and off grid.

SimpliPhi’s fully integrated solution includes the company’s award-winning battery technology combined with a Schneider Electric inverter charge controller and associated power electronics and system management in one elegant box.

Pre-programmed software settings and system performance monitoring round out the solution; and by eliminating any ventilation or active cooling requirements, SimpliPhi’s new all-in-one ESS can be safely installed both outside and inside.

“Mitigating the impact of power outages,

the increase in distributed renewable generation at times of low use, the rising cost of base and peak power and the trend to reduce or eliminate net metering programs is opening up opportunities for solar installers to offer storage as an integral part of their solutions. Many solar installers are not battery experts, yet this expertise is what is required to select equipment to design a system that optimally integrates energy storage.

We wanted to offer them an all-in-onebox solution to simplify the prospect of adding storage to meet their customer’s needs,” said SimpliPhi CEO Catherine Von Burg.

“Installers collaborated with us on the design of this new product because they were frustrated by the lack of product readiness, adaptability and scalability, as well as the needless complexity offered by other manufacturers with cooling and thermal regulation requirements. We worked together to combine best-in-class

technologies into one plug-in box that can scale without the need of ventilation, cooling or the risk of thermal runaway characteristic of other lithium ion storage technologies.”

SimpliPhi assembles all the equipment into the ESS box and ships it out as a plug-and-play solution. The ESS off-ers three software modalities that meet the requirements of different applications, such as new and retrofit systems, including solutions that utilities can access for asset monitoring and deployment off-site for grid stabilization.

Hawaii Gets First Utility-scale Energy Storage Providing 1MW of Power in 15 Minutes Hawaiian Electric announces to have operationalized its first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), a 1 MW battery located at the Campbell Industrial Park generating station on Oahu.

The BESS is a joint demonstration project by the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii and Hawaiian Electric. It also includes funding from the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

The demo will continue for two years – with a possible extension – to determine the battery’s safety, operating characteristics and effectiveness in helping to integrate more renewable energy on a circuit that already has a high level of solar, the utility says.

26

Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric’s vice president for corporate planning and business development, said, “We are working on these capabilities both with larger, utility-scale systems like the BESS units and with ‘behind-the-meter’ batteries at business and residential customer sites – all working in unison to make clean power work.”

The centerpiece of the BESS project is an Altairnano 1 MW/250 kWh BESS, which is housed in a large shipping container.

The BESS comprises batteries that store 250 kWh of energy and a corresponding inverter that changes DC to AC electricity so that the battery can export up to 1 MW of power to the grid.

The utility says the quickly responding

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

battery can go from zero to full power output in a fraction of a second, as well as provide 250 kW of power for one hour or 1 MW of power for 15 minutes.

MARKET GLANCE

Solar Micro Inverters Market expected to expand at CAGR of 16.6% between 2016 and 2026 Future Market Insights (FMI) in its latest research revealed that global solar micro-inverter market between 2016 and 2026 is expected to expand at a CAGR of 16.6%. The current study reveals the market trends and market dynamics across the globe are expected to positively affect the current market environment and future scenario of the solar micro-inverter market over the forecast period.

This Future Market Insights (FMI) report inspects the solar micro inverter market for the period 2016â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2026. The prime objective of this report is to offer insights into developments in the global solar micro-inverter landscape that are gradually helping transform global businesses associated with the same.

The report states that Growing PV installations worldwide, owing to various government initiatives and falling PV system prices coupled with rising awareness about the benefits of module level power electronics (MLPE) are the main factors driving the demand for micro-inverters. However, rising penetration of power optimizers which offers similar benefits to micro-inverters is a major restraint to the growth in the market.

The report also presents a competitive description between the two technologies and their estimated share in the global module level power electronics market in 2016 and 2026.

One of the key trends in the global solar micro-inverter market is the increasing focus of prominent players in the micro-inverter segment towards integrated module systems known as AC Modules, and the market is continuously witnessing numerous strategic partnerships regarding the same, along with many new integrated product

launches lined from 2017 onwards.

Further, the global solar micro-inverter market is segmented on the basis of system type, end use, and region. On the basis of system type, the market has been segmented into Stand Alone and Integrated Systems. Micro-inverters sold for integration purpose is gaining popularity and as the prices drops and more products in the segment are introduced, the segment is projected to register a significantly higher CAGR over the forecast period, said FMI in its study.

On the basis of end use type, the market has been segmented into Residential (0-20Kw), Commercial (20Kw-1Mw) and Utility (1Mw and above) scale installations. As of now, micro-inverters present an economical solution for residential and small scale commercial installations, and are rarely installed in large megawatt projects. A large number of photovoltaic installations are anticipated to come from commercial scale installations, especially in India, China and Japan, leading the commercial segment to grow with the fastest CAGR. The study investigates the regional trends contributing to growth of the solar market and the market attractiveness regionally. Main regions assessed include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

The above sections, by system type, by end use, and region, evaluate the present scenario and growth prospects of the solar micro inverter market for 2016â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2026. Historically, prominent microinverter companies have focused only on stand-alone sales, and have prominently targeted the North American residential market.

Consequently, it led to the increased

penetration of micro-inverters in the region and became the hub for almost all micro-inverter companies. In 2016, the residential segment is estimated to account for 80.7% value share in the North America solar micro-inverter market, which itself accounts for 46.1% of the total global market.

To ascertain the solar micro-inverter market size, the research firm have taken into account the revenue generated by the prominent manufacturers. The forecast presented assesses the total revenue generated by value, across the solar micro-inverter market. In order to provide an accurate forecast, the company initiated by sizing up the current market in terms of Mega Watts of micro-inverters deployed, which forms the basis on how the solar microinverter market is expected to develop in the future. Given the characteristics of the market, FMI carved up the outcome on the basis of three different types of analysis; based on supply side, Photovoltaic industry demand, Government PV targets and economic factors.

The solar micro-inverter market segments, by system type, end use and region, have been analyzed in terms of basis point share (BPS) to understand the individual segment's relative contributions to market growth. This detailed level of information is important for identifying various key trends in the solar micro inverter market.

To understand key growth segments in terms of growth and adoption for solar micro-inverter globally, FMI developed the solar micro-inverter market 'Attractiveness Index.' The resulting index should help providers identify real market opportunities.

OCTOBER 2016 l SAUR ENERGY.COM

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FEATURE

Why EPC are Treading in the

Solar Race?

- Niloy Banerjee

Solar has taken the momentum with a cumulative installed grid connected solar power capacity reaching 8,062 MW (8.1 GW) as of 31 July 2016. The ecosystem seems stable as analyst asserts that the solar market in India is set to clan the billiondollar space. Not much appalling on the WTO setback, Indian Solar manufacturing capabilities are seeding and the results might not put much impact on the Indian solar run.

Developers and manufacturers has been supported by initiatives to bring the capital cost to a conducive rate to further provide solar energy at reasonable rates.

Though, all the initiatives seems to encourage solar but apparently silo the system integrators and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors.

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SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

FEATURE

OCTOBER 2016 l SAUR ENERGY.COM

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FEATURE

EPC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Acronym Searches Definition System integration and project engineering are very important elements in solar power plant planning and implementation. The process of collecting energy from each module of the plant in an efficient manner through a network of cables is a very important component of system engineering. Equipment selection has to be done on the basis of its performance over the project life cycle while optimising plant layout. Since these basic issues are already addressed during the detailed engineering of a project, EPC contractors ensure optimal plant performance during the entire life cycle.

EPC contractors also carry out periodic technical audits of the plant and take remedial measures for any decline in energy generation. Some Indian EPC contractors have developed these soft skills through their own engineering capabilities, supplemented by collaboration with globally reputed companies.

These skills will help them in the current scenario, where the time available for project execution is reducing.

EPC contractors are being driven with critical risks and low margins as government tries to reduce the tariff (by reverse bidding) on one hand and imposes Domestic content requirement (DCR) restrictions on the other. As the module manufacturing capability of Indian

30

manufacturer are not even close to the demand for the panels, it is sought that almost 70-80% of the panels will have to be imported from oversees.

Finance Financing a project is also a key area in the EPC industry where banks are not too liberal and are concerned because of past performances of the power sector.

Government has given a priority sector lending status to solar power sector, in which banks do hesitate to give nonrecourse finances to them. All in all the finance is being flowing in the solar industry and Solar EPC companies need not to worry as banks, IDFIs, IREDA etc. are issuing green infra bonds to fund their projects.

Reverse Bidding Competing EPC Sector In recent time, EPC contractors have quoted the lowest ever prices of around Rs 5.6 crore a megawatt for solar power projects of NTPC in Rajasthan (260 MW) and Madhya Pradesh (250 MW) in the first-ever reverse auctions in the domestic content category.

The development comes at a time when global and domestic solar power developers have been aggressively participating in the auctions, pushing down solar power tariffs to the lowestever levels of Rs 4.34 a unit in the latest auctions in Rajasthan.

Companies like Fortum Finns-urya,

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

part of Finland's state-owned Fortum, emerged the lowest bidder in 420 MW of solar projects in the reverse auction

by NTPC for its solar park in Rajasthan.

The lowest tariff until now had been Rs 4.63 a unit, offered by Sun Edison (500 MW) and SB Energy (350 MW) - the joint venture of Soft Bank, Foxconn and Bharti Airtel - in the open category for projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Few experts also note that this chunk is all set to discover yet another competitive EPC price during the forthcoming reverse auction for 750 MW of NTPC's opencategory project in Andhra Pradesh. With the open-category projects allowing use of cheaper imported cells and modules, they say the EPC prices may now see a new low of below Rs 5 crore a megawatt.

Is India That Skilled?

The ambitious target of renewable especially solar seems crony with Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic and energy sustainability.

But, the trouble is the need of an elephantine structure of skilled people in the country to propel this ambition.

It just took a voice from the government to Richter scale the magnitude of solar potential but on the skill-end it might need more than the usual. As the industry today needs skilled technicians, engineers, maintenance workers, solar panel installers and data monitors it marks an entail of 1 million new fresh

FEATURE

hires.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the breakdown of this new workforce is as follows: • 624,000 construction and commissioning positions (semiskilled) •182,000 construction and commissioning positions (skilled) • 182,400 operations and maintenance (O&M) positions (semiskilled) • 81,000 O&M positions (skilled) • 28,600 design and preconstruction positions • 17,600 business development positions Where is the Land?

Not just developers but also EPC companies toil for the non-agricultural and unused land availability at worthy irradiance geographic location. Traditionally, 5 acres of land has to be dedicated for a 1 MW of solar power plant thought it can proportionately vary according to growing efficiencies of solar panels.

The next phase has to be checked with free of undulations and trees after the phase-wise scrutiny acquisition is also major glitch as the land has multiple divisions indulging multiple landowners and improper records.

MNRE envisaged setting up of solar parks of capacities of more than 500 MW, leaving the responsibility of land identification and acquisition on states.

Of course local politics and bureaucracy follows to make it more irk. Poor infrastructure, connectivity and security is also a major concern as reports asserts that local reliable security is of high challenge.

Growth opportunities and Projects to look-in India has reached 2.8 GW in solar installations year-to-date and cumulative installations have reached 8.1 GW as of July, 2016. Mercom forecasts about 4.8 GW of solar to be installed in calendar

year 2016. The solar project pipeline in India is now approximately 21 GW, with 14 GW under development and 7 GW scheduled to be auctioned.

Though grid congestion and transmission infrastructure is a problem in some regions, low power demand especially from lucrative industrial and commercial segments is negatively affecting DISCOMs and their revenues. DISCOMs have resorted to sporadic curtailment from some solar projects in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu as cheaper power is available on the power exchanges. Grid connection and timely evacuation continues to be a big challenge considering solar project developers do not have the benefit of deemed generation.

In a welcome development, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) announced a Rs. 15 billion ($224 million) payment guarantee fund to ensure timely payment to developers for projects

OCTOBER 2016 l SAUR ENERGY.COM

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FEATURE

developed through Viability Gap Funding (VGF). Mercom has been calling for a payment guarantee fund for all projects using the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) for some time to help significantly improve the bankability of projects, reduce borrowing costs and development risks.

Solar Policy & Initiatives: Government involved decisions are generally prone to some kind of volatility & uncertainly. In such situations industry will turn to stagnant state and bring bottlenecks within market. This type of experiences leaves the impression about solar as an unreliable industry and those who are entirely depending on the grid connect megawatt scale business.

The critical challenges pertaining to the govt. policies, participation & initiative are: â&#x20AC;˘ Govt. solar policies: Many states policies are not clear, have confrontation

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between SPDs in terms of policy decisions, obligation enforcement, energy prices, plant capacities, land acquisition, PPA signing & so on. â&#x20AC;˘ Participation of non-interested players: Nowdays non-serious players are bidding for the project without positive plans & required preparations. This unnecessarily creates false potential, hopes and misleads the industry.

Grid and Evacuation of Power Transmission line, RoW issues, objections during line survey and construction by the local people for their unrestrained money demands. Unknown and uncontrolled reactive power demand by the grid. Un-determined Instability and reliability of the grid situations are few challenges associated with substations and transmission lines. Adequate and feasible grid interconnection feasibility has to be carried out to avoid consequences which may arise during

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

execution.

Building consumer awareness about the technology, its economics and right usage, collaborative goals and R&D shall help India attain technology leadership in PV. Regardless of all the above circumvent, still the chance of growth and opportunity in this sector is colossal. EPC players can look forward to $3 billion in annual sector revenues by 2017, thanks to a wide client base of utilities, small independents, and niche players.

With Government assistance and unifying business processes of the EPC players will help to come out of the deliverable turmoil and focus on growing the green demand across the country.

MARKET GLANCE

Aluminum powders, pastes, and flakes market to grow at a CAGR of 4.87%: Research and Markets

Research and Markets in its latest report "Global Aluminum Powders Pastes and Flakes Market 2016-2020" has revealed that global aluminum powders, pastes, and flakes market will grow at a CAGR of 4.87% during the period 2016-2020.

The author of the report recognizes Alcoa, AMG Alpoco UK, ECKA Granules, MEPCO, RUSAL, and Toyalas the key players in the global aluminum powders, pastes, and flakes market.

Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: Ampal, Bahrain Atomizer, ECKART, Silberline, and Valimet.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from the research team said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Presence of aluminum paste in photovoltaic systems and electronics will be a key trend for market growth. Aluminum is a corrosion resistant material and is two times more conductive than copper.

In addition, aluminum is also a good insulator and is increasing its market share in the electronics sector. Aluminum powder is expected to increase its share in photovoltaic solar cells. Aluminum is used to produce thick film pastes applied to the back side of the silicon. These

pastes are screen printed and metallized to generate an electrical conductor which helps in proper functioning of the photovoltaic solar cell. The application requires superfine aluminum powders and paste with the tightly controlled particle size distribution.â&#x20AC;?

According to the report, demand from automobile industry will be a key driver for market growth. Aluminum is used in various applications in the automobile industry. Aluminum powders, pastes, and flakes are used in automotive paints and in OEM coatings of high-duty engine components and brake linings. By volume, the global motor vehicle production was 92.14 million units in 2015 and will reach 108.95 million units by 2020, growing at a CAGR 3.41%. This predicted growth of the motor vehicle production translates into the demand for aluminum powders, pastes, and flakes for in the automobile industry.

Further, the report states that one of the challenges for the market will be power shortage that leads to imbalance in demand supply.

The aluminum industry is considered to

be power intensive as 30%-40% of the cost of production is attributed the power cost in smelting operations. Globally, it is noted that even renowned smelters and downstream operations are taking production cut measures over power shortage to sustain the business. As a result, many smelters have shut down during 2010-2015. In 2010, Qatalum, one of the largest aluminum smelters in the Middle East based out of Qatar, was shut down due to power outages. More recently, Alcoa announced that it will close its Warrick County smelting operations in 2016. As South America becomes more dependent on primary aluminum imports, hydropower has become insufficient in fulfilling power requirements for the region.

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.

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BUY OR LEASE

BUY LEASE or

Your Solar panel system?

- Santanu Mukherjee

Rooftop solar market in India is speculated to add new capacity of 700 MW in 2016 – 15% of total solar capacity addition this year. According to Bridge to India, the cumulative capacity crossed 1 GW by September and is growing at a sizzling 300% over last year. Ministry of Finance has reduced depreciation rate under Accelerated Depreciation (AD) policy to 40% from April 2017. It is not yet clear if AD benefit will be available for solar projects after this date. Rooftop solar has maintained a 10-12% share of overall solar capacity addition in India.

Bridge to India notes that potential removal of AD and 10-year tax holiday benefits from next year coupled with clarity on status of financial subsidies, improving economics of rooftop solar and implementation of net-metering are driving rapid growth in rooftop market. Huge demand is coming from both private and public sector. The government is providing subsidy of 25% to public sector and giving stiff targets to government departments for rooftop adoption.

However, when it comes to installing a solar panel system on rooftop, we often come across common question – Should we Buy or Lease our system?

In this article we tried to look at both the options and help those in perplexity answering what`s the better choice.

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Current solar landscape features a range of innovative financing options, including third party power purchase agreements (PPAs) and leasing, which have helped bring solar into mainstream.

Now since price of solar panel systems have dropped so significantly, purchasing asset is a better value for homeowners.

PPA/leasing model in the developed markets has become one of the most popular methods enabling power consumers realize benefits of solar energy.

According to a study, in many countries more than 70% of consumers who go solar prefer third-party ownership.

Lease model for solar is typically somewhere in between OPEX model and CAPEX model. Under this model, power consumer pays some upfront cost and then pays equal installments over a few years. Thereafter, ownership of the project is transferred to power consumer.

Main difference between buying and leasing a solar PV system is in ownership.

If you buy a solar panel system, you own the system either outright or after repaying your solar loan. If you lease the system or sign a PPA, a third party owns the solar panel system. This impacts cost, maintenance, terms, fina-ncial offsets, and savings/returns on investment of your solar panel system. It is worth noting that not all companies offer solar leases and/or PPAs—before going solar

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

confirms that your chosen provider offers financing option you want the most.

Owning a solar panel system with cash, or repaying solar loan, is best option when you- a)-want to make most of the financial benefits of installing a solar panel system, rather than solely benefitting from system’s environmental benefits, b)- are eligible to reduce your state tax liability through central investment tax credit, c)- own a business and can realize tax benefits by treating the solar panel system as a depreciable property; and/or d)- want to increase market value of your home by installing a solar panel system.

You save more money if you purchase a solar system in cash. As the owner of the solar system, you receive all rebates (and subsidies up to 30%) and additional Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) that your new solar panels produces. These incentives are forfeited in exchange for a low upfront or zero down payment option in lease. Additionally, there are many ways to calculate the total cost of a 20 year lease v/s purchasing the system.

If you look at the cost of electricity down to the kWh, the solar leases are also twice as expensive as owning solar, plus there is annual escalator built into them.

According to industry experts loaning is usually safer than leasing. Many home owners are financing their solar panels through a home equity loan or

BUY OR LEASE

a second mortgage. Nowadays, most of the installers offer long-term financing at very affordable rates.

Solar panels are said to increase your home value. According to National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) new study homes with solar panels sell 20% faster and for 17% more.

Solar leases are long­term agreement, usually on a 20­year term without the ability to buy out or pay off early. Though monthly rate set forth in lease agreement is usually slightly less than the existing monthly electricity bill, the resulting cost per kWh with lease payment is typically a higher amount than the calculated kWh rate than purchasing the system.

Even Industry experts say that people should look at purchasing a solar system as a long-term investment. A solar lease is not an investment – you do not have ownership of the solar system itself (you have no assets). Solar leasing is a longterm commitment to 10­20 years of lease payments.

Leasing /PPA for solar panel system is best option only when you –a) are mainly

interested in using electricity generated from renewable resources, b) are intrested of maximizing financial benefits of installing a solar panel system, c) want to avoid pain of maintenance or repairs for a solar panel system or d) do not want to wait until the following year to receive financial benefits of tax credits.

Leasing solar power system may also reduce value of your home - developers and leasing companies advertise that home value increases with the solar lease. It may be true in some cases; homes with low electricity bill will be worth more. However, your agreement with leasing company can hinder when you`re trying to sell your home.

Getting a buyer that succeeds with excellent credit and agrees to assume your solar lease can be tough job.

Otherwise, paying yourself out of the lease can be very costly.

It is worth mentioning here that a lease can come with a fixed, increasing or decreasing payment plan. You are only saving money if utility bill savings actually exceeds the lease payments. No one

really knows where electricity price will be ten years down the line. Likewise, no one knows what solar systems will cost in the future either. You have to understand that solar lease feasibility is completely subjected to predictions about the future.

Return on Investment In last five years, price for solar equipment has dropped drastically. Thus, solar is less expensive in today's post rebate world. And when you are getting subsidies for installation going solar becomes very affordable – and in many cases it is actually priced better than your utility on an average price per watt.

As the prices go down, the ROI for builders and homeowners goes up. This is significant, particularly since the price of solar continues to drop, as more communities offer solar as standard and consumers expect it. It’s very easy for builders to tie affordability and savings back to consumers, who are starting to demand solar more and more. Thanks to great pricing and shorter paybacks, builders and homeowners in particular

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BUY OR LEASE

can secure all the benefits and long-term value by installing solar, without having to use third party or leases.

Consumers have recognized solar power as an admissible premium cost and value when making property purchase decision and know that electricity rates aren’t going cheaper. The return on investment for solar power will continue to grow as the electric companies continue to increase rates.

Deciding whether to invest in a solar electric system or not becomes quite tough for homeowners who usually want to see a comparison of cost per kWh for solar and the price per kWh that they are paying to electric company.

The best thing about solar power is that calculating costs and savings can be done on a per kWh unit basis using simple division. From there, it is very easy to demonstrate lifetime savings and payback time frames for each customer.

Solar design professionals do consider several factors to determine actual production and savings potential, it is imperative to remember that electricity rate has been increasing at about 5-10% percent per year. Early this year there were reports electricity may get costlier by 10 to 13 paise per unit after Coal India increased prices in May. This is happening across the nation.

For another instance in March this year, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) recommended a 9% power tariff hike by Escoms (Bescom, Mescom, CESC, Hescom, Gescom & Hukeri RECS) in the State. In comparison, solar offers advantage of a cheaper, locked-in price. Solar owners see the offset savings continue to grow as the AVG utility rate increases over time.

Owners can lock in a utility rate for life of the system and become energy independent.

Some of the savings really helped customers see how owning a solar system is significant on many levels. Interestingly, many solar power companies in India are

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now looking to expand the rent-yourroof model for developing solar power systems and sell electricity to large industrial and commercial consumers.

A number of developers are looking for customers who are looking for cheaper and consistent power supply.

Under the rent-your-roof model, solar power developers install solar power systems atop roofs of industrial establishment, commercial building and malls. In return, developer signs a longterm power purchase agreement with the host. This long-term power purchase agreement provides host with low-cost and consistent power supply over long periods, as much as 25 years.

The rent-your-roof model is said to be a win-win situation for developers as well as the consumer hosts. Land cost represents single largest expense in development of a solar power project.

Additionally, land acquisition remains a politically contentious issue in India.

A long-term power purchase agreement shields consumer from escalating electricity tariffs, which are usually increased every year. Rooftop solar power system also promises consistent power supply, whenever the sun it out.

Here are list of drawbacks of leasing and benefits of owning Rooftop solar panel systems:Drawbacks of leasing: • Solar leasing companies own solar panels, so they, not you, get the tax credit.

• You’re buying your energy from the solar service provider, but in cases where your panels don’t generate enough power you also have to buy your energy from your traditional utility.

• Solar leasing companies own the power that your panels generate, so although you will get a reduction in your monthly bill you will still be obligated to continue to pay to solar leasing company. In essence, they become your utility provider.

• Price per kilowatt may be fixed, but

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

solar service providers often build an annual price escalator of 1-5%.

• Getting a buyer that succeeds with excellent credit and agrees to assume your solar lease can be a tough job.

Otherwise, paying yourself out of the lease can be very costly. Solar contracts require new owner to take over the leases and terms, which often aren’t attractive terms to potential new owners who would prefer to own the equipment. In these cases, current owner may be liable for the remaining lease term and any fees associated with removing equipment.

• You can’t claim ownership or get credit on your appraised value with leased solar panels.

Benefits of owning solar panel system • You get the SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) • You pay little or no money for your electricity bill • You own the system, so you get higher value for your home and can legally sell it.

With leases there are no yields and customers lose a lot of benefits like tax credit and short payback. Additionally, they are locked into 10- 20­year agreement with minimal savings.

This is significant; since purchasing a system will cost you less if we look into it as long term investment.

Recent reports show that payback period of solar power systems is now as low as three years. Prices of solar panel system are expected to come down further in the years to come.

Photovoltaic manufacturing in India under government’s Make in India initiative may also increase significantly in the coming years; so with the government benefits and tax saving it seems owning a system won’t be a wrong investment at the moment.

MARKET GLANCE

Global EPC and EPCM Services Market to grow consistently at a CAGR of 4.5%: Technavio Technavio in its latest report revealed that global engineering procurement construction (EPC) and engineering procurement construction management (EPCM) services market is expected to grow consistently at a CAGR of 4.5% until 2020.

Engineering procurement construction or engineering procurement construction management (EPC/EPCM) encompasses a vast array of services, which includes the conduction of basic feasibility studies via FEED at the project planning phase to the completion of construction projects.

Such services are extensively used in the construction industry to derive value in terms of price, quality, and compliance with the regulatory framework.

Substantial investments made by developing economies, especially countries like China and India, in infrastructure and industrial and building construction will aid in the growth of this market. Extensive research carried out by the Technavio’s industry experts has shown that the global market for EPC and EPCM services will grow at a CAGR of over 4% .

The report labels Vinci SA, ACS Group, Bechtel Corporation, Bouygues SA, and HOCHTIEF as the top five suppliers in the market and outlines a far-reaching analysis of their market dominance.

Angad Singh, a category specialist, said, “The global EPC and EPCM service industry has grown moderately over the past five years and is expected to grow at a similar rate over the next 2–3 years due to an increase in investments from developing countries in sectors such as infrastructure, industrial, and building construction.”

Huge investments in the energy and mining sectors are driving the demand for EPCM services, as the complexities and high spend associated with projects

is prompting buyers to engage with EPCM service providers for the management of their projects. Over the next 5–10 years, an estimated investment of USD 500 billion is required for oil and gas-related infrastructure in the US alone.

Due to the strategic importance associated with construction projects, procurement has transitioned from rapid sourcing to category management. Consequently, category managers have been compelled to partner with EPC/EPCM firms that are technologically advanced and can provide innovative solutions with the designto-value approach. The buyers of EPC/ EPCM activities span industry sectors like governments, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, FMCG, automotive, media & entertainment and retail.

The report segments the global EPC and EPCM market into the following key regions: • APAC • Americas • EU • MEA Category spends on EPC and EPCM services by geography 2015 (USD 1.33 trillion) • APAC - 42% • Americas - 35% • EU - 15% • MEA - 8% APAC accounted for more than 40% of the total revenue generated by the

global EPC and EPCM service market in 2015, and this is likely to grow due to the substantial investments made by developing economies, especially China and India, in infrastructure, and industrial and building construction.

In fact, the rapid growth of the construction market in China is expected to be double the size of the US market by 2025.

The America is the second largest market in the global EPC and EPCM, with the US accounting for more than 20% of the market’s revenue in 2015. This can be attributed to the increase in construction activities in the region. In Latin America, the demand for the services of EPC and EPCM contractors is expected to grow at a rate of more than 4% Y-o-Y due to increase in mining and resource extraction activities, specifically in Chile and Colombia.

In the EU, utility-scale solar projects are the focus of the EPC sector. Buyers and developers of EPC projects in Europe are becoming increasingly aware of ecofriendly elements, such as environmental engineering and techniques, air pollution control systems, and measures that can reduce carbon footprint and emissions.

The EPC and EPCM market in the Middle East and North Africa still needs to catch up with the rest of world. The region occupied a market share of about 8% in 2015, mainly driven by oil, gas, and petrochemicals projects.

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VIZ-A-VIZ

By the year 2020, solar power would become one of the cheapest power Dr. Gundu Sabde, CMD RelyOn Solar Pvt. Ltd. RelyOn Solar was founded in April 2010 by Dr. Gundu Sabde with a strong belief that solar energy is going to be alternative to fossil fuels especially in Indian circumstances. The company focuses on off-grid and power plant applications.

RelyOn Solar wants to bring energy independence to people where they would have their own power source when they need it.

Dr. Gundu Sabde- CMD, RelyOn Solar in a vivid viz-a-viz with Manas Nandi- Editor, Saur Energy International shares about the company’s green journey, patents, partnership with MiaSolé and more. Excerpts.

Q

500+ installations across the country in 6 years. From solar powered Government buildings to Industrial Plants. How has been this green journey for RelyOn Solar?

Solar panel prices started declining in 2009 primarily due to technology advancement and economy of scale. Cost reduction was happening in the entire solar panel manufacturing value chain while solar energy was getting a major boost through government policies in Europe and other developed countries.

This led to further investment in largescale factories which were far more efficient lowering cost of production.

RelyOn Solar was established in 2010 as a distributed power generation solar company to address power cuts when

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solar had become an economically viable option against diesel generators. Now, the market is growing at rapid scale with the further price reduction of the solar power systems such that the levelled cost of solar power generation is much lower than the electricity tariffs in many states.

The current growth pace is expected to continue for at least a decade or two.

Q

You have more than 29 patents on your name. How many of them are specifically on Solar applications. Which one of them do you think is the most important and how?

Yes, I am the author of these patents which are the outcome of the research activities of the technology companies in the United States (My previous emp-

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

loyers). Most important takeaway from this experience is the importance and the need of innovations to sustain and grow.

I had a chance to incorporate the culture of continuous improvements into RelyOn Solar which shows up in how we have shaped up today as a strong technology based company.

Q

RelyOn Solar recently announced partnership with MiaSoléforNext Generation, Flexible Ultra-light Solar Technology. Share us about the partnership.

By the year 2020, solar power would become one of the cheapest power sources and at that time the adaptation of solar power would face the challenge with space availability rather than cost.

VIZ-A-VIZ

Flexible panels and solar films will get a lot of attention since they can be installed in places where it is not practical to install traditional silicon cell based solar panels.

Q

How do you plan to take these Next Generation Flexible Ulta-Light Solar Technology products aggressively into the Indian market?

We believe that electric vehicles will be adopted over next one decade and integrating flexible solar panels will allow generating the power on board to extend run time of these electrical vehicles before it has to halt for recharging.

Net metering a lone cannot take solar powe r content beyond 20 to 3 0 percent of total electric ity demand.

Q

Why RelyOnSolarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus is on off-grid and power plant applications?

How do you see this market in next financial year?

Solar being the distribution energy source, there are clear benefits to individual customers owning solar rooftop plant for their own captive requirements.

Our initial focus on off-grid was related to the fact that solar was economical only against diesel generators till 2013.

We were able to replace hundreds of diesel generators across the country with off-grid solar systems. We have approximately 700 off grid systems currently running across the country.

Solar community is very excited about recent net metering regulations in multiple states. However, net metering alone cannot take solar power content beyond 20 to 30 percent of total electricity demand. If the renewable content has to increase to 50%, we will have to supply solar power 24 hours for which advanced batteries will become the necessity. Our off-grid experience will become a key advantage in providing 24-hour solar solution.

Q

This year in August RelyOn Solar installed solar power plant on the Chennai International airport. Please share us about the challenges faced, storage and panels used and projects in pipeline.

Every rooftop project has its own challenges but the co-operation and drive from engineers at Airport Authority of India allowed us to complete the project in time. Commitment to quality is utmost important for us whether it is an airport or any other project. We get a feeling that we are successful when our customers want us to give repeat orders or recommend us to their associates.

Our pipeline is strong this year. Recently, we integrated advanced storage and PV

for a factory in United Arab Emirates.

Even the residential market is picking up while the industrial and commercial rooftop sector is accelerating rapidly.

The future will bring many exciting p ossibilities to many of us w ho are contributing to th is field today.

Q

Please comment on the future of this industry.

It is clear that Renewables in general and solar power, in particular, are here to stay. In fact, I believe that the upcoming decade is about renewable and sustainable development. The current state of this industry is analogues to where the internet was in the late 1990s. The future will bring many exciting possibilities to many of us who are contributing to this field today.

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COVER STORY

T

racking he Sun

Solar power has been identified as one of the emerging sectors of future growth. The solar energy is abundant in our country, and India gets normally 300 days of solar radiation in a year.

The inexhaustible sun power not only augments energy generation, but also contributes towards the improvement of environment, energy conservation, and additional employment.

But problem associated with the use of solar energy is that its availability varies widely with time. The variation in sun occurs daily because of the day-night cycle and depends on seasons because of the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orbit around the Sun. The solar power generation gets limited to day light.

To avoid such limitations, a means of tracking the sun was required and a new innovative technology- solar tracking system was brought into existence.

This technological concept allows more

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- Laique Khan

energy to be produced because the use of trackers allows solar arrays to catch up with sun every minute, every hour.

Solar trackers are rising in popularity, but not everyone understands the complete benefits of this system. Solar panel tracking solution is an advanced technology for mounting photovoltaic panels.

Stationary mounts, which hold panels in a fixed position, can have their productivity compromised when sun passes to a lessthan-optimal angle. Compensating for this, solar trackers automatically move to track the progress of the sun across the sky, thereby maximizing output. This is a far more cost effective solution than purchasing additional solar panels. It has been estimated that the output from solar panels can be increased by 20-30 percent by utilizing a single axis tracking system instead of a stationary array.

One way to make the solar panels more effective is by adding the ability

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

to track sun as it moves across the sky.

Solar Tracker is a device which follows the movement of sun as it rotates from east to west every day, using the light sensors interfaced to motors used for rotation, through a microcontroller, to have maximum solar radiation incident on the solar panel. The motors can be used to move panels either along ONE or TWO axes.

Using Solar Trackers increases the amount of solar energy which is received by solar energy collector and improves the energy output of heat/electricity. Solar Trackers can increase the output of solar panels by 20-30%, which improves the economics of solar panel project.

Solar Trackers are mostly suitable for use in ground mounted PV solar utility scales with capacity more than 1 MW. Solar Trackers are especially useful in case of places, where the solar insolation is high and the efficiency of solar panels being

COVER STORY

used is high. From practically nothing two-three years ago, India now has more than 1000 MW of solar power plants that have been added with trackers. It might be the small fraction of 8GWof solar installed in the country now, but the use of trackers to catch the solar radiation in our country has become norm rather than exception.

Product Insights The use of trackers adds to the efficiency of system, reducing size and cost per kWh for solar power plant.

The solar tracker market has been segmented on available technology, product types, use and key regions.

Solar PV, CPV and CSP are major technology segments of the solar tracker market. Flat-panel photovoltaic (PV), Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) and Concentrated Solar Thermal (CSP) are technologies where solar trackers are implemented. Solar trackers have

distinctive functionalities in all application such as orienting optics in CPV and CSP systems, minimizing the angle of incidence among the PV panel and incoming sunlight in PV applications. In terms of technology, solar PV dominated the market followed by CSP and CPV in 2014-15. This segment accounted for over 40-45% of the global solar trackers installed capacity.

There are single- axis and double-axis solar trackers. The single-axis solar trackers deliver a performance gain of 25-35%; while using double-axis solar trackers, performance goes up additionally 5-15%. Single axis trackers trackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the sun from east to west on a single pivot point, while Dual axis trackers trail east to west and tilt for north to south tracking.

Back in 2014, single axis trackers were the largest segment of the market owing to their low cost. Surge in the use of

single axis particularly for commercial and residential is likely to have a positive impact on the market. However, singleaxis technology tends to lose share as major companies worldwide started giving preference to dual axis owing to latterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efficiency and accuracy.

The use of single axis trackers does maximize the potential output but also bring forth higher OPEX (Operating Expenditure) and CAPEX (Capital Expenditure). On the other hand, dual axis trackers are envisioned to be the Fastest Growing Technology in industry over the forecast period on account of improved efficiency.

Market for Dual axis tracker is expected to grow with Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.5% over the forecast period to reach an installed capacity of 9684.1 MW by the year 2022 worldwide.

In light of higher costs and land space, dual-axis technology found usage mostly

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COVER STORY

Source: Grand View Research

in developed regions of Europe and North America, and will witness increased acceptability in emerging economy like India in next few years.

Single Axis Trackers Single axis trackers have one degree of

freedom that acts as an axis of rotation.

The axis of rotation of single axis trackers is typically aligned along a true North meridian. It is possible to align them in any cardinal direction with advanced tracking algorithms. There are several common implementations of single axis trackers. These include Horizontal Single Axis Trackers (HSAT), Vertical Single Axis Trackers (VSAT), Tilted Single Axis Trackers (TSAT) and Polar Aligned Single Axis Trackers (PSAT).

Single Axis Trackers are used to minimize the angle of incidence between incoming sunlight and a solar panel with help of sensor. This system tracks the sun only from east to west direction.

Dual Axis Solar Tracker Dual axis trackers have two degrees of

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freedom that act as axes of rotation.

These axes are typically normal to one another. There are several common implementations of dual axis trackers.

These are classified by the orientation of their primary axes with respect to the ground. Two common implementations are Tip-tilt Dual Axis Trackers (TTDAT) and Azimuth-altitude Dual Axis Trackers (AADAT). Dual axis trackers are typically used in locations with very high government Feed-in-Tariffs.

Dual axis tracking system uses the solar panel to track the sun from east to west and north to south. It can rotate simultaneously in horizontal & vertical directions and are able to point at the sun at all times. Dual axis trackers follow the sun both East to West and North to South for added power output- approx.

30 to 40% gains.

Classification of Solar Tracker Drives Solar tracker drives, can be categorized into three main technologies depending on the type of drive and sensing or positioning system that they incorporate: Active Trackers

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

These use motors and gear trains to direct the tracker as commanded by a controller, responding to solar direction.

Since motors consume energy, one wants to use them only as necessary.

Passive Trackers These trackers use a low boiling point compressed gas fluid that is driven to one side or the other (by solar heat creating gas pressure) to cause the tracker to move in response to an imbalance. As this is a non-precision orientation, it is unsuitable for certain types of concentrating PV collectors, but works fine for common PV panel types.

Open Loop Trackers These use no sensing but instead determine the position of sun through prerecorded data for a particular use. It uses computer controlled algorithms or simple timing systems to determine the position of sun.

Main Components of Solar Trackers • Tracker Mount • Drives • Sensor and Sensor Controllers • Motor and Motor Controllers • Tracker Solving Algorithm Benefits of Solar Trackers • Trackers generate more electricity than their stationary counterparts due to increased direct exposure to solar rays.

This increase can be as much as 10 to 25% depending on the geographic location of the tracking system.

• There are many different kinds of solar trackers, such as single-axis and dual-axis trackers, all of which can be the perfect fit for a unique jobsite. Installation size, local weather, degree of latitude and electrical requirements are all important considerations that can influence the type of solar tracker best suited for a specific solar installation.

• Solar trackers generate more electricity in roughly the same amount of space needed for fixed tilt systems, making them ideal for optimizing land usage.

• In certain regions some utilities offer Time of Use (TOU) rate plans for solar power, which means the utility will purchase the power generated during the

COVER STORY time of the day when sun radiation is at a higher rate. In this case, it is beneficial to generate a greater amount of electricity during the daylight. Using a tracking system helps maximize the energy gains during these peak time periods.

Chasing the Helios Tracking is mostly apt for large industrial and commercial solar application, and less recommended for residential rooftop systems. The residential rooftops, where tracking systems are installed, they have to be offset from roof in order to allow for the complete and uninterrupted movement of the panels. This in turn might increase wind load and require an expensive racking system. Also, there are some cost, space consumption and architectural considerations that restrict the use of trackers in residential and rooftop.

According to a study conducted by Grand View Research (GVR), the non-utility sector accounted for less than 15 percent of the global installations in 2015 and is expected to witness lowest CAGR of 14.7% from 2015 to 2022.

Even on large-scale projects, solar trackers necessitate the use of a larger area compared to fixed racks because movement of panels might create shadows on other panels if there is no appropriately calculated space made.

The use of tracking system in solar setup has been awesome. The effort made by major tracking companies in India and worldwide to supply massive demand for utility-scale installation has turned out to be considerably good in the past few years. The global demand curve for solar trackers has been heading straight up, and the result can be seen in India too.

Recently, SunLink and Ganges Internationale have entered into a joint venture to speed up the solar deployment in rapidly growing Indian market. As part of a SunLink-White House commitment to deploy 1.4GW of solar in India over the next five years, SunLink has partnered with Ganges to support Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100GW National Solar Mission. Under the agreement, Ganges will manufacture,

install and provide O&M support for SunLink TechTrack single-axis trackers in India. SunLink will provide not only its proven technology but also PowerCare engineering services and VERTEX software platform to Ganges and its customers.

The United States tracker manufacture, NEXTracker has delivered its award winning PV technology tracking system to Adani Powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 150MW solar project in the state of Punjab. Such collaborations and projects does indicate that tracker industry is gaining a strong momentum in India, significantly enhancing the financial value of PV solar as the most important energy generation asset.

Vikram Solar also launched its Helitrac, which is an advanced solar tracker equipped with IP65 robust weather proof mechanism and multimode intelligent operations. Helitrac is capable of changing its orientation throughout the day to follow sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s path to maximize PV efficiencies.

In recent years, the deployment of trackers has often been stimulated by steady digression of the government incentives such as subsidies and feed-in tariffs (FiT). Thus, as payments and cost for solar energy have pared down, the project developers have taken initiative to experiment with trackers to maximize output.

India is poised for intensive ground mount solar deployment over the next decade according to a recent report by

Deutche Bank Market Research, with 100-fold solar industry growth over the last five years. As a more modest figure, it is estimated that ground mount solar installations with solar trackers will hopefully reach 3GW to 4GW by 2020, or 25% of total installed ground mount installations.

A recent research suggests that Asia Pacific solar tracker market is expected to witness significant gains by 2022 in light of growing awareness towards the importance of trackers. In addition, it is expected to witness high growth on account of increasing electricity demand in emerging economies of India and China. Europe and North America together dominated the global solar tracker industry on account of greater installed capacities.

Moreover, incentive schemes under the various government policies in India, coupled with decreased rates are expected to drive demand for trac-kers over the forecast period. India is expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast period, in light of growing demand for solar energy generation.

A study conducted by Grand View Research states that Global solar tracker market share was characterized by moderate consolidation on account of top companies accounting for over 40% of the total installed capacity in 2014. Major companies are expected to shift manufacturing base to developing

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COVER STORY

"It was bound to happen — and it’s happening now. The use of solar trackers is catching up fast in India."

countries including India and China on account of the low cost of production and low labor costs. Key manufacturers are engaged in R&D to gain competitive advantage.

When trackers were first introduced on to the market, they were usually fairly bulky and unreliable. Many of the trackers installed in Europe during the Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT) boom suffered from major reliability issues, sometimes with repeated incidences of failure.

However, with time, experiments and new technologies, trackers have become far more innovative. For example, using GPS to realigning trackers automatically is a sign of latest innovation in tracking system. Companies such as NEXTracker has incorporated control systems into their trackers which monitor the angle of each row of solar panels in real time and report back on tracking accuracy in order to keep panels facing directly into the sun all the time. The company’s NX Horizon product is a self-powered tracker (SPT) which has a self-contained motor, enabling it to be deployed on each row

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of panels which in turn eliminates wiring and trenching as well as saving power.

AllEarth Renewables’ Dual-axis Solar Tracker seems like an amazing new development in the solar segemnt.

AllEarth’s tracker uses GPS and wireless technology to track sun’s arc in sky throughout the day. The result? Soaking up 45% more energy than traditional rooftop solar. Over 4k trackers have already been installed, and AllEarth is poised to take the rest of the solar market by storm. The trackers are designed for residential, commercial and industrial operations, along with small and large utility-scale installations.

Recently at SNEC 2016, Scorpius Trackers, an Indian company that provides singleaxis solar tracking solution, showcased its latest tracking system that can function for up to 25 years without any maintenance. The company has provided about 70MW of solar trackers last year, and aims to deliver 500MW this year; with 2GW as it future target. But despite choosing to put its foot forward in dual-axis technology, the Indian tracker

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

manufacturer experimented with singleaxis. Reason being- the structures of dual-axis solar trackers are more complicated and mounting-systems are heavier.

Dual-axis tracking systems are also more expensive and susceptible to damage.

Nevertheless, innovative developments in solar tracking are making it much more attractive, especially in areas of high solar radiation. Maintenance costs are also beginning to fall as the technology improves. More projects are now using trackers and the market is thriving. It significantly increases the turnover of large plants resulting in an augmented use of the tracking systems in utility scale installations. The market is expected to witness significant growth on account of the momentously rising PV installations across the world. The PV market grew by 50 GW last year while total capacity has reached at least 256 GW around the globe. In fact, current predictions point that Global Solar Tracker market size will reach USD 6.83 billion by 2022. And that’s fairly impressive.

VIZ-A-VIZ

In conversation with

Vinay Goyal,

C.E.O, Ganges Internationale (P) Ltd.

Q

How important are trackers for solar installations in India?

• Solar trackers helps in maximizing energy production by providing 15-20% additional power, hence helps in improving the LCOE of Solar Plants. It generate more electricity in roughly the same amount of space needed for fixed tilt systems, making them ideal for optimizing land usage.

• In India, looking at the available space it is important to generate more from the view point of the producer to enable better LCOE. The fact is, it is just the beginning of the solar era in India, solar plants must be equipped with new technologies to help them gain more (than the fixed tilt systems) thus trackers should be considered priority when planning to install ground fixed system What is so unique about SunLink Trackers’s system?

• Sunlink tracker is a centralized drive tracker on proven hydraulic technology and simplifies the mechanics and maintenance of single axis trackers. It can track up to 1.2 MWp of Solar block with a single tracker. Therefore, fewer components and less points of failure. Moreover, it uses standard industrial grade components which are durable and commercially available unlike other tracker technologies which use customized components leading to service difficulties.

What kind of infrastructure does SunLink enjoy for reliability testing and manufacturing in India?

• GIPL partnership with Sunlink is a strategic move to gain economies of scale on the existing running projects by increasing energy output.

We have always looked out for best solution for our customer to harness maximum energy from the sun thus GIPL’s world- class engineering and manufacturing capability along with Sunlink’s proven tracker technology together will set a new benchmark for the solar industry.

• Sunlink partnership with Ganges has given them a one stop shop for executing complete package of solar tracker projects apart from manufacturing and supplying of structures which helps in increasing market share with Ganges in house team for designing of customized structure solution and project management team for execution of solar projects. Ganges’s structures are designed as low as 30 MT/ MWp sustaining 175 kmph wind speed.

• GIPL is expert in proving mounting solutions with best design and least product cost, whereas Sunlink has the advantage of delivering best technology to harness sun’s energy dawn to dusk efficiently. The partnership shows a huge advantage to people, who are carefully understanding the solar power economics and demanding best product with latest technology.

Manufacturing Capacity of SunLink Trackers?

• Ganges has state of the art manu-facturing facility at

Q Q

Q

Pondicherry with capacity of 48000MT per annum. We will be executing approx 1.6 GW in FY 2016-17 and looking to achieve installations 5 GW cumulative by 2018-19 which also includes tracker systems. We have our plans in place to cater the infrastructure and fund requirement to cater such expansion.

What differentiates Ganges/SunLink from the other solar tracker manufacturers?

• Ganges-Sunlink tracker is a single axis horizontal tracking system with tilt angle of +-52.5 degree which is compatible for all major module manufacturers.

• One drive can accommodate up to 62 rows with 60 modules in each row, so the array configuration can be 1.2 MWp DC for a single drive. While we offer 105 mph as standard wind velocity which can be designed up to 150 mph with 0 psf snow load and up to 120 mph with 50 psf snow load as per the design requirement of any location.

• It has inbuilt snow algorithm which includes wind speed and snow shedding. It takes approximately 3 minutes to stow. These are few of the technical specification of the Ganges-Sunlink trackers which gives an edge over our competitors.

• Warranties for Mechanical and Structural Components are 10 Years where as Controllers and Actuators are warranted for 5 Years. We give Plant Uptime of 99% for 1 Year. Also extended warranty and O&M are available on request.

• Our design is wind tunnel tested and ETL listed to the UL2703 standard What are the immediate focus plans for Ganges Internationale/SunLink?

• GOI has set aggressive and optimistic target to achieve 100GW of solar installed capacity by 2022. Presently, we plan to focus to educate our customers more on the tracker technology through its benefits and cost advantages.

• The more the education, the more customers to follow the tracking technology.

How big is the market for solar trackers in India?

• In India the trackers are now taking shape, we are now getting many RFQ with trackers so we hope that in next few years we will see more installations with solar trackers. The tracker installations have not reached to a stage where we can actually analyze the market share but we can say that we are very strongly and dominantly placed in the solar tracker business with proven technology.

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SEMICONDUCTOR

S

The Impact of

emiconductors in olar Power Conversion industry

Mr. Ranajay Mallik,

Mr. Manoj Kumar,

Group Manager,

Sr. Group Manager,

AMG Central Lab,

AMG Central Lab,

STMicroelectronics India

STMicroelectronics India

Solar Energy, amongst all non-conventional or renewable energy sources, still remains relatively easier to harness, store and use. While the usage of solar energy dates back to quite a few decades, powering space crafts and satellites, it has now reached a stage where even a backpacker uses it to charge his mobile phone while on a trek and gigantic solar farms are pumping gigawatts into the electrical grid.

It is worth noting that: • The fuel is free: it is a renewable, clean and ecologically harmless energy source • It produces no noise, harmful emissions or polluting gases.

• The systems are modular and can be quickly installed anywhere • The installation cost is negligible in new building realization • In the building, it is possible to cover the external surfaces (roof, walls)

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• The energy is produced close to the load: no energy lost on the distribution line • Only minimal maintenance is required to keep the system running Fundamental improvements have happened in the way of solar cells becoming more efficient than what these were at inception, and with it, semiconductor technologies that have evolved by leaps and bounds. The presence of semiconductors in the entire value chain starts with the solar panel itself. From the source of energy to the end consumer, in whatever form, and all the conversion in between, it is semiconductor technology which has brought about a sea change.

In the next few paragraphs, the role of semiconductors is highlighted in the solar/alternate energy value chain.

The use of semiconductors, starts from the junction box itself (while, solar cells

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

themselves being semiconductors, in the first place). The junction box is a hermetically sealed box which provides the electrical termination for the solar panel. A solar panel is a series-parallel combination of many solar cells arranged in strings. The strings are then interconnected and have bypass diodes connected across each and every string. This is because the panel must allow for the current to flow through it when it is partially shaded or even fully shaded. If the bypass diodes would not have been present, the shaded sting or panel, would behave like a very high resistance and render the whole panel or the combination of panels ineffective.

Just any diode won’t work: The diodes need to have very low forward drop at the rated maximum current to prevent static losses and reduction in efficiency.

This loss appears as heat. It must also be

SEMICONDUCTOR noted, that the bypass diode when not functional, i.e. when there is full sunlight, it is subject to a reverse voltage stress.

It is necessary for the diode not to have a very high leakage current under this condition: since this reduces efficiency and in sunny geographical areas, this is a constant loss factor. Standard diodes have low leakage but very high drops.

Schottky diodes have very low drops but high leakage currents. A trade-off has now been developed, and devices with both low forward voltages drop and low leakage currents are commercially available, saving huge powers collectively. In addition to these diodes, active bypass devices are also available, where the drop is even lower.

Going beyond the junction box, there is a need to convert the power available at the output to a more meaningful voltage and current levels. It is also a known fact that the solar panel follows a unique power delivery curve. Put in simpler words, the panel delivers maximum power to the load, under certain conditions. So, it is important to maximize the output from the panel in a systematic and scientific manner. The process is called the MPPT or Maximum Power Point Tracking. This is done in two ways â&#x20AC;&#x201C; either by mechanically tracking the azimuth or by elevation of the solar panels (large systems, complex, very expensive) or use electronic tracking.

The latter is the most popular for domestic and commercial scales as it is now easy to implement, deploy and service. This system is commonly designed around a microcontroller, power devices like MOSFETS, diodes, and gate drivers. Essentially the system is a buck or boost or a buck-boost converter, depending on the end application, and controlled through the algorithm in the microcontroller. In essence, the microcontroller takes the reading of the panel input power, the system output power and tracks them in such a way that the ratio of the power output to the power from the panel is maximized under all conditions of ambient sunlight.

So this means: 1. The microcontroller needs to calculate and calculate fast 2. Take decisions based on observations 3. Do the general housekeeping 4. The power conversion block has to convert voltage and current levels to usable levels 5. The system has to work hardest when it is most sunny and hot outside.

Thus, a system which is smart, robust and efficient, is what is needed. Smartness comes from the fast processing capa-

bilities of the new microcontrollers with many peripherals inside, reducing the physical footprint and real estate.

Efficient power conversion is possible using the latest generation of IGBTs, MOSFETs, and Diodes. Moving away from classical silicon only, to exotic (better a simpler replacement, can be new also) technologies like SiC and GaN makes systems much more efficient and robust than what it was, say ten years ago.

Another figure of merit is the power density: big is not better anymore. The

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SEMICONDUCTOR industry demands more and more power output per cubic inch of electronics than what was available a year back and growing. This is possible with newer technologies of fabrication which allow for higher and higher frequencies of operation. This, in turn, means, the passive components like capacitors and inductors become smaller and smaller.

The system becomes smaller, cheaper and more efficient.

A decade back, people were happy if efficiencies reached 85%. Today, >95% is not uncommon, with 97-98% being reported as well. This is thanks to newer topologies, in conjunction with the enormous computing power of modern microcontrollers and DSPs, which makes it easy for the power electronics designer to come up with previously unexplored power conversion topologies.

Grid-tied and standalone power plants are also in high demand. These are inverters which convert the limited voltage available from the solar panel to 230V AC so that usage of domestic appliances is possible. This implementation is a little more complicated than the MPPT we explained earlier. While the challenges of more power from a smaller size remain, the other challenge is multiple levels of conversion. To illustrate, let us take the case of a standalone solar generator.

There is the panel, then there is a battery charger, there is a suitably sized battery bank, and finally, there is the inverter.

The high-frequency inverter again is composed of a DC-DC converter, which raises the battery voltage to around 400V DC or so, and then it is further chopped to provide a 230V 50Hz sine wave, by the DC-AC converter. So we can observe, that there are multiple stages of power conversion, working in cascade, and efficiencies can only multiply: so even with 95% efficiencies in each block, the overall end to end efficiency will be still lower. This is the reason why people strive to have as high efficiency as possible in the individual stages.

This is where low loss IGBTs, MOSFETS or high-performance diodes come into the

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picture. Every percent gained, is a step forward. To circumvent the problem of cascaded power conversion, there is a concept of grid tied inverter where the consumer consumes from the grid and whatever is generated from rooftop solar power plant is fed back to the grid. So if a user consumes X units but gives back Y units, he is charged for X-Y units (or paid back for Y-X units if generation was more than the consumption).

Here in addition to power conversion, a system which can synchronize itself with the utility grid is needed for proper power feedback, and also to isolate or island itself for safety reasons, should grid become unavailable. This calls for an even more powerful processor, in addition to good and robust power conversion topologies and devices. To accurately meter the power consumed and delivered, new metering techniques called net metering has also been developed and commercialized.

Inverters called micro inverters, typically in the range of 200-500W have now been developed which sit right at the back of the panel, often serving the purpose of the junction box as well. So here it is more plug and play, and suitable for low priced real estates. Consider a pole mounted panel of about 2.5 square meters, with a 250W micro-inverter, the output of which is directly plugged into the mains, to feed back to the grid. Plus, there are systems called hybrid Smart Solar Streetlights, which can take power from solar, the grid or a battery bank.

The panel charges the battery during the day which is suitably sized to meet autonomy of 2-3 days (self-reliant to provide lighting for 2-3 nights even with no charging) and even if the battery is depleted, it automatically falls back to mains grid connection for uninterrupted power supply. The streetlights are connected to the cloud for remote control, maintenance, and monitoring.

In certain cases, the use of a DC grid has also been thought of and deployed.

This means at least one intermediate conversion stage may be done without.

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

In smart nano-grids, this may be quite suitable.

In the entire value chain, we must also appreciate the fact that there is work also needed at the load side. The solar panel can supply a limited power to charge a storage battery: so, how to make it last longer? Make the loads efficient as well.

For example, conventional lamps are now being replaced with LED lamps with great improvement in luminous efficacy, power quality, and consumption figures.

There are now instances where a captive installation could be designed in a manner that most of the loads operate on DC, and this avoids a few conversion stages. This further adds to efficiency.

The ceiling fans are now being slowly replaced with BLDC motors from standard induction motors, resulting in power saving of up to 60% in some case, 40 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 50% being more typical. Fridges, ACs, and other machines are also having their motors converted to BLDC motors for much better efficiency figures. Our LED TVs are much lesser power hungry than earlier generations. It is ONLY advanced semiconductor processes, devices, and solutions that have made this huge energy saving and efficiency improvement possible.

With intelligence and sensing on the chip also being easily available, systems are made smart these days as part of an IoT scenario. This can lead to further ene-rgy savings at the load side. Consider a bulb, which senses human presence and turns itself ON or OFF, as an example!

We can conclude that higher efficiencies, more features, reduced sizes and form factor and inherent smartness have been the game changers in the solar power conversion industry and generally, in the electronics industry over the last few years. This trend has been made possible by breakthrough innovations in discrete semiconductors and on-chip processing capabilities.

This trend is expected to continue over the next several years with even higher perfor-mance semiconductors making the unprecedented, possible.

SAUR ENERGY I N T E R N A T I O N A L

THE P WER OF ENERGY UNLEASHED AT

REI 2016 50

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India Pvt. Ltd “With REI Expo 2016, UBM India bridged the gap between the Industry, Government & Investors. REI ably supported the Indian Government’s endeavours of a quantum growth in the renewable energy sector by serving as an Industry catalyst, bringing in the international fraternity, including investors and technological experts, to India. I am confident that this will enable the fruition of potential projects and setting up of manufacturing units under the ‘Make in India’ campaign. The show witnessed an impressive turnout of visitors and is clearly Asia’s largest industry event in

the renewable energy sector. It duly concluded amidst industry applauds from both International participants as well as Central & State Governments. The special 10th anniversary of the expo saw multiple country participation, best of technology, cost effective solutions, participation of industry leaders and various country delegations, top global brands exhibiting their product and solution offerings, and content-rich conferences,” noted Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India Pvt. Ltd.

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THE REI EXPO SERVED AS A SHOWCASE AND LAUNCH PAD FOR Vikram Solar showcased ‘HELITRAC’, a highly advanced solar tracker with robust weather proof mechanism and multimode intelligent operations at REI 2016.

‘HELITRAC’ can change its orientation throughout the day to follow the sun’s path to maximize energy capture. It allows east-west land undulations up to 3-5 degrees. Additionally, its IP65 gears and drives make the system weather proof and robust. The product is touted to be a breakthrough development, as it introduces certain unique features for the first time in India, viz. Link tube with articulated joints, dust avoidance and rain mode.

Toshiba-Mitsubishi Electric Industrial Systems Corporation (“TMEIC”) showcased 1MW indoor inverter and announced plans to launch 2.5 MW single power block 1500 Vdc outdoor inverters and 2 MW single blocks 1500 Vdc indoor inverters.

TMEIC provides overall solutions voltage drivers, UPS systems and utility scale PV inverters. TMEIC India is the forerunner in business of sales, engineering, installation and servicing of industrial, electric and automation systems.

Canadian solar energy Pvt. Ltd. showcased 5 busbar modules, Mono PERC modules, double glass modules and 1500 V modules at the Renewable Energy India Expo.

The new 1500V module portfolio has proven its performance under both IEC/UL standards for 1500V. The 1500V crystalline module, offered in two product types 60 cell configuration (CS6K – mono and CS6K – poly) and 72 cell configuration (CS6U – mono and CS6U – poly), provides a robust and cost-efficient system solution by adding more modules in a string.

Rays Power launched their rooftop residential business line at the REI 2016. Ketan Mehta, CEO Rays Power Infra said REI is the largest platform in India for showcasing Solar Technology and portfolio and we are proud to be a part of it”. Rays Power Infra Private Limited is one of the leading Indian integrated solar player with owned IPP assets (both ground mounted and rooftop) and in-house project development capabilities.

R

COMPANIES TO UNVEIL NEW PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES Waaree Energies Ltd, a solar PV module manu-facturer launched the new 1500V System Voltage crystalline solar module. The new modules are packed with a whole lot of inherent advantages which are absent in 1000 V modules. It lowers BOS costs as high voltage systems allow larger number of modules to be connected in a single string, reducing the number of combiner boxes, shorter runs of wiring, trenching, labour and DC breakers.

ABB India showcased a host of its products and technologies for renewable energy projects. Microgrid technology, solar pump drives, wind converters and generators, and products like the dry type transformers and variable frequency drives which minimizes carbon footprint while enhancing productivity were also showcased at the Expo.

The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.

RelyOn Solar at 2016 announced partnership with Miasole for sales and marketing of itsNext Generation Flexible Ulta-Light Solar Technology Products.

RelyOn Solar will represent Miasole for the India and South Asia markets, bringing their Next Generation Flexible Ultra-Light Solar Technology products. This is in line with RelyOn Solarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy to develop and commercialize applications in solar power with a focus on identifying customer needs on power and to provide an appropriate solution.

Hitachi Hi-Rel participated at REI (Renewable Energy India) Expo 2016 at Greater Noida for Solar Inverters (HIVERTER NP 201i Model, available from 250 kW 1.25 MW) which is amongst the most popular grid tied solar inverters currently in India for its various technical advantages and major saving in EBOP. Visitors congratulated Hitachi Hi-Rel for its truly unique achievement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a much deserved entry into 1000 MW Club (1.2 GW installed base in India as on August 2016 end,).

India based solar manufacturer EMMVEE bagged solar manufacturer award at REI 2016 for leading renewable energy manufacturer in the solar category.

EMMVEE showcased that award at its booth on day one of REI 2016 which it secured beating off competitors in the solar field. The company has been gradually building its manufacturing presence in the country integrating European expertise in the production base.

EMMVEE Solar is a developer and manufacturer of high performance solar thermal systems established in India in 1992.

EMMVEE Solar Systems Pvt. Ltd was founded by the present proprietor Mr. D.V. Manjunatha in Bengaluru.

REI is a huge platform as all the major companies of India participates in the event. Alongside, Chinese, Japanese and European companies also share the stage creating an ecosystem for all the intriguers of solar. It is also an informative and interactive platform where everyone gets an opportunity to know the trends, technologies and also derives an educative journey, said, Dr. Rahul Kapil (PhD) Operation VP, Director-LERRI Solar Technology (India) Pvt. Ltd. He further adds, people in the solar field and focusing on renewable should certainly visit the show. Alone in 2015, the company is sought to have shipped over 1GW within the mainland of China and now bets big in the overseas market.

We received a tremendous response from this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show; REI is the biggest show hence we have been busy interacting with our stall visitors. This year, we have got quality visitors and also more intriguing customers who are familiar with solar. Hence overall a great experience, said Deepak Jain Vice President Business Development-Goldi Green. The company is well known for its state-of-theart, robotic, clean & dust free PV module manufacturing facility with an installed capacity of 125MW per annum.

The company has strategic tie-up with globally acclaimed companies like Nisshinbo, Japan and Team-technik.

Sungrow established two-decades from now, has a strong record of growth and success, Sungrow’s products are available in over 50 countries. Sungrow holds numerous patents and a broad product portfolio offering solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications. David Zhao,Senior Vice President, PV & Storage Division President –Sungrow finds India market quite similar to China market in the terms of requirement and also asserts to be in a wellestablished position to match the growing need of PV-inverter. The company finds REI-2016 as a fruitful platform to showcase its cutting-edge portfolio and flaunting its 226GW installed capacity globally.

REI is a premier event of the country, the people who visit the event are informed decision-makers, hence this makes this show different from others, said Vinay Goyal, CEO, Ganges Internationale (P) LTD (GIPL). GIPL duly demonstrates quality, credibility, business vision, ethical standards and leadership in their activities along with sustainable growth and a strong environmental focus. With cutting edge designs, efficient manufacturing processes, continuous innovation, proven technology, holistic collaborations and a versatile client base, the company has inculcated customer satisfaction as their benchmark. From telecom towers to support for solar energy projects, GIPL is an Indian firm practicing a global standard excellence.

Marking its 20th anniversary in 2016, REC brings along two decades of experience and has been a long-term player in the solar industry. Founded in 1996, the company is headquartered in Norway (operational headquarters in Singapore) employing 2,000 people worldwide to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. REC concluded 2015 with 1.3 GW solar panel production capacity, and annual revenues of USD 755 million. Rohit Kumar, Head of Indian Subcontinent, REC India Pvt. Ltd. notes that REI India-2016, is a great place to be in, it will enable to network with high-potential customers and will move ahead in a positive sense for the upcoming 3 to 5 years.

UBM India Pvt. Ltd, the India's leading exhibitions organiser has successfully concluded the 10th edition of its flagship event - Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo held from 7th to 9th September 2016 at the India Expo Center & Mart, Greater Noida.

The event was supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India (MNRE), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA), Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and International collaboration through the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

The expo was certified by UFI, the global association of the Exhibitions Industry, and saw the presence of key dignitaries,

Shri. Upendra Tripathi, Secretary, MNRE , Government of India; Mr. Justin Wu, Head of APAC, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Hong Kong; Honâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ble Mr. James Gordon Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Canada; Mr. Hans-Josef Fell, President of the Energy Watch Group (EWG) & Former Member of German Parliament; Mr. Munehiko Tsuchiya, Executive Director, NEDO, Japan; H.E Ambassador Tomasz Ĺ ukaszuk, Embassy of Poland in India; Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India and Mr. Rajneesh Khattar, Group Director, UBM India amidst an august industry gathering.

The show brought together internationally renowned exhibitors, consultants, business experts and key government officials under

one common platform, to discuss global best practices and seek solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the power and energy sector.

REI in its 10th anniversary saw over 600 exhibiting companies and participation from countries such as India, Japan, Switzerland, USA, Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia, Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Netherlands, Israel, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Belgium.

Key Highlights Include: • Over 600 exhibitors, over 26,000 visitors, 40 countries & 10 country pavilions • Exuberant International Participation, Global Interest, International Investments & Technology Breakthroughs marked the 10th Anniversary of REI • Renewed support of Central & State Governments and Key Nodal Agencies • Three-day Industry conference on ‘Rene-

wables…surging ahead’, captured the entire breadth of the Renewable Energy Spectrum with 23 Sessions and workshops • An exclusive Session on International Solar Alliance by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, reinforced the key aspects of policy and the growing importance of Indian Leadership on the World Energy Map • Crucial Industry Dialogues in the form of CEO Conclave, took forward important discussions on Industry, Policy and international perspectives • Growth of 13 % in footfalls.

• The 2nd edition of the Renewable Energy India (REI ) Awards, a prelude to the REI Expo, recognised and honoured excellence in the various facets of the Renewable Energy project development and performance.

Rajneesh Khattar, Group Director, UBM India Pvt. Ltd. Happiness does not come from doing easy work, but, from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes from the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best......And that's how 10th Renewable Energy India 2016 Expo is summed-up in a nutshell.

Indeed, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a long winding journey which has finally culminated in the 10th Edition of our Renewable Energy India Expo. We started with hesitant initial steps with much uncertainty and apprehension, and to witness this blossoming is nothing short of being exceptional.

When we started, the Indian market was just beginning to open and the RE industry which was already enjoying maturity in European market had to struggle to make a dent in a developing nation grappling with issues of policy paralysis and ingrained vision.

Nevertheless the idea of a cleaner and safer world is only possible through Green Energy and 10th REI 2016 Expo stands as a proud testimony to it !!

Much can be said about the Y-o-Y growth of REI, the key statistics and the revenue

generated, but let me add itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about the reflection of the confidence global industry has in the vision set-out by Indian Government which has grown along with the show. The Indian growth story need not be elaborated and our Renewable Energy India Expo this year is surely a huge success story for the entire Indian business landscape and is the result of the spirit of the Indian and International Entrepreneurs.

More than anything else its been a humbling experience for me to see this metamorphic rise and I believe that we are on the right track as the most trusted platform for an industry that is, God willing, poised to perform exceptionally well.

India as one of the foremost developing nations has a crucial stake in both these spaces of energy access and energy security and unlike other developing countries where renewable is supposed to replace the conventional energy sources, India provides much larger leg-space to work on, with its large geographical area, ample sunshine and scope for ele-

ctrification for hitherto un-electrified households.

Add to it the growing confidence of international investors for the Indian growth story, and the flagging saturated markets of the West and you have a perfect cocktail for a great business opportunity !!

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my sincere belief that in the coming years, Team REI will solidly build upon the trust and the goodwill that it has so passionately cultivated in the last ten years.

As I always say.....With India we all will glow and With India we all will grow.

ROOF TOP

ROOFTOP

SUBSIDY IN INDIA - Rahul Sethi

For the huge solar energy potential that remains untapped in India, a considerable amount constitutes of rooftops. With about 0.24bn households spread across the length and breadth of the country, there are enough roofs to generate 40 percent of the total solar generation target to be achieved by the government by 2022.

A Solar PV setup once installed could power a home for free after 7-10 years (maximum) of its break-even period. But it needs high initial capital costs, enough to overshadow its benefits and keep it off-reach to most house owners.

Loans and subsidies are the best way forward, adopted by governments to encourage and promote green energy.

Especially for rooftop setups where the break-even period

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varies heavily from region to region due to high difference in the feed-in tariff provided by the DISCOMs. Not only for households, sectors like agriculture if made gridindependent for their electricity needs can put a lot of debt off DISCOM's shoulders and help create surplus grid power to ease off power companies and thier need for reckless use of resources to feed peak-power requirements.

Subsidy – for rooftop – grid connected systems 30% - States and union territories 70% - Special states Subsidy – for solar plants 30% under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

ROOF TOP What all parts come under the subsidy umbrella?

As per norms set by MNRE, there are select preset setup capacities against which you could avail the subsidy.

The scheme was earlier implemented

by IREDA through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and more channels have been created for a faster disbursal of the subsidy amount.

As per the government, subsidy funds for grid connected rooftop systems, as updated in December 2015, has been scaled up from Rs. 600cr to Rs. 5000cr (50bn). Out of the total new amount Rs. 3250cr is to be used from 2017-2020 while the rest is being utilized since the new budget was approved by the cabinet committee on economic affairs.

In urban and rural areas alike, the subsidy amount is limited to 30% of the project cost as benchmarked by MNRE for various capacities of setup. Restricted to residential, government, social and institutional segments only, it will help achieve the 40GWp power target set for rooftop installations to be achieved by 2022.

But the subsidy amount in special category states has been kept at 70% of the project cost. The regions include Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshwadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, hill states Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and all the North Eastern states including Sikkim which either have a very irregular supply of electricity or don’t have it at all due to geographical challenges.

Steps to subsidy There are specifics to be followed for the project to be eligible for subsidy. If the cost of the unit is less than or equal to the benchmark cost of the project capacity, full subsidy, i.e. 30% of the amount can be claimed. For example the benchmark cost of a 50 Watt (peak) panel is Rs. 13,500 and Rs. 4,050 is the maximum subsidy that can be claimed

on the installation.

The least cost (or a reduced cost in future) of the approved models would be taken as benchmark costs.

Pertaining to specifics laid down for solar lighting and small capacity PV systems, a solar setup could be financed under the NABARD scheme of capital subsidies that cover 40% of the system cost. But it was taken out of service in 2015. But similar schemes are being offered by respective state governments.

Individuals/companies can apply for setup loans. The extent of the loan isn’t fixed but the bank would only exclude a part of the project cost, considering technical feasibility and financial viability.

Delhi government made it mandatory for public institutions and offices to use solar power, while incentives and tax benefits are available throughout the country for industries and company premises.

Disbursal of subsidy Subsidy for a solar setup can be applied for using three key channels. It can be either applied under a scheme run by state government or approved from MNRE. Subsidy provided by the state government varies heavily from state to state, but are one of the easiest to get, majorly because the information for the same is readily spread in local language and by word of mouth. Information about the subsidy and the process to get one could be a deciding factor in adopting solar.

MNRE certified installers are playing a vital role in adding to the rooftop generation capacity. The task of selecting eligible equipment, applying for netmetering and subsidy apart from setting up the generation unit with compliance is all undertaken by Surya Mitra installers.

Another important mode for subsidy disbursement is through financial institutions. MNRE has approved State Bank of India and several other nationalized banks to offer loan for installation of grid connected rooftop PV along with the applicable subsidy and directed them to encourage people “to install rooftop solar PVs and include the

cost of such equipment in their home loan proposals just like non solar lighting, wiring and other such fittings” Subsidy to manufacture in India There are a lot of attractive subsidy options to manufacture solar setup equipment in India. Though a panel is an integral part of a system, it is not the only thing that runs the system and there are many other important components required for proper and efficient functioning. Falling panel prices and limited R&D output should not put India on the back-foot of solar manufacturing.

The two government schemes explained below are a great encouragement for manufacturers to kick start production for ever growing need for solar system components.

1.The M-SIPS policy The Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme or M-SIPS was designed to attract investment in the electronics manufacturing industry.

Under the MSIPS scheme, a capital subsidy of up to 25 per cent for setting up new or extended project facility is provided by the government. The investment cost could be anywhere between Rs 1 Crore to Rs 5000 Crore.

Incentives are applicable to 29 different verticals across the electronics industry, which also includes solar equipment like inverters, DC converters, IECs among others.

2.The SEZ Policy The Government of India announced concept of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) back in year 2000 to provide hassle-free environment and promote production and export to manufacturing setup of standard and scale of international levels. They are formed like a different country within the country, exempt from rules and regulations governing import and export, and from tax levies, duties, foreign investment and other transactions.

Various states, realizing the potential of SEZs have facilitated and expedited the processing of setting up of such units since then.

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EVENT

INTERSOLAR INDIA 2016:

EXTENSIVE ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM FOR A GROWING MARKET India has one of the fastest growing solar markets in the world. According to the Mercom Capital Group, a total of 8.1 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic (PV) capacity had been installed in the country by August 2016, and 21 additional GW are already in the pipeline. These figures present the ideal backdrop against which to hold Intersolar India. From October 19–21, around 230 exhibitors – 15% more than last year – are showcasing their products and services to visitors at India’s largest exhibition and conference for the solar industry. The Intersolar India Conference and ees India inform attendees about innovations in the battery storage industry concurrent with Intersolar Intersolar India for the second year in a row.

Since the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, declared energy a top priority after his election at the start of 2015, the solar market has boomed. The country has already implemented numerous projects, while many more are currently underway or at the planning stage.

The Mercom Capital Group expects an additional 5 GW of PV capacity to be installed in 2016, which would make solar energy the fastest growing generator of renewable energy in India.

This trend has been accelerated by the falling cost of solar modules worldwide.

Once again, the conditions leading up to Intersolar India 2016 are therefore more than promising.

25 years of Intersolar This year, Intersolar is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Having started life as a student initiative in 1991, over the years it has established itself as a global source of inspiration and catalyst for the

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industry. Intersolar India is joining in with the celebrations and has prepared a few new features for its visitors to mark the anniversary.

For example, the Intersolar India Business to Government Forum is being launched this year (October 19, 11:30am–1:00pm, hall 1) to give company representatives the chance to discuss the latest industry challenges with political decision makers. Highprofile speakers, such as Dilip Nigam, Director of the National Solar Mission at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Veena Sinha, Director at the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, have already confirmed their attendance.

The Buyer Seller Forum, which is also new for 2016, gives Intersolar India exhibitors the opportunity to meet potential clients in a designated pavilion.

Company representatives can use the platform to convince future clients of their products and services.

Intersolar India accompanying program A central focus of Intersolar India is smart renewable energy, which refers to the combination of energy generation, storage, grid integration and energy management. The Presentation Stage in hall 1 shines the spotlight on the topic on October 20. To find out more, visitors can attend presentations such as Smart Renewable Energy: Microgrids – Serving Unconnected Remote Village Communities to Grid Connected City Consumers (10:30am–11:55am).

A further highlight on the Presentation Stage is the talk by Sushil Reddy, a graduate of the IIT Bombay Energy Science Department. In summer 2016, he traveled 7,000 km through five Indian

SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

states on his solar-powered electric bike to raise awareness of the potential of solar energy.

Two important award ceremonies are held at Intersolar India 2016. The Solar Today Awards 2016 are presented at 11:00am on October 21 (Presentation Stage, hall 1) by global business magazine Solar Today. The prize pays tribute to companies that perform pioneering work for the solar industry and is awarded in 16 categories.

The Solar for All Award is presented at 4:00pm on October 19 (Presentation Stage, hall 1). For the second time, the Canopus Foundation is joining forces with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE to honor projects that supply communities in developing countries with electricity.

Shared booth and conference day on the topic of wind energy The internationally renowned exhibition for wind energy, HUSUM Wind, is represented with a shared booth at Intersolar India. One day of the specialist conference is dedicated to different

EVENT aspects of wind energy with international experts. In addition, a delegate tour takes place with Dr. Robert Habeck, Minister of the Energy Transition, Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Areas for the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. ees India For the second successive year, ees (electrical energy storage) India is held alongside Intersolar India. Numerous Indian companies work in both the photovoltaics and energy storage sectors.

This means that ees India is a perfect addition to the event and supports India on the path to a renewable future.

Intersolar India Conference The Intersolar India Conference once again takes place at the same time as the exhibition from October 19–20. The intensive Solar PV course (11:00am– 6:00pm on both days) gives attendees the chance to take the White House Solar Certification exam. The course is led by Sean White, a leading professor of solar energy and author. The session “India’s Emerging Domestic PV Market – A Reality Check“ (October 19, 11:30am–12:50pm) explores the government’s plans to install around 100 GW of solar energy by 2022. On October 20, the conference turns its attention towards performance measurement and financing models. In the session Project Development: What Makes a Project Successful?, developers and consultants share their experiences about what has made past projects succeed or fail (10:15am–11:40am). In the presentation series Project Financing with Indian Characteristics, financial experts appraise the current challenges in the area of project funding and outline funding opportunities presently available.

Further information is available at www. intersolar.in About Intersolar With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in

our energy supply.

Intersolar India is the country’s largest exhibition and conference for the solar industry. It takes place annually at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Mumbai.

The event’s exhibition and conference both focus on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, energy storage systems and solar thermal technologies. Since being founded, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and partners in the global solar industry.

In 2015, 200 international exhibitors and around 11,000 trade visitors attended Intersolar India. More than 100 speakers and about 680 attendees discussed current industry topics and shed light on the conditions surrounding technological, market and political

developments at the accompanying conference.

With 25 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the world’s most influential markets. Intersolar exhibitions and conferences are held in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, São Paulo and, beginning in 2016, Dubai. These global events are complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which take place in emerging and growing solar markets worldwide.

For more information on Intersolar India, please visit: www.intersolar.in Organizers: The local organizer of Intersolar India is MMI India Pvt. Ltd and its international contacts are Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI).

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NATIONAL EVENTS

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

INTERSOLAR INDIA 2016

ENERGY STORAGE SUMMIT 2016

START DATE : 19-Oct-2016 END DATE : 21-Oct-2016 Location : Mumbai, India Phone : +49 7231 585980 E-mail : intersolar@intersolarglobal.com

START DATE : 11-Oct-2016 END DATE : 12-Oct-2016 Location : Melbourne, Australia Phone : +86 21 68407631 E-mail : esa@cdmc.org.cn

12TH INTERNATIONAL BATTERY, SOLAR AND LEAD RECYCLING EXHIBITION & SEMINAR

9TH ANNUAL UTILITY SCALE SOLAR SUMMIT 2016

website : www.intersolar.in

website : www.batteryfair.co.in START DATE : 06-Jan-2017 END DATE : 08-Jan-2017 Location : Karnataka, India Phone : +91 11 22137081 E-mail : info@batteryfair.co.in

website : www.esa-annual.com

website : www.infocastinc.com/events/utilitysolar START DATE : 19-Oct-2016 END DATE : 20-Oct-2016 Location : San Diego, California, USA Phone : +1 818 8884444 E-mail : mail@infocastevents.com

4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION ON ENERGYSTORAGE & MICROGRIDS IN INDIA

PHOTOVOLTAIC CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION OF CHINA 2016

website : www.esiexpo.in

website : www.pvcec.org.cn/pvcec2016

START DATE : 12-Jan-2017 END DATE : 13-Jan-2017 Location : Mumbai, India Phone : +91 11 48550055 E-mail : MalikS@md-india.com

START DATE : 19-Oct-2016 END DATE : 21-Oct-2016 Location : Beijing, China Phone : +86 10 68462772 E-mail : zhouxj@pvcec.org.cn

RENEWX

2016 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SMART GRID AND CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

website : www.ubmindia.in/renewx START DATE : 07-Apr-2017 END DATE : 08-Apr-2017 Location : Hitex, Hyderabad Phone : +91 9379229397 E-mail : amitava.sarkar@ubm.com

website : www.icsgce.com START DATE : 19-Oct-2016 END DATE : 22-Oct-2016 Location : Chengdu, China E-mail : submission@icsgce.com

SOLAR INDIA EXPO 2017

U.S. SOLAR MARKET INSIGHT CONFERENCE

website : www.solarindiaexpo.com

website : www.solarmarketinsight.com

START DATE : 10-May-2017 END DATE : 12-May-2017 Location : Delhi, India Phone : +91 9899786777 E-mail : praveens@eigroup.com

START DATE : 25-Oct-2016 END DATE : 26-Oct-2016 Location : San Diego, California, USA Phone : +1 617 5004257 E-mail : gtmevents@greentechmedia.com

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SAUR ENERGY.COM l OCTOBER 2016

ASIA CLEAN ENERGY SUMMIT

website : www.asiacleanenergysummit.com START DATE : 25-Oct-2016 END DATE : 26-Oct-2016 Location : Singapore City, Singapore Phone : +65 6542 2220 E-mail : secretariat@asiacleanenergysummit.com

26TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOVOLTAIC SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CONFERENCE website : pvsec-26.com

START DATE : 24-Oct-2016 END DATE : 28-Oct-2016 Location : Singapore, Singapore Phone : +65 6601 1742 E-mail : info@pvsec26.com

SOUTHEAST RENEWABLE ENERGY website : infocastinc.com/event/southeast-renewables

6TH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INTEGRATION OF SOLAR POWER INTO POWER SYSTEMS website : www.solarintegrationworkshop.org

START DATE : 14-Nov-2016 END DATE : 15-Nov-2016 Location : Vienna, Austria Phone : +49 151 22661955 E-mail : info@solarintegrationworkshop.org

BGS SOLAR SUMMIT

website : bgs-solar.com START DATE : 14-Nov-2016 END DATE : 15-Nov-2016 Location : Nice, France Phone : +44 20 37693392 E-mail : solar@bgs-group.eu

5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS

START DATE : 02-Nov-2016 END DATE : 04-Nov-2016 Location : Atlanta, Georgia, USA Phone : +1 404 8779000 E-mail : mail@infocastevents.com

website : www.icrera.org

THE 8TH CHINESE RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

SOLAR CANADA 2016

website : www.crecexpo.com

START DATE : 03-Nov-2016 END DATE : 05-Nov-2016 Location : Wuxi, China Phone : +86 510 81827276 E-mail : liuyang@crecexpo.com

START DATE : 20-Nov-2016 END DATE : 23-Nov-2016 Location : Birmingham, UK Phone : +1 404 8779000 E-mail : registration@icrera.org

website : solarcanadaconference.ca START DATE : 05-Dec-2016 END DATE : 06-Dec-2016 Location : Toronto, Canada Phone : +1 647 5607000 E-mail : registration@solarenergyevent.ca

SOLAR ASSET MANAGEMENT EUROPE

SNEC 2017 PV POWER EXPO

website : www.solarassetmanagementeu.com

website : www.snec.org.cn

START DATE : 09-Nov-2016 END DATE : 10-Nov-2016 Location : Milan, Italy Phone : +31 10 2809198 E-mail : stefano@solarplaza.com

START DATE : 19-Apr-2017 END DATE : 21-Apr-2017 Location : Shanghai, China Phone : +86 21 33561099 E-mail : info@snec.org.cn

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