Saur Energy Magazine January 2018 by Saur Energy International

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

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

EDITOR MANAS NANDI editorial@saurenergy.com

DIRECTOR MARKETING & SALES PRATEEK KAPOOR prateek@saurenergy.com

2017 Review By MNRE:

ASSOCIATE EDITOR NILOY BANERJEE niloy@saurenergy.com

FEATURE SPECIALIST LAIQUE KHAN laique@saurenergy.com

»» Government is on its way to achieving 175 GW target for installed

SUB EDITOR

»» India attains global 4th and 6th position in global Wind and Solar Power

HARI MAHENDARA hari@saurenergy.com

SUB EDITOR AAQIB JAVEED aaqib@saurenergy.com

TECHNICAL EDITOR BIKRAM SINGH NEGI bikram@saurenergy.com

DESIGN HEAD ABHISHEK GUPTA

WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER JITENDER KUMAR

WEB PRODUCTION

Renewable Energy capacity by 2022 installed capacity »» By November 2017, a total of 62 GW Renewable Power installed, of which 27 GW installed since May 2014 and 11.79 GW since January 2017 »» Historic Low Tariffs for Solar (Rs. 2.44/ unit) and Wind (Rs. 2.64/ unit) achieved through transparent bidding and facilitation »» Ambitious Bidding Trajectory for 100 GW capacity of Solar Energy and 60 GW capacity of Wind over the next 3 years laid down The review seems promising; especially the last indicator attains a pragmatic dialogue. Moving forward to 2018, we wanted to start with a special issue which focuses on 3 very important aspect: Automation and Artificial intelligence, Future Investment Models and Testing equipments.

BALVINDER SINGH

These subjects are least talked though are of very high importance. We

SUBSCRIPTIONS

welcome your opinion so that these subjects can postulate unanimously.

SHUBHAM GUPTA subscription@saurenergy.com

Another important topic for this issue is Electric Vehicles in India. When

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.

of Rs1,120 crore in September to Tata Motors Ltd to supply 10,000

Editor, Publisher, Printer and Owner make every effort to ensure high quality and accuracy of the content published. However he cannot accept any responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor and publisher. The information in the content and advertisement published in the magazine are just for reference of the readers. However, readers are cautioned to make inquiries and take their decision on purchase or investment after consulting experts on the subject. Saur Energy International holds no responsibility for any decision taken by readers on the basis of the information provided herein. Any unauthorised reproduction of Saur Energy International magazine content is strictly forbidden. Subject to Delhi Jurisdiction.

story this month we have analysed the EV market potential and what all

Govt-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) awarded a contract electric cars, it showed the government’s intent on electric mobility. These vehicles will be used to replace the petrol and diesel cars used by the state and its agencies, which have around 500,000 cars. The government has given the EV sourcing mandate to EESL, with the next set of tenders expected to source e-rickshaws and e-autos under the faster adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles in India (FAME) scheme. In our it needs to actually put it on grounds from the paper. More stories inside to keep you hooked for the entire month. Happy Reading!

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

ManasNandi manas@saurenergy.com

CONTENT

OPERATION

& MAINTENANCE

TESTING EQUIPMENTS

NATIONAL NEWS

-08

- Government Proposes Rs 23,450 Crore Rooftop Solar Scheme

- Kirloskar Solar Partners with GSL Energy Solutions to Build 200 MW Solar in Kerala

- India Installs 1861 MW Solar Power, Maharashtra Leads From the Front

- India Successfully Commissioned Largest Floating Solar Power Plant

- Tata Power Commissions 100 MW Solar Plant in Karnataka

BACKSHEETS & EVA

SELECTING THE RIGHT MATERIALS FOR SOLAR MODULES

- MP CM Lays Foundation for 'World's Largest' Solar Power Plant

- Enphase Energy Opens its First Research and Development Center in India

- Govt to Achieve Target of 100 GW of Solar Power by 2022: R K Singh

- Paris Agreement Enables India to Attract $3.1 Trillion of investments by 2030

- Patanjali Ayurved to Foray Into Solar Power Equipment Manufacturing

-10,000 Schools in Odisha to be Solar Powered

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CONNECTING STRINGS!

SUNIL RATHI Director Sales & Marketing WAAREE Energies

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ELECTRIC VEHICLES INDIA IS SHIFTING GEARS

-13

- China is Building a Solar Power Highway That Can Charge Electric Cars - Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Solar-Powered Train to Begin Service Soon in Australia - Greenlight Planet Raises $60 Million led by Apis Partners - Hungary Plans Big Push in Solar Power Generation - Scatec Solar Secures 40 MW Solar Power Project in Malaysia - NEXTracker Announces Series of Energy Storage Systems

AUTOMATING O&M!

PRODUCTS

-56

MARKET RESEARCH

-58

- Solar Powered Car Market Volume Analysis, Size, Share and Key Trends 2017-2025 - IHS Markit: Global Solar Installations to Pass 100GW in 2018

INVESTING RENEWABLES

- Global Electric Vehicles Market to Grow at a CAGR of 28.3% (in Volume) From 2017 to 2026

INFESTING FOSSILS

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NATIONAL NEWS Rays Future Energy Executes 60MW of Capacity Under Open Access In India Rays Future Energy, a subsidiary of integrated solar power company Rays Power Infra, said it is executing 60MW of capacity under open access systems in Karnataka, to be completed by the end of the current fiscal. The company has identified over 50 highly-rated private commercial and industrial consumers to whom the energy will be offered, providing them access to power at reduced costs sourced from solar parks being developed by Rays Power Infra, it said. Govt Plans to Supply Solar Power to 40L Farmers in 10 Years Maharashtra energy minister Chan-drashekhar Bawankule has announced an ambitious plan to use solar energy not only for farmers but also schools. The government has set a target to supply solar energy to about 40 lakh farmers for about 12 hours every day. “With new projects in the pipeline, we would soon reach 27,096MW. To provide round the clock power to farmers in state, massive investment would be needed,” Bawankule said. "The funds are being allocated under the 'Mukhyamantri Krishi Sanjivani Yojana'. It's impossible to provide 12 hours of power completely on the basis of thermal projects. We encouraged farmers to take barren land on rent to install solar panels. The pilot project is being implemented at Ralegaon-

Government Proposes Rs 23,450 Crore Rooftop Solar Scheme The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has prepared a concept note on ‘Sustainable Rooftop Implementation for Solar Transfiguration of India (SRISTI)’ to the tune of Rs 23,450 crore to state power distribution companies, or discoms, for installation of rooftop solar plants in residential sectors. “The concept, once approved, shall serve as the basis of revised scheme of MNRE for solar rooftop in Phase-II and will replace the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs note that has been submitted to cabinet since April this year,” an official statement said. The Ministry is implementing Grid Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) Power Programme in which subsidy/incentives are being provided for residential, institutional, social and Government sector. States/UTs have also taken conducive policy and regulatory measures for promotion of solar rooftop. The scheme will integrate discoms as an implementing agency in the second phase of the rooftop solar scheme, the statement added. Discoms will be incentivised to install grid-connected rooftop solar plants in their area. It is proposed that a Central Financial Assistance will be provided only for installation of roof top solar plants in residential sectors. The total outlay is Rs 23,450 crore for 40,000 MW of rooftop solar installations. Mentioning the sector wise targets, the proposal said that Commercial and industrial sector will set up 20,000 MW, the government, Residential, Social and the Institutional sector will set up 5,000 MW each.

Kirloskar Solar Partners with GSL Energy Solutions to Build 200 MW Solar in Kerala

India Installs 1861 MW Solar Power, Maharashtra Leads From the Front

Pune-based Solar company, Kirloskar Solar Pvt.

Renewable energy consultancy firm Bridge to

Ltd. (KSTPL), part of Kirloskar group has partnered with GSL Energy Solutions to achieve 200 MW of solar power in Kerala by 2020. The company is planning to utilize the potential in Kerala as part of strengthening its presence in the country. Deepak Palvankar, head of solar business of KSTPL said that the solar industry in India has been growing 20 to 30 percent and is set for consolidation in the coming years. “We would soon launch new products like ready to install on-grid solar kits, solar off grid inverters and power packs and an innovative solar product that will produce hot water as well as electricity,’’ Palvankar said. Jackson Mathew, MD of GSL Energy Solutions said in comparison to other states Kerala is yet to realize the potential of solar power. “The state now has only a capacity of 88.5 MW compared with 1900 mw in Tamil Nadu and 2300 MW in Karnataka,’’ Mathew said. The company has

Siddhi. The planning commission

introduced a scheme to boost domestic users to

had lauded our scheme," he said.

convert their invertors to solar ones.

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India in its latest edition of its infographic report, ‘India Solar Rooftop Map’ has said India added new rooftop solar power capacity of 840 MW in the last 12 months ending September 2017, at y-o-y growth of 82 percent. The consultancy firm has projected growth with Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 77 percent for the next four years. As things stand, the total installed capacity as of September 2017 stood at 1861 MW. The report also highlights that commercial and industrial consumers remain the biggest segment accounting for 63 percent of the total capacity and 66 per cent of the new capacity added in the last 12 months. The capacity addition in this segment grew 86 percent during this period. The report also said that Maharashtra has overtaken Tamil Nadu to become the biggest solar rooftop state, as per the latest edition of 'India Solar Rooftop Map' by Bridge to India. Maharashtra has installed 237 MW compared to 191 MW in Tamil Nadu as of September 2017 as per the report.

NATIONAL NEWS India Successfully Commissioned Largest Floating Solar Power Plant

India's largest floating solar power plant in Kerala has successfully commissioned by Power minister M M Mani on the Banasura Sagar reservoir at Padinjarethara in Wayanad. According to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) floating solar power plant has been built at an approximate cost of Rs 9.25 crore. The work on this project commenced in March 2016. The solar plant has 1,938 solar panels which have been installed on 18 ferro cement floaters with hollow insides. Floating on 6,000 square metres of water surface of the reservoir, the solar power plant is of 500 kWp (kilowatt peak). Besides that, 17 inverters, a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to control and monitor power generation and an anchoring system are part of the floating solar project. Thiruvananthapuram- based Adtech Systems Limited has been the implementing agency for the project. The private firm has also offered to provide two-years of free maintenance work at the plant. Through this solar power plant, as many as 7.5 lakh units of power will be transmitted to the KSEB's Padinjarathara substation. Mani said, “It has become imperative for the state to explore all avenues of renewable energy as it was currently producing just 30 percent of its power requirement.”

Tata Power Commissions 100 MW Solar Plant in Karnataka India’s largest renewable energy company, Tata

MP CM Lays Foundation for 'World's Largest' Solar Power Plant

Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (TPREL) has ann-

up under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with NTPC Ltd. at a tariff of Rs. 4.79/ unit. “The commissioning of the 100MW solar plant in Karnataka fortifies our position of being the largest renewable energy company in the country, with a strong presence in solar power generation. We prefer development opportunities in solar parks as land and evacuation are provided, and we can focus on the project. We are extremely proud of this development and we continue to seek potential areas across India and in select International markets through organic and inorganic opportunities,” Rahul Shah, CEO, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited, said.

and Development center in Bangalore, India to establish a best-in-class technology development center. India is powering the growth of solar with its ambitious targets for clean energy and is expected to be ranked as the world’s third largest solar market in 2017. Enphase plans to support this rapid growth with the opening of its Bangalore Research and Development center, where it will also offer employment opportunities for engineering, operations, marketing, sales, and customer support personnel to meet the needs of its customers worldwide. “I am pleased to

Badri Kothandaraman, president and CEO of Enphase Energy.

Tranche-I State Specific Bundling Scheme. With

acres. Sale of power from solar plant has been tied

the opening of its first Research

our overall global strategy,” said

under the National Solar Mission Phase-II Batch-II

has built the two 50 MW solar plants on over 533

Enphase Energy has announced

which is an important part of

The project was won by the Company in May 2016

TPREL, the Tata Power wholly-owned subsidiary,

Center in India

Development center in India,

plant at Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka.

capacity now stands at 1614 MW.

Research and Development

announce our first Research and

ounced the commissioning of its 100 MW solar

this development, TPREL’s total installed operating

Enphase Energy Opens its First

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has laid the foundation stone for the "world's largest" ultra-mega solar power plant. The solar power plant will come up at Gurh tehsil in the district and the power generated at this station will be provided to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to run its trains in the national capital. “It was a pleasure touring & having an aerial view of Rewa Solar. The 750MW solar park is the largest in the world, which when completed, will be a game changer in the production of electricity through renewable energy,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted after laying the foundation of solar plant. Solar plant spreads on 1,600 hectares land will cost a whopping Rs 4500 crore and also generate 750 MW electricity. India has set a target of installing 175 Gw of renewable energy by 2022 under the Paris Agreement. Singh said Madhya Pradesh could another 5000 Mw of renewable capacity in the coming few years.

Madhya Pradesh Aims to Beat China, Build World’s Biggest Solar Plant Madhya Pradesh is aiming to beat China by setting up the world's largest solar power park with a total capacity of 1050 MW. Rewa plant one of the biggest solar plant in the country will generate power to Delhi Metro, power from the new solar plant will be provided to Indian Railways.The 1050MW solar power park is to be developed over 2,100 hectare straddling three districts - Shajapur, Rajgarh and Agar Malwa. At present, the biggest solar power park is of 850MW in Longyangxia Dam, China.

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NATIONAL NEWS 10,000 Schools in Odisha to be Solar Powered Odisha Government has decided to make 10,000 schools functional on solar energy. The proposed project would be implemented in the schools having eco-clubs, said Energy Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick. Addressing a meeting at the Jayadev Bhawan here on the occasion of the National Energy Conservation Day, the Minister said that several programmes are being launched to make people aware of preserving energy and usage of green energy. Currently, there are 66 lakh electricity consumers in the State. The government has set a target to increase the electricity consumers’ number to 1 crore in next two years, Mallick said. The power consumption has declined by installing LED lights in various cities in the State, he added. Notably, there is also a plan to run all Government office buildings on solar power to reduce consumption of hydro and thermal power. Radite Energy Bags Turnkey Contract for 40MW Solar Power Project from Azure Power Radite Energy, an emerging name in the field of Solar Installation Services, Solar Structure Design & Layout and Fencing Solutions has been awarded with Turnkey Solution project for 40 megawatts solar power plant in Gujarat from Azure Power. As part of the contract, the company will be responsible for providing end to end solution from designing to installation of the 40MW solar power plant in Gujarat. Radite Energy has been among the active participants in several turnkey solution contracts across the nation. Recently, the company has commissioned 30MW solar power project in Andhra Pradesh, and is now targeting 150MW in Gujarat alone.

Govt to Achieve Target of 100 GW of Solar Power by 2022: R K Singh

The government is confident of achieving the

target of 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022 says Power Minister. The Union Government is confident of achieving the target of 100 Gigawatt (GW) of solar power capacity by 2022, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and Renewable Energy R K Singh said. While speaking in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, he said, “As against the target of installing 100 GW of solar power capacity as on December 15, a capacity of 16,676 MW has been installed with another 6,500 MW capacity under installation.” The trajectory of bidding of the rest of solar power capacity has been finalised as 20,000 MW in 201718, 30,000 MW in 2018-19 and 30,000 MW in 2019-20. “The government is confident of achieving the target of 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022,” Singh said. Since the country does not have enough manufacturing capacity at present for solar cells and modules to meet the full demand, “both imported and indigenous solar cells and modules are being utilised for achieving the targets,” he said.

Paris Agreement Enables India to Attract $3.1 Trillion of investments by 2030

Patanjali Ayurved to Foray Into Solar Power Equipment Manufacturing

As per the report issued by the International

Indian consumer goods giant Patanjali Ayurved, led by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, is set to make its foray into solar power equipment manufacturing. Acharya Balkrishna, managing director of Patanjali Ayurved, said: “Getting into solar is in line with the swadeshi movement. With solar, each household in India can have power supply, and we are here to make that happen”. Entry into the solar equipments business would be Patanjali's first venture in the infrastructure sector and it comes at a time when it has gained success in the consumer goods market. The government is considering a 30 percent capital subsidy as part of a new solar manufacturing policy, the report said. Patanjali is planning to invest around Rs 100 crore in solar equipment manufacturing. Its factory in Greater Noida is expected to be fully operational within the next few months. “This started with our plan to use solar as a source of power at all our factories. That time we understood (that) most of the solar modules come from China. And there was no quality consistency even in India-made ones,” Balkrishna added.

Finance Corporation (IFC), around $3.1 trillion worth investments are to be expected by 2030. The investments majorly aimed at accomplishing goals as set by the Paris agreement. The investments will be offered to renewable energy, green buildings, transport infrastructure, electric vehicles and climatesmart agriculture, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group mentioned. India’s target of installing 175GW of energy capacity by 2022 claim to have potential of $448 billion worth investments and aims to achieve 40 per cent of installed capacity from renewable (Solar, Wind, etc) by 2030. Almost 70 percent of the required construction is about take place by 2030 tapped at the rapid urbanization and development. An investment of $1.4 trillion is expected for the opportunities in green-building and infrastructure. As per IFC’s analysis about $250 billion investment could come in transport infrastructure and $667 billion in electric vehicles to matchup government’s goal of electrifying all new vehicle by 2030.

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NATIONAL NEWS Netherlands Company to Invest 200 Million Euros for Solar Panel Manufacturing Plant in Assam A Netherlands based company has expressed interest to invest around 200 million euros for setting up a Solar panels manufacturing plant in Assam. Alphonsus Stoelinga, Netherlands Ambassador to India along with his delegation met the chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Assam. In a bid to generate 200MW of solar power in Assam, the company called Hyet Solar is interested in infusing 200 million euros to set up a manufacturing plant stated Stoelinga. “The company has set up a unit in Netherland manufacturing silicon based solar panels and Assam facility will be the second unit of the company,” Stoelinga said.The Global Investor summit to be held in February in Guwahati in 2018 has made ministers to have roadshows to attract the investors from different foreign countries. Kolkata Airport to Have AAI’s Biggest Solar Power Plant Till Date The Kolkata airport’s ground mounted grid connected solar power plant is now commissioned to support operations on daily basis while promoting use of clean energy. The solar plant will be the biggest among all the Airports Authority India (AAI) all around India with a capacity of 15MW. S Raheja, member (planning), Airports Authority of India (AAI), said “Once the solar power plant becomes operational, we will be able to cut down on carbon emission and at the same time do some cost cutting once the solar power plant becomes operational.”

SMA Exceeds 3 GW Solar Inverter Sales in India SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) has announced that it has sold more than 1 gigawatt of solar inverters into all market segments in India in 2017. SMA inverter sales in the commercial segment have even doubled compared to last year. This corresponds to a market share of 30 percent in the commercial segment. In total, the installed inverter base in India exceeds 3 gigawatts. “India is one of the key markets for SMA in Asia Pacific. In the last 3 years, we see the strong commitment from the Indian government as well as the growing market demand in the solar sector. Thanks to SMA’s wide product range catering to all market segments as well as the service network with regional presence, our inverter shipment in 2017 in India exceeds 1GW across all segments.” said John Susa, Executive Vice President of SMA Sales North America/APAC. “As a result, we are proud to announce that our total shipment of solar inverters in India has passed 3GW accumulatively,” he added.

Belgian Firm Plans to Invest Rs 1,000 Crore in Renewable Energy in India Belgian retail giant Colruyt Group is gearing up to make a big splash in the renewable energy space in India and has lined up an investment of around Rs 800-1,000 crore for the next two years, Hari Subramanian, head (India operations), Colruyt Group, said. “As a group, we already have 1.5 GW of installed capacity of wind energy in Belgium. We want to bring that capability and expertise to India. Over the next one to two years, we will invest anywhere between Rs 800 - Rs1,000 crore. We will be an independent power producer (IPP) and are looking at capacities of around 100 to 150 MW in the first two years in India,” Subramanian said. The group plans to set up a separate entity for it's India renewable energy venture, which will also be headquartered in Hyderabad, Subramanian said, adding that the company is already working on aspects like talent acquisition and office space. He pointed out that that the company is also open to setting up solar projects but the first few projects will be in the wind energy space and will be set up in the southern part of the country. Giving additional details about its plans in the renewable energy space, the company’s senior official said that in the first few projects, the group plans to outsource the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) part to larger players.

YES Bank, EIB to Invest $400mn in Indian Renewable Energy Sector YES Bank and the European Investment Bank will jointly invest $400-million funding for renewable power generation in the country. “The new financing programme will streamline financing for a range of renewable energy projects being built and operated by leading Indian corporations and private sector developers,” YES Bank and EIB said in a joint statement. The new $400 million private sector renewable energy financing programme is divided into two components. Of the $400-million, the EIB will fund $200 million, while the rest will be supported by YES Bank, the project promoters and other financial institutions. Under this renewable power generation initiative, several solar projects in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka have been identified. Additional wind and solar projects are also being examined. The EIB loan of $200 million has a tenor of 15 years. YES Bank MD and Chief Executive Rana Kapoor said the bank remains well on track to achieve its commitment to finance 5,000 megawatt of renewable energy made at the first Re-Invest Summit in 2015. “This is also synchronous with our COP 21 commitment of mobilising $5 billion for climate finance by 2020,” Kapoor added.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS Gigawatt-Scale Solar Markets Seen in 13 countries in 2018: GTM Research GTM Research report has identified 13 countries of gigawatt-scale solar markets in 2018 that would exceed the 1-GW worth of annual solar PV installations, up from eight in 2017. According to the GTM Research titled Global Solar Demand Monitor, the next five countries to cross the 1-gigawatt annual threshold will be Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, the Netherlands and Spain. In 2017 eight countries -- China, the US, India, Japan, Germany, France, Australia and South Korea -- will have installed at least 1 GW (gigawatt) worth of solar. GTM Research said that European solar demand in 2018 will increase 35% growth in demand. According to the report, Spain will be at the forefront of the positive trend as its solar market is expected to surge to 1.4 GW from 40 MW in 2017, following its recent technologyneutral auction, which contracted 3.9 GW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity. The other European country to surpass 1 gigawatt in 2018 will be the Netherlands as the country has introduced Stimulation of Sustainable Generation scheme for a more recent boost. Tom Heggarty, a senior solar analyst at GTM Research said, “The European market is entering a phase of sustainable growth, no longer driven by the feed-in-tariff boom and bust cycle.” GTM Research anticipates a cumulative 606 gigawatts to be installed globally between 2017 and 2022.

Australia Formally Joins International Solar Alliance Australia has joined the International Solar Alliance, saying it will support the government's commitment to clean energy cooperation and help meet the Paris Agreement emission targets, its Minister for Foreign Affairs said. "Australia's expertise in solar technologies and research will be shared globally with the formal creation of the International Solar Alliance," said a statement from Julie Bishop, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs. The International Solar Alliance aims to promote the roll-out of solar technology and solar energy uptake amongst countries that lie in the sun-rich belt between the tropics. "Led by India and France, members of the ISA will deepen cooperation on solar research, reduce technology costs and harmonise international standards. Over one billion people have no access to electricity. Harnessing solar energy will expand access to energy in developing countries, helping them to meet the energy demands of their growing economies,"

Capital Stage Acquires Two Solar Parks in The Netherlands Germany-based solar and windfarm operator Capital Stage has acquired two planned solar parks in the Netherlands market for the first time from Dutch project developer Sunstroom Engineering B.V. The solar parks have a total generation capacity of 47.6 MW and are expected to be completed in 2018. Capital Stage said that the two solar parks Melissant (10MW) and Ooltgensplaat (37.6MW) have a generation capacity of 10.0 MW and 37.6 MW respectively. The total investment volume including projectbased debt financing, amounts to €44.5 million. Dr. Dierk Paskert, CEO of Capital Stage AG. Said, “The two solar parks we acquired are among the largest projects in the Netherlands and therefore have quite a flagship effect. They form a good basis for further investment in our neighboring country.” Capital Stage said that,

said the statement. "Joining the alliance also supports

including this transaction, the generating capacity

the Australian government's commitment to clean

of all photovoltaic installations increases to 770

energy cooperation and meeting our Paris Agreement

MW, while its total renewable energy power assets

emissions targets," it added.

will reach 1.5 GW.

EDF Announces to Develop 30 GW of Solar Capacity in France by 2035 French state-controlled utility EDF announced it plans for a big push into solar energy in France that will cost up to €25bn. Jean-Bernard Lévy, EDF chairman and chief executive said the utility will invest about 25 billion euros to develop 30 gigawatt of solar capacity in France between 2020 and 2035. According to Levy that a large part of these investments in solar will come from partners and project financing. "The acceleration of solar in France is crucial for reaching our climate targets," said Antoine Cahuzc, the head of EDF's renewables unit. BP Returns to Solar Power with $200 Million Investment in Lightsource BP returned to the solar-energy business with a $200 million investment in Lightsource, Europe’s biggest solar developer, marking its return after a six year absence. Chief Executive Bob Dudley said, "We're excited to be coming back to solar, but in a new and very different way.” London-based Lightsource, to be renamed Lightsource BP, will target the growing demand for large-scale solar projects. The company has a 6 gigawatt (GW) growth pipeline largely focused on the United States, India, Europe and the Middle East, BP said. Lightsource has commissioned 1.3 GW of solar capacity to date and manages about 2 GW of capacity under long-term operations and maintenance contracts.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS Scatec Solar Secures 40 MW Solar Power Project in Malaysia Scatec Solar and Fumase have won the contract to develop a 40 MW solar power project in a tender held by the Energy Commission in Malaysia. The power plant, located in the state of Perak in Northwest Malaysia, is expected to produce 65 GWh of electricity per year with annual revenues of approximately USD 6 million. Work has started to secure project finance from commercial banks in Malaysia and capex is estimated to be around $50 million. Scatec Solar will be an equity partner, turn-key EPC provider and will provide Operation & Maintenance as well as Asset Management services to the power plant. NEXTracker Announces Series of Energy Storage Systems

China is Building a Solar Power Highway That Can Charge Electric Cars

China is building a 2 km stretch of solar highway that will be able to generate electricity from sunlight. The two-kilometre-long highway located in Jinan could charge electric cars as they are travelling on it. According to state-owned media, the solarpowered leg of the expressway will be open by the end of December. It will be able to carry up to medium-sized trucks. Chinese engineers are using three layers to build a photovoltaic highway. The uppermost layer is paved with the so-called ‘transparent concrete’, which is said to be as strong as the traditional road-surfacing material, asphalt concrete. Then come the solar panels, the middle layer is the power-generating layer. The thirds layer is the insulation layer which separates the photovoltaic system from the damp earth. Beyond acting as a power source, the road also provides an added benefit: The panels heat can transfer through the concrete, allowing them to automatically melt snow. The road is expected to produce 280 MWh of electricity a year – enough to power the village’s street lights.

World’s First Solar-Powered Train to Begin Service Soon in Australia

NEXTracker, a Flex company has announced NEXTracker Energy Storage Solutions, a portfolio of products that includes NX Drive and NX Flow. NX Drive is a standardized battery enclosure system for generationplus-storage or stand-alone storage applications. NX Flow is a modular, integrated solution designed for long duration solarplus-storage applications. Each is designed to maximize longterm value and offer the lowest levelized cost of storage (LCOS) for a wide variety of applications, such as peak smoothing,bulk load shifting and demand charge reduction. NEXTracker's energy storage portfolio provides customers with configurable and intelligent solutions for new and retrofitted power plants and stand-alone applications.

The world’s first solar-powered train will begin taking passengers, in New South Wales coastal town of Byron Bay in Australia. It’s the realisation of an eight-year dream held by the owners of the resort Elements of Byron and their development director, Jeremy Holmes. The solar train features a 6.5kW solar array comprised of flexible solar panels on the roofs of the carriages, which can together carry up to 100 passengers at a time. The rooftop solar array will feed into the onboard 77kWh battery, which also gets partially charged between trips by the station’s solar array. The battery is about the same capacity as that in a Tesla Model S, but the solar train only requires about 4kWh to travel each leg of the trip, so there is plenty of juice for it to make “12-15 runs off a single charge,” and the regenerative braking feature will allow the train to recoup “around 25% of the spent energy each time the brakes are applied.”

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Greenlight Planet Raises $60 Million led by Apis Partners Renewable energy firm Greenlight Planet Inc has raised $60 million in a funding round led by London-based private equity fund manager Apis Partners. The debt and equity round, which was led by Apis Growth Fund I, also saw the equity participation of existing investors Eight Roads Ventures and Bamboo Capital Partners, the company said in a statement. Debt investments included new disbursements from the company’s earliest institutional lenders, Deutsche Bank and Global Partnerships, as well as from SunFunder, PG Impact Investments, responsAbility and SIMA Funds, it added. Freshfields acted as the legal advisor to Apis Partners. Greenlight Planet will use the new debt and equity capital to expand its solar-energy product lines, distribution networks, and financing capabilities in Africa and Asia. There, over a billion people lack reliable access to electricity, finding it too expensive or unavailable. “Today, for less than the cost of a single electrical pole, we can provide a solar home system with enough energy to power a complete range of appliances needed by rural consumers. Apis’s investment will allow us to continue expanding access to these life-changing products,” said Patrick Walsh, co-founder and CEO of Greenlight Planet.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Solar Panel Cleaning Startup Ecoppia Raises $13 Million Harel Insurance investments and financial services Ltd. has invested in the Israeli startup Ecoppia with $13 Million. This was the third financing round the startup has secured funding.

Hungary Plans Big Push in Solar Power Generation Hungary will relax rules on the construction of small solar power plants and subsidize loans to landowners as part of efforts to promote renewable energy, a government official said. The country’s sole nuclear power plant currently provides over half of Hungary’s electricity, according to data on its website, and around 29 percent of its electricity is imported, a proportion the government wants to reduce. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, said, “The government supports the creation of as many solar power plants in Hungary as possible.” He said the new rules would relax regulations on the use of farmland. The government would also provide subsidized loans to farmers or companies

The company’s founder Moshe

to finance the construction of solar plants with a capacity of up to 0.5 megawatt, through state-owned

and CEO Eran Meller started

development bank MFB. The state would purchase all electricity generated at the new solar plants, he

Ecoppia in 2013, has evolved

said. The program’s long-term goal would be to minimize Hungary’s need to import electricity in the

with a distinct technology for cleaning solar panels making

next two decades, Lazar said. Renewable energy represented less than a tenth of Hungary’s energy use in 2013, according to a 2017 progress report by the European Commission, and the government

it possible to maintain the

aims to increase that proportion to 13 percent by the end of this decade.

efficiency of solar panels to the year, irrespective of any

US Announces $12 Million to Advance Early-Stage Solar Research

type of weather. Ecoppia has

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $12 million in new funding for eight projects to

generate electricity throughout

collaborations with some of the major solar energy companies

advance predictive modeling capabilities for solar generation. “These models will lead to more accurate forecasts of solar generation levels, enabling utilities to better

in the fraternity such as Engie

manage the variability and uncertainty of solar power and improve grid reliability,” the statement said.

Group from France; EDF, the

U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said these projects will address a critical gap in our research,

French electric company; Actis Capital, and Indian company NTPC. Sacramento Airport Opens New Solar Energy Facility in California Sacramento International Airport has formally opened a new solar energy facility which is likely to generate more than 30 percent of the airport’s electricity and is the largest airport solar facility in California. The solar farm of 7.9 MW consists of a 15-acre site on Aviation Drive and a 20-acre site north of the runway. The solar project utilises more than 23,000 LG solar panels mounted on NEXTracker racking that tracks the sun from east to west over the course of the day, thereby maximising efficiency and energy generation. The facility will generate enough electricity to power 1,600 homes per year.

which is knowing precisely how much solar electricity to expect at any given hour on any given day. “These tools are becoming more important as the solar industry continues to grow, and will work to ensure that solar contributes to the reliability, affordability, and resilience of our nation’s electric grid,” Perry added. The funding will advance solar forecasting technologies in a coordinated way with partnerships between national labs, universities, and industry. The research will validate whether or not these technologies can be efficiently integrated into energy management systems and enhance grid operation efficiency, while working to identify any future research needs. The total DOE investment will spur an additional $2.6 million of private sector funding through cost share requirements, yielding a total public and private investment of over $14.6 million. The Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports early-stage research and development to improve the reliability and performance of solar technologies.

The Bifaciality of LONGi Solar’s Bifacial PERC Cell Breaks World Record The National Center of Supervision and Inspection on Solar Photovoltaic Products Quality (CPVT) issued an independent test report showing that LONGi Solar’s monocrystalline Bifacial PERC Cell achieved a world record bifaciality of 82.15%. LONGi’s Hi-MO2 features high power technology, high-energy yield and low LCOE. For LONGi Solar, Hi-MO2 is synonymous with high efficiency, bifacial power generation, and provides the launch point for the new era of highly efficient, monocrystalline Bifacial PERC Cell power generation technology. The bifaciality of Bifacial PERC Cell in the market is about 75%, and LONGi Solar’s monocrystalline bifacial PERC cell has increased the bifaciality to an industry-leading 82.15%, which has not only enriched the application scenarios of PERC bifacial cells, but also improved cost performance in addition to higher energy yield.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

INTERNATIONAL NEWS China Starts World's Biggest Floating Solar Project China's Three Gorges Group is building a 150-megawatt floating solar plant in the eastern part of country, the largest of its kind in the world, official Xinhua news agency reported. The one billion yuan ($151 million) solar power project in Huainan in Anhui province, developed by the new energy unit of state-run Three Gorges Group, is to be constructed in May next year, the report said. According to the Lu Chun, chairman of Three Gorges Group, the solar project is a new experiment aimed at cutting the cost of constructing and operating solar power plants. The Three Gorges project uses the water surface from a coal mining subsidence area and also involves the employment of many locals in both O&M and construction services.

Fortum to Buy 35 MW of Solar Power Capacity in Russia Finnish power utility Fortum has agreed to acquire 35 MW of solar power in Russia from local group Hevel. The Finnish company said the seller was Russian solar module maker and project developer Hevel Solar, without disclosing the value of the deal. Two of the plants, the Pleshanovskaya (10 MW) and Grachevskaya (10 MW) solar power plants are located in the Orenburg region and the Bugulchanskaya (15 MW) solar power plant in the Republic of Bashkortostan. All three power plants are operational. All of the projects were commissioned between 2016 and 2017 and will receive Capacity Supply Agreement (CSA) payments of around EUR 430 (USD 511.8) per MWh on average for about 15 years following commissioning.

Canadian Solar Bags 112 MWp Solar Power Project in Brazil Canadian Solar has won a 112 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Brazil during the country’s A-4 auction in December 2017. Canadian Solar will develop and build the project in Pernambuco state. The company will start the construction in 2020 and the project is expected to reach commercial operation before January 2021. The 112 MWp Salgueiro project has been awarded a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement at 145.44 BRL/MWh (approximately US$44/MWh) in the auction. Canadian Solar will supply more than 310,000 PV panels to the project. Once connected to the grid, the plant will generate approximately 255,743 MWh of electricity every year.

SolarHome Installs 1000 Solar Energy Systems in Rural Myanmar

Singapore-headquartered Off-grid PV provider SolarHome has installed 1000 Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) solar energy systems in rural Myanmar. The firm is growing rapidly having recently closed a pre-Series A round of equity funding led by Uberis Capital and debt funding from Kiva. Its installation rates have ramped up from 100 systems per month to 500 per month at present, with a team of 50 installers and sales people. The firm said its 1,000 intallations are the equivalent of bringing lighting to 4,900 people and enabling 1,670 children to extend their study hours, 200 rural shop-owners to increase their earnings by keeping the store open after dark, and 120 fishermen to pursue productive night fishing by using the detachable electric torch provided with SolarHome’s systems. SolarHome installs integrated solar energy and appliance units in customers’ homes. It also offers affordable “rent-toown” plans of energy service subscription. This lowers the barriers to adoption of solar technology by the poorest in society, allowing those who live too far away from the grid to enjoy access to electricity through solar power. Deputy CEO of SolarHome, Mila Bedrenets, said: “Our traction in the last few months has been consistently exceeding our expectations. The market’s capacity is enormous, with 27 million households living off-grid in Southeast Asia, spending an estimated US$3 billion on legacy energy solutions. In the next year, we plan to bring affordable renewable energy to over 40,000 households in Myanmar.”

African Development Bank Grants $265M Loan for Two Solar Power Plants The African Development Bank (AFDB) has approved $324 million loan for two renewable energy projects in Africa. The Bank has set aside US$265 million for two solar power plants named NOORM I and NOORM II in Morocco with a combined capacity of 800 MW. The loan support is in line with the AfDB’s New Deal on Energy for Africa that is expected to significantly increase power supplies and keep economic growth on track. A partnershipdriven effort, the New Deal on Energy for Africa aims at achieving universal access to energy in the continent by 2025. The bank has committed $265 million for Morocco where two solar power plants named NOORM I and NOORM II with a combined capacity of 800MW will be developed through a publicprivate partnership (PPP). Three Solar Projects to Be Launched By Vietnam Based TTC, In First Half of 2018 Vietnam based TTC Corp expects to start construction work for the country’s first three solar power projects in the first half of 2018, its chairman announced. With a combined investment of about 3 trillion dong ($132 million), the three projects in central and southern provinces of Vietnam will have a total capacity of around 150 megawatts (MW). Upon total investment of about $1 billion, TTC is planning for long-term renewable energy, targeting to bring its overall capacity from solar power plants to 600 to 700 MW by 2020 and to 1,000 MW by 2025.

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

Operation & Maintenance Testing Equipments

lobally, we now have a total of 305GW of solar power installed, up from around 50GW in 2010 and virtually nothing at the turn of the millennium. The experts have

termed this growth â&#x20AC;&#x153;very significantâ&#x20AC;? and have spoken briefly on the need to have solar power as an important measure for the world to meet its climate change commitments. As the scope to generate more and more energy through solar power rises, the need to maintain the utility scale power generation plants become more and more important. A typical solar PV plant can sustain and perform for 20-25 years, and indeed while a PV plant does require almost no maintenance at all as compared to the other generation sources, one still need to address the operation and maintenance issues at certain stages. Just like any power plant, a solar plant in operation also requires maintenance. As the solar power plant starts aging, the need to implement Operations and Maintenance becomes more and more important to keep the performance of the plant intact. And as plant sizes increases with every new projects, the developers are expecting better performance levels and the Operation and Maintenance of the plant has become more critical, as it will impact the overall profitability of the plant and IRRs significantly.

EQUIPMENTS There’s an increased requirement of higher performance guarantee and plant availability numbers. This coupled with reducing price expectations, is making the market highly competitive to operate in. Survival in the market can only be ensured through best in class service offerings, aligned with latest technologies and O&M testing equipment, that at competitive pricing. Wondering what these latest technologies and O&M testing equipment are? We did so we found out. What tools and equipments are taken hold of when solar professionals conduct quality control, operations and maintenance activities on comm-ercial and utility-scale PV systems? In our previous editions we talked about Best Practices in O&M and Challenges, but this time we will talk through the test and measurement tools, power tools and hand tools? What drivers or torque wrenches are used? What are the most valuable equipments and tools? In other words: “What is in the equipment bag of O&M professionals. Here we take into account Instruments & Testing Equipments that together make O&M an accomplished task even before starting the process. That said, these equipment and instruments includes clampon, digital, and multimeters; resistance testers; infrared scanners; portable test equipment such as high potential tester and many other types of equipment. The prime function of instruments and test equipment is to help installation and maintenance personnel ensure dependability, efficiency, and profitability of electrical systems and equipment. They are the tools that allow measurements, rather than visual inspections, to determine the status of electrical components and systems. The equipment in this category can range from simple handheld items to precise laboratory instruments. All, however, require a degree of skill to be used properly and to accurately analyze the results.

Electrical Power Testers Electrical Power Testers must be able to withstand both the expected steady-state voltage of the system you are measuring and any transient overvoltage (shortduration surges or spikes: for instance, those caused by a lightning strike or electrical motor starts and stops). All meters produced since 1997 are identified with an overvoltage installation category (CAT) rating in accordance with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 61010-1, which details requirements related to the construction of low-voltage (<1,000 V) test and measurement equipment, as well as allowances related to their conditions of use. Handheld Meters

The most widely used instruments are the handheld type, which normally includes clamp-on meters and multimeters. Clampon meters are widely used because of the ease of operation. Multimeters are also extremely popular because they are easy to carry and are capable of performing a wide variety and range of measurements. A large number of attachments for these units are available, so that they can be used for measuring light levels, temperature, and other variables to further expand their usefulness to electrical personnel. Most are available with either digital or analog readouts, the choice depending largely

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

on the personal preference and accuracy requirements of the user. Both clamp-one and multimeters can be average responding or true-rms types. The true-rms units respond to the effective heating value of an AC waveform. An averaging meter calculates the arithmetical mean of the waveform. When the signal to be measured approximates a pure sine wave, either an average responding or truerms meter can be used with reasonable accuracy. However, if the waveform is distorted, such as is common in circuitry

powering phase-to-neutral and phase-tophase nonlinear loads, then the true-rms sensing device is preferred because the reading will be more accurate.

Insulation Resistance Testers

The single most popular meter is the Fluke 1587 Insulation Multimeter [$590–$700]. Its popularity attests to the fact that insulation

resistance testing is not only a critical system commissioning activity, but also

useful for tracking down faults. The Fluke

1587 combines the ability to measure insulation resistance up to 50 GΩ, using 50 V, 100 V, 250 V, 500 V or 1,000 V test voltages, along with typical multimeter

functionalities, including the ability to measure voltage up to 1,000 V ac or dc.

Note that the Fluke 1507 Insulation Res-

istance Tester [$475–$525] is similar to the Fluke 1587, minus the multimeter capabilities.

EQUIPMENTS

Digital Multimeters

While current clamps and insulation resistance testers can incorporate some of a multimeter’s functions, most survey respondents also carry a general-purpose multimeter. Compared to an all-in-one meter, a dedicated multimeter often offers additional measurement functions or improved resolution and accuracy. The most popular multimeters are the Fluke 179 [$300–$320] and the Fluke 87V [about $400]. While these models have similar features, the Fluke 87V offers improved accuracy and resolution. The basic dc accuracy of the Fluke 87V is 0.05%, versus 0.09% for the Fluke 179. Disconnection Detector for DC Current Circuit (NSEI-100D)

This device can detect the disconnected & broken point of DC current lines between PV panels and power conditioners in PV systems, without cutting power off and without climbing the roof where PV modules are located. Furthermore, this model can find out the disconnecting point by applying the attached detector to the specific PV module.

PV Characterization Testers Solar PV system commissioning and O&M also require some specialty electrical test equipment to characterize PV modules or

source circuits. The most popular products in this equipment class are commissioning

and safety testers, and portable I-V curve tracers.

Commissioning and Safety Testers

Seaward Group USA offers a suite of tes-

ting tools specifically for PV applications.

For example, the PV150 Solarlink Test Kit [about $2,000] is designed to meet the IEC

62446 commissioning test requirements. The PV150 installation tester is an all-inone tester that verifies or measures ground

continuity, insulation resistance (at 250 V, 500 V or 1,000 V), Voc, Isc, Imp and Pmp. The test kit includes the Solar Survey 200R,

which is basically a souped-up irradiance

meter (more on irradiance meters later).

curves. The HT I-V 400 measures about

irradiance and temperature, and then

than 3 pounds.

PV150, which can store up to 200 complete

portable I-V curve tracer with a maximum

USB connectivity for the data dump to PC

CAT III-1,000 V meter is sold with a wireless

$250] for generating professional reports.

and module temperature at a range of up

The Solar Survey 200R measures real-time

9.25 by 6.5 by 3 inches and weighs less

wirelessly transmits these data back to the

Solmetric’s PVA-1000S [about $5,500] is a

test records internally. Seaward provides

current measurement range of 20 A. This

and also offers proprietary software [about

reference sensor that measures irradiance

I-V curve Tracers

to 300 feet. The primary user interface is

for module power warranty claims. They

kit) that communicates with the PVA-1000S

These tools are essential for gathering data

via a laptop or tablet (not included in the

are also commonly used to benchmark

using a wireless USB adapter.

large-scale PV system performance, to quantify the impacts of soiling and to

Solar Power and Thermal Testers

refine plant production models over time—

In addition to having electrical and PV

The most popular I-V curve tracers for

most of the O&M professionals also carry

Solmetric PVA-1000S and the TRITEC

camera or thermometer.

This CAT II-1,000 Vdc meter has a max-

If you want to estimate real-time system

often at the request of project financers.

characterization testers in their tool bags,

field applications are the HT I-V 400, the

an irradiance meter and an infrared (IR)

TRI-KA.

Irradiance Meters

imum current measurement range of 10

performance with confidence or field-check

is sold with an external reference cell

you need a handheld solar irradiance

physically connect to the meter to capture

having laboratory-quality equipment is less

meter’s internal memory capacity is 256

durable equipment that can stand up to

A. It has a 128-by-128-pixel LCD and

a pyranometer in a data acquisition system,

and temperature probe, which you must

meter or pyranometer. In field applications,

irradiance and module temperature. The

crucial than having reasonably accurate,

kilobytes, equivalent to roughly 200 I-V

local conditions. The most popular devices

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

EQUIPMENTS

are Daystarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DS-05 Solar Meter, Apogee

Instrumentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MP-200 and Seawardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Solar Survey 100.

IR Cameras

Thanks to dramatic price declines, IR

cameras are more available than ever

and are increasingly incorporated into

standard O&M procedures for PV systems.

They can identify high-resistance electrical connections and thermally stressed overcurrent protection devices. They are inva-

luable for locating module issues such as

cracked cells, faulty internal connections and defective bypass diodes. While there are many IR cameras to choose from,

the two most popular brands are FLIR Systems and Fluke. IR Thermometers

If you do not want to carry IR camera around a dusty jobsite all day but you

still want to take basic IR temperature measurements, a humble infrared thermometer is just the ticket. A basic IR

thermometer is often nothing more than

a 1- or 2-pixel, trigger-actuated thermal imaging device. These rugged and inexpensive devices are available from many

manufacturers, in some cases for under $100.

Thermal measuring instruments also are quite popular as a means of detecting

overheating in electrical system equipment. These instruments range from simple units

that provide a direct readout on a meter of scale, to highly complex instruments that provide thermograms (infrared-created photos) that show precisely where hot spots

are located. Infrared sensing devices are

excellent for finding loose connections,

corroded fuse clips, deteriorated splices, and other potential trouble spots that generate heat.

Testo offers a perfectly matching professional thermal imager. With list of 31 pro-

ducts like Testo 865 Thermal Imager, Testo

868 with App, Testo 875-1i with Digital Camera, Testo 882 with IR Camera and more, Testo is known to supply thermal

imager for all for high-quality thermographic measurement in solar PV O&M process.

Portable Test Equipment Megohmmeters, including specialized ver-

sions to determine the resistance of grounding systems, are also widely applied.

They can be hand-cranked or battery-

operated and are available in various degrees of sophistication.

Recording-type instruments have proven to be extremely helpful for analyzing system parameters such as current, voltage, electrical noise, wave shape, and many

others, over a long period of time. This type

of equipment ranges from relatively simple

dot-matrix printers to high-speed computerized units.

Larger portable test equipment includes

high-current test sets used to check the operation of power circuit breakers, relay

test sets for accurately adjusting the settings

of protective relays, and high-potential test sets to evaluate the conduction of medium

voltage cable. Specialized equipment is used for making power factor tests on large motors and transformers.

ipment manuals or plan set details.

With the total addressable market for solar PV operations and maintenance (O&M)

expected to reach 395 GW worldwide in

the FY 2017-18, the solar installation is will more than double by 2022 to exceed

900 GW worldwide, driven predominantly

by China, the U.S., India, and Japan. In young solar markets, O&M is often

coupled with EPC and performed by the same vendors, but in just a few years

O&M becomes a separate market with its

own landscape, trends, and dynamics. In mature PV markets with a large installed base and a low volume in installations, O&M

revenue can even exceed development and construction revenue.

And as the commercial solar PV market becomes increasingly competitive, the

industry is looking for ways to increase revenue while simultaneously decreasing

costs. O&M is one area that presents some opportunities. Many of the O&M

considerations that impact cost and revenue, such as performance optimization,

Portable Computing Devices

system uptime and operational efficiency

computers include logging data, inter-

monitoring system selection.

The most common field applications for

relate directly to testing equipments and

facing with data acquisition systems, troubleshooting inverters, running test and measurement device software, generating

customer reports, and downloading equ-

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

- Laique@saurenergy.com

he renewable energy sector is catapulting a holistic approach in the overall technology world. Especially ‘Solar Power’ which has a GW trail to his name is

seen as the next big revolution in renewable energy sector. The power demands in future will become ruthless and Government is writing subpoena for Solar Experts and companies to foster the overall power demand. On the heels of giving credential to public bodies for their suitable provision of funding support and legal support, the companies in solar sector have a successful proventheory on technology and economic advancements. To add, ongoing advancements in the field of alternative power generation to fulfil increasing power requirements

CONNECTING The basic technology of Inverters is to convert DC Power into AC Power but that’s not what the sector has stopped to make us believe 24

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

worldwide have led to significant advancements in technology, and the market has witnessed the arrival of new advanced products catering to the ever increasing power requirements. To name one of the vital sectors catapulting alongside the solar sector is the solar inverter market. The basic technology of Inverters is to convert DC Power into AC Power but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not what the sector has stopped to make us believe. With technology leap and profound innovation in this technology today we have central, string and micro inverters. To just elaborate on string inverters in this piece shall make justice as the market for string inverters are taking over central and micro inverters.

STRINGS! EXPLORING THE INVERTERS IN A STRING

VOUCHING THE ADOPTION OF STRING INVERTERS

Inverters play an inevitable role in ensuring a well- functioning

Though string inverters can hardly deal with shading

distributed grid. Emphasizing on the evolve of string inverter

issues, the technology is trusted and proven and they

technology; this has been dominant in recent time. To simplify the

are less expensive than systems with microinverters.

statement it has now become a universal accepted technology

String inverters are commonly used in residential and

for solar power. But it is also sought not to be suitable for certain

commercial applications. Also, as technology improves

types of installations. Solar panels are arranged into groups

allowing string inverters to have greater power density

connected by â&#x20AC;&#x153;strings.â&#x20AC;? Each string of panels is connected to

in smaller sizes, string inverters are becoming a popular

a single inverter, which transforms the DC electricity produced

alternative over central inverters in small utility installations

by the panels into appliance-friendly AC electricity. A string of

smaller than 1 MW. String inverters can also be paired

solar panels will only produce as much electricity as its least

with power optimizers, an option that is gaining popularity.

productive panel. If one or more of your solar panels is shaded

Power optimizers are module-level power electronics

during any part of the day, the power output from that entire

meaning they are installed at the module level, so each

string would be reduced to its level. For this reason, if your solar

solar panel has one. Some panel manufacturers integrate

panels are installed facing different directions, a string inverter

their products with power optimizers and sell them as

may not be a good choice. With technology enchanting small

one solution known as a Smart Module. This can make

and powerful a significant growth of micro-inverters is also been

installation easier. Power optimizers are able to mitigate

reckon in coming time. With infrastructural growth and smart

effects of shading that string inverters alone.

cities concept, monetization the rooftop segment is on the deck. In a situation where the skyscrapers is tend to takeover smaller buildings technology like micro-inverters with partial sunlight to the complete or a portion of the solar array will not disturb the power generation. VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

TECH-PEEP

What’s Shaping the Solar Inverter Market? The global share for string inverter market is envisioned to gain strength with the aggravating demand for continuous power supply without any interruptions and strict sustainability statutes. Over the forecast period 2016–2024, the global market share is expected to be bolstered by the reducing adoption of fossil fuel and increasing acceptance of renewable energy supported by government measures. The cut down in component cost and rising want for sustainable energy can considerably contribute toward the escalation of market growth. The industry is likely to welcome more growth on the back of feed-in tariff, net metering, and other various schemes introduced. Report asserts the singlephase string inverter segment could rise while riding on the aggressive penetration of off-grid residential consumers in emerging economies. The market carries the potential to add to the global market growth impressively. Likewise, the threephase market is anticipated to exhibit a considerable growth. Other promising segments of the world string inverter market could include standalone and on-grid string inverter by product, 10 KW and 11 KW–40 KW by power rating, and residential and commercial by application. yy1.500V DC input for solar farm inverter and no less! This is the main technical trend coming and it’s strongly confirmed. Solar farm

installers want higher input voltage: and 1.5kV is the most efficient one. It does not require special high voltage certification and training for installation staff, but it’s still the most efficient combination to build large multiple string installations. Studies proved it was the best trade-off. So expect every large PV inverter manufacturer to have more and more 1500V DC input power electronics systems in their catalog very soon. yy(Multi-)String inverter at all stages It’s not because there is a main trend in the utility scale photovoltaic inverter field that the string inverter will stay at residential level. With prices coming down, reliability and monitoring being improved, less than 50kW string and multi-string inverters are still and will keep being used in larger installation. yyGrowing Competition Monitoring hardware is now commonly built inside residential and commercial inverters. Software packages from major inverter providers like SMA, SolarEdge and Enphase are increasingly featurerich, especially for self-consumption and energy storage integration, and commonly offered at a low (or for no) price. As a result, independent software vendors must find areas of differentiation, especially in selfconsumption markets where the homeowner is now the main user of monitoring (vs. the installer) and does not value inverter independence or fleet-level functions.

Emerging Opportunities for String Inverters Analysts forecast the String Inverters Market to grow at a CAGR of 8.48% during the period 2017-2021. The U.K. string inverter market is envisaged to augment its business growth with the rise in the adoption of rooftop solar system in both the residential and commercial fields. The Europe region will gain impetus for its growth with the newly introduced EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) directive 2003/87/EC, which is aimed toward the 20.0% of slimming down of greenhouse gas emission by 2020. The U.S. market will take advantage of the encouraging adoption of renewable energy propelled by rebate, tax credit, and other government incentives. The Asia Pacific region could leverage the significant market share offered by China with the introduction of photovoltaic poverty alleviation program, which plans to implement solar panels of 10 GW by 2020. China will also look to target 110 GW of photovoltaic installation by 2020.Market opportunities are also predicted to arise from countries such as South Africa and Chile. Asia Pacific region is expected to experience high demand for string inverters over the forecast period. India and ASEAN are projected to be the major contributors to the growth of string inverters market in this region. Deadline of 2,000Vdc Trending! Further reduce installation costs and increase profitability by reducing the number of inverters and other BOS components required. Giant vendors such as Huawei have promoted the market for three-phase string inverter for its use in utility installations. Future string inverters are expected to have better features for their application in utility projects. Sungrow has twice as powerful, next-generation string inverter which can be suited to 1,500-volt installations. It is said that string inverters will have the potential to closely battle with central inverters. With overall costs per watt already low, a reduction of this magnitude can make for a significant advantage. Huawei Smart PV Solution unveiled their

TECH-PEEP

latest utility scale solar inverter, SUN200095KTL-US. The 95 KTL 1500 VDC smart interactive string inverter is a groundbreaking design in inverter technology, offering the highest power-to-weight ratio in the industry for ease of install. The 95 KTL utilizes an 800 VAC output stage to minimize AC losses. To improve string flexibility and maximize yield compared to traditional string or central inverters, the 95 KTL includes six MPPTs and twelve directly connected string inputs. These potential savings have led GTM Research to predict that the demand for 1,500 V PV systems exploded through 2017 and became the new industry standard. Experts reckon that U.S. inverter standards can potentially allow 2,000 Vdc bipolar arrays, a European rollout would be limited by the low-voltage limit, which is currently set by the IEC at 1,500 Vdc. Anything above this would count as medium voltage, and would be subject to different standards, increasing development costs significantly. These differences make a worldwide rollout of a higher voltage system unlikely, although significant demand could prompt regulatory changes. Entrants and Seekers of Indian Inverter Market Lately Patanjali the Indian-grown FMCG magnet is planning to foray into the Indian solar business. This evidently portrays the potential of Indian solar market. Recent few announcements of companies entering, expanding and completing GW mark in India is a high-brow for the global green energy marathon. Company like Siemens, the German $80 billion conglomerate, announced its plans to start manufacturing Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV) inverters in India which will initially cater to the domestic market and later supplied for exports. The company said the Sinacon PV inverter will be locally produced and manufactured at Siemens’ Kalwa plant near Mumbai. It added the Indian renewable energy sector is the second most attractive renewable energy market in the world, crossing 14 Gigawatt of installed solar capacity with the government firm on its ambition of 100

GW of solar generation by 2022. Major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has sold more than 1GW of solar inverters in India during 2017 and has now exceeded 3GW of cumulative sales in the country. The firm’s sales in the commercial segment have already doubled compared to last year and it now has a 30% market share in this segment. The company also claims to have a 20% market share in the utility-scale segment in India. Baba Ramdev led Patanjali will invest Rs 100 crore to go deep into the Solar Energy market, by manufacturing solar equipment. Acharya Balkrishna, managing director of Patanjali Ayurved said, “Getting into solar is in line with the swadeshi movement. With solar, each household in India can have power supply, and we are here to make that happen.” Enphase Energy, a California-based energy technology company specializing in solar micro-inverters, has announced two major developments in the Indian market: the opening of a new R&D center in Bangalore and the installation of one of its largest projects to date. According to the company, India is powering the growth of solar with its ambitious targets for clean energy and is expected to be ranked among the world’s top solar markets this year. Enphase plans to support this rapid growth with the opening of its Bangalore R&D center, where it will also offer employment opportunities for engineering, operations, marketing, sales, and customer support personnel to meet the needs of its customers worldwide. Disruption in Solar Inverters Some state inverters as the brains of the solar system because it is where the solar system is monitored and feeds into the AC electrical system. What could be a game changer for inverters is adding chargers, which could reduce the number of components in an installation and make a less expensive smart energy solution. They could also be the next evolution of solar systems and their integration with EVs.

yyBelieve! Inverter chargers SolarEdge was the first to introduce an inverter with EV charger in its D-Wave line of products. The company says combining the inverter and charger "eliminates the need for additional wiring, conduit and a breaker installation," saving time and money. Since customers who install solar systems are more likely to own EVs and vice versa, it makes sense to combine the inverter, charger, and eventually even energy storage system into one unit. Tesla has combined the inverter with its storage system in the Powerwall, simplifying the installation of some components. But the charger is still separate from the Powerwall and in the long term I think that will change as well. yyCombining inverters, chargers, and storage Solar systems and electric vehicles have always been destined to meet at some point because they're both upending energy as we know it. Rooftop solar allows homeowners to generate their own electricity, something that wasn't possible before, and EVs change how we fuel transportation. What makes them ideal companions is the smart energy capabilities they can provide. Tesla is a natural company to launch an inverter combined with energy storage and charging. Another to watch is SunPower which has residential energy storage systems and will control an EV charger with its solar control system. It could combine all three into one seamless solution as well. Before long, it'll be commonplace to get more than just an inverter with your solar system. EV charging will be standard and energy storage could be, too. - Niloy@saurenergy.com

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

SUNIL RATHI Director Sales & Marketing | WAAREE ENERGIES

First and foremost, could you brief a little about Waareeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current

business presence in the Indian solar market? Waaree has been a techno-leader when it comes to innovation in solar domain. Talking about companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current business portfolio in the Indian solar market, Waaree has been ardently working towards delivering superior product line laden with advanced technologies. We have successfully made technologies like Merlin, Floating solar, and 5BB solar modules available worldwide. We now own around 150 centers all over the India to meet the ever increasing demand for solar solutions. With the expansion of our module manufacturing facilities across the country, Waaree is determined to become one stop solution provider not just for solar modules but major add-ons like inverters, mounting structures and data-monitoring & management solutions. We have also set up Waaree solar energy centers across the nation to make solar affordable and accessible to the masses.

VIZ-A-VIZ

What are the technology

in India to match the supply. While most

the form of structured finance and will

progress and innovations added

infuse the much-needed capital for our

in the product line from Waaree for

expansion plans. The funding come at a

the Indian solar market?

crucial juncture, as we have partnered

As mentioned earlier, Waaree had already

with Enphase Energy, a US-based solar

made its latest innovation - Merlin solar

of the countries have entered the grid

microinverter company to develop

modules available in India. Said that, the

parity stage, India too is making itself

AC solar modules for the Indian solar

US-based GT Advanced Technologies'

prepared to reach the grid parity in next

market. In next 12 months, we expect

patented Merlin interconnect system has

five years. On the other hand, India

to see a boom in both commercial and

been incorporated into the production

is a blessed nation with a good solar

residential solar. Our main focus is on

process of solar modules. The technology

irradiation, and enjoys 300 plus sunny

the Indian market and we look forward to

results in reduction in cost of modules by

days in a year. This paves a path a for

even redevelop our business strategies

10 percent. Merlin technology eliminates

newer technologies and innovative

in order to be more fast and responsive

the use of expensive silver paste to

products in solar PV in the coming years

to the new and growing demands of this

string up cells. The result is 80 percent

which will further lower the cost and

thriving solar nation.

reduction in silver paste consumption,

provide better quality and efficiency to

and a 10 percent overall reduction in

the market.

the cost of producing the module. With

Right now, our main focus is on the

this technology onboard, we have been

Indian solar market, where we have not

successful in improving the efficiency

just diverted our operations towards

Costs and Performance have become

and lower the cost of installing solar

delivering quality product line but are

crucial factors for the Indian solar

modules. The solar modules developed

also focusing on the quality price ratio

module manufacturers. How are you

using Merlin interconnect system produce

that fits the rigid PPA scheme announced

addressing these concerns?

more power, are lighter and more durable

by the government, benefitting not just

With our focus on efficiency and quality

& rugged. It also mitigates micro cracks

the company but also the customers.

coupled with leveraging technology

and hot spots. Waareeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Merlin solar modules are being sought by Indian railways for rail coach

With a growing competition from global companies, especially

Chinese manufacturers- Quality,

and innovation has helped us ramp up Going forward, what does Wa-

our business not just across India, but

aree plans to achieve in next

also worldwide. We, as a part of Indian

rooftop installations and have found

12 months?

solar industry believe in Price, Delivery

usage on e-rickshaws, which have

Waaree started its operations with a 30MW

on Time and Quality as our major

aided in increasing the travel range and

module manufacturing facility in 2007,

strengths. Waaree has been engaged

surging the battery life of the e-rickshaws.

which now has expanded to a 500MW

in R&D, engineering, innovating new &

Currently, we are executing few orders

capacity product unit. We now look

latest products and getting into more

in India and have started molding a

forward to upgrade our manufacturing

competitive businesses.

small capacity of 20 MW, and expect

capacity to minimum of 1.2G and 1.7GW

more demand in future.

maximum capacity within FY 2017-18.

In the last few years, we have invested With more and more global

considerable amount on Research

companies stepping in India,

and Development and have ensured

how does Waaree currently view the

that Waaree is laden with cutting-edge

business opportunities shaping up in

technology in order to manufacture high-

the Indian solar market?

quality product line. The company is also

No doubt, the global PV market is

looking forward to set up an inverter

expanding and the competition is getting

manufacturing unit in India.

tough but there is still sufficient demand

We have raised $15.6 million funds in VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

A State Model for Development

Inclusion of Solar in Building Bye-Laws The inextricable connection between state policies and development is well defined. Make in India is known to have made a tremendous inroads in invigorating the manufacturing sector. The FDI inflows reached record high levels and GDP growth rate touched the 7.5% mark. In the past few months, metrics to quantify results of state policies reverberated on positive notes-Ease of business ratings improved

and Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s analytics upgraded its ratings towards India. As a developing nation, a state sponsored initiative was imperative for achieving ambitious development goals and the government has responded with the same. The government has set a target of reaching a total of 100 GW of solar power by the year 2022. Considering India crossed 12 GW this year, a 100 GW target is ambitious to say the

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

least. However, a variety of state sponsored policies have considerably pushed private firms in achieving the targets the government set. A combination of subsidies, incentives and net-metering provisions have reduced return on investment and made it possible for people to own solar power plants at considerably cheaper rates than before. However, the most intriguing aspect of solar policy framework is its evolving

nature. Policies are amended constantly to suit the growing needs of the nation. Building Bye Laws-A kickstarter to solar The general unawareness of the public on the advantages of solar power is viewed with quite scepticism by people within the solar industry. However, this remains a quintessential challenge for adopting solar. Targeting this, the central government has recommended its state counterpart to enact policies that mandate solar power plants on buildings in their respective states. To ensure that this doesn’t entail a high financial burden on the end user, the minimum quantum of solar power to be installed is extremely low. Four states-Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Chandigarh have already adopted policies in the building bye laws that mandate solar power installations. Depending upon the state and type of end user-residential, commercial or industrial,

the state government wants a small portion of the user’s power consumption to be generated from renewable energy. It can be seen that a mid to high range of per capita energy consumption of these four states should command a stringent policy on development of renewable energy infrastructure. Incorporating the provision for solar (even though a small capacity) in existing and future building laws is mandatory for this to happen. Small scale to Large Scale The building bye laws make it mandatory for all residential, commercial and other buildings covering an area greater than 500 square yards to ensure a solar power plant. Though, by the policy ensures the provision of solar power, the capacity of the solar plant to be installed (as per the bye law) is quite low. It is debatable if the solar power plant on the rooftop will make any real benefit in reducing the carbon footprint of the building, but it will make the client aware of the benefits of the solar power. For instance, in Haryana, building bye laws stipulate a mandatory solar system of 5% of the sanctioned load of private hospitals, educational institutes covering an area greater than 500 square yards. Going by the law, a 12.5 kWp solar power plant on building where sanctioned load is 250 kW. Obviously, this will not put a dent in the consumption pattern of the client, but if the client is contended with the operations of the plant, he/she will look for options to expand the capacity of the plant Building Bye laws have also incorporated the provision for solar installation in residential roofs of area greater than 500 square yards. Traditionally, solar power plants have not been popular in residential premises owing to longer return on investment. However, with the provision of net metering, residential customers can now reap the benefits of exporting surplus usage to the grid whenever there is no load. Net-metering provisions integrated with government mandated solar power plant should start the prominence of decentralised solar plants in residential areas as well. Niche to common Though, government has given a thought

Mr. Karan Kochhar

Engineer-Design | Fourth Partner Energy about inclusion of solar system in the building bye laws, implementation of the scheme remains a challenge. A lack of awareness by end customers about mandatory solar installation poses a challenge to the smooth implementation of the scheme. The government should take the opportunity of surging popularity of solar to trump up the policies it is formulating. For future constructions, stringent statutory approvals must be enacted to ensure the end user is not able to skip the requirement of solar power. On a positive note, the government is adapting to the growing needs of Indian consumers reflected in introduction of new policies and amendment of the old ones. Incorporating a provision of solar plants in building bye laws is one such instance. However, the challenge remains that though people are accepting solar, there seems to be a disparity in the acceptance between sectors. A state driven policy is essential to tip the ‘rigid’ client to accept solar for all its benefits. Solar in India is witnessing a surge with plants being installed everyday adding to India’s installed capacity. Although, acceptance of the erstwhile ‘niche’ technology is slowing become commonplace, state mandated directives are essential to push India to meet the target of 100 GW of solar power.

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

INVESTING RENEWABLES INFESTING FOSSILS Renewable Energy Sector as a Future Investment Model

ith increasing technological advancements, renewable energies are having a significant impact. Renewable energy is becoming increasingly viable, a trend that could potentially be a game-changer

for investors, particularly large scale, global investors. The International Energy Agency projected that renewable energy will continue to grow by 42 percent globally by 2021. As the world is growing increasingly conscious of the need to invest in cleaner and more sustainable energy to limit the impact of global warming, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret that a faster and universal renewable energy transition will require trillions of dollars of investment over the next couple of decades.

INVESTMENT

Future Investments in Renewable Sector

solar and wind power and a growing role for batteries, including electric vehicle batteries, in balancing supply and demand,” the report said. According to

The Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign

the report, “solar and wind dominate the future of electricity. 72 percent of the $10.2 trillion spent on new power generation worldwide to 2040 will be invested in new wind and solar PV plants.” • Inter-governmental agency International Solar Alliance is working on a mechanism to provide financial guarantees to project developers to promote investments in • Investments in renewable energy could climb to a cumulative $11 trillion by 2040, mostly in emerging markets, according to a study by the International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The report said that reforms in renewable energy auctions, land titles, and supportive energy storage policy frameworks will make this possible. “There is a $6 trillion in new investment potential in wind and solar power between now and 2040; half of

the sector. The agency which came into effect on December 6 last year will create a risk mitigation fund of $1 billion with the help of the nation states, banks and the Green Climate Fund. ISA aims to mobilise $1 trillion of low-cost financing for solar energy by 2030 through global tenders and cheap financing.

The Reduction in Fossil Fuel Investment

this potential is in the Asia-Pacific region,”

2017, launched by the International Energy Agency predicted the investment in renewable energy sector will rise dramatically. “Renewable energy sources are set to represent almost three quarters of the $10.2 trillion the world will invest in new power generating technology until 2040, thanks to rapidly falling costs for

in history and could cause significant damage to coal, gas and oil companies,” the study pointed out. • Another study conducted by the same university found that the stigmatisation of fossil fuel companies caused by divestment can "materially increase the uncertainty

affected the funding of investments by oil

study outlines the 20 GW plan as a pilot

• The World Energy Outlook Report,

the fastest-growing divestment campaign

• The downturn in oil prices has significantly

Common Risk Mitigation Mechanism. The

markets.

both moral and financial reasons. “It is

(P/E) ratio of a target company."

more than 20 countries, says a study by

and transform global renewable energy

out of oil, coal and gas companies for

multiples – e.g., the share price to earnings

20 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV capacity in

international private institutional capital,

is asking institutions to move their money

a permanent compression in the trading

in up to USD 15 billion of investments for

catalyse USD 1 trillion of domestic and

divestment (opposite of investment) that

fuel companies." That, in turn, "can lead to

• A USD 1 billion guarantee could crowd

billions of dollars of impact capital to

there is a global movement for fossil fuel

surrounding the future cash flows of fossil-

the study said.

phase with its eventual aim to leverage

• According to a study by Oxford University,

As oil prices bottom out and fossil fuels no longer offer strong returns, there is a bad news for investors with holdings in fossil fuels. Over the years, the value of fossil fuel holdings is plummeting and the profitability of renewables growing, investors and companies are increasingly looking to sustainable investments for good long term bets. The World Bank in December said it would stop providing finance to oil and gas projects after 2019, a move according to analysts may speed up the momentum towards clean energy investments by large global financial institutions.

and gas companies. According to a report by World Energy Investment 2017, falling global energy investment points to a risk of market tightness and undercapacity at some point down the line. Even experts and leaders in the oil and gas sector have been forced to confront an existential question: will the 21st century be the last one for fossil fuels?

Renewable Energy Affect Coal Futures Growth On the other hand, renewables continue to grow less expensive to produce, which has made wind and solar power projects competitive with traditional energy sources

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

INVESTMENT

such as coal, oil, and gas, both in terms

four years, according to the Oil and Gas

the distribution companies to diversify

of the energy produced and cost of

Climate Initiative industry group. Total had

and start their own businesses in that

investment. “Solar is already at least as

bought France’s Saft battery company

area rather than lose customers to other

cheap as coal in Germany, Australia, the

in 2016 for almost €1bn, having already

rooftop developers,” Ashish Sethia, head

U.S., Spain and Italy. The levelized cost of

acquired a controlling stake in a US solar

of Asia-Pacific research at Bloomberg

electricity (LCOE) from solar is set to drop

company, SunPower. The energy sector is

New Energy Finance, said.

another 66% by 2040. By 2021, it will be

going to have a revolution in the coming

• The renewable energy sector in India is

cheaper than coal in China, India, Mexico,

years. Smart businesses and markets have

expected to generate more than 330,000

the U.K. and Brazil as well,” Bloomberg

already woken up to that fact, now is the

new jobs over the next five years (2017-

New Energy Finance report said.

time for investors to focus on the same.

2022), according to US-based global

In coming decades, price of renewable energy will fall significantly relative to new-build coal, making an all-renewable electricity system more desirable. BNEF

India’s Renewable Sector is on the Rise

research organisation World Resources Institute (WRI). The report stressed that India’s clean energy initiatives can also help address poverty in rural communities

report said there’s no point of coal’s return.

by providing steady incomes, healthcare

“Sluggish demand, cheap renewables and

benefits and skill-building opportunities to

coal-gas fuel switching slash coal use by

unskilled and semi-skilled workers.

87% in Europe and 45% in the U.S. by

• According to the International Energy

2040,” the report added. As far as the

Agency (IEA), India’s renewable energy

future prospect of coal is concerned, it

capacity is likely to grow more than twice

said, “A mere 18% of planned new coal

its current state by 2022, making it enough

power plants will ever get built. That means 369GW of projects stand to be cancelled.”

Fossil Fuel Companies Investing Into Green Energy

• India plans to boost solar module manufacturing by providing Rs 11,000 crore direct support along with concessions. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in December 2017 released a concept note of a proposal that aims to provide a 30 percent subsidy for setting up new plants and expanding the existing ones. The programme aims to strengthen the ‘Make in India’ campaign, reduce the country’s dependence on foreign manufacturers, and make domestic manufacturers competitive with their

Renewables are getting cheaper than oil, as oil prices have already begun to increase in 2016. More and more investors are finding renewables have an increased advantage over other sectors. Major oil companies are investing heavily in renewable sector globally including France’s Total, Royal Dutch Shell and Norway’s Statoil, have together invested almost $15bn in renewables over the past

international counterparts. • Rooftop PV sector in India presents a $23 billion investment opportunity, based on its target of 40 GW of rooftop PV by 2022, according to a report by BNEF. The report titled ‘Accelerating India’s Clean Energy Transition,’ stated that the rooftop solar market will grow “with or without” the support of distribution utilities. “Growth of rooftop solar presents an opportunity for

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

to overtake renewable expansion in the European Union for the first time. • India’s renewables market is viewed as one of the world’s most promising. A recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) predicted a dramatic market share gain by renewable energy, with a sustained deflation in renewable tariffs. “A combination of India’s ambitious energy policy and ongoing solar and wind energy tariff deflation will enable India to catalyse US$200-US$300bn of investment in renewable energy infrastructure over the coming decade," the report said. • India has overtaken the US to become the second-most attractive country after China for renewable energy investment, according to a report by UK accountancy firm EY. The US, which held the top rank in 2016 fell to third, mostly due to a shift in domestic energy policy under president Donald Trump.

INVESTMENT

biggest solar panel manufacturer plans to invest up to $500 million if it gets the right incentives.

The Bottom Line Investment in Renewable Energy Sector is Unstoppable

Renewable energy is continuously playing an increasingly large role in power generation. As demand for alternative

Private Companies Investing in India’s Renewable Sector The Indian renewable energy sector is the

Indian Operations Hari Subramanian said

second most attractive renewable energy

highlighting the growth potential in the

market in the world. Global renewable

renewable energy sector.

energy companies are flocking to India

• A Netherlands based company has

after Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a

expressed interest to invest around 200

national target of installing 175 gigawatts

million euros for setting up a Solar panels

of clean power by 2022, an almost fivefold

manufacturing plant in Assam. The Dutch

increase from the current installed capacity.

company, which deals in producing

This would comprise 100 GW of solar, 60

lightweight and flexible solar modules, has

GW of wind, 10 GW of biomass and 5 GW

said that the investment and the amount

of small hydropower capacity coming from

of solar power will help benefit 20 lakh

units of up to 25 MW capacity. Solar energy

people. It also offered to tie up with local

firms are exploring both small scale and

partners and financial institutions.

large area solar parks, as both present

• YES Bank and European Investment

advantages for electricity generating

Bank, a long-term lending institution of

companies.

the European Union, have joined hands

• Belgian retail giant Colruyt Group is

for a USD 400 million fund for renewable

gearing up to make a big splash in the

energy projects in India over 15 years.

renewable energy space in India and has

The European bank will contribute half

lined up an investment of around Rs 1,000

of the fund with the rest coming from

crore for the next two years. “We have

YES Bank, project promoters and other

made up our mind to invest Rs. 800-1,000

financial institutions.

crore over the next two years,” head of

• China-based Trina Solar, the world’s

power generation increases, the demand to bring that power to market in an efficient manner and to store it off-peak will continue to grow. Solar parks are being built at unprecedented rates, threatening the business models of established power companies. Globally there is now 305GW of solar power capacity, up from around 50GW in 2010 and virtually nothing at the turn of the millennium. Companies who have been investing in these areas now will have a competitive advantage in the future.

- Aaqib@saurenergy.com

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

AUTOMATING

O&M!

t’s the zenith of time when we keep aside the analog system trying to be devised under discreet technology. To more prudently christen the above statement, the unanimous metaphor in technology is automation, machine learning and cognitive technologies. With that saying, a light note on how a robot like “Vicky” of the popular American comedy

science fiction sitcom Small Wonders made us believe in the prototype embedding reality. With sun just known to give light and help us differentiate between darkness and light, the technology world has taken it seriously to enrich human and humanity. Today, solar power and advanced efficient solar panels are the exquisite examples. In reality, a part of major utility scale control plants are picking for mechanised solar panel cleaners that are fuelled remotely and total with artificial intelligence (AI). India is in a quest to achieve solar energy target of 100GW by 2022 and it seems to be moving on the highway. On the other hand, the efficiency of the solar panels cannot be sidelined, keeping in mind India’s shouting pollution emergence. As per a report, air in India is getting greyer day by day. Air pollution levels have risen more than 13 per cent in five years. Also, about 70% of the buildings that will exist in urban India by 2030 are yet to be built. India’s solar power tariff hit a new low of Rs 2.44 per unit during the auction of 500 megawatt (MW) of capacity at the Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan, setting up a benchmark in lower solar electricity tariff among utility scale plants. Herein, the cumulative cost for O&M plays a major role in long run which might affect the tariffs and the efficiency of the solar plants. Considering the current booming scenario of AI and automation; these technologies can be a boon to tackle the issue of high cost O&M especially the cleaning of the solar panels. Nowadays, the maintenance part is taken care by using manual forces, which is costly and may have safety concerns for the manpower deployed.

The manual cleaning procedure generally

the motive of manual cleaning using water

involves the cleaning of solar panel with

questionable.

water, which coincides with resource

AI in Weather Forecasting

wastage. Council on Energy, Environment

AI can likewise be valuable in weather

and water (CEEW) estimates the water

forecasting. Exact climate determining

requirements for operation and maintenance

enables utilities to settle on brilliant choices

in India to lie between 7000 and 20000

about operations in extreme climate con-

litres per MW per wash, where panels are

ditions, for example, hail, electrical storms

usually cleaned on a weekly basis (though

and typhoons. AI can break down huge

this amount will vary with the scale and

volumes of verifiable and continuous info-

location of plants). According to a study,

rmation from satellites, climate stations

just one gram of dust per square metre of

and IoT gadgets to perceive designs and

solar panel area can reduce efficiency by

foresee climate that could affect sunlight

around 40 per cent.

based creation. This data can permit control

Certain researches have already been

makers to alter as needs be.

carried out to find a solution which is cost

AI likewise can be utilised to augment

effective and efficient. As discussed earlier,

execution of energy plants. For example,

that O&M is one of the major concerns

in the event that you have 10 control

especially in areas where there is a dusty

plants in your portfolio, possibly eight are

climate. In India, most of the solar plants

performing at 90% and two at 85%. AI can

installed are in desert areas and baron

examine information area, framework, slants,

lands where the climate conditions aren’t

mugginess, irradiance, maker to perceive

favourable for the solar panels. The trad-

peculiarities or issues that a human may

itional method of manual cleaning is being

not. Besides, AI can be utilised for prescient

given the priority. As the renewable energy

upkeep by learning calculations to spot

like solar is mostly generated in areas where

irregularities and decide when a board or

there is already a scarcity of water, makes

an inverter is going to fall flat.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

Robots Accompanied with AI An Israel based startup named Ecoppia has come up with a product E4, which is specifically built to solve the solar panel cleaning issues under O&M. Ecoppia has focused on the water usage and wastage issue and had developed E4 as a water free solar panel cleaning robot. The robots are developed in a way to be used on daily purpose without having dependent on the maintenance of the robots itself. Besides Ecoppia, GEKKO Solar robots, SolarBrush UAV and Exosun Cleaning robots are some of the innovations equipped for the better maintenance and cost effective operations of the solar panels. What Technology Do These Robots Offer? • The robot which was recently launched in India is sought to have special microfibre through which it can gently clean the soiled surface alone with controlled airflow over the panel’s surface. It also induces gravity to ensure the dust is moved downwards and off the panels and by using this three way action the robots are able to remove 99 percent of soiling over the panels. In order to respond to sudden weather

AUTOMATION

events the robots are independent of

and determine when a panel or an inverter

no man power is required to clean the

external energy. The robots are equipped

is about to fail.

solar panels because robot operation with

with eco hybrid technology batteries which

Pragmatic, cost-effective and efficient!

seasonal tilt is used for the same. Further,

gets quickly charged with the help solar

Each energy independent cleaning robot

RDCS conserves water and reduces power

modules facilitating the minimal use of the

uses a self-maintained water-free micro

generation loss due to soiling to the extent

batteries.

fiber and airflow cleaning system to remove

of 3-4 percent. Suitable for remote solar

Not only the automation technology is

99% of dust accumulation, keeping panels

sites, the RDCS is remote monitored and

applied, the AI which is the core behind the

at optimal production 24/7/365. Already

managed.

functioning of the robot is also deployed

commercially deployed on a large scale in

Robotic Technologies and Works Across

with the technology. A smart sensor and

harsh desert solar parks, the robotic system

the Globe

internet connected autonomous main-

is easily implemented, fully automated

â&#x20AC;˘ Water cleans the solar panels well,

tenance solution is accompanied along

and completely remotely administered. By

however in parched forsake districts, for

with the device which collects weather data,

dramatically lowering cleaning overhead,

example, Saudi Arabia, tidy and sand gather

and initiates cleaning as per the weather

while enabling a marked rise in energy

on their surfaces because of absence of

conditions. The machine learning system

output, these robots offers rapid and dem-

precipitation, which stops up them and

works to optimise its own maintenance

onstrable ROI.

altogether, shortens power producing limit.

schedule, ensuring over 99 percent ava-

Recent Installations in India

Mega solar plants are frequently situated in

ilability for the lifetime on the site of ins-

NTPC Dadri installed Robotic Dry Cleaning

remote betray zones, with conditions that

tallation.

System (RDCS) for the solar panels at its

are excessively hot for serious cleaning

AI can be also used to maximise perform-

solar PV plant in Dadri. This is a first of its

operations by human specialists. To re-

ance of power plants. For instance, if you

kind in India which uses robotic method of

establish panels to full producing limit, Dr.

have 10 power plants in your portfolio, maybe

cleaning solar panels. Built at a cost of Rs

Miyake, CEO Miraikikai Inc. built up a robot

eight are performing at 90% and two at 85%.

76 lakhs, the design of RDCS is from an

cleaner with little wheels that use best-in-

AI can analyse data for region, system,

Israel based company - Ecoppia. Most of

class sensor innovation to deftly explore

slopes, humidity, irradiance, manufacturer

RDCS parts are manufactured in Chennai

whole sun oriented exhibits utilising turning

and to recognise anomalies or issues that

and other parts India.

brushes to flick away tidy and sand.

a human may not. Furthermore, AI can

Apart from being first of its kind in India,

The smaller prototype SMR-640AD model,

be used for predictive maintenance by

RDCS is wireless operated, self-powered,

weighing only 17kg, keeps running on a

learning algorithms to spot inconsistencies

energy independent and self-cleaned as

Li-particle battery cartridge that gives

AUTOMATION

around 1.5 hours of usable time per 3-hour battery charge. The robot alters course to move to the following line of modules when it achieves the edge of the sun powered PV cluster and flags the finish of cleaning when it touches base at the "objective" point. On location, engineers require just supplant batteries and screen the advance of the robot as it cleans. Check tests in the Middle East have demonstrated that in instances of five robots worked by one individual, these robots decrease cleaning costs by 80 percent contrasted and manual cleaning. • Exosun, a worldwide provider of solar energy oriented products has answers for ground-mounted PV plants. The firm has built up a sans water modules cleaning arrangement that significantly decreases cleaning cost versus arrangements utilising support vehicles and water. The cleaning robot offers a leave confirmation, adaptable and plug and play answer for an easy and quick modules cleaning. This arrangement keeps away from obtaining and transportation of costly refined water in remote areas, with a tidying rate up to 5 MWp cleaned in 8 hours by two administrators. • Robots from Sunpower, a substantial US based solar supplier has been attempting to streamline huge scale board development and support. Their new framework utilise automations to construct sun oriented clusters and an armada of mechanical cleaners to keep boards sparkling like new after they go up. The cleaners aren't waterless, yet the company says it utilises 75 percent less fluid than a manual clean and that it's ten times speedier, as well. The new "Desert garden" plants utilizing this innovation are being built now in the US and China. • The robot GEKKO Solar is intended to clean PV panels on housetops and sunlight

based ranches, which are hard to get to. It's

The rapid growth of installation of rooftop

conservative and flexible and without much

solar plants has not been taken into con-

of a stretch it can be moved from one place

sideration. As per a report, the year 2018

to the next. In this way, it's most appropriate

will witness more than 8 GW of solar power

for cleaning organisations, offering their

plant commissioning but mostly will be of

support of PV plant proprietors. The robot-

smaller capacity and will be rooftop-based.

productivity comes to up to 400 m2 per

The rooftop solar power plants are usually

hour. It's a decent decision for broadened

built on small areas and the panel size are

housetop establishments, where cleaning

also much compact as compared to the

by hand is not really practical. The robot

utility one. The interesting part is that the

cleans thoroughly by pivoting brushes,

rooftop solar panels are more susceptible

executing a consistent weight on the boards

to dust and responds adversely in a quick

and the utilisation of demineralised water. It

manner to abrupt weather. The company

is normally utilised together with a portable

could take a step ahead and may come up

work stage: from here, the administrator

with a compact and more efficient robots

can lift the robot easily to the rooftop and

meant for cleaning of roof top solar panels.

control it by radio utilising a joystick and

Artificial Intelligence (AI) could assist in

for water supply there exists a little trolley

achieving the future goals of the solar

with a hose of around 100 m long. The

energy. Statistical and biologically inspired

robot is likewise suited for small solar

AI methods have been implemented in

panel homesteads with limit boards. For

several studies to explore the future of

this situation, a help wagon providing

solar energy.

water, electrical power and pressurised air guarantees an autonomous operation. Expectation to Future Seems Automated? The innovation and discovery of robots capable of cleaning the solar panels efficiently without using water is on the priority sort for the industry. As of now the industry has only focused on the utility scale solar power plants and grounded solar plants.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

- Hari@saurenergy.com

Electric Vehicles INDIA IS

SHIFTING GEARS

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE MARKET BY STORM, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT. The automobile sector in India is one of the largest growing markets of the world, and contributes highly to the nation’s manufacturing facilities. Not only this, the automobile domain is further expected to pull up the share of manufacturing in India’s GDP to 25 percent by 2022 from 15 percent currently, with production of Electric Vehicles being new talk of the town. Minister of Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari made some hard to digest comments that interpreted India’s plan to switch 100 percent to EVs by 2030 and the administration wouldn’t mind bulldozing fuel-based vehicles if needed to achieve that. Yes, later the Transport Minister softened his stance but along with the other government departments, including the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Power, the Nitin Gadkari tagged the target ASPIRATIONAL. While the words used and the initiatives taken to make India a 100 percent EV nation are debatable, we don’t doubt that electrified future isn’t too far away. But the question remains same- where are we now? Where we will be in the next decade and what barriers might hinder the 100 percent EV target by 2030? VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

EV IN FIFTEEN YEARS, MORE ELECTRICITY WILL BE SOLD FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAN FOR LIGHTING- THOMAS EDISON, 1910. WE NOW KNOW THAT EDISON HAS BEEN A BIT OVER-ZEALOUS IN HIS PREDICTION. Earlier in 2017, Piyush Goyal, former Power Minister of India announced the aspiration to not sell a single petrol or diesel car in the country by 2030. While global electric vehicle sales remain low, the examples from other countries indicate that government’s vision to helm a renewable energy revolution in the country could determine the pace of EV penetration in India. It is also reckoned that this massive conversion of automobile sector will cut oil bills by some $60 billion, reducing emissions by 37 percent, and also curb the burgeoning demand for road infrastructure over the next 13 years. India’s electric vehicle industry is a newly born baby when compared with the other international markets such as China, Europe and US, which are way too matured. China, being the leader holds nearly 50 percent of share in the global electric vehicle market during 2016, with India accounting to be an invisible industry participant having a share of just 0.1%. However, a face change is definitely anticipated for India’s EV industry with major thrust given by the government. To boost the manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles in India, the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles) scheme has been launched by the central government, which targets to achieve production of 7 Million EV’s by 2020. Under this initiative, the central government is looking to offer incentives for the procurement of electric cars, city buses as well as three wheelers. Like China, however India is also planning to spend largely on subsidizing local companies, pushing them at the forefront of electric mobility technologies. But best part of the scheme FAME is that it is weighted more

towards the consumer incentives rather than incentivizing the R&D, which makes sense the country, stands to gain from the technological advances already made globally. It is significant to note that to a two wheeler EV buyer, INR 22000 of subsidy is freezed, for buying a three-wheeler EV about INR 25000 subsidy is freezed and for the purchase of four-wheeler buyer about INR 1.87 Lakhs of subsidy is planned. Although, India’s EV market is as of now at a very nascent stage, but the enablers given by the government are quite enough for it to grow for putting its first step forward. Sensing an opportunity in this and also out of fear of a sudden policy change, several automobile firms have started to diversify into EVs. Glimpse of which can be very clearly seen with Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors receiving the first order from the Government-overseen body, EESL for a total of 10,000 electric cars as part of the Government's fleet. Mahindra has made the first delivery of the charter, beginning the delivery of EVs with its sedan, the Mahindra e-Verito. Tata Motors has reportedly earmarked its Tigor compact sedan to be delivered in this deal. Moreover, apart from Mahindra e2oPlus and the eVerito, there are no electric car options available in the passenger market. Tata’s Tiago EV concept has been revealed in the UK while an electric Nano is already on test in India. Both cars could hit the market soon but a launch in 2018 seems unlikely. However, Tata still does not have an electric car commercially available and hence Mahindra would supply part of that contract initially. The EV segment in Commercial Vehicle space has seen some positive activity though. Tata has e-Starbus, while Ashok Leyland has the Circuit series of electric buses, while Mahindra, retails the eSupro passenger/cargo van, and have launched the e-Alfa mini rickshaw. But with all the glaring opportunities, there still exist certain challenges for the growth of Indian EV market. Challenges and Strategies As per data of Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles, only 22000 units of

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

EVs were sold in India by March 2016, of which 2000 were four wheelers. And the latest report suggests that there are some 5000 electric vehicles running on the Indian roads altogether, in a market that accounts for around 25 lakh passenger car sales annually. Future does seems promising with most of the automobile giants investing big in EV, but there are multiple narratives that posses challenge to the fast evolving scenario of Electric Vehicles in India. In the current scenario, the Indian electric car scene is quite barren. Some of the biggest challenges for electric vehicles are that of a charging infrastructure, an electric vehicle’s travel range and the production of such cars & batteries in India- and not to forget the price. EV Charging Stations As of now, India lacks the robust supply ecosystem of charging stations, which is abundant in other developed countries. There are charging stations such as the one in Nagpur setup by state-owned Indian Oil Corporation in collaboration with Ola, while Tata has installed Mumbai’s first electric car charging station but the truth is, pan-India presence of such structures is weak. The need to have charging stations across the width and breadth of the country to allow easy adoption of electric vehicles is must in India. Said that an effective and expansive charging infrastructure is required, which also becomes the foremost solution to the

Electric Vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travel range anxiety. Even though, EVs like Mahindra e2o Plus comes with a driving range of 110 Kms on a full charge, the top-end P8 variant has a slightly better driving range of 140 kilometers on a full charge. But despite this, these cars are still restricted to the city limits because of lean commercial charging network and long charging time. Moreover, load shedding is still a problem as the electricity supply outside most tier-I cities is inconsistent, making EV penetration in semi-urban/rural India difficult. Of course, the EVs can be charged suing 15Amp charging socket at home, but then it consumes approximately 9-10 hours, while the commercial fast charging alternatives can charge the vehicle in 1.5 hours, for which count is quite low in the country. The government needs global collaborations, technology sharing mechanisms, and economies of scale to enable a proper infrastructure for EV charging stations across the nations. The process to create a critical infrastructure for EV has already started with the government inviting bids for 4000 charging stations in Delhi NCR (National Capital Region). Manufacturing Infrastructure The sales of electric cars grew at a staggering rate of 94% between 2011-2015 worldwide; led by China, US, and Europe. China, the largest EV market in the world has set a target of producing 7 million

EVs annually by 2025 by forcing all auto makers to kick-off manufacturing by 2019; India somewhere lacks critical infrastructure and necessary technology to start manufacturing electric vehicles. And if India does not immediately start developing its technological infrastructure for manufacturing, there are high chances that we will lose out to big players in China and therefore may end up as an importer of EVs. Moreover, the lack of consistency in government policy has made it difficult to predict the atmosphere in the automotive market a few years in the future. The diesel ban, the turnaround on GST benefits being passed on to premium cars and the

latest anti-fossil fuel declaration has made carmakers wary of investing heavily in a particular direction. The industry experts have made an appeal that the government should give clarity on the policy front as the auto industry cannot switch to BS-VI emission standards, and then to CNG and then to electric vehicles overnight. However, the industry is looking for the creation of demand for electric vehicles as a result of government's policies. While few auto companies are already manufacturing electric vehicles in India, the government is working to expedite the process. Leading national and international manufacturers of electric vehicles and other automobile firms are in talk with the government. Maruti Suzuki dominates the Indian market and they're going to be at the forefront of this massive change in the way India moves around. Also, Maruti will start selling its first EV in India from 2020 onwards, and that is when Suzuki will start making batteries at its new Gujarat plant in 2020. And it is not just the installation of EV manufacturing unit, the process will require a very, very large number of battery cells which would not possible without more battery manufacturing in India. Niti Aayog in a recent report had estimated that in a long run, India will become a major manufacturer of automobiles, batteries and interoperable charging stations, and help reduce pollution in cities. The government

of India has announced to support manufacturing and selling of EVs by giving incentives such as lower road taxes so that the automobile sector continues to play a major role in Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP and job creation. The Cost Factor The cost is one of the biggest challenges for EVs in India. Indians are famously value conscious. The purchase cost of any EV will have to be comparable and will only be slightly higher than an ICE powered vehicle for the highly price-conscious Indian consumer. The catch is the upfront cost. EVs are expensive, primarily because of the battery. The cost of electric vehicles depends on electricity price, which varies significantly. The prices for lithium-ion batteries are about $250/kWh globally, which comes to Rs5.7 lakh in battery costs, excluding import duties. As of now, India does not have any lithium deposits. While this does present a challenge to setting up a viable battery manufacturing plant in India, it also means that companies must look for other options to power such vehicles. R&D labs across the world are working in this direction. For example, Stanford University came up with an aluminum battery that could reduce charging time for a car to a few minutes. Developments in Graphenebased batteries/super-capacitors which can be 50-100 times the power density of lithium battery and 5-10 times its energy density is expected to extend range and life while reducing time to charge. Also, Honda and Nissan are separately developing next-generation electric vehicle solid-state batteries that can reduce charging time and expand the range of electric vehicles. These batteries are said to be considered safer with a lower risk of battery leakage and can be charged in a few minutes. The lithium battery cost would have to significantly come down sooner or later, which means it would have to be made locally. In this regard, the recent joint venture between Toshiba Corporation, Suzuki Motor Corp and Denso Corporation to set up a lithium-ion battery unit with $180 million investment in India could

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

play a significant role. On the technology front, the Indian components industry would have to come on board to supply many of the electrical parts for electric vehicles. We believe this could be an opportunity for the vendor industry to adapt, upgrade and scale up for the electric vehicle future albeit it by investing heavily in their operations. At the core of it all though would have to be a clear and unwavering road map from the government. The industry would have to make enormous investments to prepare for such a paradigm shift, and it simply would be disastrous if this or any future government were to change direction. Moving Towards Sustainable Growth The EV market is growing worldwide fuelled by stricter environmental measures, technology improvements and cost reduction in energy storage. For India, it is a lifetime opportunity to make a remarkable contribution towards a sustainable future. With over 3 million passenger cars sold in the previous fiscal, the Indian passenger car segment is expected to scale new heights in the near term with EVs on the road. The success of electric vehicles in India depends on a domino effect. If the charging network expands, more people will be willing to buy electric cars. And if the demand increases, auto makers can invest in the production of EVs and simultaneously, the government needs to go easy on taxing such cars, to offer the all important motivation. India got its first electric car REVA, back in 2001, which was launched by a Bengaluru-

based company. Later on, Mahindra bought REVA and renamed it Mahindra Electricand it remains the only auto maker in India manufacturing electric passenger vehicles. But now, with government initiatives towards sustainable growth and policies, the automobile and technological leaders in the domain are working towards creating options for customers and rise to the challenge of adapting to EVs by 2030. From automobile leaders and lithium-ion battery makers to solar power developers, everybody seems to have thrown their hats in the ring. To remain relevant in the uncertain and evolving energy landscape, country’s Maharatna and Navratna companies like BHEL, NTPC and Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd., everyone seems to have a piece of EV pie. And in a high solar resource nation like India, the decision to upgrade to electric transportation seems a legit alternative. The fate of EVs and solar power needs to be closely interlinked, given that electric vehicles come with batteries, solar charging the EVs seems right. With India ambitiously looking forward to achieve the mammoth 100GW solar installations target by 2022, over time, more and more electricity will be generated from renewable sources. This will allow for spurring EVs charging spots all over the nation by 2030. Moreover, the growth in sale of EVs will lead to more demand for power, especially renewable energy. This will help tackle intermittency issues of renewable power and reduce reliance on imported oil. According to a market research report

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

by BIS Research, titled, the global electric vehicles market is estimated to grow in volume at a CAGR of 28.3% from 2017 to 2026. The demand for electric cars is increasing rapidly, with the global stock numbers crossing 2 million in 2016 after crossing 1 million in 2015. The surge is attributed to the substantial amount of investments made by the automobile manufacturers for the research, development, and deployment of electric vehicles. Mass production prospects have also led to a decline in the prices of the key components such as electric batteries, and technologies such as regenerative braking. In addition, the governments of different nations are providing tax benefits and subsidies to fuel the production of EV's. The government bodies are actively promoting the usage of electric vehicles in order to reduce high emission levels. Just like Thomas Edison’s overzealous prediction about electric vehicles, India seems excessive enthusiastic towards achieving the target. With right governmental initiatives put forward for the promotion of electric vehicles along with the decline in the prices of battery, are expected to propel the growth of the global electric vehicles market, the vision to make India a pure EV nation might work. Of course, the aspiration for 100 percent electric vehicles on road by 2030 is a tall graph to reach out, but getting Started Somewhere is a better alternative than Doing Nothing. Perhaps, this is what Minister of Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari really wants industry to do, when he said ‘‘wouldn’t mind bulldozing fuelbased vehicles if needed.’’

THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR ELECTRIC CARS – IN FACT THE TIME IS CRITICAL.

- Laique@saurenergy.com

GAME OF C

Abhik Kumar Das|Del2infinity Energy Consulting

onsidering National Action Plan on Climate Change, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national policies and other initiatives encouraging renewable, India has a massive target of 175GW of installed capacity from renewable energy by 2022, of which 100GW is to come from solar and 60GW from

wind. Considering India as an evolving place to put up solar businesses with international and domestic investors, the 100 GW target in Solar can not be considered as unrealistic or over-ambitious. But the large scale penetration of solar power in the existing grid can create the grid instability due to the variability and intermittency of solar and wind power generation; a proper energy mix of the conventional energy and RE is required due to which â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;forecasting and schedulingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the solar power generation is an essential requirement for grid management to optimize the effect of unscheduled fluctuations. Hence CERC, FOR and other state regulations propose the mandatory requirement of forecasting the variable power (solar and wind) generation. The forecasting requirement is one of several key aspects of making RE grid integration cheaper and more scalable, as RE penetration grows, its challenges for the rest of the grid will increase. Hence, according to F&S regulations, power producers themselves or third party or QCA or an Aggregator can produce the F&S for the plant.

Game of Forecast

each generating-station’ shows the

game of forecasting is best considered

has to be provided for each pooling-

From a mathematical viewpoint, the as the study of the temporal evolution of probability distributions associated with variables in the power generation. Considering the present computation power, the plant specific forecasting is a doable job. The formal strategy in F&S of wind and solar power generation is predicting the weather parameters using of NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction) models and changing the values of weather parameters into power generation using the turbine or PV models considering the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) based analysis in local areas. The recent development of deep learning algorithms in ANN (Artificial Neural Network) based methodologies have created a huge scope in forecasting the power generations. Considering the uncertainty in the initial value vector in NWP and learning vectors in DNN (Deep Neural Network), a powerful perspective regarding the forecasting methodology is to regard it fundamentally as a statistical rather than deterministic solutions as the stability of the grid needs not just the production of power generation but also the uncertainty associated with it.

legislative intention that the forecasting station or each generating-station as the case may be. It also specifies that forecasting should be wind-farm/solar facility centric. Hence, as per different regulations, the error is defined as, %Error = (Actual Generation – Schedule Generation) x 100 / AvC. Where AvC means for wind or solar generators cumulative capacity rating of the wind turbines or solar inverters that are capable of generating power in a given time-block; and only applicable to a solar or wind generator. The act is very clear and specific, AvC of the wind or solar generator shall be considered for % error calculation; not the whole portfolio of an aggregator or QCA as a whole, but all the plants’ capacity shall be considered individually and independently. Moreover, the insertion of ‘wind turbines or solar inverters’ also specifies that it is required for plant level individually or independently not aggregated level as a whole. For interpreting AvC of QCA or Aggregator as a whole, the word should have been wind plants or solar plants in the definition. By inserting the word turbine & inverter, the intention of the

Defining AvC

act is very clear, that it is required for

the wind and solar power generators

independently and individually and not

As per F&S regulations, it is clear that connected to the State grid shall, either by themselves or through a QCA or through an Aggregator, furnish week-ahead, day-ahead and Intraday generation schedules for each pollingstation or each generating-station as the case may be by using respective forecasting tools at their wind-farm / solar facility centric to the SLDC. The insertion of ‘each pooling-station or

turbine or inverter level for each plant on an aggregated level. Defining ‘Deviation’

'Deviation' means in a time block, for a sellerhis total actual injection of energy minus his total scheduled generation and for a buyer means his total actual drawal of energy minus his total scheduled drawal; The definition of ‘Deviation’ is also not applicable to an Aggregator or QCA, as

a Seller / Buyer is decided depending upon various PPAs as the case may be. Aggregator or QCA does not have any PPA, so a QCA or Aggregator’s ‘Deviation’ cannot be calculated under the current Act or methodology, as it is today. For calculating Deviation under this Act only AvC at plant level, i.e. generator’s level AvC needs to be considered. Otherwise Act is silent about Deviation calculation of QCA or Aggregator’s level or Deviation by Aggregator or QCA. So, if we consider the whole portfolio of an Aggregator or QCA to decide his AvC, then it will be a wrong interpretation of the Act.This definition also clearly states that this Act is applicable only for wind & solar generators not Aggregator or QCA. So, Aggregator or QCA can aggregate and coordinate, but all deviation has to be calculated at the generators level or pooling station level. There is nothing called Aggregator or QCA Deviation under the Act. Gaming in the forecast

A forceful adoption of ‘aggregation of forecast’ as ‘aggregated’ forecast creaets the instability in the generation transmission system as it clearly explained in. To nullify the ‘gaming’ in ‘aggregated’ process regulations

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

clearly defines the deviation as solar/generation centric. It also clearly mentioned in all existing regulations, the misdeclaration of AvC will be considered as ‘gaming’ which has strict consequences.Power producers knowingly or unknowingly can take part of the gaming of forecast but for this activitywho will face the consequences scaring the foreign direct or private equity investment. One has an choice to play games with AvC for an example in a name of aggregation one can produce following output. This type of scheduling is not only illogical, but violates the different

Time

Time-Block

AvC

Schedule

clauses of F&Sregulations. This type of F&S has a no use to stabilize the grid for a sustainable future andthe no-penalty deviation i.e, +/- 15% isapplicable to this type of forecasting. Even it brings the

09:30-09:45

1800

281.18

primary question of capacity factor of the overall RE generations

09:45-10:00

1800

314.05

This type of pure ‘gaming’ should be stopped to stabilize the grid

10:00-10:15

1800

355.05

of ‘gaming in Forecast’ as per the regulation where it is clearly

10:15-10:30

1800

391.16

10:30-10:45

1800

366.13

by any seller in order to make an undue commercial gain through

10:45-11:00

1800

374.71

the QCA or aggregator are not responsible, but through their act

11:00-11:15

1800

381.33

11:15-11:30

1800

385.65

11:30-11:45

1800

389.06

Generators connected in apooling station or connected to Grid SS

11:45-12:00

1800

389.00

who are not willing and consensus with other generators to form

12:00-12:15

1800

384.26

12:15-12:30

1800

383.37

12:30-12:45

1800

385.43

due to the reason that transmission lines can often be congested,

12:45-13:00

1800

388.96

bridge between supply and demand). Unfortunately the forceful and

13:00-13:15

1800

381.89

13:15-13:30

1800

380.60

13:30-13:45

1800

358.30

considering the scheduled power and declaration of AvC. otherwise one should face the strict consequences in the name mentioned that ‘Gaming’ in relation to the Regulation means, an intentional wrong/mis-declaration of available capacity or schedule charge for deviations.Interestingly, as per the definition of ‘Gaming’ the power producers become responsible for the consequences. It is already explained in that how the power producers are affected in name of aggregated forecast.Even according to APSLDC regulations it is already mentioned that if there is no consensus among the through a common feeder for the formation of QCA, then the generators QCA can take separate connectivity from STU/Discoms and have a separate SEM at interconnection point and furnish the Schedule. Most (transmission) grid operators need to predict the supply and demand at each grid node, i.e., the pooling station (sub-station) level and are at the level of system control (in some ways they are the wrong adoption of ‘aggregation of forecast’ as ‘aggregated forecast’ can have a huge financial impact on power producers, transmission company and overall the grid in very near future considering the massive target of 175 gigawatt (GW) of installed capacity from renewable energy by 2022.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

BACKSHEETS Selecting the Right Materials for Solar Modules

rom cells to glass to encapsulant to backsheets, each component of a solar panel is relevant to perfo-rmance and

plays an important role in a PV panel. By definition, Backsheet is a film that protects the solar cell from severe environmental conditions. A solar backsheet is the last

Why Backsheets Are Important?

layer at the bottom of the solar PV panel

Backsheets play a significant role in protecting PV modules

and is typically made of a polymer or a

and delivering needed module lifetime. They protect the

combination of polymers. One of the less-

solar panels against environmental damage and ensure that

visible but essential components of a solar

panels remain electrically insulated. Backsheet failure can

panel to their long-term performance is

result in module failure such as terrible failure, unacceptable

backsheets. On the other hand, ethylene

power degradation and safety failures. The impact can be

vinyl acetate also known as EVA provides

very significant, ranging from brand and reputation damage

encapsulation for solar cells.

to outright bodily harm. Solar backsheet is not just the simple

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

& EVA

layer of a plastic film on the back of the surface of the

properties and durability of backsheets are critical to

module, however this is the only layer of protection

the long term reliability, durability and safety of the

from dangerous DC voltage.

photovoltaic modules. However, not all backsheets

The major purpose of backsheet is to protect PV module

are created equal. In order to protect a module

from UV radiations, moisture penetration, electrical

for 25 years, the backsheet must have three critical

insulation of the system, and to offer durability to the

properties: weatherability, mechanical strength and

PV module. Therefore, PV backsheet is extremely

adhesion; however, the most important thing is the

important for increasing the durability of a PV module.

optimal balance of these three properties.

The mechanical, electrical, optical and chemical

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

POLYMER

Different Categories of Backsheet Layers With regard to the layers that form the backsheet, there are three basic categories of Backsheets - double fluoropolymers, single fluoropolymers and non-fluoropolymers and various constructions within each category. Double Fluoropolymer: This consists mainly of outer layers of Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) films, or of Kynar polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films, and a core layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The molecular structure of fluoropolymers is based on a chain of carbon atoms completely surrounded by fluorine atoms, which are responsible for a better protection of the atom chains present on the layer. In terms of price, these kinds of backsheet are the most expensive. Single Fluoropolymer: One way of reducing the cost of the backsheet while maintaining satisfactory behaviour and durability is to reduce the number of fluoropolymer layers from two to one. In this case, the layer structure is formed mainly with Tedlar or Kynar on the air side and with PET and primer or EVA layers on the inner side. Non-fluoropolymer: This consists of two PET and one primer or EVA layers, and is the cheapest option. In the past it was not considered because of the possible degradation under UV exposure or hydrolysis over long periods of time. However, significant advances in polyester chemistry and production engineering have led to the development of highly UV-durable polyester films. Arkema one of the market players in the backsheet industry manufactures tri-layered Kynar PVDF film which is used in backsheet

lamination. Arkema Manager, Sachin V Upadhye stated that PVDF is one of the toughest molecules within fluoropolymer chemistry. By virtue of its chemistry, it gives very high chemical resistance, very good sand abrasion resistance and the longevity to the backsheet. He further said that Arkema's KPK and KPE give much better performance than the other chemistries. Kynar PVDF is a known and proven product since 1965, whereas Polyolefin is the recent development so it is yet to prove its performance. Encapsulant for PV Modules An encapsulant is used to provide adhesion between the solar cells, the top surface and the rear surface of the PV module. The encapsulant should be stable at elevated temperatures and high UV exposure. It should also be optically transparent and should have a low thermal resistance. EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) is the most commonly used encapsulant material. EVA comes in thin sheets which are inserted between the solar cells and the top surface and the rear surface. This sandwich is then heated to 150 Â°C to polymerize the EVA and bond the module together. EVA sheets provide the most optimal solution for packaging solar cells with the required degree of environmental protection. However apart from just long term protection, encapsulants serve also multiple other purposes. They physically hold module components in place, provide electrical insulation, reduce moisture ingress, optically couple superstrate materials (e.g., glass) to PV cells, protect components from mechanical stress and protect materials from corrosion. To achieve this, encapsulants

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

must adhere well to all surfaces, remain compliant, and transmit light after exposure to temperature, humidity, and UV radiation histories. Quality Assurance and Standard Tests for EVA The standard tests for determination of quality of various module components and especialy EVA are vastly varied and sometimes ambiguous. However the following tests are generally used to define quality of the EVA encapsulant films. Peel strength (Adhesion test) Adhesion of EVA to substrate is key to the longevity of a module throughout its operational lifetime. Low adhesion is a good indication of expired EVA or exposure to moisture during transit/storage or even improper laminating conditions. EN 1895 & ASTM D1876 test standards can be followed to determine the peel strength accurately. Spring balance test is often used in the industry as quick test to validate the incoming material. Values between 75 N/cm and 125 N/cm can be used as a reference for quality control. Gel Content Test Gel content of EVA is a measure of degree of cross-linking of the polymer. Lower gel content indicates lower degree of cross-linking, which severely jeopardises the long term mechanical integrity of the module. ASTM D-2765 test standard can be followed to determine the gel content accurately. Variations of the same are often used to approximate the gel content values at shop floor level. Thermal Shrinkage EVA films have an inherent tendency to shrink

POLYMER when heated at lamination temperatures, which if not controlled might lead to breakage of solar cells, misalignment of strings, amongst other stability issues. Shrinkage is generally caused due to process induced stresses during the manufacturing of EVA films however the rule ‘lower the shrinkage and better the encapsulant’ is not generally true due to a variety of other trade-offs. Globally, shrinkage levels of 2% or less are acceptable and are known to cause no laminating problems. Long Term Encapsulation and Protection A durable encapsulant requires stringent quality control, uniform compositions, and use of the best available raw materials. Even a slight deterioration of any of the properties of the encapsulant over time will impair the electrical output of the module, which is of critical importance to providing a 25 to 30 year working life of a solar module. Thus, a good EVA film should possess high peal strength, sufficient gel content, low shrinkage, and should be able to withstand the module tests and harsh environment conditions with ease. Solar PV Backsheet Market Research The surging demand for solar-powered systems across the globe has generated lucrative opportunities for solar PV backsheet market giants. The solar PV backsheet market has gone through several challenges recently. The industry on account of advancements in technologies coupled with the falling component cost has witnessed huge competition. Eminent participants in the solar PV backsheet market include DuPont, Isovoltaic, Coveme, Arkema, 3M, Toyo Aluminium, Madico, Hangzhou, Taiflex,

Krempel, Targray, Toray, Dunmore, Astenik, and ZTT International. In order to make their presence felt in the competitive market well-known players partaking in solar PV backsheet industry share have been adopting numerous business strategies such as joint ventures and M&As. For instance, DuPont, one of the Solar PV suppliers, has partnered up with Saudi Arabia based manufacturer, Desert Technologies in order to capture more revenue from MEA, driven by the growing demand for photovoltaic systems across the region. Under this agreement, Desert Technologies will reportedly implement Dupont’s backsheets in its solar panels and projects. Dutch-based company, DSM has also recently acquired the Chinese manufacturer of PV backsheets, Suzhou SunShine New Materials Technology to improve its product portfolio in solar systems. With this strategic acquisition, DSM seems to be looking forward to firmly establish its position in China solar PV backsheet market over the years ahead. Apart from business expansion, most companies in solar PV backsheet market have been observed to be focusing on the improvement of the material properties of PV backsheets. For instance, 3M has invested heavily to develop new PV backsheets endowed with the properties of reliability and long-term performance. The increasing involvement of biggies in new material development is thus slated to propel solar PV backsheet market outlook in the years ahead. Furthermore, the ongoing R&D activities and the growing advancements in the product landscape will generate lucrative opportunities for players in solar PV backsheet industry, thereby impelling its revenue graph by 2024. Solar PV Backsheet Market Glance

According to the research by Global Market Insights, solar PV backsheet market would surpass more than USD 2.3 billion by 2024. The research includes in-depth coverage of the backsheet industry with estimates and forecast in the following segments:

industrial scenario, the technology acts as an economical substitute to TPT configurations. These products have witnessed an appreciable penetration subject to the availability of cost-effective and efficient auxiliary backsheet technologies. Rapid technological enhancements related to operational flexibility and efficiency are anticipated to drive the product demand. Solar PV Backsheet Market, By Thickness Less than 100 micrometer backsheets is predicted to witness strong growth owing to lower product costs and extensive deployment across small-scale solar applications. Utility based deployments along with ongoing adoption of photovoltaic technology to establish a sustainable energy mix across industries will augment the > 500 Micrometer solar PV backsheet market. Solar PV Backsheet Market, By Material Fluoropolymers account for over 50 percent of global solar PV backsheet market, subject to their early adoption and unit longevity. These products possess higher efficiency and insulation properties when compared to its non-fluoro counterparts. However, the integration of fluorine for production in the recent years has inclined consumer perception towards the adoption of cleaner auxiliary backsheet technologies. Solar PV Backsheet Market, By Technology Crystalline solar PV backsheet market is set to witness a growth of over 4 percent by 2024. The heavier composition of crystalline cells along with large-scale deployment of these units escalates the demand for support and insulation materials. Increasing product efficiencies coupled with the development of compact panel structures will drive the deployment of advanced backsheet technologies across crystalline photovoltaic modules.

- Aaqib@saurenergy.com

Solar PV Backsheet Market, By Product In 2016, TPT accounted for over 12 percent solar PV market share. In the present VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

PRODUCT ANATOMY Siemens Sinacon 5000kVA PV Central Inverter

Product Brief: The SINACON PV inverter from Siemens is part of the Medium Voltage inverter station together with the transformer and the Ring Main Unit (RMU) and achieves high energy efficiency with an output up to 5000 kVA. Product Feature: It is equipped with 3-level

IGBT modules for input voltages of up to DC 1500 V to maximize energy efficiency. The integrated DC and AC distribution makes the SINACON PV inverter cost efficient. Standardized interfaces for easy plug and play reduce engineering hours.

Application: The SINACON PV inverter is used in medium and large utility scale photovoltaic power plants to achieve high efficiency. Benefits: The SINACON PV inverter has been

designed for harsh environments and comes with IP65 certification without humidity limits. The liquid cooling in SINACON PV inverter is possible up to-40˚C…+60°C. It is known to have late power derating over 40 °C.

Availability: Available

Sileaf SolGriD Smart Power Management Controller

Solaria’s PowerXT 350 W Module

Product Brief: Sileaf has developed a smart

Product Brief: The PowerXT 350 is the latest evolution in Solaria’s industry-leading efficiency roadmap. The Solaria PowerXT 350W modules has been build on the success of the Solaria PowerXT 325W and 330W which have been in high demand among installers.

controller (SolGriD) that can be installed at power plants of various capacities. SolGriD is a revolutionary product that has multiple features including synchronization of different power sources, Reverse power controlling, Real lime monitoring of system parameters , weather monitoring and performance calculations etc.

Product Feature: The product has an

inbuilt functionality to monitor Grid v/s solar consumption and linear inverter output control to leverage maximum generation of solar power. It takes care of optimization of DG utilization to save the cost of diesel and ensure optimum generation of solar power.

Application: Monitoring of all types of

solar power plants, diesel generator synchronization and UPS synchronization.

Benefits: It can work with up to four diesel

generators with no limit on DG capacity, grid power, batteries and solar power, and offers maximum fuel saving for solar DG systems. It offers linear power control and maximizes solar generation. The Weather interface is inbuilt and provides measurement of radiation, temperature and comparison with the generation.

Availability: Available

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

Product Feature: Solaria’s high output PowerXT 350 modules –60 cell equivalent, with a black back sheet– are built on the company’s proprietary technology, which utilizes advanced cell interconnect and module production processes. Delivering high power and highly aesthetically-pleasing PV panels, Solaria’s patented PowerXT 350W modules maximize system power and performance. Application: Applicable in Residential

Rooftops.

Benefits: Solaria’s PowerXT 350W panels ensure labor savings on racking and system components over other lower wattage modules. Sub-strings are interconnected in parallel, dramatically lowering the shading losses and increasing energy yield, offering improved shading tolerance. Ribbon-less, solder-free cell-to-cell connections increase reliability and are designed to exceed the 25-year warranty. Availability: Available

PRODUCT ANATOMY TDK HVC200A Bipolar High Voltage Contactor

Enkay Flexible Solar Panel

Greenlight Planet Sun King Pro 400 Solar Lantern

Product Brief: TDK Corporation presents the

Product Brief: Enkay Solar Power & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd has launched a flexible solar panel in recently to meet the changing needs in market place. Enkay Solar Power is currently manufacturing flexible panels in ranges of 100 watts and 315 watts (Polycrystalline), size – 1950 x 990 x 40 mm and weight – 6 kg approximately for 315 watts.

Product Brief: Greenlight Planet has launched a new solar lantern- the Sun King Pro 400. This new device is more powerful version of the company's existing best-selling solar lamps, boasting dramatic increases in brightness and phone-charging capacity, at lower cost, while retaining popular elements like their famously indestructible design.

Product Feature: This lightweight, flexible

Product Feature: Technical improvements include higher capacity batteries and USB phone charging ports, along with significantly larger 5.5 Watt polycrystalline solar panels. Despite its high performance and premium build quality, the Sun King Pro 400 comes at a remarkably affordable price. Drop-proof, UV-stable, IP65 rated polycarbonate & ABS casing.

new HVC200A bipolar high-voltage contactor for the switching of high DC voltages and currents. It is designed for operating voltages of up to 450 V DC and a high continuous current of 200 A.

Product Feature: The HVC200A, with its

dimensions of 89 mm x 44 mm x 93.5 mm (LxWxH) is available in drive versions for 12 V (B88269X1000C) or 24 V (B88269X1010C). Both versions have a power of 6 W at the rated voltage. The new contactors can be equipped with a circuit for detecting the switching status. High-voltage contactors with a high continuous current capability are used, for example, in e-mobility applications for the fast disconnection of the battery from the drive, as well as in DC charging stations.

Application: Utility-scale PV power plants

and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

Benefits: Versions with 12 V and 24 V

drives for continuous currents of between 100 A and 500 A at maximum permissible operating voltages of 900 V are currently in development. It comes with high-speed extinguishing of arcs and includes optional detection of switching status.

Availability: Available

and powerful solar technology provides the design versatility that makes integration with a variety of applications simple — thus offering a powerful and aesthetic solution to meet the challenges of growing markets.

Application: Applicable for power harvesting with a huge potential for new market fields like BIPV (building integrated photovoltaic), outdoor products, public transport systems, etc. Benefits: To meet the customize order, the Enkay Flexible Solar Panel’s range can be increased up to 350 watts (Monocrystalline).

Availability: Available

Application: Residential and commercial

use.

Benefits: Shines at 40 times the brightness of kerosene (400 lumens) for 5 hours, with 100 hours at its lowest brightness setting after a single day of charge. It features a long-lasting battery and the iconic, durable design. Active battery management automatically switches to low power when battery is running low, giving user 5 hours of additional light.

Availability: Available

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

MARKET GLANCE

Solar Powered Car Market Volume Analysis, Size, Share and Key Trends 2017-2025 Solar powered cars are vehicles that are completely or partly powered by solar energy. Such cars contain photovoltaic cells which are part of solar panels that convert solar energy into electric energy and help to power the vehicle. Currently, solar power cars use this electricity in two ways- Electricity powers the vehicle to move and secondly some part of electric energy is stored in the battery for the car to use in non-sunny days and at nights. Solar powered vehicles are of two types: electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. An electric vehicle contains electric motors and store energy in rechargeable batteries. Solar electric vehicles charge their batteries through solar energy. Hybrid vehicles contain two type of power: the internal combustion engine present generally in vehicles and electric motors to power the vehicle electrically. By type, the market is segmented into electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. By vehicle type, the market is segmented into passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and sports vehicles. By geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. Asia Pacific is a major solar powered car market. In Asia Pacific, China is anticipated to be a significant solar powered vehicle market. Other than China, the major markets are Japan, South Korea and India. In India, the government has taken a major initiative to introduce 5 million electric vehicles by 2020 and they will be solar powered. China has entered the Indian solar powered vehicle market due to the huge potential of the India solar and electric vehicle market. All this is anticipated to increase the adoption of solar powered vehicles in India.

One major reason for increasing demand for

is anticipated to increase the demand

solar powered vehicles in China and India

for solar cars. A major restraint for solar

is that both countries receive on an average

powered cars is that not many people can

300 days of sunlight. North America is a

be accommodated in a solar powered car

major solar powered car market. The U.S

and the adoption rate of solar powered cars

is a significant solar powered car market in

is still low. The major opportunity for solar

North America. Other major markets in the

powered cars is increasing acceptance of

region are Canada and Mexico. Europe is

electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles across

another major solar powered car market.

the world. Major automotive manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Germany is the largest solar powered car

plans to sell thousands of electric vehicles

market in Europe. Other major solar powered

in future. The report provides the various

markets in Europe are the U.K, France, Italy,

competitive strategies adopted by key

Spain, Belgium and Netherlands. In Middle

players operating in the market to gain

East & Africa, the significant solar powered

market share. Company profiles include

cars markets are Iran and South Africa. In

company details, market presence by

Latin America, the major solar powered car

segment and geography, strategic overview,

markets are Brazil and Argentina.

SWOT analysis and historical revenue. The

Steep fall in price of solar panels is

report also contains details of market share

anticipated to increase the demand for

analysis of key players in the market. Major

solar powered cars. Rising government

firms operating in the solar powered car

initiatives to encourage solar powered

markets are Hanergy Holding Group (China),

vehicles in comparison to traditional fossil

Venturi (France), Toyota Motor Corp. (Japan),

fuel vehicles is anticipated to increase the

Ford Motor Company (the U.S), Mahindra &

demand for solar powered cars. Solar cars

Mahindra (India), Cruise Car (the U.S), The

produce no noise pollution and solar energy

Solar Electric Vehicle Company (the U.S),

is completely free which are anticipated to

Nissan Motor Company (Japan), Immortus

increase the demand for these type of cars.

(Australia), and Guangzhou Jcar Industrial

Rising demand for fuel efficient vehicles

Company Ltd (China).

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

MARKET GLANCE

IHS Markit: Global Solar Installations to Pass 100GW in 2018 Market analyst IHS Markit has issued its first forecast for 2018 installations. It expects the global market to surpass the 100 GW mark for the first time ever, hitting 108GW. IHS Markit is predicting another recording breaking year for solar in 2018, forecasting installations to hit 108 GW by the end of the year. The analysts state that continued demand from China will be the key driver behind this growth, as the country has successfully diversified its market and achieved strong momentum in the distributed generation segment. The latest edition of IHS Markit’s PV Demand Market Tracker highlights how China has now become the priority market for domestic manufacturers, something likely to shape the market in 2018. “Short supply and higher than anticipated module prices in the first half of 2018 will impede many market outside China, due

ahead of the decision, and that planned

Outlook, Bloomberg New Energy Finance

to worsening project economics,” says

tax reforms could also weaken investor

predicted similar installation numbers.

Edurne Zoco, Research and Analysis

interest in the sector.

With stabilization of the polysilicon market

Director at IHS Markit.

Meanwhile in India, IHS warns that that

expected, improved cost-efficiencies on

“Projects in some regions might be delayed

raising anti-dumping duties could limit the

the upstream side and increased efforts

or even cancelled, because market prices

number of modules on the market, unless

to meet 2020 energy targets in Europe,

are higher than were estimated during the

domestic manufacturers are able to ramp

demand in 2018 should be between 94

planning phase.”

up very quickly.

and 111 GW; and 107 and 121 GW in

While demand from China is expected

This forecast will leave little room for

2019, it said.

to remain strong, question marks remain

unexpected demand increases – as

over other leading PV markets, as the U.S.

occurred in 2017, unless polysilicon is also

industry awaits the President’s final decision

able to quickly grow.

in the section 201 case, and India mulls

“Exceeding 108 gigawatts of PV installations

the introduction of anti-dumping duties.

is close to the top-end of what can be

While it still expects these two to remain

achieved, based on the global polysilicon

the second and third largest PV markets,

manufacturing capacity,” said Zoco. “Supply

respectively, IHS Markit warns that in the

will therefore be tight throughout the first

U.S., the section 201 case has already begun

half of the year at least, resulting in stable

to distort the supply/demand relationship, as

to higher prices across the supply chain.”

developers have been stockpiling modules

Recently, in its 4Q Global PV Market VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

MARKET GLANCE

Global Electric Vehicles Market to Grow at a CAGR of 28.3% (in Volume) From 2017 to 2026 According to a market research report by BIS Research, titled "Global Electric Vehicles Market - Analysis and Forecast (20172026)", the global electric vehicles market is estimated to grow in volume at a CAGR of 28.3% from 2017 to 2026. The demand for electric cars is increasing rapidly, with the global stock numbers crossing 2 million in 2016 after crossing 1 million in 2015. The surge is attributed to the substantial amount of investments made by the automobile manufacturers for the research, development, and deployment of electric vehicles. Mass production prospects have also led to a decline in the prices of the key components such as electric batteries, and technologies such as regenerative braking. In addition, the governments of different nations are providing tax benefits and subsidies to fuel the production of EV's. The government bodies are actively promoting the usage of electric vehicles in order to reduce high emission levels. Electric vehicles (EVs) are automobiles that run using power from a battery, which is converted to useful operation by an electric motor, with negligible or no requirement of any kind of additional fuel. The technology, having been introduced in the early 1900s, has been used for mass commercialization of vehicles over the last few decades. Today, electric vehicles have transformed from an experimental model of a vehicle to a necessity, with automakers, worldwide, putting in efforts to make EVs available in all economic ranges. This is evident from the meteoric rise in the sales of electric vehicles over the last five years, with over 2 million electric vehicles on the road at present, as compared to a few thousand in 2012. The global electric vehicles market is being driven by the increasing governmental regulations on emissions and fuel economy.

For instance, the European countries such

The factors such as improved charging

as Germany, the U.K, the Netherlands,

infrastructure, increasing environmental

Belgium, Norway, and Luxembourg, among

awareness among consumers, and an

others, have implemented regulations on

increased range provided by the vehicle

the amount of CO2 released which in turn

battery packs will propel the market growth

is encouraging the consumers to purchase

for BEVs.

vehicles with low emission levels such as

According to Surabhi Rajpal, analyst at

EV's, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles.

BIS Research, "The increased demand for

The European emission standards have set

fuel efficient vehicles, and the continued

the average emission from new passenger

governmental initiatives for the promotion of

cars to be reduced from 130 gram (g) per

electric vehicles, along with the decline in the

kilometer (km) travel in 2013 to 95g per km

prices of battery, are expected to propel the

travel by 2020.

growth of the global electric vehicles market.

The increasing global concerns regarding

Geographically, Asia-Pacific dominated the

the negative effects of climate change and

global electric vehicles market and is also

the alarming pollution levels recorded in

expected to grow at the fastest rate during

the major cities have created a demand

the forecast period. The automotive market

for these vehicles. The market includes

in the APAC region is growing rapidly, and

different propulsion type, component type,

the development of electric vehicles is

and vehicle type. The global electric vehicles

gaining attention due to the collective efforts

market by propulsion includes Battery

from the government and manufacturers to

Electric Vehicle (BEV), and Plug-in Hybrid

initiate reforms and develop technologies.

Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The BEVs held the

This, consequently, is expected to promote

highest share in 2016 in terms of market

the sale of these vehicles, and make them

volume; it is expected to grow at a higher

economically efficient for use."

growth rate as compared to the PHEVs.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL l JANUARY 2018 l VOL 2 l ISSUE 5

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

NATIONAL EVENTS 13TH INTERNATIONAL BATTERY, SOLAR AND LEAD RECYCLING EXHIBITION & SEMINAR website : www.batteryfair.co.in START DATE : 08-Jan-2018 END DATE : 11-Jan-2018

SOLAR EXPO - A WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT EVENT

E-mail : info@batteryfair.co.in

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RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPO

INTERSOLUTION 2018

START DATE : 08-Feb-2018 END DATE : 10-Feb-2018

Location : Phone :

Jaipur, India +91 11 22137081

Location : Chennai, India

Phone : E-mail : info@renewableenergyexpo.biz

+91 73587 46326

Location : Lucknow, India Phone : +91 522 2720090

E-mail : info@niss.org.in

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E-mail : zakir@solartodayexpo.com

Phone : +32 9 3857719

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E-mail : praveens@eigroup.in

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDIA EXPO 2018

website : www.renewableenergyindiaexpo.com START DATE : 18-Sep-2018 END DATE : 20-Sep-2018

Location : Ghent, Belgium

SAUDI RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE

2ND SOLAR TODAY EXPO

START DATE : 23-May-2018 END DATE : 25-May-2018

+971 2 4090387

PV MODULE TECHNOLOGY & APPLICATIONS FORUM 2018

RENEWX 2018

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Phone :

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Location : Bangkok, Thailand Phone : +66 2 6430744

KUWAIT SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT

website : www.wpsummits.com/setskuwait/

START DATE : 03-Apr-2018 END DATE : 04-Apr-2018 E-mail : salil@wpsummits.com

Location : Kuwait Phone : +968 24788476

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Location : Shanghai, China Phone :

+86 21 53893020

VOL 2 l ISSUE 5 l JANUARY 2018 l SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL