Hydrogen

Fusion Fuel Green Partners With CCC to Develop Hydrogen Plant

Agreen hydrogen technology company, headquartered in Ireland, Fusion Fuel Green PLC has announced that it has partnered with Consolidated Contractors Group S.A.L. (CCC), to develop a green hydrogen plant in the Middle East.

CCC and Fusion Fuel, both have agreed to collaborate on projects that involve the production of green hydrogen. Then the produced hydrogen can be used by the potential clients in the refining and petrochemical industries in order to reduce their carbon footprint.

Both the companies are planning to develop some demonstrator plants in various countries in the region, particularly Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar.

Fusion Fuel Green is dedicated to making zero-emissions green hydrogen commercially viable and accessible. The firm has created a revolutionary proprietary electrolyzer solution that allows it to produce hydrogen at highly competitive costs using renewable energy.

Recounting the partnership, the Head of Business Development at Fusion Fuel, Joao Wahnon says, “We are delighted to be partnering with the CCC to open this new market. The Middle East represents a big opportunity and a very promising region for us, given the high levels of solar exposure, strong appetite for green hydrogen projects, and strategic geographic position between Europe and Asia.”

“We are excited to bring Fusion Fuel’s revolutionary technology to the Middle East,” Joao added. CCC is an engineering and construction company in the Middle East, which has a worldwide turnover of over USD 4 Billion.

India H2 Alliance Makes Six-Point Submission to Create ‘Bharat H2’ Supply Chain

India H2 Alliance (IH2A), the industry-led energy transition coalition, has submitted a six-point agenda to the Government of India for creating a domestic ‘Bharat H2’ supply chain and to build hydrogen systems at scale.

The six points are as follows:

The Government of India should immediately constitute a Public-Private Bharat H2 Taskforce to prepare a milestone-based national hydrogen roadmap and build a hydrogen economy at scale.

The Bharat H2 Taskforce and roadmap should aim to tap India’s potential to create a national electrolyser installed capacity of 15-20 GW and promote domestic manufacturing through a National Electrolyser Manufacturing Mission, aligned with the government’s FAME II Scheme. India should create a national H2-themed Energy Transition Fund, with co-funding partnerships with sovereign partners, multilateral agencies, clean energy funds and industry, with the aim to raise USD 1 bn by 2030 for deployment towards national hydrogen projects of a certain scale.

A uniform set of globallyharmonised and inter-operable Bharat H2 standards for hydrogen storage, transport and dispensation need to be finalized quickly, so that hydrogen adoption is accelerated across different sectors and use-cases.

India should prioritise prefeasiblity studies of at least 10 national Bharat H2 Hydrogen Valleys or H2 Hubs – large-scale demonstration stage projects with participation from industry consortia, incentives and off-take agreements guaranteed by the government.

India should form a Bharat H2 Industrial Group to leverage hydrogen for de-carbonisation efforts in steel, refineries, fertilizers and cement industrial clusters, and a separate Bharat H2 Heavy-Duty Freight Transport Group for hydrogen commerciaisation in railways, trucking and shipping, recognizing the different hydrogen infrastructure requirements in both groups.

Include Hydrogen Fuel Cell EVs in FAME-II: Delhi HC Directs DHI

The Delhi High Court has ordered the Department of Heavy Industries to acknowledge including Hydrogen Fuel Cell electric vehicles (EVs) and Hydrogen refueling infrastructure under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME-II) scheme.

Fuel Cell India, an initiative dedicated to promoting Renewable and Hydrogen Energy & Fuel Cells in India has filed a plea stating that the FAME India Scheme endeavors to encourage domestic manufacturing of EVs along with creating and expanding the Indian EV market. Although under FAME I the hybrid EV is defined as a vehicle using a consumable fuel and hydrogen fuel cell qualifies it, yet there is no inclusion of hydrogen fuel cell in FAME II. A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of reactions.

The main purposes of the FAME scheme are to make Indian producers independent of petroleum resources, to check the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles’ impact on the environment, and to push the adoption of alternate fuels including EVs in the automobile industry of the country.

The Delhi HC has also taken the opportunity to direct the government to consider allocating unused funds from the FAME II scheme for promoting hydrogen fuel cell EVs in the country, along with the construction and operation of refueling stations.

According to the HC, if hydrogen-fueled vehicles fall under the FAME II scheme and take the benefit of incentives, manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota could think of bringing their vehicles like the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo to India. Currently, vehicles running on hydrogen fuel cells offer a greater driving range in comparison to battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Germany’s Enapter Prepares AEM Multicore for Green H2 Production

Germany-headquartered Enapter, a hydrogen generator manufacturer, has recently announced that it is expanding its product portfolio to the megawatt-class with the AEM Multicore electrolyser. The final development of the new model has started, further tapping into the innovative potential of Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) technology. The AEM Multicore will be introduced to the market next year, enabling low-cost, flexible and reliable green hydrogen production. The company has already started taking orders.

Enapter states that it will cut the cost of green hydrogen by mass-producing standardised products. The AEM Multicore is no exception: It will feature 440 mass-produced electrolyser core modules – the “AEM stacks” – in a complete system that can produce ~450 kg of hydrogen per day. This is the energy equivalent of around 9.5 barrels of crude oil. With this modular approach, it offers a lower–cost alternative to traditional megawatt-class electrolysers while also proving highly responsive to the fluctuations of renewable electricity supply. The product’s multi-core approach also offers reliability advantages compared to conventional systems. If one stack module fails, it can be replaced in a few simple steps, while the “balance of plant” system that supports hydrogen production also has built-in redundancy. Its unique modularity allows the AEM Multicore to flexibly adjust production levels in reaction to changes in renewable energy supply. AEM is widely considered by scientists to be the most cost-efficient electrolysis technology. According to Enapter, it is getting closer to realising AEM’s full potential to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen energy, with construction of its “Campus” massproduction facility in Saerbeck set to begin in autumn this year – and planned to reach completion and operation in 2022.

The Euro 69 Billion French energy major EDF is one of the few unapologetic champions of nuclear energy, seeing it as a critical support for the world to achieve its climate ambitions. The firm produces over 75% of its energy from nuclear power, with a recent focus on other renewable sources too. In India, the firm has big plans for both, and on solar, it has made faster progress, thanks to the nature of the process. In an interview, Harmanjit Nagi, Managing Director, EDF India,lays out the firm’s progress and plans for India.

I N T E R V I E W HARMANJIT NAGI

Managing Director, EDF India

Can you give a brief overview of EDF’s global portfolio? Harmanjit Nagi: The EDF-group is a France-based electricity utility company with global presence in generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, and energy services. EDF is among the world leaders in low-carbon energy and has developed a generation mix consisting of nuclear power, hydropower, and renewables-based power. The EDF Group has operations in over 20 countries, with about 38 million customers. EDF is a European leader in the development of renewable energy (RE) sources. It creates, builds, and manages RE power plants across the globe, and is the fifth biggest player in the world in this respect. Wind and solar photovoltaic power are the mainstays of EDF’s growth. The company also has strong presence in other areas of the RE sector, such as energy storage, and a very strong foothold in offshore wind power. EDF has always been strong in the RE markets of Europe and North America. The company now sees big opportunities for growth in emerging markets such as the Middle East, Brazil, China, and India. EDF had a RE generation capacity of 28 GW in 2015 and aims to achieve 60 GW by 2030, while tripling its business outside of Europe. These goals are aligned with the company's raison d'être (corporate purpose) of contributing to a net zero energy future with low-carbon electricity and innovative technologies and services.

Can you please elaborate on EDF’s presence in India? Harmanjit Nagi: The EDF Group has been present in India for more than 25 years and aims to support the country’s energy transition towards low-carbon sustainable future by leveraging innovative solutions. India is one of the main growth market for achieving two strategic goals: tripling EDF’s business outside Europe and doubling its global RE capacity by 2030. With the steps and policies announced by the government in recent years, India has become a very important market for RE projects, especially solar and wind. With the recent expansion of our RE portfolio and our presence across the value chain in areas that are crucial for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, EDF is now among the top 15 solar and wind project developers in India. We have achieved a secured portfolio of 2.8 GW of RE capacity in less than four years and procured major smart-metering (Automated Metering Infrastructure, AMI) contracts in India. In solar energy, we have 207 MWp operating plants, 450 MWp under construction, and over 1350 MWp under development in the country, as of 2020. In addition, we have 269 MW of operational projects and 300 MW of wind energy projects under construction. We have also had successful discussions with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and recently submit them our binding techno-commercial offer for the development and construction of the biggest nuclear plant in the world, with six EPR units totaling almost 10,000 MWe at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. The recent contract by EESL to install five million smart meters in India has opened a new chapter in the development of our business in India. This is one of the two five-million smartmeter contracts awarded by EESL in India. In terms of number of smart meters, such contracts are very important. Ours is, by far, the most competitive and the most innovative AMI solution in India.

Did you have to adapt the timeline of your projects, for instance in renewables or the 5 million smart meters project? How much delay are you expecting due to the ongoing pandemic Harmanjit Nagi: Like with most businesses, the Covid-19 crisis has impacted the execution of our projects to a certain extent. Our priority is to protect our employees and contractors, and we encourage them to abide by the strictest preventive and safety measures. The energy sector, meanwhile, has bounced back fairly quickly, and this makes us hopeful about the future. We are confident of our ability to make up for the lull we witnessed during the lockdown. I firmly believe that the energy sector can play a major role in reviving economic growth and investments after the Covid-19 crisis through its potential for creating quality jobs, especially in areas such as RE, smart cities, energy efficiency, and others. At the same time, we need to address the climate emergency, to ensure that growth and development are sustainable.

Please give a brief overview about your plans for smart meter expansion in India. Harmanjit Nagi: The smart meter market in India is projected to grow to 300 million units. EDF currently holds one of the two largest

smart-meter implementation contracts in India, for a total of five million smart meters, with Bihar alone accounting for almost half this number. We have completed the first stage already, with the installation of more than 100,000 smart meters in Bihar. The contract was awarded to EDF in association with Accenture Solutions Private Limited (India) in 2019. This is the first of its kind large-scale prepaid smart metering solution to be deployed in India. We have deployed more than 85 people full-time on this project - a number that will eventually rise to more than 120. So far, we have employed 27 Indian engineers while our IT subcontractors have assigned 30 staff for the project. The operational teams in Bihar are qualified to mount meters. The deployment of five million smart meters is expected to crate over 3,000 jobs in the region. Meanwhile, the smart-meter project in New Delhi, which was commissioned in January 2019 (with NDMC, involving 75,000 smart meters) has been completed and the system is fully operational. We are always on the lookout for new opportunities to expand in India. We aim to be one of the key partners in the country’s ambitious energy development program, which lays strong emphasis on building low-carbon electric systems. We are also in the process of bidding for smart-meter projects across many Indian states as a part of our expansion efforts.

Are there any plans to expand your solar energy portfolio in India? Harmanjit Nagi: Solar is a dependable, low-carbon, cost-effective energy choice. Moreover, the solar segment is growing quickly on the back of technology advancements and lower generating costs. EDF has a lot of experience with solar energy as the company is established in 13 countries with major projects. The 800 MWc project with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority; the 146 MWc project with Bolero in Chile; and the 400 MWc project with Pirapora in Brazil are some of our big ventures. Last summer, our subsidiary EDF Renewables won the Al Dhafra project (2 GW), the world's most efficient photovoltaic power plant, in Abu Dhabi. In October 2020, EDEN Renewables India – a joint venture by EDF Renewables and Total EREN – signed 25-year long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for four solar power projects in Northern India totaling 716 MWp of installed capacity. With the support of its experts in New Delhi, EDEN Renewables aims to expand its solar photovoltaic production in the Indian market with competitive tariffs. EDF participated in solar PV tenders last year and won three projects totaling 1350 MWp, which will be completed by 2022. We aim to help the Indian government achieve its target of 220 GW of non-fossil generation by 2022. The EDF Group currently has a portfolio of 2.8 GW of RE projects in India in various stages – operational, under construction, and in development. This makes us one of the top 15 players in the market. We plan to continue our rapid growth, fueled by the local experience and support of our shareholders. We will also expand our team and hire people with high-level skills.

What is your view on the government policies for the solar sector? Harmanjit Nagi: EDF is a natural partner as India converts its energy ambitions into reality. We applaud India's efforts in the fight against global warming, and its energy policies which aim for a carbon-free energy mix by 2030 with 40% of nuclear and RE sources. We are particularly excited about solar energy, as we have a lot of experience in that area. Recently, solar tariffs in India dropped to Rs 2/kWh in SECI’s auction, and we are confident that they can be further reduced if the price of equipment decreases and as long as the Indian economy continues to perform with a strong Rupee, low inflation, low interest rates, and if no new taxes are imposed on the sector. To achieve the most competitive tariffs in India, the cost of investment must be continuously optimized. This will allow the implementation of improved technologies such as bifacial and higherefficiency solar panels, more performant wind turbines with higher capacity and larger diameter, and innovative solutions such as molten salt storage solutions for solar electricity or wind-solar hybrid installations combined with energy management systems. Such solutions are presently being experimented by EDF among others.

Are there any partnerships/ collaborations that the company is planning in India? Harmanjit Nagi: EDF’s commercial momentum in the countries where the company is established pursues the objective of establishing itself in the long term by partnering with the local economic and industrial fabric of the countries. We believe that the most adequate solutions to address India's issues are thought out by local businesses and start-ups. Thus we are constantly looking for new partners. This is what we are already doing in current projects by bringing in local companies. This is the meaning of the EDF Pulse India program launched last year which allows Indian entrepreneurs/startups to present their technological or commercial business ideas to a jury of energy experts. The finalists are selected to be accompanied financially and technically based on the relevance of their solutions with local issues. Existing in several other countries, the Pulse Start-up Awards aims to identify innovative low-carbon local players who are fully aligned with the country’s energy challenges and EDF’s values. EDF Group has already joined forces with companies within joint ventures or consortium with international industrial companies to develop large-scale projects in India. This is the case with the 4 solar power plant construction projects in northern India jointly developed by Total EREN and EDF Renewables as part of the EDEN Renewables joint venture.

Explain your company's expansion and investment plans for the Indian market? Harmanjit Nagi: India is one of EDF’s focus markets, a crucial part of the company’s goals of tripling its business outside Europe and doubling the RE capacity worldwide by 2030 and EDF aims to be one of the key partners in India’s energy development program. To achieve this, we intend to hire many engineers and technicians – in both solar and wind energy business – by 2021 and keep looking for promising Indian start-ups to partner with. We are keen to implement solutions that best fit the Indian context. For this, it is important to be connected to the economic fabric and support innovations. And that’s what the “EDF Pulse India” challenge is all about. EDF Pulse has been launched in the UK, France, Brazil, Africa and China .Since the launch of EDF Pulse in 2014 more than1,800 start-ups have applied for the awards, and approximately 60 projects have been supported by the EDF Group. In India, the initiative aims to meet the country’s energy challenges and to build a sustainable, resilient ecosystem for future generations.

StoreDot Joins Pioneering Research Mission on ISS to Test Extreme Fast Charging in Space

StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles (EVs), has announced that together with the Israeli Electric Company (IEC), it has been approved by NASA to conduct the first space-based research and development program into new battery materials. As part of the Israel Space Agency and The Ramon Foundation’s pioneering RAKIA mission to the International Space Station in February 2022, StoreDot’s XFC technology will undergo two weeks of rigorous testing in zero gravity conditions. The results are expected to pave the way for a new generation of advanced lithiumion batteries and accelerate the time to market of StoreDot’s ‘5-minute’ charge battery by bringing energy density and cycle life into line with the requirements of EV OEMs. In a specially-devised experiment, coin cells of StoreDot’s silicon-dominant anode XFC battery will undergo hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, with the results collected by means of a computer contained within the enclosed unit. Once the experiment, which was designed in collaboration with and funded by the IEC, is returned to earth, StoreDot’s team of scientists will undertake extensive analysis of the data, as well as examine the battery itself to note any physical or chemical changes that have taken place during the experiment. In particular, StoreDot will use the experiment to gain new insights into the chemical reactions that cause silicon to expand during the fast-charging process. This will be achieved by using zero gravity conditions to identify irregularities in the silicon surface of the anode. Importantly, the findings from the research will be incorporated into the first engineering samples of StoreDot’s silicondominant anode XFC battery for EVs, which will be available for testing by the end of 2022.

Liverpool Uni Researchers Develop Stable Electrolyte for Li-O2 Batteries

Researchers at the University of Liverpool, in partnership with Johnson Matthey PLC and Loughborough University, are working on developing stable and practical electrolytes for lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries (or lithium-air battery). They have advanced new theories on the subject, whose execution can create greater energy storage capacity than that offered by the conventional lithium-ion battery. In a new paper entitled ‘Design Parameters for Ionic Liquid–Molecular Solvent Blend Electrolytes to Enable Stable Li Metal Cycling Within Li–O2 Batteries’ published this month in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, the scientists characterise and develop electrolyte formulations that significantly minimise side reactions within the battery to enable improved longer cycle stability. According to the lead author of the paper, Dr Alex Neale, the research demonstrates that the reactivity of certain electrolyte components can be switched off by precise control of component ratios. He says that the ability to precisely formulate the electrolyte using readilyavailable, low volatility components enabled him and his colleagues to specially tailor an electrolyte for the needs of metal-air battery technology that delivered greatly improved cycle stability and functionality.

The partnership between the two University research groups in Liverpool and Loughborough and Johnson Matthey PLC was supported by an Innovate UK Grant. The latter enables industry and academia to work together to manage research challenges in technology. Besides Neale and Goddard, the authors of the paper include Ryan Sharpe, Stephen R. Yeandel, ChihHan Yen, Konstantin V. Luzyanin, Enrico A. Petrucco, and Laurence J. Hardwick.

Maxeon’s New Silicon-based Solar Panels Coming Out This Summer

Headquartered in Singapore, solar manufacturer Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd. has announced that it will release a new line of frameless, thin, lightweight, glass-less, and flexible silicon-based solar panels this summer called Maxeon Air. The panels will be made available in select European markets in the second half of 2021, before a general global release in the first quarter of 2022.

Maxeon states that the new panels, which are structurally advanced but equivalent to standard solar panels in terms of efficiency and performance, to be a result of five years of research, development and testing. Maxeon Air solar panel will be presented to the public during “The Smarter E Industry Days” on July 21-23. The company claims that Maxeon Air solar panels are conformable, ultra-light, robust and fire-certified panels that can be adhered directly to the roof without the need for racking or other mounting systems. The first product introduction using the technology will target installation on roofs that are not engineered to support the weight of conventional solar systems. In Europe alone, the company estimates that there is an unserved annual market for low-load roofs of over 4 GW.

Jeff Waters, CEO of Maxeon Solar Technologies, said, “For close to fifty years, the solar power industry has almost exclusively utilized glass superstrate panel construction. As solar panels have increased in size, and the cost of solar cells has been dramatically reduced, the cost of transporting, installing and mounting large glass panels has become a relatively larger portion of total system cost.” He adds that with Maxeon Air technology, the company can now develop products that reduce these costs while opening up completely new market opportunities such as low-load commercial rooftops.

UK Researchers Use Compressed Air for Cooling and Cleaning PV panels

In a paper entitled ‘Study on the Cleaning and Cooling of Solar Photovoltaic Panels Using Compressed Airflow’, published in the journal Solar Energy in June 2021, U.K. researchers from the University of Warwick made a case for using the airflow produced from compressed air for cleaning and cooling solar panels simultaneously.

The researchers made use of a mathematical model to analyze how dust adhesion on the PV panels’ surface is removed through the airflow and how the air also has a positive impact on the panel operating temperature. On the basis of the consequent findings, a pilot cleaning and cooling system is built based on a compressed-air unit which was made of a compressor, an air tank, and an airflow regulation valve, and a series of nozzles with a thickness of 5mm. The scientists claim that all the components are cheap and standardized products.

They explain: “Compressor is directly powered by the PV panels and the release of the compressed air from the tank is regulated by the valve to meet the mass flow requirements of cleaning and cooling. The spreading air from the nozzles installed at the edge of panels overlaps and forms a flake shape airflow then carries away the dust and heat from the panel surface.”

Air can be transmitted over the panels through a pipe assembly that can be moved across an installation to clean and cool its parts when it is more needed. The authors of the paper include Dacheng Li, Marcus King, Mark Dooner, Songshan Guo, and Jihong Wang.

Solar Cell Deposition Method At Lower Cost

Researchers led by the Technical University of Ilmenau in Germany claim that if silicon dioxide (SiO2) films are deposited at room temperature without complex vacuum systems, they can be a good, cost-effective candidate for use in commercial c-Si solar cell production lines. SiO2 deposition is used as a passivation layer or a protective layer in various types of silicon PV cells.

In a paper entitled 'Application of Hydrosilane-free Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition of SiOx Films in the Manufacture of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells', published last year in the journal Thin Solid Films, the scientists developed a new process for the deposition of silicon dioxide layers during cell production. Without the need for high pressure, flammable gases, or vacuum conditions, the process could lead to cost reductions for cell manufacturers, provided it can be developed and applied in a largescale production setting. "In this work we present SiOx films deposited in cost-effective laboratory scale three-dimensional printed atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition setup," the scientists say. The group notes that plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is the most common process used with this material, but requires both high temperatures and a vacuum.

The quality of the deposited films was investigated as to their integrity, conformity with various surfaces, and post-treatment resilience such as stability against etchants and annealing. Several applications of the SiOx film prepared with the atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) were discussed.

In one application, the APCVD SiOx was utilized to effectively promote single-side texturing of Float Zone and Czochralski Si wafers by coating only one side with SiOx and subsequently annealing prior to texturing in an alkaline aqueous solution. Another application was to exploit the APCVD SiOx as a plating mask for silicon heterojunction solar cells.

Vestas Leads IndustryAcademic Wind Blade Recycling Coalition

Danish wind turbine company Vestas Wind Systems, along with Olin Corporation, Danish Technological Institute, and Aarhus University, announced today that a coalition of industry and academic leaders has developed a new technology to enable circularity for thermoset composites, the material used to make wind turbine blades. To enable the adoption of this new technology, and to advance a circular economy across the wind industry, a new initiative entitled CETEC (Circular Economy for Thermosets Epoxy Composites) has been established. Within three years, CETEC is aiming to present a fully scoped solution ready for industrial adoption, based on commercialisation of the novel circularity technology. Vestas will be spearheading the CETEC, which is partly funded by Innovation Fund Denmark (IFD). Other members of CETEC include Olin, the world leading producer of Epoxy, the Danish Technological Institute (DTI), and Aarhus University.

Developed by DreamWind, an innovation initiative driven by the same partners, the new CETEC technology consists of a two-step process. Firstly, thermoset composites are disassembled into fibre and epoxy. Secondly, through a novel chemcycling process, the epoxy is further broken up into base components similar to virgin materials. These materials can then be reintroduced into the manufacturing of new turbine blades, constituting a new circularity pathway for epoxy resin. Vestas recently slipped down to the third position from its former first place in a new ranking of top wind turbine manufacturers for 2020 released by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). The company also made headlines in February 2021 when it appointed Purvin Patel as Regional President of its Asia Pacific branch in order to strengthen the firm’s presence and market position in the region.

Five years is a very long time in the battery business

Sanvaru Technology CEO and founder AK Shukla seems to love doing the unconventional. From starting up a battery business when it wasn’t really the obvius thing to do, to setting up headquarters in Sonipat, Haryana. Today, the firm claims to be the leading manufacturer of Li ion/ Lifepo4battery pack for Solar/Electronic equipments /Medical equipments/Home lighten System & Off-Grid Solar Systems (ESS). It has alsopioneered the design of customized Lithium Ion Batteries for the off-grid solar systems for defense, telecom & railway projects under the name of Sanvaru & Li3 in India. Shukla is the driving force behind the firm, with his lithium battery experience going back all the way to 2007. We caught up with him for a short interview.

AK SHUKLA

CEO, Sanvaru Technology

Describe your 7-year journey so far in the lithium-ion battery sector? AK Shukla: Seven Years ago, after and amid the worst financial crisis I had seen in my life till then, I founded Sanvaru Technology in Delhi NCR, India with a vision of clean, green energy and to create Jobs for the young youths and to bridge the gap of gender inequality. Since 2014, we've grown to a team of 72 team members across all states of India and supported over multi-MWh of projects in all segment of Energy Storage. Our team has expanded our portfolio of services to include the entire energy storage and Renewable Integration supply chain and continues to explore new market segments. While I'm proud of the achievements we've had over the years, I'm proudest of the culture we've developed at Sanvaru as visible by the core values our team embraces every day. I look forward to the next many more years with our Sanvaru Family as we create a better future and help our clients and stakeholders deploy storage solutions, Electric Mobility and Urban Infrastructure worldwide. We firmly believe in “Energy storage serves as a central catalyst for modernizing and creating a more reliable and resilient, efficient, sustainable, and affordable energy/ grid in the domain of stationary Storage, Urban Mobility and Modern infra”.

Over the next 5 years, considering the awareness and momentum that the renewables and sustainable energy segment has gained in India, where do you see your firm - how are you planning to move forward? AK Shukla: Sanvaru and many more companies around the world are working to accomplish one vision that is to solve our climate crisis and, to that end, we are working to massively accelerate decarbonization, electrification, and resilience. We are rapidly expanding our business network across India and supporting partners to deploy clean energy products and solution including e-mobility, urban Infrastructure and microgrids. We have launched a Social and CSR program to streamline our collaboration with non-profits creating clean energy microgrids. Aside from cost reductions and accessibility to emerging energy storage technologies, there are other key drivers to the recent uptake. These include an increase in the cost of electricity, the falling cost of renewables and a desire to be less dependent on the national grid. The combination of these drivers has seen many people look to develop their own power supply based around renewable generation and an energy storage system. Also, Sanvaru is working on many new and emerging Battery Storage Systems Wherein Our Priority is to develop large

integrated solutions in the stationary segment with best in quality, warranty management Systems and After Sales Services with the least TOT. • The Next Level of engagement would be in the field of Battery cell research and production Centre • Cell development plant for the battery industry- Through

Technical Collaboration of institute of repute like NREL- US,

IIT’s and other battery Innovation Institute • Part of the industry consortium contributing to the plant set-up and operation. Five years is a very long time in the battery business; however, we have not yet seen anything yet that is in production to replace more typical Li-ion chemistries, and certainly there are many who argue that this won't change for quite a while.

Can you please define the key characteristics of your technology for the readers? AK Shukla: We know that the fastest, cheapest way to decarbonize, especially over the next 10 years, is clean electrification: shifting the grid to carbon-free sources and shifting other sectors and energy services onto the grid. Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) have become essential for many applications. Li-ion cells have many desirable characteristics, such as high efficiency, a long cycle life, high energy density, high power density and high charge/ discharge capability. Due to these characteristics, Li-ion based battery systems have been used in many applications over the last few decades, such as consumer goods, industrial applications, electric vehicles (EVs), and more recently in energy storage applications, to make renewable energy more versatile, whether for houses with PV systems or utility-scale systems to manage the energy of a small city. At our design & Innovation center, we are fulfilling the SDGs of the UN, COP and Paris Climate Agreement, development of IOT, IOE and AI, Blockchain through Energy Exchanges. Our innovative Business Model of EaaS, PaaS and RaaS energy storage platform are vertically integrated and purpose-built solution for the demands of utility-scale, residential, commercial and industrial, Data Centers and micro grid applications. • First of its Kind to Announce the Bankable Energy Storage

Solutions Under the Concept “Power for All- 24 X7” under Net

Zero Model. • Results based Business Case: Data Centres, Telecom Towers, C &

I Customers, Mini and Micro Grids

How has the market evolved? In terms of costs, technological changes, etc? AK Shukla: The energy storage industry is always evolving, and new and improved battery options for every segment come out constantly. We all know Energy Storage is the "NEXT BIG THING". the storage of energy is vital to shift intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar to baseload reliability. But a big question how to get involved? Start of this year we launched many more innovative solutions, a solution for small and mid-scale microgrid applications. To develop, we took our innovations from many industry experts, key learnings from previous generations of our product, and feedback from the field. The motivation was to improve the customer experience with our smaller and mid-scale solution. We made a product that’s faster and simpler to install for our market technicians. We also upgraded the materials, design, and software to provide customers a premium-quality product that is easy to use, reliable, and durable. There needs to be a technology change to make batteries a success. It's not just improvements in performance that are required, it's the development of battery recycling or the development of battery technology that allows for easy recycling, without which I fear we're creating an environmental time bomb.

How do you see the potential in the Lithium battery market? Size, growth and opportunities? AK Shukla: The market for Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) is projected to grow at a CAGR of 35% with an increase from 2.9 GWh in 2018 to 132 GWh in just over a decade. The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020, enhancement in renewable power generation capacity as well as the recent SOPs to the EV sector sets up the industry for aggressive growth even with shaved off projections on account of the pandemic. The current share of LIB used in the EV sector is around 35%, with telecom, power sector, localised storage applications, consumer electronics, data centres and others making up the rest. The share of the battery market for the EV sector is expected to grow from 35% to about 80% by 2030 based on projected growth in EV sales at 71% CAGR. The market in India, buoyed by lower LIB prices, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 34.8% between 2021-2024 (Global News Wire). This might be troublesome considering only 269,000 tonnes were mined in 2018 while projections of 1.637M tonnes of LI will be needed to match the demand by 2025. Tapping of the Opportunity: We feel and have confidence that with the data mentioned above for the globe and in line with India, we would like to sharpen our sword for the next level of business and with new innovations. We want to have a larger pie in the segment of EV, Data centers, integration of renewable energy technologies for smart power generation & transmission, Large Storage LIB Systems and would like to place our self in the top ten of the ESS and RET companies under all verticals of RE and EC.

UL Acquires Solar Analytics Firm Clear Sky Analytics

UL, a global safety science leader and one of the world’s top advisors on the development, evaluation and optimization of renewable energy projects, today announced the acquisition of solar analytics company Clear Sky Analytics’ proprietary software platform and related assets. Clear Sky Analytics co-founders Ajay Saproo and John Corson will also join UL.

Clear Sky Analytics specializes in distilling and interpreting operating PV solar plant data to improve performance by providing actionable insights.

The proprietary software platform analyzes solar asset performance and provides prescriptive insights. This acquisition expands UL’s solar offerings and the overall depth of its solar and wind renewables expertise which includes advisory services across project life cycle and supply chain, from due diligence to project development, certification, testing and inspection, asset management and reporting.

“We are delighted that Clear Sky Analytics platform is now part of UL and will help create a safer, more secure and sustainable world,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, UL Inc. “With solar power as an emission-free, reliable source of energy, increasing and optimizing its supply enables communities globally to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce global warming emissions. The Clear Sky acquisition furthers how UL is applying human, brand and financial capital to help our customers deliver positive actions that benefit our planet, its people and the prosperity of future generations.”

Founded by solar industry veterans Ajay Saproo and John Corson in 2017, Clear Sky Analytics specializes in distilling and interpreting operating PV solar plant data to improve performance by providing actionable insights. Clear Sky Analytics’ proprietary software platform integrates data quality management, performance modeling and analysis algorithms to generate a comprehensive and quantitative accounting of energy produced and energy lost to specific causes. Saproo happens to be a BITS Pilani graduate from 1991, who went on to do his masters in the US post that. Before starting Clear Sky with John Carson, he was working at SunEdison as Head, reliability and Energy Analysis, where co-founder John Corson was also handling Reliability. Corson is a BA (Physics) from Harvard University, followed by a PhD in Physics from University of California, Berkeley.

“Enabling our customers to plan, finance, build, operate and manage solar energy projects is key to the overall transition from our fossil fuel energy present to a renewables intensive future,” said Jason Fischer, president, Enterprise and Advisory at UL. “Clear Sky Analytics’ cutting-edge prescriptive insight in the fast-growing solar market is the ideal complement to UL’s advisory, certification and testing services. We are pleased to welcome Clear Sky Analytics to UL and are confident their deep expertise within solar will help drive continued innovation that will benefit our global customer base.’

Since Clear Sky’s inception in March 2017, the company has provided development and operational insight for more than 150 solar projects that span diverse geographies and designs. This includes collaborations between Clear Sky and UL. Engagements have included UL advisory and laboratory and field inspections services combined with Clear Sky’s plant performance data analysis that have resulted in optimized solar plant performance and substantial operator cost savings.

“We are thrilled to be part of the UL family to help customers globally mitigate risk and optimize returns from their solar projects” said Ajay Saproo, founder and CEO, Clear Sky Analytics. “Having previously partnered with UL on various projects, we are confident that our combined capabilities will create value for our customers and drive technological advances in navigating the complexities of managing solar plants over the project lifecycle.” The transaction closed on May 17, 2021. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

LONGi Wins at “All Quality Matters” Solar Congress 2021

China-based leading solar PV manufacturer LONGi recently announced that it has once again received recognition at the 2021 edition of the TÜV Rheinland “All Quality Matters” Solar Congress, with its Hi-MO 4 and Hi-MO 5 high-efficiency modules winning awards for PV Module Outdoor Energy Yield (Monofacial Group) and PV Module Energy Yield Simulation (Bifacial monocrystalline group) respectively.

The AQM award is awarded after an objective evaluation process which comprises an authoritative selection mechanism. It has become a well-reputed honour and a competitive stage for companies in the PV industry. Energy yield simulation is assessed on the basis of samples randomly selected from massproduced modules, with performance tested and energy yield simulated under different environmental conditions across numerous countries. LONGi has now won awards for Energy Yield Simulation in 2017 and 2018, Outdoor Energy Yield in 2019, and Outdoor Energy Yield (Monofacial Group + Bifacial Group) in 2020. Dennis She, Senior Vice President at LONGi Solar, was invited to participate in a roundtable discussion at the congress on the opportunities and challenges faced by the solar PV industry in contributing to China’s goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. The development of new energy and the transformation of energy structure is being undertaken at an accelerated speed to achieve carbon neutrality. Facing the challenges presented to the PV industry in terms of capacity expansion, She said that LONGi will continue to develop its product leadership strategy, keep investing in R&D and turn highvalue research results into mass production, so as to contribute to the carbon neutrality target.

India and the EU Commit to Energy Connectivity Partnership

On May 10, 2021, India and the European Union agreed to bring the EU-India Roadmap 2025 in action and foster new synergies to jointly contribute to a safer, greener, cleaner, more digital, resilient and stable world. The day saw two key events- ‘India-EU Leader’s Meeting’ and ‘India-EU Business Roundtable’- being held simultaneously so that alliances in climate, digital and healthcare could be ensured.

Experts predict that India’s demand for energy will increase more than that of any other country over the next two decades, directly increasing GHG emissions. While India has been adding large scale renewable power to its energy composition as part of its commitments; the deployment of the same, a sustainable and just phase out of coal and improved financial health of distribution companies are some necessary next steps to be made in the context of the energy sector. While the declining cost of solar PV and the volume of solar installations in the country are reassuring, a lasting transition to RE away from fossil fuel, especially coal, requires decreased costs of storage as well.

Both the EU and India are on pathway to decarbonize, and the sustainable measures agreed upon by both on Saturday are aimed at exploiting their shared aspirations and abilities. India recently announced an ambitious target of setting up 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and is working on a roadmap to achieve this target. The EU has led many of the early efforts to build demand for wind and solar PV and experience from these can be instrumental for catering to India’s needs for clean energy generation for clean development. At a recent event organised by the International Federation of IndoIsrael Chambers of Commerce (IFIICC) to discuss the ongoing business collaborations being pursued through IFIICC’s leadership across sectors, India, Israel and the UAE signed their maiden trilateral agreement.

The partnership has been initiated by IFIICC, as part of which an Israel-based company, Ecoppia, is producing an innovative robotic solar cleaning technology in India for a landmark project in the UAE. The company claims to be the world leader in robotic solutions for photovoltaic solar, offering a connected platform that cost-effectively maximises the performance of utilityscale installations worldwide. Its manufacturing base is in India, and its global projects span 2,700 MW.

The announcement of the trilateral agreement follows the completion of the Abraham Accords agreements between Israel, the UAE and the US last year in April, which ensured the possibility of enhancing bilateral relations and business partnerships between Israel and the UAE, in the future.

The head of the Israeli mission in Dubai, Ambassador Ilan Sztulman Starosta, noted that India being friends with both Israel and UAE “is clearly the preferred partner to leverage the global potential of the UAE, Israel and India Trilateral.” Further Israel and India have “pegged the innovation and international business potential of the UAE, Israel and India Trilateral to be $110 billion by 2030.”

Attending diplomats and members of the business community agreed that the trade among the three countries can propel to a high of USD 110 billion by 2030 by tapping into their mutual strengths.

India, Israel, UAE Sign Maiden Trilateral Trade Agreement

IHS Renewables Markets Attractiveness 2020 Rankings: US #1; India #6

London-based American-British information provider IHS Markit Ltd has released the results of another Global Renewables Markets Attractiveness Rankings for the period ending December 2020, which tracks the world’s countries’ attractiveness for investment for non-hydro renewables (offshore wind, onshore wind and solar PV). As the Biden Administration aims to significantly increase federal investment in renewable energy under the American Jobs Plan, the United States already ranks as the most attractive market for renewables investment in the results of the new IHS rankings.

The United States claimed the top spot on account of sound market fundamentals and the availability of an attractive— though phasing down—support scheme. Mainland China, which accounted for over half of the world’s total non-hydro renewables additions last year, ranked third on the attractiveness ranking—just behind number two Germany—as difficulties in accessing the market weighed down its overall score.

According to IHS Markit, its Global Renewable Markets Attractiveness Rankings utilise an integrated proprietary methodology to provide comparable views of 35 markets that are expected to account for 90% of non-hydro renewables capacity additions to 2030.

The ranking evaluates each country on the basis of seven subcategories that include the current policy framework, market fundamentals, investor friendliness, infrastructure readiness, revenue risks and return expectations, easiness to compete and the overall opportunity size for each market. Each market is scored in individual categories for solar PV, onshore wind, offshore wind and an overall renewables score is calculated.

The overall country rankings are based on a combined score for offshore wind, onshore wind and solar PV that weights the different technologies based on their expected levels of installations over the next decade.

RECAI 57th Edition Out: $5.2 Trillion needed for ‘Net-zero’; US #1; India #3

Apiece of positive news has come from Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY), which recently released its 57th Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI), granting the third position to India due to its continued progress in solar energy.

The biannual RECAI ranks the world’s top 40 markets on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities. The rankings reflect assessments of market attractiveness and global market trends. The US retains top position on the 57th index and is expected to hold its position under President Biden.

While India’s performance is commendable, it may not tell the whole story about the country’s advancement in renewable energy in recent times. In the last five years, India’s position in the RECAI has fluctuated many times, including the slip from the 2nd position in 2017 to the 4th position in 2018. Last year, the country moved up from the 7th to the 4th position in the 56th EY RECAI as a result of installed solar PV capacity skyrocketing, reaching more than 35GW. This year, the country has climbed up one more position, with the market’s solar sector expected to grow significantly and with generation from solar PV forecast to exceed coal before 2040. Let us hope that the upward trend continues.

In 2020, global renewable energy capacity investments grew 2% to US$303.5 bn, the second-highest annual figure recorded to date despite the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But the RECAI 57 shows that an even greater investment is required for the world to achieve its net zero goals as per schedule.

Australia Installs Record-breaking Number of Rooftop Solar Panels: CSIRO

Generate, a leading provider of sustainable infrastructure, recently announced that it has put the first six of up to 23 New York State community solar projects into service under an innovative multi-year facility with Starbucks Coffee Company. The projects are expected to supply solar energy for local Starbucks stores and up to 24,000 households, small businesses, nonprofits, churches, universities and stores in multiple geographies, including those designated as under-served communities. In addition to clean energy, program participants will receive a discount to their current electricity rates under New York State’s Community Distributed Generation program, making clean energy access more affordable.

The solar projects will provide more than 119,885 MWhs of clean energy to Starbucks New York stores and the surrounding community annually, supporting Starbucks’ multi-decade commitment to becoming a resource-positive company by storing more carbon than it emits and reducing carbon by 50% by 2030. Starbucks has committed $97 million of tax equity to the community solar projects, in an innovative collaboration with Generate and Churchill Stateside Group.

The projects represent some of the first community solar and storage projects in New York State’s fast-growing community solar market. Generate is a leading owner and operator of community solar and storage projects in New York State, with more than 182 MW of New York community solar projects owned or in construction. 38 Degrees North collaborated with Generate on the projects and financings.

Starbucks made the investment through a fund established by financial services company Churchill Stateside Group. Additionally, Starbucks is receiving renewable energy credits from the projects, which are expected to offset over 70% of Starbucks electricity usage within the state.

JinkoSolar Awarded the Best HR Strategy of the Year

Data from the Clean Energy Regulator analysed by CSIRO shows that in 2020, around Australia, over 362,000 rooftop solar PV installations were issued with small-scale renewable energy scheme certificates (STCs) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.

This is an increase of 28 per cent from 2019, when 283,991 installations were issued STCs, with the majority of installs under the scheme being residential, and a smaller number for commercial and industrial properties.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the analysis showed a strong appetite for science-led innovation in Australia.

“CSIRO has analysed and projected energy futures for more than two decades, and over that time we have accurately forecast and tracked the reduction in cost of renewables, and the development of battery storage options, including our own UltraBattery,” Dr Marshall said.

He added that science had made renewables cost competitive with conventional power, letting market forces take over to drive a global transition to lower emissions. According to him, Australia’s solar advantage creates an economic opportunity for the country on the world stage and an environmental benefit for the globe – even better when it’s powered by Australian science and research.

CSIRO researchers use the Clean Energy Regulator data as the best indicator of PV installations around Australia, and is just one of the five sources of data collated by CSIRO’s Australian Housing Data Portal.

Launched in 2019, the Australian Housing Data Portal centralises a vast amount of energy efficiency data that underpins key decision making, training and awareness.

Renewables Powering Through the Pandemic: IEA

Renewable sources of electricity such as wind and solar grew at their fastest rate in two decades in 2020 and are set to expand in coming years at a much faster pace than prior to the pandemic, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency. The growth in Europe and the United States will be even brisker than previously forecast, compensating for China’s transitional slowdown after exceptional 2020 growth. According to the IEA’s latest market update, the amount of renewable electricity capacity added in 2020 rose by 45% in 2020 to 280 gigawatts (GW), the largest year-on-year increase since 1999. That extra power is equal to the total installed capacity of ASEAN, a grouping of 10 dynamic SouthEast Asian economies. The increase in 2020 is set to become the “new normal”, with about 270 GW of renewable capacity on course to be added in 2021 and almost 280 GW in 2022, despite a slowdown in China after an exceptional level of additions last year. Those forecasts have been revised upwards by more than 25% from the IEA’s previous estimates in November as governments around the world have auctioned record levels of renewable capacity and companies have signed record-level power purchase agreements, even as the pandemic spread macroeconomic uncertainties and suppressed demand. Shifting power generation to renewable sources is a key pillar of global efforts to reach carbon neutrality, but CO2 emissions are set to rise this year because of a parallel rise in coal use, underscoring the major policy changes and investments in clean energy needed to meet climate goals.

Amit Jain Is New Global CEO At Sterling & Wilson Solar

India-based Global Solar EPC leader Sterling and Wilson Solar Limited (SWSL) / Company) (BSE Scrip Code: 542760; NSE Symbol: SWSOLAR), has announced the appointment of Amit Jain as Global CEO. He succeeds Bikesh Ogra, who relinquished the position with effect from 31st May 2021. Ogra will continue as a Director on the Board of the Company.

Amit Jain has been associated with Sterling and Wilson Solar Limited since January 2019 as the Country Head for US and Australia. He has been instrumental in developing US and Australia as key markets for the Company. The firm has recorded some of its biggest project wins during his tenure in these markets. He will take over the global operations of the Company and report to the Board of Directors. He will now be responsible for business development, market growth and the P&L for SWSL that has its operations across 25+ countries. He will continue to operate from Dubai. Commenting on his appointment, Jain said, “I am humbled to take on this new challenge and dedicated to meeting the high expectations that our customers, partners, employees and other stakeholders have for SWSL. I am deeply passionate about the renewable industry and look forward to making valuable contributions to the green energy transition in the world. Jain is a veteran in the EPC sector with over 29 years of experience in various industries such as Renewable Energy, Oil & Gas, Chemical/ Process plants, Power Transmission and Telecom Infrastructure. His expertise lies in developing new markets as well as the management and execution of mega projects in challenging environments. He is an Engineer from Delhi University and holds an MBA degree in International Business from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. He takes over at a time that, as leader, he has to see as full of possibilities. Besides the unprecedented growth in solar worldwide, the firm has also identified opportunities in storage, data centres and other related sectors to move into. At the same time, for a large EPC, its a time for a relook at their pricing and prediction models, as the markets are in a period of high price volatility and supply challenges. Something that looks set to continue in the foreseeable future.

Highest-ever Boom in Copper Amid Clean Energy Transition: Bloomberg

According to recent analysis by Bloomberg, a New York Cityheadquartered data and media company, copper surged this week to its highest-ever and copper futures prices rose as high as $10,440 a ton in London. This follows the boom in copper spread over the past year, which caused prices to double in the period. The year 2011 saw the previous copper record being made, when the commodities supercycle peaked, resulting from China’s rise to economic heavyweight status owing to a huge availability of raw materials. According to investors today, because copper is vital for the world’s upcoming clean energy transition, demand will surge and prices are set to go up.

Even though China is responsible for 50% of the world’s copper consumption and has majorly contributed to copper’s surge, it recorded a decrease in demand this year. The reason why prices have still gone up is partly due to evidence of recoveries in other major industrial economies, with manufacturing output surging in places like the U.S., Germany and Japan. But, the analysts believe, investors have also been piling into copper on a bet that global efforts to cut carbon emissions are going to mean the world needs a lot more of the metal, putting a strain on supply. New mine production may be slow to arrive, as mines are hard to find and expensive to develop.

Bringing electricity from offshore wind farms to national power grids is also a copperintensive exercise. Governments around the world have announced ambitious infrastructure investment plans, much of which involves construction, green energy, or both. These factors, among others, explain the recent rise in copper prices.

GAIL Jumps Into Solar Bandwagon

Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), the largest operator of gas pipelines in the country, has announced plans to enter solar power development. GAIL commands ~70% market share in gas transmission and has a Gas trading share of over ~ 50% in India. GAIL and its Subsidiaries / JVs also have a formidable market share in City Gas Distribution. In the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market, GAIL has a significant portfolio.

In the new effort to go 'green', GAIL joins virtually every Public sector Undertaking PSU in the energy space, that is already in, or has announced plans to add solar to its portfolio. Gail's immediate plans are to bid for a 400-megawatt (MW) capacity along with partner Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) in a state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (Seci) tender, said a top executive on Wednesday. BHEL is also considering manufacturing of solar cells and panels.

Manoj Jain, chairman and managing director of Gail said that besides bidding for its own projects, the firm would also actively consider acquiring operational solar assets if possible. The firm has very low debt, and the gas business has recovered somewhat after the lockdown induced slowdown from 2020. Gail has announced a net profit for the fourth quarter ended March fell of ₹1,908 crore from ₹3,018.2 crore in the year-ago period. Turnover was at ₹15,472 crore in the quarter. The PSU had reported a net profit of ₹4,890 crore for 2020-21 on a turnover of ₹56,529 crore.

GAIL has been trying to make an impact in renewable energy for some time now. An earlier deal with the fraud ridden Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) involved buying ILFS's 874 MW operational wind energy portfolio to the state-run gas utility for ₹4,800 crore. The deal was dropped when NYSE listed Japan’s Orix Corp. acquired these assets to add them to Hyderabadbased Greenko’s portfolio, with a $980 million in Greenko Energy Holdings.

While the solar sector broadly welcomes these diversifications from PSU's, considering the fact that energy PSU's tend to be much better managed and cash rich, for investors in these firms, it has been a mixed experience. Lack of experience and vision in many times has led to unrelated diversifications according to some, severely hitting valuations vis a vis private sector counterparts. As of now, the cumulative PSU commitments for Solar seem to be well over 20 GW, for the period ending 2025. And 30 GW plus by 2030. With power major NTPC leading the pack.

Electric Vehicles to Cost Less Than ICE Vehicles in EU by 2027: Report

Electric Vehicles and vans will be cheaper to make than fossil-fuel vehicles in every light vehicle segment across Europe from 2027 at the latest, according to a new BloombergNEF study commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E).

The research found that battery electric vehicles could reach 100 percent of new sales across the EU by 2035, if lawmakers introduce measures like tighter vehicle CO2 targets and strong support for charging infrastructure. T&E called on the EU to tighten emissions targets in the 2020s and set 2035 as the end date for selling new polluting vehicles.

The report found that the falling battery costs, new vehicle architectures, and dedicated production lines for electric vehicles will make them cheaper to buy, on average, even before subsidies.

But the early build-up of EV production and sales will be crucial to drive down costs and generate consumer buy-in for further adoption in the future, BNEF found. Only stricter CO2 targets for vehicle-makers in the 2020s, including a new 2027 target, can ensure that, T&E said.

The research further details that battery electric vehicles and vans could reach 100 percent of new sales by 2035, even in southern and eastern Europe, if lawmakers increase vehicle CO2 targets and ramp up other policies to stimulate the market such as a faster roll-out of charging points. If left to the market without strong additional policies, battery electric cars will reach only an 85 percent market share, and e-vans just 83 percent, in the EU by 2035 – missing Europe’s goal to decarbonise by 2050.

Global EV Market To Reach $802.75 Billion By 2028: Report

Arecent study report by Market Growth Report says that the electric vehicle (EV) market is expected to reach USD 802.75 billion by the year 2028, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.6 percent during the forecast period, 2021 – 2028. This market size was estimated to be valued at USD 273.31 billion in 2020.

The report has extensive data on emerging trends, market drivers, growth opportunities, and restraints that can change the industry’s market dynamics. It gives the analysis of the market segments which include products, applications, and competitor analysis. According to the report, the growth of the commercial vehicles segment is associated with the rising adoption of electric buses in developing countries such as India and China for their public transport networks. Various countries are focusing on replacing their existing fuel-based buses with electric buses. The rising trend of replacement of fossil fuel-based vehicles with electric buses is likely to boost the market. Also, the growth of logistics, shared mobility, and e-commerce is expected to propel the market during the forecast period.

Altogether, the electric twowheelers segment is expected to expand at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period, as the rising petrol prices encourage consumers to adopt EVs.

Earlier in 2020, In its report, India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has forecasted that in its base case scenario – India’s EV market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 44 percent between 2020-2027, and is expected to hit 6.34-million-unit annual sales by 2027. A new report published on May 17, 2021, by IRENA, outlines ways in which cities can catalyse the shift to a low-carbon future – in turn supporting regional and national governments with the achievement of sustainable energy targets and the realisation of global climate objectives. Cities can be target setters, planners and regulators. They are often owners and thus operators of municipal infrastructure. Cities are always direct consumers of energy and therefore aggregators of demand, and can be facilitators and financiers of renewable energy projects.

Renewable Energy Policies for Cities also presents case studies from small- and medium-sized cities in various regions, demonstrating that cities are already stepping up to the responsibility. Examples from China, Costa Rica, and Uganda show that despite limited access to financing and policy support, the clear benefits of sustainable energy in an urban context have inspired action.

In Kasese, Uganda, for example, the municipality recognised its significant potential for solar energy, in turn leading to the establishment of Kasese’s Municipal Sustainable Energy Strategy in 2017. IRENA contributed to Kasese’s journey in deploying solar energy with its SolarCityEngine, a web-based application to assist homes, businesses and municipal authorities in evaluating the prospects of electricity generation using rooftop solar photovoltaics. The online simulator allowed the municipality to assess the costs of incentive, affordability, and the total volume of investments.

Examples presented in the report showcase best practices for other cities working towards a decarbonised energy supply. What they emphasise is the importance of strong alignment between local and national governments, and of proactive local resident, community group and business engagement. For the global race to zero to move at an accelerated pace, the world’s urban environments must be empowered to take meaningful actions.

IEA Report Advises Shutting Out Fossil Projects Now, To Reach 1.5C Target

The International Energy Agency (IEA), one of the premier energy modeling agencies and until recently, a key backer of the perception that fossil fuel’s still have a future (of sorts), has finally changed track. In a recommendation that will surprise many people, and please even more who have been calling for the same, the agency says that all future fossil fuel projects must be scrapped if the world is to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to stand any chance of limiting warming to 1.5C. In its special report, titled ‘Net Zero by 2050: a Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector’, made for negotiators at the crucial COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November, the IEA has made the case for a 2040 deadline for the global energy sector to achieve carbon neutrality. Something it needs to consider, given the sharp decline that is imminent in fossil fuel consumption, according to the report. The special report has been described by the IEA as the world’s first comprehensive study of how to transition to a net zero energy system by 2050 while ensuring stable and affordable energy supplies, providing universal energy access, and enabling robust economic growth. It sets out a cost-effective and economically productive pathway, resulting in a clean, dynamic and resilient energy economy dominated by renewables like solar and wind instead of fossil fuels. The IEA recommendations and predictions come at a time when the agency seems to be keen to shake off the widely held accusation of being too conservative on renewable energy growth.

How Cities Can Take Action to Drive the Energy Transition: IRENA

UP Women Make Solar Lamps for Kids Facing Power Cuts in Rural Parts

In our country, rural areas suffer the most because of power cuts. Activities which require a regular flow of electricity, such as studying or cooking indoors, especially at night, are plagued by disruptions. A little relief from such problems has arrived as the Uttar Pradesh Government has launched a project to manufacture and distribute solar lamps to children in rural areas of the state at low costs.

With the help of the government and the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund, women in rural UP, belonging to self-help groups, are making solar lamps. These solar lamps are being made available to school children by the government for Rs 100 per piece while the same are being sold for Rs 500 per piece in the market.

As part of the Prerna Ojas Programme of Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (Rural Development Department), this initiative helps women of self-help groups to become independent and socially and economically empowered. Over 35 women from 18 groups were selected to receive training in manufacturing cheaper solar lamps and selling them, while a unit was set up at Paraunkh village of President Ram Nath Kovind in the first phase of the Prerna Ojas program.

In the past, the UP government has distributed 28 lakh solar lamps made by 4,000 women to school children across 30 districts.

Interestingly, earlier in March, Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), had invited bids for seeking private participation on a revenue-sharing basis for distributing 10 million LED Lamps under its Gram Ujala program.

CESL expects to obtain 70 lakh 12-Watt LED lamps for Rs 75 per bulb and 30 lakh 7-Watt lamps for Rs 42 for a bulb. The company said it will guarantee payment of 50 percent of the last discovered price, giving private companies assurance of a floor price. The company announced that under this program it will distribute highquality LED lamps at an affordable cost in rural areas.

Fimer Launches Two New Platforms For Utility Segment

FIMER, a leading global player in the production of photovoltaic inverters and charging solutions for electric mobility, opened the company’s ‘virtual’ doors to the world for the first time. The company is inviting customers and partners from over 100 countries to participate in a truly innovative 360 ° Virtual Tour on 22 June.

Virtual visitors will be able to visit FIMER’s zero-impact headquarters, its production sites, as well as experience workplaces up close and touch, even if only “virtually”, the quality of FIMER solutions.

To register for the Virtual Tour, Link to the 360° Virtual Tour homepage: https:// discoverus.fimer.com/it/home/

On 22 June, FIMER will also launch two new innovative platforms for the Utility segment, a rapidly growing market for which the company has recently announced plans to create a dedicated Research & Development Center in Italy, which will enable FIMER to increase its focus on solutions innovation while enhancing its responsiveness to customer needs. The new platforms have been designed to meet the market demand for high power density solutions and easy integration with storage.

Filippo Carzaniga, Chairman at FIMER, said: “The past 12 months have seen FIMER cement its position as a leading global inverter manufacturer. Our commitment to developing the best solutions for our customers means we have also adapted our business model to reflect customer need. This includes the appointment of a new senior team to drive innovation across our four core lines of business – utility-scale, commercial, and residential solar, and EVI – and the launch of our new R&D Center of Excellence for the utility sector in Italy.

“In addition, we will be launching a new and unique-tothe-market platform and solution for the utility segment on 22 June. This truly is an exciting time to be part of the solar sector, and we are looking forward to sharing our plans with our customers and key stakeholders from across our key global markets.”

As RE Continues to Expand, India’s Battery Storage Market a Sleeping Giant: IEEFA

Grid integration of large-scale variable renewables will be one of India’s biggest challenges as it aspires to decarbonise its power economy through deployment of 450 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy (RE) by 2030. Reaching this target from the current installed renewable capacity of 93 GW will require average annual renewable capacity additions of ~35 GW.

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) India Energy Outlook 2021 suggests India could further double its renewables capacity to 900 GW by 2040. With record low solar tariffs of below Rs 2.00/kWh (USD 27/MWh), renewables in India are now extremely cost competitive with coalfired power and are set to be the dominant source of power supply for decades to come.

Currently, renewables form 10 percent of India’s total power generation and that share will increase to 31 percent by 2030 with 450GW coming online. While integration of large-scale variable renewables is one of the biggest challenges for the transition of India’s power market, leaders in large-scale renewable penetration – Germany with 46 percent, South Australia with 60 percent and California with 36 percent of total generation coming from renewables – show that it can be done.

As the share of variable renewable generation continues to increase, India’s power system will have to evolve and modernise to respond to grid stability challenges. There is a need for an accelerated deployment of assets such as utility-scale battery storage in order to store power when it is available in abundance and provide firm power later, during the evening.

Enphase To Establish Installer Network In India

Enphase Energy, one of the early pioneers and specialist in microinverter-based solar-plusstorage systems, has launched its Enphase Installer Network (EIN), now being expanded into India. Enphase has been in the news recently for a string of partnerships in the space, both with storage firms and module firms.

Exclusive or trained installers are becoming increasingly important for major firms, as products become more complex, and perform more functions. Solar with storage for instance is a huge opportunity, where high capex requirements means the need for a quality vendor. Enphase clearly gets it, and has plans to maintain its reputation with its established network in India too.

Being part of the EIN network will give selected installers access to exclusive tools and other benefits, besides being able to offer the assurance of quality warranties to homeowners who opt for Enphase-based solar systems. These include exclusive access to new products, executive sponsorship, tradeshow invites, priority in product allocation, zero cost leads, discounted product warranty extensions, co-branding and promotion opportunities. Homeowners, can look forward to quality service and a platform to locate premium installers in their area, using an installer location tool. Enphase has created a three tiered system for membership of EIN, Enphase Platinum, Gold, or Silver installers. These are based on a system of performance benchmarks including product certification status, relationship duration, and homeowner satisfaction ratings.

As one of the oldest and well established names in the business, Enphase in India enjoys wide recognition and acceptability. That should mean a fast enough opportunity to scale up, considering the latent demand in the rooftop systems market, besides commercial markets, where Enphase has done well. While the firm has not shared any numbers on how big it wants the network in India to be, we have been given an indication of a number upwards of 200 by an existing solar inverter dealer. Coming up soon could also be more detailed and comprehensive warranties.

In recent months, service quality is being drummed as a key differentiator, to get out of the commoditised mindset of sola buyers, who are simply quoted costs in price per watt or Kilowatt by many installers, without details on brands being provided in the package. Premium, established brands like REC Group in modules, and now Enphase in inverters, obviously want to counter that with real differentiators.

Potential for 1.5M Jobs in Clean Energy In India

Multinational professional services network Ernst & Young Global Limited, in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), has released a report entitled "Accelerating post-pandemic economic recovery with clean energy infrastructure and jobs in India", which highlights concrete policy recommendations for balancing economic recovery and climate neutrality goals in the post COVID stimulus efforts by Government of India.

The report emphasises the need for new energy infrastructure to boost economic recovery and self-reliance without reversing the trends of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, air pollution and other climate change related shocks in the post COVID economic recovery era.

The EY – FICCI report has identified over 600 ‘shovel-ready’ low carbon investment opportunities in the pipeline with tremendous potential for post-pandemic economic recovery and job creation in India.

Somesh Kumar, Partner and National Leader, Power & Utilities, EY India, says, “Over 600 ‘shovel-ready’ low carbon investment project pipeline identified by us has the potential to accelerate ~INR 2 Lakh crore of equity and ~INR 4 Lakh crore of project finance debt but more importantly support close to ~15 lakh fresh jobs in the immediate future. Further, the stimulus measures recommended can help advance the clean energy project pipeline and help frame the next leg of postpandemic stimulus action.”

He further adds that policy makers need to reflect on the urgency of the challenges posed by COVID-19 and leverage on the existing clean energy programs for quick economic recovery. Also, labour intensive ‘shovel ready’ low carbon infrastructure projects having strong interactions with the hard-hit construction industry must be at the focus of the post COVID green stimulus efforts.

The EY - FICCI report throws light on what is at stake in terms of the economic development, capital mobilisation, selfreliance, jobs and environment in the following critical thematic areas of clean energy infrastructure, while specifying their project pipeline and impact as well as stimulus action efforts:

Utility scale Renewable Energy (RE) power generation: Stimulus action: Clarity on waiver of inter-state transmission charges and losses on supply of solar and wind power beyond June 2023; set up a mechanism to rediscover tariffs for stranded projects without power purchase agreement (PPA); establish a robust coordination mechanism between Central off-takers and State governments toward firming up long term power procurement plans. Project pipeline and impact: 332 projects; 84 GW of pipeline capacity; 4,109 MT avoided CO2 emissions.

Rooftop solar PV deployment: Stimulus action: Boost demand for rooftop solar deployment in the institutional sectors, especially rural health centres and schools; promote net metering in all categories of consumers up to 1 MW of sanctioned load; promote third party owned business models for accelerated RTPV capacity addition in the domestic category. Project pipeline and impact: 166 projects; 18 GW of pipeline capacity; 622 MT avoided CO2 emissions

Decentralized RE power generation: Stimulus action: Generation based incentives for decentralized grid connected solar PV systems co-located with crops on agriculturally productive land parcels; Dedicated financing facility for improving farmer access to low cost debt funds and boosting commercial viability of 1-2 MW scale ground mounted Solar PV projects on CAPEX mode. Project pipeline and impact: 44 projects; 14.5 GW of pipeline capacity; 550 MT avoided CO2 emissions.

Original RE equipment manufacturing: Stimulus action: Boost demand for high efficiency solar PV modules and Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) battery solutions; formulate and target new Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes toward coal dependent states. Project pipeline and impact: 12 projects; 40,000 fresh jobs.

EV charging infrastructure: Stimulus action: National / state level policy frameworks to promote and incentivise electric utility investment in EV charging infrastructure; restructure markets to create alternate revenue streams for EV charge point operators and investors.

Project pipeline and impact: 4,180 stations; 13,263 fresh jobs.

Top 10 Solar Tracker Firms

Asolar tracker is a device deployed along with solar panels, directing the latter towards the sun. Trackers not only maximise the energy capture but also further boost the efficiency of the overall power generation process through minimising the angle of incidence - or the angle that a ray of light makes with a line perpendicular to the surface - between the incoming light and the panel.

There are two kinds of solar trackers: 1. The single-axis solar tracker, which rotates on one axis moving back and forth in a single direction; 2. The dual-axis tracker, which continually faces the sun since it can move in two different directions. This device can also be combined with other panel technologies like parabolic troughs, fresnel reflectors, solar panels, and lenses.

Top 10 Solar Tracker Firms in the World 1. Nextracker (United States):

Nextracker has been the number-one global market-share solar tracker company for several years running, according to research firm

WoodMackenzie. The firm claims to have delivered more than 50 GW of smart solar trackers for projects on five continents, including some of the largest solar farms in the world. Their

TrueCapture and NX Navigator smart monitoring and control software platforms are highly valued tracking systems. 2. Array Technologies (US):

Headquartered in the US, with offices in Europe, Central America, and

Australia, the company has over 28 years of experience in manufacturing robust, reliable, and innovative tracking solutions guaranteed to deliver the lowest cost of ownership.

Array Technologies tracking solutions can be used for residential, commercial and utility applications alike. 3. Soltec (Spain): Global manufacturer and supplier of single-axis solar trackers, the company has manufacturing facilities in Argentina,

Brazil, China, and Spain. Its SF7

Bifacial collects light both on the front and on the rear side as it captures sunlight reflected from the surface under the solar tracker. With the right

conditions, yield will be increased up to 16 percent. Soltec manufactures and supplies cost-effective horizontal single-axis solar trackers. 4. Arctech Solar (China): Arctech trackers are solutions to high returns on investment and make solar projects economically profitable under cost pressure. In particular, Arctech redundancy horizontal single-axis trackers are attractive solutions in terms of profitability and reliability.

The standard horizontal single-axis tracker is suitable for relatively low latitude while horizontal single-axis tracker with tilted modules and tilt single-axis tracker are normally used for higher latitude. 5. Convert Italia (Italy): Founded in 1981 as an electrical plant engineering company, the company has since diversified its operations and developed the Single Axis Tracker

Convert TRJ, aiming to maximize the energy and the economic efficiency of the pv plant: Up to 25% energy increase with a simplified design at a similar cost to fixed array.Operation of a single-axis is based on the movement of photovoltaic modules on a single

North-South axis so as to automatically track the sun's East-

West movement during the day. The backtracking system checks and ensures that a string of panels does not

shade other adjacent PV modules. 6. PV Hardware (Spain): Founded in 2011, the company has supplied more than 10 GW to photovoltaic plants operating in many countries around the world. Axone,PVH’s multi-row single-axis tracker, is able to move 20 rows with up to 64 solar panels each one with just one motor. Durable and reliable, Axone helps you optimize the performance of the solar plant from the first day. Monoline is PVH’s singlerow solution for large-scale PV plants, able to move up to 90 panels in one row and suitable for bifacial. Monoline is easy to install and requires minimum maintenance, making it the ideal solution for irregular or hilly terrains 7. STi Norland (Spain): A major utilityscale solar manufacturers of solar trackers and fixed-tilt structures, the company has subsidiaries in Australia,

Brazil, Chile, India, Israel, Mexico,

South Africa, and the United States, serving the European, American,

Middle Eastern, and African markets.

It claims that its STI-H1250TM is a highly efficient solar tracker with less than 5 drives and 20 meters of underground pipeline for every MWp installed. Its actuator is said to have a high-performance geared motor with 250 W of power. The STI-H250TM is the first dual-row tracker on the

market and allows adaptation to uneven terrain with N-S slopes of up to 10% and unlimited in the E-W. 8. Ideematec (Germany): This firm provides high performance solar tracking systems and claims to have an international track record of over 2.2 GW and more than 12 years experience and 50 patents. The core component of its Horizon L:TEC® is the patented locking technology, offering maximum stability for utility-scale solar installations. The tracker is designed to secure XXL modules and withstand the highest wind loads, protecting solar installations against extreme winds.

By pairing the locking mechanism with our signature decouple drive technology, the weight of the system on the drive unit places weight directly into the foundations. This results in a longlasting strong system.

Future Growth Opportunities in Solar Tracker Global Markets

The global solar tracker trade comprises of significant markets in North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Europe. While North America holds the largest share in the market, Latin America and Asia Pacific also account for sizeable chunks. According to a forecast by Fortune Business Insights, Latin America is likely to grow notably in the future due to its rising adoption of renewable sources of energy in many countries, particularly Mexico and Brazil, which has increased the demand for solar trackers.

A recent report by Global Market Insights Inc. on the solar tracker market estimates that the market valuation for the device will cross US $4.5 billion by 2027. The industry's steady growth owes to the current global drive towards cleaner technologies across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The solar tracker industry size was valued at USD 3 billion in 2020 and is expected to record a CAGR of about 5.3% over 2021-2027.

Major Indian solar tracker manufacturers include Amberroot Systems, Ephysx Technologies, Greenera Energy India, Hyquip, and Nordic (India) Solutions. Experts working at Transparency Market Research (TMR), an Indian market intelligence company, predict a healthy growth period for the drone services market during the tenure of 2019-2027, expecting a whopping 32.5 percent CAGR during such assessment period.

The global drone services market is extrapolated to reach a value of ~US$ 33 bn by 2027, the end year of the forecast period. From supporting military operations to helping hobbyists in exploring their passion, drones are playing a vital role in every aspect. This factor serves as a turning point for the growth of the drone services market. Commercial organizations, government bodies of numerous countries, and many individuals altogether have realized the importance and benefits of utilizing drones for numerous purposes, which will further bring extensive growth for the drone services market. Some of the key findings of the report are as follows:

2019-27 to See 32.5% CAGR For Drone Services Market

• Thriving E-Commerce Industry to

Accelerate Growth across the

Drone Services Market: Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic, the e-commerce industry is observing great demand. Warehouse and inventory management plays a crucial role in e-commerce management. Identifying and tracking a large number of orders mechanically is a tedious task. Therefore, drones are being deployed for scanning the items in a warehouse. Walmart is testing the deployment of drones in the warehouses for managing and checking inventory. The company states that drones can conduct a full inventory check in a day while doing the same task manually will take a month's time. Thus, such developments prove to be fruitful for the growth of the drone services market.

• Drone Services to Acquire a

Permanent Seat in the Wireless

Internet Connectivity Sector:

Technology giants like Facebook and Google are testing the use of drones in improving internet connectivity. Facebook is researching Aquila, a large solar-powered drone that has the potential to stay in the air for days and months to provide good internet connectivity to remote or rural areas. These factors will bring significant changes to the growth structure of the drone services market.

• Drone Services Market during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Drones have

served as the supporters of frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. From surveillance of large areas to delivering medical products, drones are supporting many individuals and organizations in the fight against COVID-19. Telangana, a state in India is a part of the Medicine from the Sky project initiated by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Under this project, drones will be under trial for delivering COVID-19 vaccines and then launched for public use. These factors will maintain the growth rate of the drone services market even during the pandemic.

EVs Covers 1.3% of Vehicle Sales in India in FY 20-21

Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption and hence its manufacturing has been the prime focus of our country for a few years now. The central and state governments are bringing new policies and incentives every year so far.

According to a recent report by techARC, a new-age technology market research firm, EVs took over 1.3 percent of total vehicle sales in India in the fiscal year (FY) 20-21. The report says that “the promotion of EVs in India will lead to a double positive impact on the Trade Deficit of India.”

The report highlights that Indian imports crude oil over USD 100 billion a year, of which 47 percent is used for passenger cars and trucks alone. India is the 3rd largest importer of crude oil, importing over 84 percent of its total crude oil requirements. EV adoption will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels hence positively impact the Balance of Trade by reducing the trade deficit. According to the numbers given in the report, India sold 2,36,803 EVs in FY 20-21, which makes 1.3 percent of the total vehicles sold during the period. Talking about the sale under EVs, electric twowheelers (E2Ws) sweeps off 60.7 percent of the total EV sales.

However, E2W and E3W, both saw a decline in sales primarily due to macroeconomic sentiments whipped by Covid-19, E4W (Electric 4-wheeler) segment registered 52.9 percent growth in sales over FY 19-20. Through the period, 4,588 E4Ws were sold in India. The driving force behind the growth in E4W was considered to be the Fame-II scheme which provisions for electric buses for various states.

For 20 Lakh EV’s by 2026, 4 Lakh Charging Stations Needed

According to a new report by Grant Thornton Bharat-Ficci, India needs around four lakh charging stations for 20 lakh electric vehicles (EVs) by the year 2026. The report that came on Sunday said that to achieve its target of 100 percent electric mobility by 2030, India needs to focus on key points, including increasing government support, decreasing the cost of technology, and distressing pollution levels to accelerate this transition.

The report shows some numbers as per the EV industry body, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles, there are 1,800 charging stations in India as of March 2021 for approximately 16,200 electric cars, including the fleet segment. The report suggests that the EV infrastructure is tightly coupled with the EV and charging station characteristics, battery technologies, and electricity markets, overall. Also, more than half of the stakeholders, as part of a survey in the report, have recommended the involvement of discoms in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) deployment and classification of EV charging infrastructure as corporate social responsibility.

Furthermore, the survey in the report proposed design simplifications, partnership during the transition, and optimization of urban mobility as effective cost reduction levers for bringing down EV costs in India. Talking about EV manufacturing at a global level, the report says that the global manufacturers have spent millions to improve the availability and efficacy of EV chargers, and as a result the fastest ones today take no more than 15 minutes to recharge a vehicle. Also, the global sales of EVs in 2020 increased by 39 percent year on year to 3.1 million units, whereas the total passenger car market dipped by 14 percent.

While the diesel and petrol segments were the worst hit, one sector showed surprising resilience to the pandemic, which was EVs.”

After striving to turn the pandemic-induced crisis into an opportunity, the Indian government has pushed for massive penetration of EVs towards green fuel and electricity. Moreover, to align the sustainable development goals (SDGs), aggressive targets are set for rolling out EVs and new commitments are being announced regularly, EVs are finally showing implementation in India to a marked extent.

“One of the key enablers for the rapid uptake of EVs is the development of widespread charging infrastructure. Overall, there is a need for the industry stakeholder to come together and lay the groundwork to increase the adoption of technology and establish a smooth, effective infrastructure for a truly smart and e-mobilized country in the future,” said Saket Mehra, Partner, Automotive Sector leader, Grant Thornton Bharat.

ELEPHANTBOAT® Solar Fountain Pump

PRODUCT BRIEF:

Solar-powered water fountain that makes your garden more dynamic and beautiful.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

The solar fountain pump floats on water without needing electricity. The water fountain runs automatically when the sunlight hits the solar panel as it’s powered by solar energy. When the fountain is not in water or impurities are stuck in the pump, the latter will automatically stop working. As a result, it is prevented from being burnt out due to running dry, which prolongs the service life of the fountain.

PRODUCT APPLICATION:

The pump starts working within seconds once exposed to sufficient sunlight and is perfect for functioning as a bird bath, fish tank, small pond, pool, and garden decoration.

PRODUCT BENEFITS:

A solar-powered water fountain has 7 nozzles, each of which provides a different water flow pattern. The fountain purifies the air and increases humidity, bringing a touch of nature to your outdoor fish tanks.

AVAILABILITY:

The product is available at a retail price of INR 1,599

DARK FIGHT Vicco Solar Home Light Set 6 Volt

PRODUCT BRIEF:

Solar mini-home light unit (6V), manufactured by Perfect Power Solutions, is a full-featured userfriendly and environment-friendly multipurpose product, which is often used for activities like camping, working and studying. It also functions as an emergency light and is used for home decor and making travel convenient.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

The product comprises: a solar charging battery backup of 16 hours; a strong metal powder coating body; a USB socket for mobile charging; 3 LED lamps, each with a separate socket and switch, a 5-meter wire, pins and 400 sq. feet of coverage area. Charging options are either 6 V 3 W solar panel or 7.5 V 600 ma smps.

PRODUCT APPLICATION:

Use the solar panel for charging the device. It comes with a specialty base and the package includes 1 home light unit with 6 volt battery + 1 3w solar panel with 5 meter wire + 3 2w dc led bulb with 5 meter wire + 1 7.5volt ac adapter.

PRODUCT BENEFITS:

A solar-powered, home light package for emergency and other needs.

AVAILABILITY:

The product is available at a retail price of INR 3,100.

Sun King Home 60 Solar 3 Ceiling Mounted Fixed Lamps

PRODUCT BRIEF:

The Sun King Home 60 comprises 3 overhead lamps with individual wallmountable switches to control light intensity. With it, also comes a USB charger for mobile phones and other media devices.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

Sun King Home 60 System uses a detachable 6W solar panel with a junction box and a six-meter cable. The phone charger is equipped with high energy storage capacity and a USB charging port. The charging meter displays charging power from 1 to 5 to help place the solar panel properly for optimised charging.

PRODUCT APPLICATION:

High production quality and attention to durability ensure that Sun King Home 60 customers can enjoy reliable performance for years around the world.

PRODUCT BENEFITS:

It provides LED light, using a USB charger as a storage device, while running without electricity.

AVAILABILITY:

The product is available at a retail price of INR 4,899

Sun King Table Solar Fan Set (20 W)

PRODUCT BRIEF:

The Sun King Solar Fan is the perfect solar emergency fan that you can rely on during power cuts.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

The Sun King Solar Fan uses Brushless DC Motor (BLDC), creating a uniquely quiet, user-friendly and flexible design. By delivering a long running time of 18 hours on a single charge, it displays high performance.

PRODUCT APPLICATION:

Its 3-wing, polymeric blades are noncorrosive, and they minimise vibration for quiet operation. Its lightweight design reduces motor resistance for increased performance and reliability.

PRODUCT BENEFITS:

It is a solar-powered fan which you can use without electricity, and it is easy to carry outside the home in places such as lawns and the backyard.

AVAILABILITY:

The product is available at a retail price of INR 4,999

Reliable Solar Generator Designed for the Modern Home Generark HomePower ONE

PRODUCT BRIEF:

The Generark Solar Generator is the first emergency power supply designed specifically for the modern home.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

It includes a backup battery power station (HomePower 2) and all-weather portable solar panels (SolarPower 2). The solar panels collect the sun’s rays and convert them into energy, which is then stored in the backup battery power station. The backup battery power station can store and hold the electricity for at least a year. When power is needed, it supplies electricity to other devices and appliances via the standard AC output (110V) and various DC outputs (USB-A, USB-C, and car outlet).

PRODUCT APPLICATION:

It gives portable, emergency power whenever and wherever it is needed. With an emergency power supply lasting up to seven days, Generark is the source of energy you can rely on in power-deficient times to keep vital home appliances and devices running without interruption. It also powers critical medical devices, power tools, and communication devices, which help survive a power outage during times of disaster and the consequent period of recovery.

PRODUCT BENEFITS:

You can enjoy power at your home even during power cuts.

AVAILABILITY:

The product is available at https://www.kickstarter.com/ projects/generark/reliablesolar-generator-designed-forthe-modern-home

Solar Watch V3: High Grade Light-Charged All-Titanium Watch

PRODUCT BRIEF:

Exquisite eco-friendly solar watch made by a clock craftsman with 40+ years of experience.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

Unlike quartz watches or automatics sold by other companies, Solar Watch V3 is powered by sunlight. It works by turning solar power or light into electricity, and the remaining electricity is stored in the secondary battery for use later on. Since there’s no need to purchase a replacement battery, it’s convenient and efficient.

PRODUCT APPLICATION:

Charging just for 2 minutes under the sunlight enables immediate usage and keeps it operating all day long. You can use it for 90 days with a full charge, and charging with periodic exposure to light allows for semi-permanent use.

PRODUCT BENEFITS:

Weighing half of what the standard metal watch does, it is widely used in spacecraft, airplanes, and golf shafts too. The matte silver colour also features a unique shade that only titanium can produce.

AVAILABILITY:

The product is available in different variants at retail prices of $180, $200 and $350

Software Development Engineer (GE Renewable Energy)

For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of industry, and today the company’s dedicated team, leading technology, and global reach and capabilities help the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. GE’s people are diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest level of integrity and focus to fulfill GE’s mission and deliver for its customers. The firm is recruiting for the position of Software Development Engineer and the role is based in its Indian branch. Job Posted: June 11, 2021. Location: Hyderabad Job Description: Working in an Agile Scrum environment, the Software Developer will be reporting to the Software Development Manager. The role will require working with the Scrum development team and product management team to create and execute code for product releases. Essential Responsibilities: • Back-end developer to develop systems based on web technologies and micro-services. • Participate in end-to-end, hands-on, development activities from story point estimation through to release management • Work effectively in a team without constant supervision. Eligibility Criteria: • Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering or Computer Science discipline or equivalent. • Preferably 5+ years of experience as a full stack software developer. • Hands on experience in: Back-end software development in Web based applications using; Micro-services; Spring Framework; spring

Boot; docker; Java; NodeJS; PostgreSQL; Timescale DB; AngularJS • Expertise in: n-tier architecture; Object Oriented Design principles;

Software Engineering Principle; Unit Testing • Excellent communications skills both oral and written. Apply: https://jobs.gecareers.com/renewableenergy/global/en/job/ R3569259/Hydro-Should-Cost-Leader

Knowledge Analyst - Energy - Hydrogen (BCG)

BCG’s Energy (EN) Practice Area helps companies navigate an increasingly complex business climate. They cover the oil & gas and power sectors, including all “green energy” sectors, and work with the full range of players in the industry: integrated international oil companies (IOCs), national oil companies (NOCs), petrochemical producers, etc. The Knowledge Team (KT) is a group of functional and/or industry experts leveraging deep domain knowledge to enable insight for case teams and clients. They are recruiting for the position of Knowledge Analyst - Energy - Hydrogen. Location: New Delhi Job Description: This role requires an understanding and passion to work in Energy space, specifically in the upcoming topic on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technology. The candidate will join the company as a Knowledge Analyst within the BCG Knowledge Team. The candidate is expected to support the EN Practice area through: • Managing and processing research requests and assisting consultants with industry specific problems • Working closely with case teams and providing analysis to drive insight into specific client issues • Getting staffed on cases and working from client-site or BCG office for a duration of couple of months Eligibility Criteria: • 1-2 years of relevant topic experience and understanding in Hydrogen and

Fuel Cell topic. • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent – in Power Technology, Chemical, and Oil &

Gas will be preferred. • Understanding and grasp of macro factors impacting the Energy industry is an added advantage. • Demonstrate analytical and conceptual rigor. • Strong organization and prioritization skills, and ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Apply: https://careers.bcg.com/job/12928BR/Knowledge-Analyst-EnergyHydrogen?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_ apply&utm_medium=organic

Renewable Energy procurement leader (Amazon India)

Amazon, the largest e-commerce company in the world has set a target of being 100% renewable energy powered by 2025, by developing potent renewable energy strategies that can become industry standard and further execute power purchase agreements in complex energy markets. In line with which Amazon Data Services India Private Limited (ADSIPL) is looking for a result-oriented individual to join the ADSIPL Infrastructure Energy Team in India. Location: Maharashtra Job Description: In this role, the candidate will develop strategies for delivering cost-effective, renewable energy for the Amazon portfolio. The candidate will need to be able to identify key opportunities in India to deliver on ADSIPL’s renewable energy procurement strategy in support of our renewable energy goal. Further, they need to structure power purchase agreements (PPAs) that reduce cost, minimise risk and leverage opportunities that benefit ADSIPL and work with utility regulators to develop policies and guidelines that enable broader AWS strategies and objectives. Eligibility Criteria: • Excellent analytical skills: comfort with financial modeling, developing valuation tools for energy assets, utility tariffs, and power contracts. • Experience working with developers, utilities, renewable energy auctions • Experience working with public utility commissions and other energy regulators in

APAC countries • 8+ years in structuring PPA negotiations for renewable energy project for large projects (at least 50 MW) • 10+ years of experience working in energy/ renewable energy developer/trading/utility industry • Strong background in wholesale power markets, regulations and market operations in India. • Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) required –

Engineering/Economics/Business/Finance. Apply:https://www.amazon.jobs/en/ jobs/1355356/renewable-energyprocurement-leader-india