Saur Energy Magazine May 2019

www.saurenergy.com

SAUR ENERGY MAY 2019 | Rs. 200

I N T E R N A T I O N A L DCP LICENSING NO. F.2(S-29) PRESS/2016 l VOL 3 l ISSUE 9 l TOTAL PAGES 64 l PUBLISHED ON 1ST OF EVERY MONTH

MISSING THE SUNSHINE

MINI GRIDS IN INDIA Inside:

JUHA SUOMI

Area Director, Asia Fortum eNext

SANJAY AGGARWAL MD, Fortum India

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FROM THE EDITOR

SAUR ENERGY I N T E R N A T I O N A L GROUP EDITOR PRASANNA SINGH prasanna@meilleurmedia.com

With a new government barely a week away, it's instructive to remember that just about 5 DIRECTOR MARKETING years ago, when the NDA government hiked PRATEEK KAPOOR renewable energy targets 10 fold effectively, prateek@meilleurmedia.com it was considered almost revolutionary, and the momentum was to carry the industry to EDITOR MANAS NANDI new heights, right upto 2017. manas@meilleurmedia.com 2018 and onwards has been marked with missteps, confusing signals, and ASSOCIATE EDITOR eventually, failure to keep up with our MANU TAYAL own expectations. Thus, irrespective of manu@meilleurmedia.com the party which comes to power soon, STAFF WRITER it seems safe to say that they will need AYUSH VERMA to change a few things fast, to revive editorial@meilleurmedia.com momentum in the sector.

It's not all glum however. We have a MANAGER- MEDIA SOLUTION GIRISH MISHRA detailed cover story on the possibilities girish.mishra@meilleurmedia.com in mini grids and micro grids, which operate away from the central DESIGN HEAD grid, and offer great potential, like SANDEEP KUMAR almost anything should do in a WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER country of India's size. Also check JITENDER KUMAR out a detailed interview with Dr Sebastian Groh of SOLshare, a WEB PRODUCTION firm making waves with its nano BALVINDER SINGH grids in Bangladesh. Besides SUBSCRIPTIONS everything else that mattered KULDEEP GUSAIN in the past 30 days of course! subscription@meilleurmedia.com

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

Prasanna Singh prasanna@meilleurmedia.com

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

CONTENT PAGE

18

13

JUHA SUOMI

Area Director, Asia Fortum eNext

SANJAY AGGARWAL

MANISH GUPTA

Managing Director Fortum India

Managing Director Insolation Energy Pvt Ltd

COVER STORY

24

MISSING THE SUNSHINE. MINI GRIDS IN INDIA

POLICY

08 KERC Recommends Halting New Tenders in K'taka Govt Organises ‘Chintan Baithak’ with Stakeholders

06

MAY 2019

Washington Commits to 100% Renewable Energy SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

MARKET

55 US Wind Pipeline Grew by 6.14 GW in Q1 2019 Re Output Exceeds Coal in US for the First Time

CONTENT PAGE

22

30

SEBASTIAN GROH

Managing Director and Founder SOLshare

MUENZER BHARAT. HOW AN AUSTRIAN FIRM PICKED INDIA FOR ITS FIRST GLOBAL PLANT

38

EXPLAINING THE LARGER SIZE OF MONO SILICON WAFERS

PROJECTS

FINANCE

34

48

Siemens Gamesa Bags 250 MW Solar Projects

Fortum’s Q1 Profits Hurt by Lower Hydro Volumes

SECI Reissues NIT For 14MW Solar Plant at Leh & Kargil

Tata Power’s Re Biz Shines; EBITDA Up 35% in Q4

SunShare Kicks off 8.2MW Community Solar Proj

Renewable Energy Certificate Sales Drop 65% in Apr VOL 3 l ISSUE 09 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

07

MAY 2019

POLICY UPDATES

KERC RECOMMENDS HALTING NEW TENDERS IN K'TAKA The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has written to the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) regarding the procurement of solar power.

According to the letter dated 7 March, the KERC reportedly has noted that the power availability in Karnataka from all sources combined is more than the demand.

Due to this, the distribution companies (DISCOMs) will have to curtail the procurement from thermal power sources to accommodate renewable energy.

This curtailment will lead to extra cost as the fixed tariff must be paid to thermal projects regardless.

The commission, in the letter, observed that the DISCOMs in Karnataka have been contracted to procure enough solar PV power to meet their renewable purchase obligation (RPO) for the next

two financial years after FY 2019-20.

The commission also noted that at present, many DISCOMs are defaulting on payments towards power supply by renewable energy generators due to cash flow constraints.

Stating this, the KERC advised KREDL not

to initiate any bidding process for solar PV. This new development also shows the increasing gap between renewable energy potential rich states in India and the others. This is a concerning development but not unexpected.

Last December KREDL floated a tender for developing 50 MW of grid-connected solar project at Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka after which the tendering activity has slowed down.

Karnataka, with 2,800 MW of solar projects in the development pipeline, is known for housing one of the world’s largest solar park in Pavagada located in the Tumkur district. The mega project is expected to house solar projects with about 2,000-MW capacity at an investment of Rs 14,800 crore. Of this, over 600 MW has already been commissioned. The state has a total installed renewable energy generation capacity of 13,577 MW.

GOVT ORGANISES ‘CHINTAN WASHINGTON COMMITS TO BAITHAK’ WITH STAKEHOLDERS 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY

08 MAY 2019

In a bid to provide a boost to the renewable energy sector in the country, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) held a meeting, termed as ‘Chintan Baithak’, with the industry stakeholders.

The government’s motive behind organizing this meet, which was chaired by the MNRE Secretary Anand Kumar, was to address various issues with respect to the renewable energy sector in the country.

This meeting was attended by a number of industry stakeholders including renewable energy developers, regulators, thinktanks, equipment manufacturers, financers, industry bodies and skill developers.

During this day long ‘Chintan Baithak’, a number of issues were discussed related to the renewable sector such as issues related to solar, wind, bio and small-hydro energy; other regulatory issues; financing of RE projects; issues related to bidding & pricing; demand forecasting; energy storage; Make in India; skilling India’s renewable energy work force etc.

The MNRE said in a statement that, various policy interventions were suggested by the industry representatives for the renewable energy sector during the meet and it will consider these suggestions.

Meanwhile, Praveen Kumar, Additional Secretary, MNRE and other senior officials of the Ministry were also present during the meet.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

On May 7, Washington became the latest state to join the clean energy race, when Gov. Jay Inslee signed a law requiring that 100 percent of the state’s electricity come from clean energy sources by 2045.

Inslee has an even more ambitious plan for a nationwide conversion to clean energy: Last week, he issued a proposal to get the country to 100 percent zero-emissions electricity by 2035, while also requiring all new vehicles and buildings to be zero emissions.

Activists and some US congressional Democrats supporting a Green New Deal want an even faster timeline: transform the nation’s electric grid to 100 percent clean energy in just 10 years.

These policies and proposals follow a report last fall by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warning that net greenhouse gas emissions must be brought to zero by mid-century to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius, the ambition of the Paris climate agreement.

It said a 45 percent reduction from 2010 levels would be needed worldwide by 2030.

The Washington state law signed this week sets a clear timeline for the phaseout of fossil fuels and has several measures to address equity for low-income communities.

The law requires the state to stop using coal power by 2025.

POLICY UPDATES

MERC APPROVES 16 MW SOLAR PROJECT IN AMRAVATI The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Authority (MERC) was hearing a petition filed by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MSPGCL) regarding the approval of tariff for the 150 MW solar project that was auctioned under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY).

In its order after review of the petition, the commission approved the proposed 16 MW solar PV power project at Gavankund in the Amaravati district of the state. The 16 MW solar project will be the pilot project for evacuation at 33 kV. MSPGCL conducted competitive

bidding under Phase-I of MSKVY scheme for 200 MW of solar projects. The power utility then sought the commission’s approval for the draft power purchase agreement (PPA), power sale agreement (PSA) at a tariff of Rs 3.15/kWh for a period of 25 years.

After the commission dismissed the rates discovered, MSPGCL renegotiated the rates with the lowest successful bidder.

MSEDCL accepted the negotiated rate and approached the commission seeking its approval of the PSA with MSPGCL and the adoption of tariff of Rs 3.072/kWh for the evacuation of power at 11 kV level and Rs 3.05/kWh for the evacuation of power at 33 kV

level for 25 years.

Later, when the MERC asked for details about the negotiations, MSPGCL and MSEDCL could not provide them on time leading to the commission not approving the PSA and PPA. After its non-approval, MSEDCL and MSPGCL filed this review petition.

The commission did not find any merit in the review petition but provided the approval to the proposed 16 MW project at Gavankund, as a pilot project for the evacuation at 33 kV level. The commission also found the tariff to be competitive. For the remaining 134 MW, the commission has asked MSPGCL to initiate a fresh bidding process.

MERC SETS GENERIC TARIFF FOR SOLAR AT RS 3.29/KWH

INDIA CALLS OUT FOR ENERGY SECURITY IN ASIA

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has issued the generic tariff order for renewable energy projects for the current financial year (FY 2019-20). The latest order will apply for the period between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020.

The commission has in its order set the generic tariff for utility-scale solar PV projects at Rs 3.29/kWh for the fiscal. The tariff rate, which is Rs 0.57/kWh more than the tariff set last year for procurement of solar power (Rs. 2.72/kWh), will be applicable for projects where the cost of land and evacuation infrastructure has been included in the capital cost and not provided free by the power purchaser.

In the rooftop solar segment, MERC has fixed Rs 3.79)/kWh as the generic tariff rate. However, projects that are covered under the MERC regulations for net metering have been exempted from this tariff order.

Matching the trend from ground-mounted solar projects, the commission has hiked the tariff for rooftop segment by Rs 0.57/kWh from the previous fiscal (FY18-19), which was Rs 3.22/kWh. A specific provision in the order dictates that, if no safeguard duty is paid by a solar project developer in spite of import from China or Malaysia, then Rs 0.18/kWh will be deducted from the generic tariff of the projects.

For procurement of wind energy in the state, the commission has set the generic tariff for the fiscal at Rs 2.52/kWh. Noticing a drop of Rs 0.35/kWh from the tariff set for the financial year 2018-19.

The commission believes this reduction in rates is a result of decline in wind energy tariffs across India since 2016, when reverse auctions were introduced.

India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh has called for for concerted efforts across Asia to ensure energy security in the region for sustainable development and poverty eradication by pursuing non-polluting renewable sources such as solar power.

Speaking at the 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Doha, Qatar, the minister urged the Member States to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) which was launched by India in 2015.

Emphasising on the theme "Partners in Progress", he underlined India's desire for working cooperatively with all ACD Member States in line with the Government of India's approach of "Collective Efforts, Inclusive Growth".

He stressed on the need for concerted efforts across Asia to ensure energy security in the region for sustainable development and poverty eradication by pursuing nonpolluting renewable sources such as solar power.

The minister also underscored the keenness of India, being a founder member of ACD, to play an enabling role for ensuring collective action on various objectives and projects of ACD in order to promote the pursuit of stability, peace, growth and prosperity.

He talked about food security, adequate access to fresh water, research and innovation, financial inclusion and sought enhanced collaboration from the member states in these sectors.

In April, Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu called for the promotion of new and renewable energy in a big way. Stressing on the fact that moving to renewable would not just ensure energy security but also protect the climate, reduce pollution.

VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

09

MAY 2019

POLICY UPDATES

CERC PROVIDES RELIEF FOR ACME SOLAR The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has in its latest order provided respite to solar power developer (SPD) ACME Solar, after the company filed two petitions with the commission, seeking approval for the levy of safeguard duty as ‘Change in Law’.

The commission in response to the two petitions filled by two arms of ACME Solar issued a common order, that in fact the levy of the safeguard duty was a change in law for the projects under review and that the SPD must be compensated for the costs that were incurred due to the imposition of the duty. CERC has ordered that ACME be paid a lump-sum settlement amount.

In its order, the commission has directed ACME Solar to make available to the SECI all relevant documents exhibiting clear and one to one correlation between the projects and the supply of imported goods, duly supported by relevant invoices and auditor’s certificate.

The CERC has ordered SECI to reconcile

the claims for ‘Change in Law’ after receiving the relevant documents and pay out the amount claimed by ACME Solar. The amount claimed must be paid within 60 days of this order or from the date of submission of claims by ACME Solar, whichever is later. After which it will have to pay late payment surcharge as provided under PPA terms.

In its order, the CERC has provided an avenue to the two parties where they can mutually agree to a mechanism for the payment of such compensation on annuity basis spread over the period not exceeding the duration of the PPA as a percentage of the tariff agreed in the PPA.

NO EXTRA SURCHARGE FOR OPEN ACCESS CONSUMERS

HC ASKS PANEL TO RELOOK INTO GST ON SOLAR SECTOR

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has in its latest order issued that consumers of four of the state’s discoms will have zero applicable additional surcharge for making use of power through open access in the period between April and September 2019.

The GERC heard a petition filed by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) and its four subsidiary distribution companies, the Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL), Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL), Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) and Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL), regarding the additional surcharge for the period between April 1, 2019, and September 30, 2019.

The Gujarat commission, through this order, had to decide the applicability of additional surcharge to the open access consumers, a methodology for the computation of the surcharge and the rate of surcharge applicable for the period.

The commission had previously issued nine similar orders with the additional surcharge rate for different periods of time between 2014 and 2018.

The commission had decided the formula for determination of additional surcharge in its order dated March 12, 2014, with participation by all the stakeholders. As per the decision of the commission and formula decided in the said order, the additional surcharge for the period April 1, 2019, to September 30, 2019, is to be calculated based on the data for the period from April 1, 2018, to September 30, 2018 submitted by GUVNL and its Distribution companies.

In its review, the commission analysed the data submitted

by GUVNL and its Discoms for the said period and based on the formula decided, the additional surcharge worked out to Rs NIL/kWh.

The Delhi High Court has directed the Goods and Services Tax Council to review the tax structure for solar power projects.

The decision was in response to a writ filed by the Solar Power Development Association, which had challenged the latest tax formulation for solar power generating systems unveiled on January 1. The court has asked the GST Council to relook at the mater in consultation with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the ministry of new and renewable energy. It has given the government two months to revert and scheduled the next hearing in August.

“Between divergent AARs and an ad hoc basis of fixing a presumptive valuation between goods and service, the solar sector has had a chaotic induction into GST…(order) holds out hope of a quick and definitive solution to this long-standing problem of the solar industry,” said Rohan Shah, the counsel who represented the industry.

The Solar Power Developer Association (SPDA) has demanded the goods and services tax rate be kept uniform at 5 per cent on solar power generating system (SPGS). The total incidence of tax on the SPGS has increased to 8.9% with implementation of the GST Council recommendations finalised on December 22, 2018, which became effective from January 1, 2019.

The government, following industry representations on the impact of divergence in tax practices, provided a deemed valuation provision that entailed taxing 70% of contract value as goods, taxable at 5%, and balance 30% as services, taxable at 18%. The industry was disappointed as the said ad-hoc valuation did not provide a fair estimate of the actual split of goods and services. Typically, the said ratio in the solar sector is around 90:10. The new formulation also brought with itself several implementation challenges.

10

MAY 2019

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

POLICY UPDATES

MNRE CLARIFICATION ON LEAD-ACID BATTERY IMPORT The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has offered clarification regarding the import of batteries of leadacid based chemistry under the ministry’s Solar Photovoltaics Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) order which was first issued in 2017.

The order notified by the MNRE covers solar PV modules, inverters and storage battery, for quality control in solar power projects in the country. The ministry noted that there was some miscommunication regarding the implication of the order on lead acid batteries imported for various applications including solar photovoltaic applications.

In its latest notification, the ministry clarified

that secondary cells and batteries of lead acid and nickel based chemistry are covered under ‘Storage Battery (IS 16270)’ listed in the above order, which are used in solar power projects utilising solar PV systems.

“Such imports may be allowed subject to IEC 61427 certification of the product and certificate issued by this min astray and an undertaking from the vendor/

supplier that the products will be utilised for SPV power projects in the country only. Further import of such products be allowed only if they meet notified specifications,” the ministry issued in an Office Memorandum.

However, for applications other than solar, the concerned agency importing such batteries may produce the relevant documents to customs for the use of batteries including orders for supply in the country and submit an affidavit that the imported batteries are not to be used in solar applications.

In January, MNRE extended the deadline for the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for solar inverters for another six months i.e. June 30, 2019.

GOVT LAUNCHES PHASED MANUFACTURING PROG

GOVT TO INVITE BIDS FOR 40GW EV BATTERY MFG PLANTS

The Government of India has launched the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) to promote indigenous manufacturing of electric vehicles, its assemblies/subassemblies and parts/sub-parts/inputs of the sub-assemblies thereof. The Government approved the National Mission on Electric Mobility in 2011 andsubsequently the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 was unveiled in 2013 by the thenPrime Minister. As part of the mission, Department of Heavy Industry notified a schemenamely FAME-India in April 2015 with the aim to incentivise electric vehicle. To promoteelectric mobility, basic custom duty and GST were reduced and rationalised on electricvehicles in June 2017.

Giving an impetusto the launch of electric vehicles in India.

To provide further impetus to electric mobility and promote indigenous development ofelectric vehicles, the Government had in its recent customs notification, dated January 29, 2019, further reduced and rationalised basic custom duty on electric vehicles. “To promote domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles, a phased manufacturingroadmap has been prepared keeping in view the present status of manufacturing ecosystem inthe country, whereinthrough graded duty structure indigenous manufacturing of electricvehicles and partswill be promoted over a period of time. The intention is to substantially increase value addition andcapacity building within the country,” the government released in its notification. The Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) has been notified with the objectiveof development of domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles and the related parts and assemblies so as to increase the domestic value addition and creating employmentopportunities.

The government is considering a plan to establish a battery making capacity of 40 gigawatts (GW) to give a boost to its electrical vehicles and renewable energy initiatives.

It will ask states to compete for the opportunity to set up internationally competitive facilities that will also service global markets. Domestic and global battery makers will be asked to bid for setting up plants in the selected states.

The proposal is expected to entail investments of $40 billion in the next two-three years and is likely to garner interest from global battery manufacturing firms and renewable energy players such as SoftBank, Tesla and Panasonic, a government official source was quoted by a financial daily.

The Centre is working on fiscal and non-fiscal measures to enable states to set up manufacturing units as competitive as those in China. Bids will be judged on the basis of land, incentives, power tariff discounts and regulatory and industrial support. Plants have to be competitive so that exports are commercially viable.

The large-scale battery manufacturing proposal is aimed at making storage systems competitive in India so electric vehicle adoption becomes more viable.

Batteries and battery cells are imported from the likes of China and the US. With plans to add 175 GW renewable energy generation capacity by 2022 and ensure that 30% of India’s vehicles are electrically powered by 2030, the demand for battery storage is pegged at 300 GW. However, according to the sources government is aiming for 70 GW batteries in the next three years.

Batteries consist of many cells packed together. Nearly a fifth of components for lithium-ion cells are not available locally.

VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

11

MAY 2019

POINT OF VIEW

"Can a change in government make an impact on the solar sector?"

With the 17th Lok Sabha Elections taking centre stage since April, this is the question that really matters for anyone in the solar sector. We speak to 3 industry experts to give you a perspective.

ANIMESH DAMANI Managing Partner Artha Energy Resources

"We strongly believe that commitment, focus and execution of the incumbent regime towards the solar sector have been unparalleled. Large scale auctions along with favourable policy regime have been one of the major growth drivers for the sector.

However, with the change in government we can definitely expect a slowdown in large scale capacity additions. This might also impact the continuity of the favourable policy regime. However, despite all of the above hindrances, I believe that distributed solar and captive solar would continue to grow unhindered because of its perceived economic and environmental benefits."

GAURAV MATHUR Sales Director - India Trina Solar

“Yes it can make some impact on the solar sector, reason being that this is a policy driven sector. Generally, the execution time of any project is quiet long and if the government changes it can definitely impact the overall execution of the ongoing projects because every government has it’s own opinion and policies. However, only up to a point! The impact of completely new government can be very minimal because as we all know solar has a very compelling case for itself from an environment as well as an economic view, with costs of modules coming down.”

MOHUA MUKHERJEE

Program Ambassador Pro-Bono, International Solar Alliance (ISA) “I think the answer is 100% yes, but we are far less likely to see big changes in India than in other countries. In India, which needs every electron available to power its 7% growth rate, solar energy is likely to retain its importance no matter what the composition of the next government will be.

However, the situation is very different internationally. Conservative governments around the world have typically had close relationships with the fossil fuel industry. Whenever they are voted in or out, there are pretty dramatic swings in renewable energy/solar policy. Spain’s conservative government which had tried hard to stop the transition away from coal, is now replaced by a new coalition government that will focus on putting Spain back into its renewables leadership spot. In Australia, climate and energy have been critical election issues in recent years, as reflected in the manifestos of the major parties: Labor has far more ambitious renewables targets than the current Coalition. The Republican Party in the United States makes no secret of its support for the fossil fuel industry and has even taken the dramatic step of withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement.”

12 MAY 2019

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

- MANU@MEILLEURMEDIA.COM

THE CONVERSATION

MANISH GUPTA

Managing Director|Insolation Energy Pvt Ltd INDUSTRY NEEDS SOME BREATHING SPACE IN TERMS OF PRICES TO GROW

Cost of module is really the toughest part of the business. We have maintained low prices despite an increase in RM cost. We are managing by increasing the capacity so that fixed costs are reduced and by high volume procurement we have been able to maintain RM cost. The industry needs some breathing space in terms of prices to grow, says Manish Gupta, Managing Director, Insolation Energy Pvt Ltd, a leading utility scale solar PV module manufacturer. In conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Saur Energy International, Gupta shared his views on various issues the power sector is currently dealing with along with his company’s plan of action in the renewable energy segment. Excerpts from the interview.

Q

Being a domestic manufacturer of solar modules, how do you see the current market scenario w.r.t. demand for home grown products?

The demand for domestic products has increased ever since the implementation of safeguard duty. Moreover reliability and acceptance of domestic products have also increased as developers are keen to use good quality domestic panels for their projects. Also due to various upcoming Government Tenders for domestic lighting and solar pumping, the demand for indigenous panels has increased, leaving us with a strong order book and our plant is running at full capacity.

and post EL, AAA class Sun simulator Infrared soldering and we have a total installed capacity of 70 MW per annum.

Q

Do you have any further expansion plans in the near future? What about technology changes?

We do have expansion plans in this fiscal to double capacity and we shall deploy a separate line for cut cell modules. With this expansion we shall be able to makethe latest technology modules viz glass to glass and twin peak on commercial scale.

Q

Name a few of your latest solar products that are available in the market along with their specifications.

In the last fiscal we have developed some new products viz. Mono Perc 375, Mono 350 W, Glass to Glass Panel 330 W, Ina Twin Peak 330 w in 72 cells maxtrix are the few products which we have developed and successfully launched this year.

As a module maker how are you adapting to the cost pressure that came from developers due to low ceiling tariffs in bids?

Cost of module is really the toughest part of the business. We have maintained low prices despite an increase in RM cost. We are managing by increasing the capacity so that fixed costs are reduced and by high volume procurement we have been able to maintain RM cost. The industry needs some breathing space in terms of prices to grow.

Q

Q

Q

What is the cumulative capacity of Insolation Energy’s production line?

And on which latest technology you are currently working on?

We have state of the art automatic production line from Jinchen with pre

What is your take on recent cancellation/ retendering of bids?

What will be its impact on the solar sector?

The re-tendering process has been seen as policy paralysis and it will severely

impact big investments both domestic and foreign. There have been several changes in key policies related to solar sector whether in terms of certification or anti dumping duties.

Q

Do you believe the focus on low cost from the government is actually benefiting the final consumer or industry?

Solar has already attained its lowest cost. Now the focus should be on quality as I believe no further cost reduction is possible and neither it is required now.

The requirement is infrastructure viz land, transmission lines, clearances, etc. The cost reduction so far has been passed on to the customer and in present scenario, I don’t think any subsidy is required by the end customer as solar has already became affordable.

Q

Lastly, tell our readers about some of the achievements of Insolation Energy in the recent past.

Insolation Energy has been making modules for the last two years we have bagged various awards in the solar field during these two years. We have been able to attain 25% YoY growth both on volume and profits. Insolation Energy has emerged as one the most favoured brand in recent times in northern India.

We have already started exports and this year we hope to get some export orders.

VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

13

MAY 2019

EV UPDATES

BHEL, ARAI SIGN MOU FOR E-MOBILITY PROJECTS IN INDIA Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), an autonomous body affiliated to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises have signed an MoU for cooperation on various projects related to e-mobility.

In the presence of Dr. A.R. Sihag, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry (DHI), the MoU was signed by Smt. Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Director, ARAI and Smt. Renuka Gera, GM-I/c (ESSG), BHEL. Shri Atul Sobti, Chairman & Managing Director, BHEL and other senior officials of DHI, ARAI and BHEL were present on this occasion.

BHEL’s scope of work in the project includes design, engineering,

manufacturing, supply and installation of the EV charging stations along with a central monitoring system with a userfriendly mobile app.

BHEL is an integrated power plant equipment manufacturer and one of the largest engineering and manufacturing companies of its kind in India having a turnover of about USD 5 billion. BHEL has been designing and manufacturing rolling stock for rail and urban transportation and also Motors, Power electronics and Controllers for various transportation applications. According to an official document, BHEL intends to offer integrated e-mobility solutions or projects to STUs (State Transport Authorities), from Feasibility Studies to Vehicle Fleet

Management.

BHEL will be a technology developer and implementer while ARAI’s facilities and expertise in design, testing and certification of mobility products, will be combined to come up with solutions for Electric & Trolley Bus, EV Chargers, Battery & Charger testing, etc.

The joint venture will focus on manufacturing core components domestically, creating an integrated manufacturing ecosystem and resulting in self-reliance and cheaper electric vehicle batteries. The project will take a holistic view of the supply chain in combination with digital technologies to replace high-CAPEX and high-OPEX processes.

EXICOM COMMISSIONS EV CHARGERS IN PARLIAMENT

EUROPEAN ALLIANCE EYES €6 BN INVESTMENT IN EV BATTERY

Gurgaon-based Exicom Power Solutions has announced the commissioning of its AC and DC fast EV chargers in the parliament building complex.

Snehlata Shrivastava, Secretary General of Lok Sabha inaugurated the newly developed charging infrastructure in the parliament campus in the presence of senior officials from EESL and the Government.

She also inaugurated the new fleet of Tata Tigor and Mahindra Verito electric vehicles that have been procured through a long term tender that was issued by the EESL. The new vehicles will serve the members of parliament, as the central government begins the transition to electric mobility pan India.

In January, Exicom had won the “EV Infrastructure Company of the Year” award at India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) Industry Excellence Awards 2019 held at 6th Energy Storage India conference & expo.

Receiving the Award, Anant Nahata, Managing Director, Exicom said, “I would like to thank IESA for honouring our efforts in developing innovative EV charging solutions for all types of charging needs. We continuously work towards introducing new technologies in the area of energy storage applications to address the ever growing energy demands.”

In October 2018, the company launched a Battery Research and Development Center and Multi-Standard Chargers for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Bangalore.

The R&D Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure for comprehensive evaluation of cell quality, battery pack design, rapid prototyping and reliability/ environmental testing, the company said in a statement.

European governments and companies will form an alliance for developing next-generation batteries for electric vehicles, investing between five and six billion euros in the project, the French and German finance ministers have announced.

France's Bruno Le Maire said a maximum of 1.2 billion euros in public subsidies would be granted to the alliance, at a press conference with his German counterpart Peter Altmaier.

He further added that at least four billion euros would come from private companies, citing automaker PSA and the French battery maker Saft, a unit of French oil giant Total.

“Other member states have already expressed interest in joining this project,” Le Maire said, including Italy, Belgium, Poland, Austria and Finland.

"Today we are seeing more interest than ever" in the project, Altmaier said, adding that 35 companies had already pledged to sign up, including Europe's biggest automakers.

Political leaders across the European Union have long called for a coordinated effort for home-made batteries that would free carmakers from having to rely on Chinese batteries as the industry shifts away from combustion engines. A pilot factory with around 200 employees will be opened in the coming months in France, with a goal of opening two production sites, in France and Germany, that would generate 1,500 jobs at each.

Germany and France in particular have been pushing for a pan-European consortium to develop new battery technologies that would be built domestically, along the lines of the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

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SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

EV UPDATES

EVGO TO RUN CHARGING NETWORK ON 100% RE IN US EVgo, the largest public electric vehicle (EV) fast charging network in the U.S, has announced that it has contracted for 100 percent renewable energy to power its customers, becoming the first EV charging network in the United States to do so.

EVgo has contracts with its energy suppliers and renewable energy certificate (REC) partners to ensure that each gigawatt-hour (GWh) delivered on its fast charging network financially supports an operating renewable energy generator in the U.S. The company's 100% renewables commitment was announced as part of the spring member meeting of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance

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MAY 2019

(REBA), of which it is a member.

"At EVgo we understand that our customers value all the ways EVs deliver a delightful driving experience, from better acceleration to eliminating tailpipe emissions," said Julie Blunden, Executive Vice President for Business Development at EVgo. "EVgo is the national leader in customer satisfaction and we plan to extend that lead with 100% renewable energy powering every mile charged on our convenient and reliable fast charging network.”

EVgo powered more than 75 million electric miles in 2018, growing 88 percent from the prior year. Lightduty EV fleets and rideshare drivers

accounted for one-third of electrified miles delivered by EVgo's network last year. Car share and rideshare EV drivers deliver substantially higher carbon and air quality benefits because they drive three to seven times more miles than personal-use drivers.

EVgo plans to double its network capacity by year-end 2020, dramatically increasing the number of convenient locations for drivers to fast-charge while running errands or having fun at the park. Based on the mix of power sources across its network in 2018, it avoided 17 thousand metric tons of carbon emissions, the leading source of greenhouse gas pollution.

FAME ALONE NOT ENOUGH TO BOOST EV ADOPTION

RATAN TATA INVESTS IN OLA ELECTRIC MOBILITY

Policies like FAME need to be supplemented with measures such as domestic manufacturing of vehicles, batteries and components to boost mass adoption of electric vehicles by 2030, industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said.

Quoting a study by the Centre, the chamber said India can save 64 percent of anticipated road-based mobility-related energy demand and 37 percent of carbon emissions in 2030 by pursuing a shared, electric, and connected mobility future.

Measures like market creation and adoption, domestic manufacturing of vehicles, components and batteries, strategic sourcing of key raw material and skill development in India are needed to support policies like FAME to embrace mass adoption of electric vehicles by 2030, it said.

This would result in a reduction of 156 million tonnes of oil equivalent in diesel and petrol consumption in 2030 and net saving of approximately USD 60 billion in 2030 at present oil prices. Which also aligns with India's vision of reducing oil imports by 10 percent by 2022.

With an eye on promoting electric and hybrid vehicles, the Union Cabinet recently cleared a Rs 10,000-crore programme under the second phase of the FAME scheme. The scheme is being implemented over a period of three years and will come in to affect on April 1, 2019, when the extension period for the first phase ends.

However, with EV penetration in India currently at just 1 percent, FAME alone is not enough to reach the 2030 target, CII said, suggesting various measures as prerequisites in this transition.

For transport to go truly green, it must also be accompanied by a rising share of renewables along with environmentally sustainable batteries, it added.

Ola Electric Mobility has announced that Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, has invested in the company as part of its Series A round of funding. His investment in Ola Electric is expected to bring his deep experience and mentorship to the company’s ambitions to make electric mobility viable at scale.

Mr. Tata’s investment in Ola Electric is a significant endorsement of the company’s approach to developing an electric mobility ecosystem, including innovations in charging infrastructure, swapping models, and market-appropriate products. Ola Electric is currently running several pilots involving charging solutions, battery swapping stations, and deploying vehicles across two, three and four-wheeler segments.

Speaking on his investment, Ratan Tata, said, “The electric vehicle ecosystem is evolving dramatically every day, and I believe Ola Electric will play a key role in its growth and development. I have always admired the vision of Bhavish Aggarwal and I’m confident that this will be part of yet another important strategic move into this new business area.”

Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-founder & CEO, Ola said, “Mr. Tata has been an inspiration and a mentor to me personally in shaping Ola’s journey over the years. I’m very excited to welcome him on board Ola Electric as an investor and a mentor in our mission of building sustainable mobility for everyone on our planet. He is a visionary who has inspired a generation of entrepreneurs and we are privileged to have his guidance and support once again, as we work towards our goal of a million electric vehicles in India by 2021.”

Ola Electric Mobility raised a sum of Rs 400 crores led by several of Ola’s early investors, Tiger Global and Matrix India and others, as part of its first round of investment.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

Our solar power plant not only produces energy on your roof but also generate cash in your pocket. That's because when you go solar you can save on your monthly utility bill and secure lower energy rates for years to come. The savings over time add up and allow you to plan for your future.

THE CONVERSATION

JUHA SUOMI

Area Director, Asia, Fortum eNext

SANJAY AGGARWAL

Managing Director, Fortum India

FORTUM PLANS TO FORAY INTO MORE INDIAN CITIES WITH HIGHER PER CAPITA INCOME The plan to venture in India will make India the first country outside Europe in this space, keeping in mind that, India aims to power most of its vehicles with electricity by 2030. We are constantly evaluating the Indian market for charging infrastructure. On our radar are the advanced cities with higher per capita incomes and people with greater disposable incomes. So, in addition to Hyderabad and Mumbai, we are looking at cities like Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Pune, says Sanjay Aggarwal, Managing Director, Fortum India and Juha Suomi, Area Director, Asia, Fortum eNext. In conversation with Manu Tayal, Saur Energy International, Aggarwal and Suomi shared their views jointly on various topics including their company’s future action plan in the renewable energy segment. Following are the excerpts from that exclusive interview..

18 MAY 2019

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

THE CONVERSATION

Q

Kindly shed some light on Fortum’s journey in India and its contribution towards clean & green energy.

In India, we started our activities in 2012 with an acquisition of an operating 5 MW solar plant in Rajasthan, Fortum has created a portfolio of 685 MW (185 operating and 500 under development) solar assets in India. It has formed a Joint Venture with Numaligarh Refinery Limited along with Chempolis for setting up a bamboo-based Bio- Refinery Plant.

Followed by solar energy, we are also in the business of EV charging stations named ‘Fortum Charge & Drive’. As Charge Point Operator it has a network of more than 3000 smart chargers in Nordic country out of which more than 30% are DC quick chargers. Starting with a pilot in October 2017, Fortum has already made 40 charging points operational in Hyderabad and Mumbai sub urban area. While these charging points serves to 4-wheelers passenger cars, we have also launched a pilot project of Battery Swapping for 3 –wheelers in and around DLF Mall of India, Noida where 30 Zbees (e-Autos) are operating with 2X 1.5 kWh swappable battery pack.

Coming to an epoch-making concern, many countries along with India already have a strict limit on the emission of nitrogen oxides; thus, NOx reduction technologies are being widely deployed. Keeping this in mind, Fortum would like to bring its own advanced time and cost saving Primary NOx reduction technology to India, to support India in reaching its sustainability goals.

It is our goal to develop and encourage product use that are environment friendly and sustainable. For example, our business in biomass replaces unsustainable materials such as plastic. It has been our long-committed goal to innovate and commercialise bio-fractioning methods in cooperation with partners across various fields. The result is a resource efficient and flexible way to produce sustainable and pure materials and end-products. This will take us one step closer to a cleaner world.

process, thus elimination of NOx formation at its source.

Fortum eNext'stime and cost saving tailor-made combustion solutions to help thermal power plants comply with the new NOx emission regulation.

NOx level of 300mg/Nm3 can be met with our advanced NOx reduction methods without increasing operational expenditures.

As thermal is going to be a mainstay in India's energy mix for the next 30 years, the Indian government has, among other things, defined new allowed NOx emission levels for thermal power plants in India to be achieved by 2022.

Emissions norms for coal-based thermal power plants in India

To support India to achieve this goal, Fortum has introduced its own innovative NOx reduction technology in India under the new business line called ‘Fortum eNext’.

Lastly waste to energy excites Fortum and we have done several projects in Nordics. Bio ethanol and biomass related energy systems, waste to energy, Battery lifecycle solutions, hazardous waste management would increase their share of Fortum offering as we go forward.

Q

Do you have any plans for further expansion in India?

If yes, in which segments?

From our perspective clearly as of now renewable would remain the central piece. In renewable, it will be essentially solar. Alongside, we clearly see electric mobility coming up.

With respect to e-mobility whether it is battery swapping or electric EV charging infrastructure, we would clearly be there.

We are putting up a bamboo-based bio-ethanol refinery in Assam in a joint venture with Numaligarh Refinery Limited along with Chempolis. In the next 5 years, we would build What is the current aggregate capacity (including on whatever we have done in solar. We would build on operating and development) of Fortum’s solar assets whatever we have done in e-mobility. We would complete in India? bio- ethanol projects and look for more opportunities.

With an acquisition of an operating 5 MW solar plant in As far as our bio-ethanol project is concerned it is the project Rajasthan, Fortum has created a portfolio of 685 MW (185 which has gone the farthest among various projects which operating and 500 under development) solar assets in India. are there. So clearly, I think the group expects that in some Our ambition and vision are clear. We wish to add around areas we would continue the growth path, in some where 250-300MW solar project every year. we may not be the market leaders, but we clearly would like to be the thought leaders that we would bring in the What is Fortum’s NOx reduction technology? Globally, new concept. where you have used this technology so far? How it will What is Fortum’s eNext, its benefits and how it will help help Indian players? power plants in improving their operations?

NOx technology aims to reduce NOx emissions which are very harmful to health and cause acid rains which are harmful for Fortum eNext, part of Fortum Corporation, helps thermal forests and lakes. Over the last 30 years, the European Union power plants improve their operations and reduce emissions. has periodically tightened the NOx emission regulation for The offering includes highly specialized expert services thermal power plants. Fortum has developed its own NOx throughout the whole life cycle of a power plant, such as reduction technology since 1990's and successfully completed environmental solutions and turbine and generator repairs and overhauls. Further, Fortum eNext provides full-scope more than 50 similar projects in Central Europe and Asia.

Fortum eNext’s advanced NOx technology reduces emissions operation and maintenance services as well as solutions for effectively by staging and optimising the combustion energy efficiency improvements and production optimization.

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VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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THE CONVERSATION

Q

How much Fortum is expected to invest in Indian solar market? By when? And why India?

In terms of investments, I would not like to talk about specific numbers, but our ambition and vision is clear. As announced by the company earlier, we wish to invest around 200-400 Million Euro in India. Which may actually add around 250-300 MW solar project every year.

India has contributed immensely to the energy mix when it comes to solar segment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s energy agenda has set an ambitious target for renewables.

The aim is to increase renewable capacity on the grid to 175GW by the end of 2022.

Around 100GW of that capacity is expected to come from solar photovoltaics (PV).

Going forward, India plan to have 500 GW of Renewable capacity installed by 2030 ie 40% of Energy mix will be by Renewable.

It is difficult to comment as of now on India converting to 100 percent Renewable in the years to come. But it can definitely contribute largely in the Energy Mix, once Storage also become a reality with viable commercial business model.

available within cities as well as along highways, it would alleviate the range concerns of vehicle users. Currently, the foremost concern a driver of vehicle is what they would do if they stuck in jam and battery is showing low. A robust charging station network would give them confidence and that would work as pull effect for OEMs. Developing large scale charge point network in Indian urban environment will be more challenging. High upfront capital costs and present low levels of uptake for electric vehicles mean that returns on investment will only be realised over longer periods. That would require for government to create opportunities for investment in new rapid charging infrastructure by reducing key barriers to investment, in particular access to suitable sites with sufficient power. Government support would be required in addressing above issues by not only making location available for this purpose if we have to roll out a good network of charging stations but also undertake electricity grid upgrades, wherever needed. To begin with, all parking places must have minimum 20% of parking earmarked for Charging station.

These locations could be used for DC fast charging. The earmarked parking spaces should be given to potential charging service provider for setting up of charging stations along with upgraded electricity infrastructure.

Government has given the initial momentum to EV which will help it reach to early adaptors. As more and more countries are adopting EVs, it will shortly start moving on high pace and India being globally connected economy will reap the benefits of global adoption and it will reach to majority stage in shorter span than other countries as Indian customers will form part of early majority in terms of Global market.

Further, with more and more renewable energy, which is variable in nature, fed in the grid, use of EVs shall provide the flexible load to balance the system.

"

For EV to be acceptable, consumers

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have to be

In your view, what should be done on top priority in order to achieve India’s ambitious goal towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) by 2030?

According to World Health Organization Report, out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, 14 are in India. Not surprisingly, vehicular pollution is one of the major contributors to the deteriorating air quality in the country. In this background, adoption of electric vehicles (EV) have emerged as the most viable option to help curb the emissions from transport sector. E-mobility has three stakeholders – OEMs, Charging Infrastructure providers, and Consumers.

Amongst all, it is consumer who is the ultimate driver.

A consumer will like to be assured of getting charge at their preferred location, time, and price to get over their range anxiety. This requires a robust, ubiquitous, Fortum has already established around and friendly charging station network. As 40 EV charging points in Hyderabad charging takes more time than gasoline and Mumbai. In the next phase, in which fueling, consumer would like to find charging station in an interesting place where they would cities are you planning to enter and by when? feel happy to spend time while their car gets charged. The plan to venture in India will make India the first country Also, they would like to know on real time basis where outside Europe in this space, keeping in mind that, India and which charging points are free for charging, what is aims to power most of its vehicles with electricity by 2030. the price of the charge, how secured is their car while it is We are constantly evaluating the Indian market for charging being charged etc. All these would make her/his charging infrastructure. On our radar are the advanced cities with higher per capita incomes and people with greater disposable experience a happy one.

For EV to be acceptable, consumers have to be assured incomes. So, in addition to Hyderabad and Mumbai, we are of availability of charging stations like fuel stations for ICE looking at cities like Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, vehicles. If adequate and appropriate charging points are Ahmedabad and Pune.

assured of

availability

of charging

stations like

fuel stations

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for ICE

vehicles.

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SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

Q

THE CONVERSATION

SEBASTIAN GROH

Managing Director and Founder, SOLshare SOLSHARE'S INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR ENERGY ACCESS THROUGH NANO GRIDS

A Bangladesh based firm that has made it to the Global Cleantech 100 in 2018. That’s SOLshare, the nano grid firm. The company was formed in 2013, when Dr Sebastian Groh pitched the idea of SOLshare as one of the early outcomes of his PhD thesis investigating the role of energy in development processes to a mock jury at Stanford within their Ignite program. The jury challenged his lack of real field experience on the ground in Bangladesh. This was when he decided to make the move and turn the theoretical concept of 'swarm electrification into reality'. 2018 was very special for the firm –awarded the best energy start-up in the world through the Free Electrons Program – an accelerator consisting of ten giant global utilities. The startup also joined the ranks of the likes of Google, Dropbox and Spotify as World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers.

The recognition helped SOLshare to raise its Series A funding round of US$1.66M from Silicon Valley-based innogy New Ventures LLC (the venture capital investment arm of the German utility firm innogy SE), Portuguese utility firm EDP, both from Free Electrons,and also Singapore-based IIX Growth Fund At the heart of SOLshare is the SOL Boxes, which connect everyone in the nano grid to each other. Riding on the high penetration of Solar Home Systems in Bangladesh, these SOL boxes allow owners of SHS to sell or even buy surplus energy from other members on the network.

An interview with the firm’s Managing Director and Founder, Sebastian Groh, by Group Editor, Prasanna Singh

Q

What was the biggest challenge you faced when you set up in Bangladesh? How will you scale it from here?

22 MAY 2019

We haven’t really scaled up as of yet.

Mastering how to move electrons between houses in the most efficient way where all stakeholders involved benefit is an incredibly complex task. This is true in terms of technology, socio-economics and policy! But once we have figured it out, we will not only have left our dent in the fight against energy poverty in South Asia, but also shown to the rest of the world what the energy utility of the future looks like. This is what I find truly amazing, the Global South will lead the way!

In terms of prevailing challenges, technology adoption in this enduser segment is difficult. Citizens in rural areas of Bangladesh and similar countries are usually not familiar with smart-grid technology, this combined with a connectivity good, takes a lot of stamina of going out there again SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

and again, even though many (all) people might tell you, this will not work here, no chance! The lack of solid business rules in the country and excessive bureaucracy add a significant transaction and coordination cost for almost everything

Q

What is the current price of the SOLbox, Have purchases usually been financed or purchased outright?

SOLshare operates in a B2B model and SOLshare partner organizations including IDCOL, Grameen Shakti, Pacific solar, UBOMUS, etc. has installed 4.5M SHSs in the rural areas of Bangladesh including more than 6000 field staffs. Taking leverage of their existing market SOLshare installed more than 20 smart solar peer-to-peergrids so far with the POs in the rural off-grid chor areas(river islands) of Bangladesh.

The current price to SOLbox is Tk 2000 (Rs1660)with a fixed connection fee of Tk 500(Rs 415) plus a monthly charge up to Tk 25 (Rs21 pprox.). Our end-users can either pay

THE CONVERSATION

the full price of SOLbox which is Tk 2000 right away or they can also pay for the amount in few monthly installments.

lags. The data team would be able to improve remote diagnostics, prevent issues and address errors immediately.

Secondly, SOLshare would be better equipped to manage What is the total consumption of an average consumer the lifecycle of its equipment, mainly the SOLbox. Lastly this on the SOLshare grid? Total consumption and members would allow for intelligence reporting and actual forecasting on a typical nano grid? for business and technical analytics. Overall SOLshare would be able to provide its beneficiaries with a better product The average household/microbusiness consumes between and greater user experience.

70-80,000Wh per year. Each of SOLshare’s microgrids consist Has SOLshare moved beyond Bangladesh yet? Which of 15-30 connected households/microbusinesses. The average countries are next in line? What is the model you plan household size is usually around 5 members sometimes more.

SOLshare’s largest microgrid is in Kurmapunji, a remote to follow, to expand into newer markets? location in Sylhet where 40 households are connected. The annual consumption of a microgrid usually varies between SOLshare is going to install more than 100 grids within the next 1200kWh – 2400kWh depending on the grid size and number year in collaboration with Grameen Shakti after winning the of beneficiaries within the grid which varies between 75-150 UNDESA, Powering The Future We Want Award. This means people. Consumption at Kurmapunji averages an annual more than 3,000 SOLboxes will be installed in different parts of Bangladesh. Furthermore, SOLshare has already started 3600kWh. piloting in Assam, India this year with CYGNI as our partner How does SOLshare earn revenues, besides sale of SOLBox organization. The B2B model suits best for us to enter in a new market and grab the opportunities of the existing You can imagine SOLshare being the AirBnB of the off- markets. SOLshare believes that the solar peer-to-peer grid world. Due to technical design constraints the 5M SHS grids in Bangladesh can be the future of utilities globally. out there are in fact an underutilized asset that we make SOLshare is committed to a new energyworld fueled by available to the people suffering from energy poverty. the 5 D’s:Decentralization, Decarbonization,Digitization, Our sharing economy approach allows SHS owners and Democratization & Disruption. non-owners (those who couldn’t afford a system to date) What are your biggest learnings from your journey so far? to share electricity. For the individual user this means Do you feel enough is being done worldwide, to fight exponentially more degrees of freedom. We equip our users with an electricity buying guarantee, a feeling similar to climate change, or allow deprived people to get access to that people have in the developed world where electricity a better life sustainably? is simply always available. Our customers have all their life been constrained by either not having access to electricity Enough? We haven’t even started! In India subsidies to oil, at all, a situation shared by 1 billion people around the gas and coal are still more than triple the value of subsidies globe, or to be constrained by their SHS capacity. A key to renewable energy and electric vehicles in 2017, according advantage of the system also is that now people can to a fact sheet by Power For All! I agree with Greta Thunberg, have more money, as they are able to sell their excess we live in a strange world. Where politicians say it’s too electricity or decide to invest in additional PV to become a expensive to save the world, while spending trillions of euros smart solar entrepreneur. SOLshare here acts as a platform subsidizing fossil fuels. Where in the name of international provider charging a transaction fee for every Wh traded in development, energy access market mechanisms are being our SOLgrids. What makes the system seamless is that the destroyed and nobody seems to care. entire settlement is done via a mobile money platform that Yet, I think to some extent you have to find the balance of going against the mainstream but still being able to work is integrated into ours. together with it, otherwise things can get very, very difficult.

With IOT sensors making a lot more data capture possible, You need to be 100% passionate and serious about this, how do you see it impacting your own work? otherwise you’ll get lost on the way, you’ll encounter numerous frustrations which you’ll need to digest. I recommend having The heart of SOLshare’s work is completely dependent upon a team with complimentary personalities in order to be able a properly functioning IOT which consists of our SOLboxes, to stick through. the main point of interconnection within our peer to peer How big is your current organisation size? solar microgrids; our Wi-Fi Towers, set up at every grid to send the data from the SOLboxes to our front end; our data team where all the data is received, processed and analyzed. The SOLshare consists of a highly motivated and experienced team data we receive is invaluable in assessing and improving the of 50+ people. The team’s experience includes engineering, functioning of our SOLboxes and enhancing user experience. energy, big data, design, business management, solar, and IOT sensors would have several positive impacts on our work. mechanical engineering. SOLshare staff is driven by our Firstly, it would allow us to capture a wider range of data in core values: performance with integrity, knowledge and real time, preventing current issues of data gaps and time innovation, passion for work, gratitude and empathy.

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VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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COVER STORY

MISSING THE SUNSHINE

MINI GRIDS

E 24 MAY 2019

IN INDIA

ven as the solar story develops in India, there is a part of the sector that has quietly been working and making an impact in its own way. Yes, Mini Grids and even micro grids, in the limited opportunities they have had in the country, have made a strong case for themselves. Serving areas that usually had no grid or very poor central grid access, these are the areas that have been a playground for mini and micro grids. Working in terrain that is almost invariably inhospitable, in conditions that can be extreme, and serving relatively small markets, the mini grid case for India offers some great learnings. Be it on the impact of connectivity, the buying ability of consumers and willingness to pay for quality energy access, besides dependable power to village level enterprises, the companies that have worked in this space need to be heard too.

Three recurring points made by multiple MGO’s (Mini Grid operators) stood out. They provide much more dependable power than the central grid in areas they serve, their T&D (Transmission and distribution) losses are way lower, and of course, they generate some much needed employment in these far flung areas.�

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

COVER STORY

Ramnath Vaidyanathan CEO, WiSH Energy

Evan Mertens Co-Founder Rural Spark

Saurabh Marda Co-founder and MD Freyr Energy

Kunal Amitabh VP: Social Energy Access Boond Engineering

As always, for supplying something as essential as energy, the mini-grids are up against the government. The official viewpoint remains connecting everyone to the central grid. The logic being that central grid power is cheaper for end consumers, making a case for equal access as a right. That perhaps explains why even as global DRE (decentralized renewable energy systems, as most mini or micro grids come under) systems have experienced a three-fold increase from under 2 GW in 2008 to over 6.5 GW in 2017, the cumulative achievement of off-grid solar systems under government programmes in India accounted to just 762 MW, out of this, 104 MWp capacity of off-grid solar PV systems was added in 2017-18. Mini grids would be a further subset of this.

Common consensus seems to indicate about 350 private sector mini-grids (above 10 kW capacity) operating in the country.

Most of the mini-grids installed by the private sector have been in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The story in India can be much better. While India officially has a target of 24X7 power for all by 2022, (with power access for all pretty much achieved in 2019), the road to 24X7 power is very rocky.

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COVER STORY

Saurabh Marda, Co-founder and Managing Director, Freyr Energy has a very clear view on this. “Although the official rural electrification rates as per census data is quite high (90% +), the definition of electrification does not capture aspects like reliability and quality. Instead a village is deemed electrified if a minimum of 10% of the households per village have access to government provided metered wiring. To achieve 100% electrification, the government and non-government entities will have to work together. Under its two flagship energy access schemes called the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and SAUBHAGYA, the government targeted 100 per cent electrification. Under DDUGJY-RE, Ministry of Power has sanctioned 921 projects to electrify 1,21,225 un-electrified villages, intensive electrification of 5,92,979 partially electrified villages and provide free electricity connections to 397.45 lakh BPL rural households.” He, along with other industry players, make a strong case for better targeting of energy subsidies to this sector too, rather than a one size fits all approach has been seen for fossil fuel subsidies like Kerosene.

The high cost argument against mini-grids doesn’t impress most players. Besides the obvious issue with state discoms and their financial mess, which slows down investments needed to make grid power reach quality levels, there are other costs and benefits with mini-grids that stand ignored.

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any intention to do so.”

Thus, even as players complain about a lack of clear policy for mini-grids, with the draft policy of 2016 the only document indicating government thinking on the issue, how mini-grids could save on massive transmission costs of providing power to all through the central grid is ignored.

Ramnath Vaidyanathan says that “The main challenge is a lack of clarity with regard to microgrid policies at the central and state level. For instance, under the Saubhagya scheme, utilities are encouraged to take the grid to the last mile, while at the same time, there is a push for decentralised distributed generation and microgrids for village electrification. If a project developer invests in a microgrid to provide electricity to a community disconnected from the grid, what happens when the larger grid eventually reaches that community? This has discouraged many companies from pursuing microgrids in remote areas as they are unsure of the stability of their investment.”

Ramnath Vaidyanathan, CEO, WiSH Energy says that “Extending the distribution grid to rural areas will become costly, especially since the population is sparse and geographically distributed. It requires a minimum investment of Rs 30 lakh per kilometre (km) of line added. In addition, operations and maintenance costs need to be factored in. Thus, if the nearest distribution point to a rural area is, say, 5 km away, we are looking at Rs 1.5 crore just to bring the main grid power to a single point at the village, besides the cost of connecting to individual households.

Unless sufficient revenue is generated to break even, there is a high chance that the government may lose significant amounts of money. Aside from the financial burden, the quality of power is also affected when the main grid is extended. Power losses go up with increasing distance of transmission and distribution, and unavailability of power or “blackouts” can happen frequently.

From a logistical perspective as well, extending the main grid into remote areas poses several challenges such as availability of large tracts of non-agricultural land over which the towers and lines can pass.

The government’s involvement in microgrids should be in the form of policies, subsidies, financing schemes, tariffs and regulations.”

It’s an issue that roils virtually every developer we spoke to.

Kunal Amitabh, Vice-President: Social Energy Access, Boond Engineering & Development (P) Ltd stressed on the same too, and pointed out that not only is policy clarity important, it is the precursor to solve other key requirements for the sector, be it access to finance, or a defined commitment like they have done for overall power. One reason, why most mini-grids are concentrated in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, two of the few states to actually have guidelines for mini-grids.

On top of the cloudy policy signals is perhaps the biggest bugbear for the sectori.e. financing. Be it for developers or the ESCO’s as they are called, and right down to the end consumer in a village, mini-grids have a serious financing challenge. PAYG, or Pay as You Go, a successful model in Africa where consumers prepay through mobiles, has still not caught up in India, with low smartphone penetration and even lower internet access in rural areas. Even after all the noises about crumbling prices and zooming smartphone sales.

On the business side, as Vaidyanathan adds, “Aside from the regulatory challenges, the financial ecosystem for funding hybrid renewable projects and microgrids is still fairly nascent. Funding happens on a case-to-case basis, and there are not too many available options at this stage. However, we can expect this to change rapidly with the development of well-defined policies that will give confidence to financiers and investors on returns from such projects. The falling costs of renewable energy will also continue to influence greater adoption.”

While making a strong footing on the support of mini grids, Evan Mertens, Co-Founder, Rural Spark, a company with global operations in the space, concurs. “Globally governments and academics have realised that the centralized energy networks are outdated and do not match the current and future requirements. The focus of most global governments is now on growing a smarter and more locally supported energy network in which (sustainable) supply, storage and demand are matched on a local level.

While India has the opportunity to leap frog the outdated centralized solution, the government irresponsibly has not shown

This view finds ready support from Kunal Amitabh, who lists down why financing matters. “Raising patient long term social investment capital for the projects: it is important to find sources of funds for power plant, Micro Grid and some of the base loads together for viability of the plant from the very beginning.

Renewable energy enterprises should be able to benefit from the same provisions the government has made for Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs). This includes being eligible for the Credit Guarantee Scheme, under whichSMEs can avail an unsecured loan from any nationalized bank.The real big challenge is to find capital for Micro enterprises, even for very profitable investments

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

COVER STORY

Key Highlights of the Draft Mini Grid Policy The draft national policyhas indicated a target to achieve deployment of at least 10,000 RE based micro and mini grid projects across the country with a minimum installed RE capacity of 500 MW in next 5 years (taking average size as 50 kW).

Further, the ministry highlights how the Electricity Act, 2003 (Eighth provision of Section 14) exempts ESCOs (Energy Service Companies) from the mandatory licensing requirement for distribution of electricity in notified rural areas and eligible areas as may be defined under the relevant policy of the State. Because of the absence of license, State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) do not have mandate to govern the tariff, and so private ESCOs can charge the consumers on a mutually-agreed term.

In the Pay-as-you-go model for household services, ESCOs may define an upper bound on the amount of electricity that one household is allowed to contract.

This model is preferred by ESCOs as it

instills discipline, offers considerable flexibility, and provides an insight to ESCOs on cash flows from households.

Post-paid model comes with concerns on cost of meters and potential high risk of payment default, and hence currently less common among ESCOs. Power or Fixed tariff depends on the anticipated power use, which in turn determines the maximum power made available for households (on Watt basis).

In such a mechanism, households are offered a fixed package for powering combinations of appliances such as a certain number of lights, a mobile char ging point, a fan, TV etc. The householdlevel consumption may be regulated/ limited through instruments such as timer, load limiter etc. Every package has a fixed tariff and is collected at regular intervals (monthly or weekly).

Such a tariff mechanism is less capital and operation intensive (with no meters and resultant no metering / billing requirements), easy to control and

like the replacement of diesel engines with electric motors. Most of the villagers don’t have avenues to find capital.”

Adding his bit to the financing challenge, Evan Mertens adds that “During the five years we have been active in India we have seen a decrease of funding available for distributed energy solutions. Smart local energy solutions are regarded as temporary and CSR initiatives instead of a key spill towards the energy network of the future.”

Thanks to the fact that mini-grids till now have been seen more as a last resort, enough data on their actual success on the ground is still missing. This was confirmed by Saurabh Marda too. “A variety of stakeholders engage with mini grid initiatives. These include governments (state and central), multinational companies, start-ups, non-governmental organizations, large philanthropic organizations, corporate social responsibility department of companies. In India, only a couple of organizations have gone beyond the pilot stage and hence it is difficult to define the success rate of microgrids. Although some of the pilot models work in principle, it still seems to be challenging to create, scale and replicate projects that have a positive social impact and that are economically viable in the long term.

Challenges include transportation costs, access to remote areas, financial viability (due to small size and scale), strategic and operational measures, collections, security and safety are some of the issues that hamper any microgrid project. Most solar microgrids supply energy to street lights and mobile charging

offers multiple advantages – limits peak consumption, avoids overloading and helps ensures access to electricity for all households. Appliance-level energy efficiency (Ex: use of LEDs, efficient fans etc.) is generally built in to packages itself by the ESCOs thus optimizing the system size and improving the price competitiveness. The controlled nature of power tariff models also brings certainty on demand, allows for easy matching with supply and offers revenue certainty.

Thus, power-based or take-or-pay tariff models are considered better for high fixed-cost solutions such as PV based mini grids, than energy-based tariff models. Such models however, may limit the access to high capacity usage and offer less flexibility on consumption.

While some micro grids/mini grids may start smaller but the norm under this policy is 200 W per household if demanded. In case a household wants less, it is their choice and it is up to the mini grid to offer higher than 200W.

(to name a few) but does not have the capacity to handle the aspirational needs of the villagers. In some cases, after a microgrid has been set-up, villages begin receiving free grid power from utilities.”

Of course, private sector involvement has only meant greater efficiency in meeting these challenges. Kunal Amitabh adds that “Red tapism, Sustainability of business models is impacted by market distortions, such as kerosene subsidies or any other such subsidies, which need to be adequately considered when promoting off-grid renewable energy.”

Of course, all of these issues ignore the biggest problem with mini-grids. Their size. The government is always looking at a one size fits all solution, something that necessarily entails scale. A pocket powered by a mini-grid somewhere in a thinly populated district, is just the sort of impact that is easy to ignore. . The government continues to look for large projects to solve problems, both for their visibility and impact. That goes against the very basis of mini-grids.

Vaidyanathan agrees and said that, “Over the last decade, the regulatory focus in India has been on large, utility-scale renewable energy and capacity addition.” However he is hopeful that based on their interactions with the MNRE, a better policy and system will be in place within the next two years.

He further suggests that “microgrids hold the key to enabling rural India with sustainable and reliable power. Islandised microgrids are a prevalent and proven model across the world. For rural India, these are ideal, as communities tend to be spread across large areas, and therefore localized systems are likely to work VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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COVER STORY

better. In addition, solar power mini and microgrids are easy to maintain and can be scaled up to cover a larger population.

With some investment in storage capacity, these can be made more sustainable, and provide power to rural India.” (For even smaller grids, or Nano Grids, don’t miss our interview with Dr. Sebastian Groh, of SOLShare, elsewhere in this issue) However, Evan Mertens is not so hopeful, for now and said that, “Only when all stakeholders realise that a smarter more local energy solution is required we expect the market for mini/micro grids to pick up. For now Rural Spark sees most demand for its solutions in Sub-Sahara countries in Africa.”

Saurabh Marda, leans on data to make his own point. “According to GlobalData, the global microgrids market registered a market value of $15bn in 2017 and is projected to reach $30bn in 2022. In 2017, Americas represented the largest market for microgrids; registering a value of $9bn. The region is expected to continue leading the market, due to the early adoption of microgrid technology in the US and its continued application for grid support. The Asia-Pacific is expected to grow quickest with a CAGR of 18% during the forecast period. The demand for microgrids within the region stems from the need to alleviate basic conditions and support the strong demand for electricity.

China and India are two significant Asian markets by value, although other countries such as Japan, Australia, Indonesia, and other Island nations are promoting microgrids.

In India, there is still a lot of work to be done but with the government projecting that all villages are electrified, there is a huge gap between work that needs to be done, work that is being done, and work that is not even being planned.”

So what’s the business model that has worked, so far? Ramnath Vaidyanathan, clarifies that “Most of the microgrid projects executed by us have been for captive consumption and on a CAPEX basis i.e. the customer pays for and owns the microgrid in entirety. Where the customer does not want to own the asset, we partner with asset management companies who purchase the technology from us and sell power to the customer at a decided tariff. Currently, microgrids cannot replace the grid in India in terms of costs but with the rapidly increasing cost of grid power and the strain on the government to continue subsidising the grid, microgrids will become the preferred alternative in the years to come.”

28 MAY 2019

On the flip side, Rural Spark, according to Evan Mertens, “gives the control and ownership to the users, making them independent.

Moreover, our solutions are modular and allow for an entrepreneur to make an additional income, which justifies the investment.

The customers can pay the product on a weekly basis due to the integrated pay as you go solution”.

Saurabh Marda points out that “Freyr is not in the private sector of microgrids where we collect money from individuals, however, we setup microgrids under government contract or tendersunder the BOOT model (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) where our responsibility is to collect a nominal amount per household on an annualized basis.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

Yes, the unit rate of electricity is higher than grid power but this is a reliable source of power versus the grid power that is cheaper but is available intermittently.”

Boond’s Kunal Amitabh rounds off the many models with their “prepaid set up and smart metering technology. Interestingly there isn’t resistance as despite operating in grid connected areas, our microgrids have customers who are willing to pay for our quality and reliability. Also if you compare monthly electricity billing, ours are less but definitely if you compare it with Rs/kWh basis it is higherthan the main grid. Village level enterprises, who usually are forced to invest in diesel gensets to cover for erratic grid power hold particularly high potential”.

An unexpected fallout of the scenario for mini grids is the fact that a significant number of existing mini-grids (especially in Uttar Pradesh) rely on telecom towers to serve as their base load customers. While providing consistent demand and financial support, there is always the risk that this model will eventually end up diverting the mini-grid away from its original mandate to provide energy access to the truly deprived. Some experts also indicate that where subsidies are involved, it is effectively subsidizing private sector telecom firms.

So what do our experts foresee in the future? Vaidyanathan sees a huge potential in the market. “Currently, there are approximately 300 million people or approximately 60 million households that do not have access to electricity. A single household requires a minimum of approximately 0.5-1 kW, which gives us a basic requirement of 60,000 MW that can be provided by microgrids.

This is before we even take into account existing domestic and industrial consumers who will voluntarily opt out of the grid and use a captive microgrid to get cheaper and more reliable power. At a very conservative cost of Rs 4-5 crore per MW, we are looking at an immediate market potential of at least Rs 300,000 crore.”

However, Saurabh Marda has a different take on the market and said that, “Reports claim that India has allocated $740 million (Rs 5000 crore) for village electrification in its 2017-18 budget.

It was an increase by 8.6 percent to $835 million for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). India has set a target to build at least 10,000 microgrids and mini-grids using renewable technology across the country by 2021 with a total of 500 MW capacity under its National Microgrid Policy. Presently, most funding is from CSR initiatives, foundations and private sector.

For example, in September 2018, the Rockefeller Foundation announced it will invest $20 million to expand energy access in rural India over the next three years.” Experts outside the sector concur, pointing out to the opportunities that will emerge from demand and customer aggregation, as solar power reaches grid parity in more and more areas. Even at a higher cost of minigrids, the comparison with captive power generation makes a strong case, especially after taking into account the cutback on fuel imports it could support. As India slips up on its broader solar targets, the industry will be hoping that the government will finally get around to seeing the potential here too, and give them the sort of support they deserve.

-MANU@MEILLEURMEDIA.COM -PRASANNA@MEILLEURMEDIA.COM n

GRID UPDATES

SIEMENS TO MODERNISE IRAQ’S ELECTRICITY GRID German Industrial Conglomerate Siemens has beaten US-based General Electric to rebuild and modernise Iraq’s electricity grid. The German firm has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electricity paving way to full execution of Iraq Roadmap.

The agreement builds on the exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ministry and Siemens in October last year, and outlines the specific projects, associated budgets and timelines for the execution phase, covering all essential elements of the electrification of Iraq. The document was signed by Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG, and Luay alKhatteeb, Iraq's Minister of Electricity, in Berlin in the presence of Adil AbdulMahdi, Prime Minister of Iraq and Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The projects which are included under

the agreement are the addition of new and highly-efficient power generation capacity, rehabilitation and upgrade of existing plants and the expansion of transmission and distribution networks.

“Our mission is to secure reliable and affordable electricity for the Iraqi people and help them rebuild their country," said Kaeser.

Within the implementation agreement,

the parties also agreed on the award of contracts valued at approximately 700 million euros for Phase 1 of the Roadmap.

These include the EPC construction of a 500 megawatt gas-fired power plant in Zubaidiya; the upgrade of 40 gas turbines with upstream cooling systems; and the installation of 13 of 132 kilovolt substations along with 34 transformers across Iraq.

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Muenzer Bharat. How an Austrian Firm Picked India for Its First Global Plant

30 MAY 2019

Muenzer BioIndustrie, a family-owned firm from the little known town of Sinabelkirchen, near Vienna in Austria, finally got going in India this year, with its first BioDiesel plant starting pilot tests. Here is how, why and what the company expects to achieve with its Indian venture.

The start of Muenzer Bharat Private Limited itself has a very interesting backstory to it. The parent firm is a self-contained Austrian firm, which was brought to the notice of the Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was in Vienna on the sidelines of an OPEC meeting there, back in 2016. The minister, when told about the firm that converts waste to oil, expressed a desire to see the plant. A plant visit was duly arranged, where the minister was so impressed, that he invited the firm’s owner family to set up the facility in India too, an invitation the owners, who had never ventured out of Austria for production till then, tentatively agreed to.

After the minister’s visit, it was the support and persistence of Invest India, the government investment promotion and facilitation agency that finally led to the fruition of the deal, in the form of the firm’s first pilot plant in India, at Navi Mumbai. A total of 10 million Euros have been committed for the venture, with the focus simply on making it a viable proposition, not SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

profits. Perhaps one reason the firm was allowed by the registrar of companies to have the word ‘Bharat’ in its name, a rare privilege for any foreign-owned firm in India.

Used cooking oil (UCO) is a serious issue in India, thanks to its high edible oil consumption (23 million tonnes in 2017), and the extremely poor disposal and recycling practices that exist currently. For Muenzer Bharat Private Limited, that is the basic stated objective. To take as much as possible of this oil off the market, and convert it to bio-diesel, a final productive use for it.

Doing this will not only help create green fuel but do wonders for the quality of our food chain and the environment. Be it the quality of the oil that is used in cooking by preventing reuse beyond healthy limits, or preventing improper disposal that damages the earth too. Sanjay Shrivastaava, CEO of the Indian arm, stresses on this aspect repeatedly, making it clear that profits, expansion and other business imperatives are for later.

“For the firm’s founders, this is a commitment to India. To do their bit for improving the environment, the food chain, and more for this country.” The firm’s technology is fairly uncomplicated, according to Sanjay, involving the transesterification of the cooking oil, by adding a solvent and a catalyst to it. The

FEATURE

output is almost 90% bio-diesel, and glycerine, which can be ramped up to pharma grade quality, according to him.

Even before we visited the Muenzer India team at their office in Navi Mumbai, we realised that this is a firm that is going to be anything but conventional. If an Austrian parentage, a spartan office, and an ultra-clean plant is not enough indication, then the India website will surprise.

The names of every member of the operating team are displayed, along with their mobile numbers and email ids. It’s a great conversation starter with Shrivastaava, as he assures me that he doesn’t mind the additional spam calls at all.

“When we finally inaugurated this plant on February 13, we got a lot of publicity. It was important to be available to take calls and queries, as people don’t know much about our work.” He gives the example of the Trident hotel in Mumbai, which, while hesitant before the inauguration of the plant, is an enthusiastic backer now.

The firm has focused on the hospitality sector for sourcing the cooking oil it will need for its 10 Kilo litre capacity plant for now. Starting with Mumbai, where Shrivastaava tells us that they have already signed up close to 600 restaurants to the ’cause’. “From day 1, we took a decision, we will not pay. We will get it free. We set up a mission, National Used Cooking Oil, India. This is not just about getting the oil here, but training people across strata about the issue, and why recycling matters.”

For the contributing restaurants, it has also meant a small certificate from Muenzer that confirms them as a contributor to the National Used Cooking Oil Mission, an initiative the firm started to spread awareness and participation. Taking it a step further is a certification for Muenzer Bharat itself from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), which certifies every litre of used oil that is collected and its utilisation.

The firm, while not paying for the oil, has invested in its own collection chain, with 2 one tonne carriers, manned by its own trained personnel. “We give them drums of 20/30/50 litres, which we collect on an agreed frequency. We have almost 500 active contracts now. At an average of 30 litres per month from a restaurant, that’s close to 15,000 litres being collected.” A small start that Shrivastaava hopes to build on to a level where they can start supplying their biodiesel to HPCL, the government-owned oil firm, for blending with regular diesel. It’s a target the firm has set for the next six months.

“The plan is to expand to more cities as we make the proposition viable, and as support comes in from other cities. In Pune, we have not even reached out, and we already have a list of over 25 restaurants and chains who are willing to give us their used oil. Once people understand and are convinced, everyone comes in on word of mouth, as the hospitality business is a very close-knit sector.”

On collections from households, Shrivastaava is less sure, pointing to the poor waste segregation practices still prevalent in India, besides the viability of collecting really small amounts.

He does say that they are in discussions with some of the big builders to create a provision for sorting and collecting from residential or commercial complexes.

The journey so far has been anything but easy, but for Sanjay,

it has given him a lot of satisfaction in all that they have achieved so far. From educating firms on the simple fact that disposal of used cooking oil does not need pollution control board approval (which only applies to substances considered hazardous), to help convince the country’s food quality regulator FSSAI, to come out with standards on the use of cooking oil, it has been a busy period.

“I give a lot of credit to FSSAI to establish standards for oil use.

Under new norms, published in 2017, they finally laid down standards on issues like mixing new oil with used, on the cut off for reusing the oil, etc, that was vital to build an awareness of the issue among users,” he adds.

The oil being produced under pilot testing is currently being supplied to firms who use it mostly in DG sets. While cheaper than diesel for now at Rs 52-55, Sanjay reminds me that price is not the key issue here. “Using this in motor vehicles straightaway is not possible as the fuel needs to be certified by manufacturers, so using it without that would annul your AMC or warranty, for instance.” With volumes, he looks forward to seeing the fuel mixed with diesel, much like it is done in Europe and other parts of the world.

Sanjay’s biggest grouse is the attitude challenge his team faces. Consumers, as well as users, don’t seem to really care about the quality and the way their cooking oil is being used.

Changing that mindset is the biggest challenge he sees ahead. And expanding on his existing plant, to a size of 100 KL per day or more. Plants in the US up to 700 KL per day are common, that can also use multiple feeds, from cooking oil to jatropha, to corn, etc.

For the Indian market, the Muenzer experiment is a great example of the possibilities that exist in biofuels, especially with consumption of edible oils slated to move to 34 million tonnes per annum by 2030. Sanjay sees no full stops ahead, only vast potential. On the ‘threat’ from EVs to diesel vehicles, he points to the slower pace of change in India, thanks to its democratic nature, plus the need to find a way to put its used cooking oil to good use, rather than hurting ourselves and the environment. He is betting that driving cars with it will be an improvement we will all be happy to live with.

-PRASANNA@MEILLEURMEDIA.COM VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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PROJECT UPDATES

SHANGHAI ELEC, ACWA POWER TO CO-DEVELOP PROJ With an aim to further expand its footprints into Belt and Road initiative countries, Chinese firm Shanghai Electric has entered into a pact with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power for global clean energy projects.

The move will also help the Riyadhheadquartered company in achieving its goal of generating 150 GW of power by 2030.

The two companies had signed the strategic partnership during a visit by Shanghai Electric’s Chairman and CEO Zheng Jianhua to Saudi Arabia.

Moreover, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed covers a range of energy projects, including construction of gas turbines, development of desalination, thermal, solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind and combined cycle power generation.

As part of the 2030 Vision reform plan, the Saudi government aims to expand renewable energy generation to represent 30 per cent of the country’s energy supply by 2030.

Since April 2018, the two clean-energy providers have worked together to construct solar plants in achieving this target.

Commenting on the partnership, Shanghai Electric, Chairman and CEO, Zheng Jianhua

said, “This win-win partnership will allow us to work more closely with ACWA Power to develop clean-energy projects globally and to build our brand internationally as we continue to expand operations along initiative countries.”

Zheng further said that, his Group plans to invest more in the region over the next several years. In an effort to grow overseas, the Chinese company follows various methods for global development. Through its first method, the company established new enterprises in nine Belt and Road countries, including Vietnam, India, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Malaysia.

Whereas, during the second concurrent phase of development, the company saw its brand expand its project footprint in initiative countries.

SIEMENS GAMESA TO SUPPLY TRICHY AIRPORT COMMIS194MW TURBINES IN CANADA SIONS 1 MW SOLAR PLANT

32 MAY 2019

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has announced that it has signed a contract to supply and commission 43 SG 4.5145 wind turbines, with flexible rating up to 4.8 MW, for a wind project in Canada with an undisclosed customer. The order is for a capacity of 194 MW. The SG 4.5-145 will be the most powerful turbine with the largest rotor size to date in Canada. The 71-meter blade integrates aerodynamics and noise reduction features—including Siemens Gamesa DinoTails Next Generation technology—to guarantee a high production of energy and reduced noise emission levels. “We’re proud that our partners chose Siemens Gamesa and our SG 4.5-145 turbine for this project,” said David Hickey, head of the Siemens Gamesa business in Canada. “The new SG 4.5-145 turbine will provide extremely cost competitive and clean energy to the consumers and communities of Canada.” With more than 3,000 MW installed in Canada, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is the market leader by cumulative installed capacity. Canada is 8th in the world for total onshore installed wind capacity with 12.8 GW as of December 2018, with a 20% annual growth rate for the last ten years. Earlier this month, the company signed the agreement for the supply of 18 onshore turbines that will have a total capacity of 77 MW and an electricity production equivalent to the average annual consumption of approximately 65,000 households. Before that, the company’s Indian manufacturing units started equipment export. Markus Tacke, Chief Executive Officer said that the company recently started using the India manufacturing facilities to export wind energy generation equipment, in addition to meeting the domestic demand.

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The Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) International Airport in Tamil Nadu recently commissioned a new 1 MW solar PV power plant on campus. Airports Authority of India (AAI) member Anuj Agarwal inaugurated the plant on the airport premises.

The project was executed under National Solar Mission. The ground-mounted solar power plant was developed under a capex model and commenced operation three months after work began on the project. The project developers and airport officials expect the solar plant to produce 15.4 lakh units a year, which in return is expected to cover 25 percent of the airport’s energy demands.

The project developed at cost of Rs 4.64 crore is expected to save the airport Rs 1.23 crore by way of electricity expenditure per year.

The payback period expected of the plant would be three years and nine months. The electricity sourced from the plant would light up the airport premises throughout the day while regular electricity supply will take care of the consumption at night.

AAI also said that it was looking forward to effectively minimizing greenhouse gas emissions thereby contributing to India’s goal of minimizing environmental degradation.

The Airport director K Gunasekaran told reporters that, “the use of solar power to meet our electricity demand will save several lakhs per month.”

In February, the Kempegowda International Airport (Bangalore) inaugurated its 3.35 MW rooftop solar power plant. The power generated from the rooftop systems is being used to meet the electricity demands of the airport.

PROJECT UPDATES

SIEMENS GAMESA BAGS 250 MW SOLAR PROJECTS Siemens Gamesa India has secured its largest solar energy project order of 250 MW from Sprng Energy. According the statement issued by the clean energy solutions provider, the project will be developed in Anantapuram, Andhra Pradesh.

Siemens Gamesa will provide a comprehensive EPC (engineering procurement and construction) solution that includes engineering and design of the solar farm, procurement of the balance of plants, supply of 2.25 and 2.5 MW 1500 V Gamesa Electric inverters, and the installation and commissioning of the photovoltaic solar power plant at Anantapuram, Andhra Pradesh.

“With this order, we have increased the pace of our solar business and we are confident of achieving sustained growth with the support of our loyal customers and an efficient team," Siemens Gamesa India, Chairman and Managing Director, Ramesh Kymal.

Commenting on the order, Sprng Energy Chief Executive Officer Gaurav Sood said, “We are excited to partner with Siemens Gamesa for the construction of our 250 MWac / 385 MWdc solar project in the Anantapuram solar park to supply solar power at a very competitive tariff of Rs 2.72/kWh to NTPC.” In March, the company announced that it had commissioned 10 MW solar power project for Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW)

in Tamil Nadu. As part of the contract, Siemens Gamesa provided an EPC solution for the 10 MWsolar farm near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

Siemens Gamesa India entered into the solar business in 2015 offering EPC solutions for MW-scale solar projects and off-grid and hybrid solutions. The company has so far commissioned over 400 MW solar power in India and is currently executing several large solar projects in the country.

SECI REISSUES NIT FOR 14MW HARTEK TO SUPPLY SWITCHSOLAR PLANT AT LEH & KARGIL BOARD PANELS IN PUNJAB

34 MAY 2019

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a new Notice Inviting Tenders (NIT) seeking online bids for the development of 14 MW of solar PV power plant with linked 42 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at two locations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two systems (each 7 MW solar plant with 21 MWh BESSfacility) will be developed at the Leh and Kargil divisions of the state.

The detailed Request for Selection Document (RfS) shall be available for downloading latest by May 31, 2019, onwards on www.tcil-india-electronictender.com.

Earlier in March, the nodal agency had issued a similar NIT for the projects. At the time the RfS document was expected to be released on March 15, 2019. However, there was no further development on the tender or project.

In January, we reported that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the order of the President of India has launched a new scheme for setting up Solar PV Projects with aggregate battery storage capacity in Leh & Kargil.

The lands for setting up of solar projects with battery storagewill be facilitated by Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA) and Kargil Renewable Energy Development Agency (KREDA) in their respective regions.

SECI will be responsible for fund management i.e. release of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and will also monitor the performances post commissioning of the projects.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

Hartek India, the the manufacturing arm of the Hartek Group has bagged an order to supply electrical low-tension (LT) switchboard panels for a rooftop solar project coming up in the state of Punjab for distributing power to about 20 jails spread across 15 districts in the state.

The low-voltage electrical panels to be supplied for installations to the tune of 5 megawatt (MW) would help in optimum distribution of an estimated 60 lakh units of electricity to all the jail buildings, a company statement said here.

"Providing a protective fuse for each circuit in a common enclosure, these panels act as a shield against electrical overloads and short circuits while distributing electricity throughout a facility.

Since power breakdowns can cause huge generation losses and plant closures, electrical panels play a crucial in avoiding such crises,” the statement said.

“Maintaining the highest quality parameters, we ensure that all our products are fully type-tested. In fact, we have our own state-of-the-art testing laboratory in our manufacturing facility to see to it that there is no compromise on quality.

We will continue to build world-class power distribution products under the Make in India campaign, and thus contribute to nation building," Hartek India Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Simarpreet Singh said.

PROJECT UPDATES

SUNSHARE KICKS OFF 8.2MW COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJ SunShare, a community solar expert, has announced that its SaintSun and ZumbroSun community solar projects have been commissioned and are now operational.

Owned and operated by SunShare, the SaintSun (6.9 MWdc) and ZumbroSun (1.3 MWdc) projects in Saint Michael and Zumbro Falls, Minnesota, consist of six total community solar gardens, which will serve approximately 1,200 households in Carver, Wabasha, and adjacent counties, as well as Saint Mary’s University.

Subscribers to both gardens will receive the benefits of clean solar energy, as well as credits on their Xcel Energy utility bills for energy generated by the gardens. Both the SaintSun and ZumbroSun community solar projects

were built by Conti Solar, a full turnkey EPC services contractor with a renowned reputation as a highly experienced and reliable EPC partner.

“Minnesota is the top community solar state in the nation, and we are thrilled

and honoured that SunShare has been able to play such a huge role in ensuring that residents, and not just commercial entities, can receive the benefits of the clean, renewable energy that our gardens produce,” said David AmsterOlszewski, SunShare’s founder and CEO. “Adding more than 1200 new homes to the community solar program increases residential participation by almost 10%, and we won’t stop there!”

The SaintSun and ZumbroSun projects come online at a fortuitous time for community solar in Minnesota, on the heels of the House of Representatives passing an omnibus energy and economic development bill, HF 2208, which will allow more rural land owners and residents to join in the community solar movement.

260 MW WIND FARM IN THAILAND BEGINS OPERATION

GUJARAT'S 2,700 MW RE TENDERS UNDER SUBSCRIBED

The 260 MW Hanuman Wind Farm Project, owned by the Energy Absolute Public Company Limited (EA), renewable energy company in the SET, recently entered commercial operation. Composed of five sub-projects located in Chaiyaphum Province in Thailand, the project is set to be one of the biggest of its kind in Thailand.

International engineering consultancy company Pöyry provided owner's engineering services for the WTG erection and commissioning of the wind farms. This included reviewing and inspecting the WTG supplier's site management plans, progress reports and commissioning and testing reports, monitoring the actual progress of erection and commissioning works and regular reporting to owner, attending system walk downs to identify punch list items, as well as re-inspections after remedial actions by WTG supplier.

Pöyry was selected to handle the project's OE services because of the company's extensive experience in wind farm projects and expertise in the renewable energy business.

The electricity output from this project will be sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), per Thailand's power purchase agreement.

"As one of the biggest wind power projects in Southeast Asia, the Hanuman project sets an example to South East Asian nations on how to substantially increase the domestic renewable energy production in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions, to diversify national energy production portfolio, and to reduce long term operating cost of the power system," said Esa Holttinen, Pöyry's Business Director, Wind Power.

Gujarat’s move to auction renewable power projects totaling 2,700 MW has failed to evoke the desired response from bidders. All the three tenders — floated by the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) from January to March — have been under-subscribed.

The tender for 1,000 MW solar power capacity to be built at Dholera Solar Park is under-subscribed by 700MW as only two companies have placed bids for just 300 MW. Despite the extension of submission deadline four times, this tender could not attract more bidders, said people aware of the development.

The response is slightly better in the case of another tender for 700 MW capacity to be developed at Raghanesda Solar Park in Banaskantha district. As against the tendered capacity, bids for 600 MW have been received by the GUVNL. This is the second attempt to auction the 700MW capacity at Raghanesda park. The GUVNL had originally invited bids for this park last September and completed the auction in December 2018.

The state power utility, however, cancelled the bidding on the grounds that the lowest tariff of Rs 2.84 per unit discovered in the auction was too high. The first attempt had seen good response with bids totalling 1,250MW. The GUVNL’s tender for 1,000MW wind power capacity also remained under-subscribed as it has attracted bids to the tune of 931.4MW. Eight wind power companies have submitted their bids. The reverse auction for all the three tenders will be conducted next week.

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PROJECT UPDATES

WALMART, C2 ENERGY INK PACT FOR 46 SOLAR PROJ C2 Energy Capital, LLC announced on May 8 that it executed 46 Power Purchase Agreements and leases with Walmart Inc. to provide solar power at the retailer's operations in five states.

Founded in 2014, C2 Energy Capital, LLC is an investor in renewable energy and storage assets. The Firm provides capital and support services for the development and construction of assets as part of a long-term ownership strategy.

These agreements represent a tangible commitment by Walmart to achieve the retailer's goal to have 50 percent of its operations powered by renewable energy by 2025. The solar installations

will produce more than 65,000,000 kWh of renewable energy annually, enough energy to power nearly 5,500 homes, and are expected to supply approximately 10-60 percent of each stores' overall electricity use.

Walmart aims of being supplied by 50% renewable energy by 2025 from a current 28%. This considers the combined contribution of the renewable energy credits and power generated from on-site and off-site projects, as well as renewable energy that Walmart receives from utilityowned renewable generation feeding into the grids where its sites are located.

This deal comes one year after Walmart chose C2 Energy Capital to install 13 solar projects in South Carolina. The rooftop projects as part of this deal are all currently in operation, and a groundmount project is under way at a Walmart distribution center in Laurens.

AZURE POWER COMMISSIONS PGCIL INVITES BIDS FOR ROOF150 MW SOLAR PLANT IN RAJ TOP PLANTS IN M'RASHTRA

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Azure Power, one of India’s leading solar power producers has commissioned a 150 MW solar power plant in Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan.

The plant is a part or the first phase of 200 MW capacity that was allocated to the company by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). As per the Power Purchase agreement that was signed between the two firms during the ward of the contract, Azure Power will supply power to SECI at a tariff of INR 2.48 per kWh over 25 years.

Speaking on this occasion, Inderpreet Wadhwa, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Azure Power said, “With this commissioning, we have one of the highest rated and diverse solar portfolios in India. This is a direct result of our strong project development, engineering, and execution capabilities. We are delighted to make this contribution towards the realisation of our Hon'ble Prime Minister's commitment towards clean and green energy through solar power generation.”

With this project commissioned, Azure Power now has around 1600 MW of high-quality operational solar assets. This makes Azure Power's portfolio the highest rated large-scale solar operating portfolio in India with its projects spread across 24 states. The firm also has a leading solar rooftop portfolio of over 200 MW, out of which nearly 81% of the projects are with sovereign counterparts.

Earlier this month we reported that the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) recently heard two petitions made by Azure Power in two cases in which it had requested the commission to consider the levy of safeguard duty as Change in Law and had asked it for approval and determination of compensation for the increase in project cost following the imposition.

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The Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) has invited bids for the setting up of grid-interactive rooftop solar PV power plants at 400/220 KV Bhatapara Substation in Maharashtra.

The total tendered capacity for projects is 220 kW, of which 60 kW will be developed in the office area and the remaining projects at the township area.

The brief scope of work for the selected bidders will include the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Design, Manufacture, Supply, Packing & Forwarding, transportation to site in properly packed condition of all equipment, materials and miscellaneous item required to complete the project.

The delivery schedule (i.e., Receipt at Site) for the goods and related services to be completed under the package shall be 6 Months from the date of brief Letter of Award.

The last date for bid submission is May 28, 2019 and these bids will be opened on the same date. All bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit of Rs 1.51 lakhs along with their bids as a bid security amount. The bid security amount will be valid for a period of 250 days from the date of opening of the techno-commercial bids.

The estimated cost of the tendered projects is Rs 75 lakhs (Rs 7526648). To be eligible for participating in the bidding process, the bidders should have successfully completed similar nature of work for Govt. or semi govt. organisations during the last five years from the date of opening of bids.

Bids, of value for the projects should not be less than; i) under one contract, costing not less than Rs 60 lakhs ii) under two contracts, each costing not less than Rs 37 lakhs.

Additionally, the minimum average annual turnover of the bidders for the best three financial years out of the preceding five should be Rs 1.12 crore.

EXPLAINING THE LARGER SIZE OF MONO SILICON WAFERS

In recent years, PV technologies have been developing rapidly. With respect to cells, the high-efficiency PERC, bifacial cell and black silicon, technologies have moved to mass production gradually, while N-type and heterojunction technologies have obtained footholds in the market. With respect to module, the double-glass, half-cell, multi-busbar and shingled-cell technologies have evolved to large-scale production. With respect to monocrystalline silicon wafer, many technological breakthroughs have been made,notably the size of the wafer itself.

38 MAY 2019

Before 2010, monocrystalline silicon wafers were small-sized with 125mm width (f164mm silicon ingot diameter) and a few 156mm (f200mm) wafers. After 2010, 156mm wafers have occupied an increasingly bigger share and become the mainstream. 125mm P-type wafers were almost eliminated around 2014, with only some IBC or HIT cells. At the end of 2013, LONGi, Zhonghuan, Jinglong, Solargiga and Comtec jointly issued the standards for M1 (156.75-f205mm) and M2 (156.75-f210mm) wafers. Without changing the size of the module, M2 could increase the module power by more than SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

5Wp, rapidly becoming the mainstream and maintaining the status for several years. During that period, there were also a few M4 (161.7-f211mm) wafers on the market, the area of which was 5.7% larger than M2, and such wafers were mainly applied to N-type bifacial modules.

In the second half of 2018, due to intensified market competition, many enterprises turned their attention to silicon wafers again, hoping to increase the power of modules by expanding the size of silicon wafers to secure product competitiveness.

One methodology is to copy the release of M2, continue to increase the width across the wafer, to 157mm, 157.25mm or 157.4mm for instance, without increasing the size of the module, but the increase in power obtained is limited, the requirement on production accuracy is increased, and the certification compatibility may be affected (e.g. failing to meet the creepage distance requirement of UL). Another methodology is to follow the route of increasing the width across the wafer from 125mm to 156mm, and increase the size of the module, such as 158.75mm pseudo-square wafer or square wafer (f223mm).The latter increases the wafer

TECHNICAL FEATURE

2. From the perspective of the cost of power station system, taking terrestrial power station as an example, under the same efficiency, the module obtains higher power due to bigger wafer size, while the number of modules in a string remains unchanged, as a result, the module efficiency on a single bracket increases accordingly, and the costs of bracket and pile foundation per Wp is reduced; when large modules have little effect on the transportation and installation speed, the installation efficiency of modules and brackets per Wp will be enhanced; as the capacity per array is determined by the inverter and can be deemed fixed, high-power modules can reduce the use of combiner boxes or string inverters, and the reduction in the use of brackets can reduce the footprint of the array (considering the front and back spacing and the left and right spacing of the brackets), and the reduction in the number of brackets and their footprint can reduce the use of power cables. It’s estimated that a 425Wp module using 166mm wafers can save the BOS cost by at least RMB0.05/Wp compared to the 380Wp module using M2 wafers (both of 72-cell type).

If a tracker is used or in an overseas area where the labor cost is high, more BOS costs will be saved.

area by about 3%, which increases the power of a 60-cell module by nearly 10Wp; meanwhile, some N-type module manufacturers choose 161.7mm M4 wafers; some enterprises plan to launch 166mm wafers.

Now let’s take a look at why the wafer size is getting bigger and bigger.

1. F rom the perspective of production, the production rates of cells and modules (wafers/hour, modules/hour) are basically fixed, and the increase in the size of wafer can enhance the power of cells or modules produced per unit time, which can reduce the equipment, manpower and even other costs per Wp of the company, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of cells and modules, especially when 125mm wafers are switched to 156mm wafers.

The above two points show that when the equipment production and transportation are not a problem, the wafer size should be as large as possible to save more cell and module costs and system BOS costs. For this reason, cadmium telluride thin film cell manufacturer First Solar directly increased the module size from the fourth-generation 1200*600mm to 2009*1232mm.

The module area (near 2.5m2) and the weight (35kg) should be the limit values obtained after comprehensive analysis.

For crystalline silicon modules, it’s necessary to take the opportunity of this industry change to adjust the size to a more stable and cost-effective one, just like the adjustment from 125mm to 156mm. According to a WeChat article titled “Monocrystalline is easier to realize large wafer size”, the main factor restraining wafers from becoming bigger is the diffusion furnace. To make the wafers bigger in a diffusion furnace with limited diameter, the pseudo-square monocrystalline silicon wafer should have certain advantages over the square

monocrystalline silicon wafer.

In conclusion, big wafers can bring obvious value to the photovoltaic industry. Major enterprises should take this opportunity to determine a size that can be relatively stable for many yearsto reduce repeated investment in production line transformation and module certification expenses. The 166mm monocrystalline silicon wafer, as the maximum size compatible with all production lines, seems to be a good choice at the current stage. n VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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MODULE UPDATES

JINKO EXPANDS 5GW PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN CHINA JinkoSolar, one of the leading solar module manufacturers based out of China, has announced that it is expanding its high efficiency mono wafer production capacity in China.

JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, and many others.

The Chinese module manufacturer announced the expansion of its wafer production capacity with the construction of a new greenfield 5 GW mono wafer production facility in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China.

The Company's mono wafer capacity was 5.7 GW as of December 31, 2018, which increased to 6.5 GW as of March 31, 2019 through improvements in both production output and efficiency. The new facility is expected to increase the Company's mono wafer capacity from 6.5 GW to 11.5 GW upon completion.

Kangping Chen, Chief Executive Officer of JinkoSolar, commented, "Global demand for high-efficiency mono products is increasing significantly with technology facilitating the shift from multi-based products to mono one s . W e b el i ev e t he new mo no wafer production facility will enable us to greatly benefit from this growing demand. Our new production facility

will serve as a leading benchmark for the industry to emulate with its industry-leading cost structure and cutting-edge technologies. We expect the added mono wafer capacity from this new facility to significantly increase the proportion of self-produced high efficient products and improve overall profitability."

The Company has signed an investment agreement and completed feasibility reports and project design planning for the Sichuan production facility.

The new facility is currently under construction and is expected to begin production in the third quarter of 2019 and reach full capacity in the fourth quarter of 2019.

JINKOSOLAR BAGS OVER LONGI 72 BIFACIAL HALF 10.7 GW ORDERS FOR 2019 CELL MODULE HITS RECORD

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JinkoSolar Holding, one of the world’s largest solar module makers, has secured more than 10.7 GW of orders for the current year.

The Chinese module manufacturer said that it has inked multiple large supply agreement orders in various markets including Vietnam, Mexico and Spain.

On receiving a large number of orders, Shanghai-headquartered firm said, “Overseas orders with fixed terms and conditions account for the vast majority of the secured orders.”

However, the installations in China are expected to pick up during the second half of 2019, it added.

This record-high 10.7 GW order book consists primarily of highefficiency products like Cheetah, which highlights a clear trend taking place in global markets with demand shifting towards high-efficiency products.

Commenting on the 10.7 GW orders, JinkoSolar, Chief Marketing Officer, Gener Miao said, “Leveraging our large geographic footprint, we were able to rapidly benefit from the accelerating shift towards high-efficiency mono panels and secure over 10.7 GW orders for 2019 in record time.”

“With grid parity approaching, we find ourselves in a very strong position in an otherwise highly competitive industry.

Our strategic foresight to expand into high efficient product markets at an early stage is paying off. Jinko will continue to support our customers and partners with over 15 GW capacity of the industry-leading facility,” Miao said.

In another significant development, JinkoSolar has expanded its high-efficiency mono wafer production capacity with the construction of a new greenfield 5 GW mono wafer production facility in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China.

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One of the leading solar module manufacturers in the world, LONGi has announced that the front side power of its 72-cell Bifacial half-cut module exceeded 450W, achieving one of the world's highest power in this module type. This new record was tested and verified by renowned certification agency TÜV-SÜD. This marked another successful feat for LONGi's technological innovations. On April 24 last year, the power of LONGi 60-cell monocrystalline half-cut PERC module exceeded 360W, setting the world record of the highest power of 60-cell PERC half-cut module. Dr. Lv Jun, Vice President of LONGi Solar, said: "LONGi monocrystalline half cell module combines monocrystalline PERC cell technology and bifacial half cell module construction to effectively reduce package loss and increase average output by 5-10W. Half cell has obvious advantages in power generation under weak light and shadow conditions and excellent heat spot resistance. This new record in module power is another step in our innovative breakthrough and journey.” In January this year, the positive conversion efficiency of LONGi monocrystalline PERC cells reached 24.06%, breaking through the industry's previously theoretical PERC cell efficiency limit of 24%. The transformation towards clean and low carbon energy is accelerating globally and with it, the growth of photovoltaics is increasing rapidly.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the total global installed capacity of photovoltaic is expected to reach 1721 GW by 2030, and further increase to 4670 GW by 2050.

LONGi in a statement adds that Innovations in photovoltaic technology will be at the forefront and high efficiency and high-quality photovoltaic products are the "main force" to promote energy change.

MODULE UPDATES

GCL SYSTEM GETS SHINGLED SOLAR MODULES’ PATENT One of the leading one-stop intelligent and integrated energy system providers GCL System Integration Technology Co. Ltd (GCL System) has received a patent for its shingled solar cell modules from IP Australia.

This will further enhance patent portfolio of Golden Concord Arm GCL System.

The company said that it has been granted patents in both Australia and China and is expected to help GCL System further in establishing its presence in the world’s high-end markets. Besides, it has a patentapplying status in the US and Japan.

Shingled cell technology refers to a mainstream manufacturing process of high-density modules used within the photovoltaic industry. It’s has various characteristics including - higher efficiency, higher power output and comparably lower balance-of-system (BOS) costs.

Industry insiders estimate that if this technology is adopted along with the incorporation of SE-PERC high-efficiency cells continues to further increase this year, the shingled module power of 60-type can be expected to increase to 340-350W, the company said in a

statement.

It further added that, when compared to 270W modules popularized in 2017, this represents an increase in power output of 80W in just two years.

GCL said that, the key point of this technology is to revolutionize the module-level technology of highefficiency modules, which has resulted in an influx of investment by PV companies into the research and development of large-scale manufacturing of shingled

cell modules.

Increased shingled module production capacity has led to higher application rates and widespread industry acceptance of the modules in several major high-end markets, including Europe and Japan.

These modules are typically used in highefficiency application scenarios. The aesthetic design of these modules also makes them ideal for use in distributed residential rooftop.

JINKO SUPPLIES 88.5MW MODULES FOR COLOMBIAN PLANT JinkoSolar, a leading solar module manufacturer in the world, has announced that it has supplied 250,000 Pieces of 345Watt - 1500V monocrystalline standard modules for one of the largest solar power plant in Colombia to date which was recently inaugurated and is located in Cesar Department.

"We are proud to have been chosen for this iconic project in Colombia which demonstrates the recognition, value, and quality our products have in the market," commented Mr. Alberto Cuter, General Manager LATAM of JinkoSolar.

"This project strengthens our presence in Colombia and across Latin America.

Colombia mainly depends on hydro power which can be an issue during the dry season. Solar power is the ideal solution

to diversifying the country's energy mix.

We expect the Colombian PV market to continue growing rapidly and will working closely with our local and international partners there to maximise their returns on investment leveraging the superior performance of JinkoSolar's products.”

Recently, we reported that the company had secured more than 10.7 GW of orders

for the current year.The Chinese module manufacturer said that it had inked multiple large supply agreement orders in various markets including Vietnam, Mexico and Spain.

This record-high 10.7 GW order book consists primarily of high-efficiency products like Cheetah, which highlights a clear trend taking place in global markets with demand shifting towards high-efficiency products.

Commenting on winning record-high 10.7 GW orders, JinkoSolar, Chief Marketing Officer, Gener Miao said, “Leveraging our large geographic footprint, we were able to rapidly benefit from the accelerating shift towards high-efficiency mono panels and secure over 10.7 GW orders for 2019 in record time.”

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OPED

SELECTING THE RIGHT SOLAR PV MODULE: THE ENDCONSUMER’S DILEMMA! - PART 1

Sunil Rathi

Director Sales & Marketing | Waaree Energies ltd The world we live in is adaptive to technological advancements and energy is no exception. With the world moving towards non-polluting sources, renewable energy sources and especially solar PV (due to its widespread adaptability) shall play a major role in such transformation. Earlier, solar PV technology was only limited to space applications because of its low energy to weight ratio and cost. However, increased interestandtechnological exploration has seen solar PV flourish.

However, it was only in the early 21th century that the world started realizing the true potential of solar PV. From then, the market for solar energy has been growing exponentially thanks to the extensive support from the government coupled with the energy costs from solar PV breaching grid parity.

The solar module (see Figure 1) constitutes more than 50% of the plant’s cost, and is rightfully known as the heart of a solar plant. While the traditionally available solar modules in the market are multi & mono crystalline and thin film based, a lot of cell technologies (such as PERC, Bifacial, N-type cells, etc.)

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Figure 1: Tentative cost breakup of a typical utility scale solar power plant

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are already available in the market today after being lab tested for reliablility. With so much variety available, it can be a challenge for aninvestor to select the right technology. In a changing market, it is also critical to pick the right technology for a power plant considering various factors. This article aims to educate its readers on such technologies and also give them insights on them.

Traditionally, solar modules were more broadly classified into crystalline and thin film technologies. We will limit our discussion only to crystalline technology because of its huge market share and ease of availability. The history of solar cell dates back to 1954 where a first n-type cell was manufactured.

However owing to space based applications p-type solar cell which showed less degradation to exposure of cosmic rays compared to n-type cell was adopted in the market.

The main difference between p-type and n-type solar cells is the number of electrons. A p-type cell usually dopes its silicon wafer with boron, which has one less electron than silicon (making the cell positively charged). An n-type cell is doped with phosphorus, which has one more electron than silicon (making the cell negatively charged). P-type cell due to its wide spread adaptation had gained significant advantage of economies of scale. This is because the entire value chain right from sand to solar cell is optimized as per p-type solar cell. However p-type cells are susceptible to light induced degradation (LID) and Light and Elevated Temperature Induced Degradation (LeTID). The n-type cells on the other hand are understood to be completely free from both LID and LeTID. In addition to this, n type solar cells are known to be more efficient compared to its counterpart. While this may lower the overall cost of energy generated from such cells, but cost of alteration to process of manufacturing is still an impending concern.

The trade-off between efficiency and cost in the solar market is between mono and multi crystalline technology especially

OPED

in the past few years. The cost of multi and mono crystalline solar cells are now almost comparable, which would have a tremendous impact on growth of mono crystalline market.

However, with optimised manufacturing technique (passivated emitter and rear contact) (PERC) cell (refer Figure 2) have started dominating the PV market. The manufacturing requires just 2 additional steps (comparing to traditional cell) by which a 2% gain in efficiency could be realized. While PERC based cell are poised to be a new normal in solar market in the next decade, a similar trade-off between multi and mono PERC is expected. However one key concern still raising the eyebrows is the effect of LID &LeTID in p-type multi crystalline PERC cells which causes efficiency reduction of (approximately) 5%relative.

years).Bifacial modules when combined with trackers have been proven to provide exceptional generation. However such trackers demand the module to be framed which increases the weight of the module. The frameless module on the other hand are light in weight but they have a fair chance of cracking or being damaged if not handled/ installed properly.

Also, due to glass-glass structure these types of modules are highly susceptible to PID if appropriate raw materialsare not used. The traditional transparent backsheet based option on the other hand is similar to manufacturing traditional solar PV modules. Lastly while the international market has started to adopt bifacial modules, a certification standard is still under development.

Figure 2: A typical structure of PERC cells (Source: Waaree Energies)

All the cells mentioned above generate power only from their front side i.e. the side which faces the sun directly. However in order to utilize the available space to the maximum, bifacial cellswere introduced. At cell level, bifacial technology sounds exciting as from the same available area enhanced power output could be obtained. The module made from such cells (refer Figure 2) need to be transparent on both the sides to allow the entrance of light. While glass remains the choice of material for the front side, using either glass or transparent backsheet is an option for the rear side. Using glass on the rear side enhances the overall mechanical strength of the module. It also almost nullifies the chances of water vapour transmission inside the module over longer period of time (>20

Figure 3: A Bifacial module from Waaree Energies

While the current article dealt with the cell technologies, the next part shall inform its readers on the variants available particularly in the module. Further it would also guide them on the parameters to be considered for selecting the right module technology. Keep looking this space for our next article.

Let us all pledge to make solar energy the primary source of energy in the near future. n VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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INNOVATION UPDATES

SOLAR-LED DESALINATION COULD BE A REVOLUTION Agriculture relies heavily on groundwater and this source of water is rapidly becoming increasingly saline across the world, making it non-viable for agricultural purposes.

To combat this issue and make fresh water readily available to the farming sector irrespective of the quality of the local groundwater supply, University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) Global Water Institute (GWI) is developing an innovative, solar-powered version of a desalination technology called Capacitive Deionisation (CDI).

CDI removes salt from brackish water by passing water through a stack of electrode pairs with positive ions such as sodium attracted to the cathode and negative ions such as chloride attracted to the anode. When a voltage is applied across the electrodes, a desalted stream of water is produced.

While conventional CDI uses mains power, UNSW researchers have developed prototypes powered by solar energy.

These solar-powered CDI units are an energy-efficient alternative with low operating voltage and the possibility of energy recovery, making it ideal for brackish water desalination, especially in remote locations where mains power may not be available.

The idea for the project was born when

Ratan Tata visited UNSW to receive an honorary doctorate and challenged researchers to help find ways to provide clean water for Indian villages.

Scientia Professor David Waite from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering accepted the challenge and, with support from Professor John Fletcher from the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, constructed the first solar-powered

prototype.

Second and third generation units, in which energy usage was reduced by recovering a portion of the energy used, have been constructed with funding from an ARC Linkage grant with industry support by Goldwind Environmental Technologies, a Beijing-based company that is the largest manufacturer of wind turbines and is now expanding into development of water technologies.

SOFTSERVE, LIGHTRICITY TO DEV POWER HARVESTING TECH

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SoftServe, a leading digital authority and consulting company, recently announced its partnership with Lightricity, a leader in photovoltaic energy harvesting technology.

As a partner, SoftServe will use power harvesting techniques to develop solutions to make electronic devices more power efficient, prolong their lifetime, and make maintenance easier.

"There are numerous sources of energy all around us, yet we still commonly use conventional batteries to power devices we use every day," said Vladyslav Tsybulnyk, R&D principal at SoftServe.

"Through our partnership with Lightricity, we are meeting future demands for more SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

innovative approaches to environmentfriendly and durable methods to power electronics—such as energy harvesting from indoor light.”

The development of alternative power sources will yield significant advancements in the application of common devices as well as in innovative solutions. For example, consumers could use battery-free devices that are powered from indoor light, prolonging the life of common devices such as watches and mobile phones.

"Lightricity's technology is an obvious alternative to using mains power or primary batteries for IoT devices typically operating with AAA or coin

cell batteries," said Mathieu Bellanger, technical director of Lightricity.

"Under 1000 lux illumination (a well-lit supermarket for example), only 2 cm2 of Lightricity's Energy Harvester can produce the equivalent of 30 CR2032 batteries over 10 years product lifetime, which is up to six times more than conventional PV energy harvesting technologies.” Lightricity's technology was originally developed from 2012 at SHARP Laboratories in Oxford, UK. Lightricity Ltd. was then founded in 2017 to further develop and enhance its industry-leading energy harvesting technology, building on its 50-year legacy in solar energy.

INNOVATION UPDATES

CAFFEINE IMPROVES PEROVSKITE CELL PERFORMANCE A team of scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles have discovered that caffeine can be a promising alternative to make traditional solar cells more efficient at converting light to electricity.

The latest research which began as a cafeteria joke over morning coffee led to this unusual solution. “One day, as we were discussing perovskite solar cells, our colleague said, ‘If we need coffee to boost our energy then what about perovskites? Would they need coffee to perform better?'” recalled Jingjing Xue. The U.C.L.A. engineers Yang Yang, Rui Wang and Jingjing Xue are graduate advisors. Yang’s lab has been trying to improve the lifespan of a promising but unstable type of solar panel, made from a material called perovskite, by lacing panels with certain stabilizing compounds. “We needed some kind of molecule with lone electron pairs,” Yang says. Such isolated duos of electrons at a molecule’s edge (a feature caffeine actually has) could interact with or bind to other materials like perovskite.

The caffeine in coffee is an alkaloid compound containing molecular structures that could interact with the precursors of perovskite materials -compounds with a particular crystal structure that forms the light-harvesting layer in a class of solar cells. They added caffeine to the perovskite layer of forty solar cells and used infrared spectroscopy (which uses infrared radiation to identify chemical compounds). They observed that the carbonyl groups (a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen) in caffeine interacted with lead ions in the layer to create a “molecular lock”.

This interaction increased the minimum amount of energy required for the perovskite film to react, boosting the solar cell efficiency from 17% to over 20%. The molecular lock continued to occur when the material was heated, which could help

prevent heat from breaking down the layer. Thermally stable solar cells at 85°C for over 1,300 h were achieved.

“We were surprised by the results. During our first try incorporating caffeine, our perovskite solar cells already reached almost the highest efficiency we achieved in the paper,” said Rui Wang, one of the lead researchers of the study which was published in the Journal of Joule.

But the researchers do add that unique molecular structure of caffeine only allows it to interact with perovskite precursors.

Therefore, they do not think it will be useful for other types of solar cells. Perovskite solar cells already have the advantage of being cheaper and more flexible than their silicon counterparts.

They are also easier to manufacture – perovskite cells can be fabricated from solution-based precursors as opposed to solid crystal ingots. With further research, Wang believes caffeine may facilitate large-scale production of perovskite solar cells.

USING SUN TO HARNESS HYDROGEN FROM WASTEWATER Hydrogen, which is a critical component in the manufacture of thousands of common products from plastic to fertilisers, is expensive and energy intensive to produce. But now, a teamled by Zhiyong Jason Ren from Princeton University, has devised an inexpensive method of creating hydrogen from wastewater.

In a study published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, researchers from Princeton University in the US reported that their process doubled the currently accepted rate for scalable technologies that produce hydrogen by splitting water.

The technique uses a specially designed chamber with a "Swiss-cheese" black silicon interface to split water and isolate

hydrogen gas. The process is aided by bacteria that generate electrical current when consuming organic matter in the wastewater; the current, in turn, aids the water splitting process.

The team ran the wastewater through the chamber, used a lamp to simulate sunlight, and watched the organic compounds breakdown and the hydrogen bubble up.

The process "allows us to treat wastewater and simultaneously generate fuels," said Jing Gu, a co-researcher and assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at San Diego State University. They believe the technology could appeal to refineries and chemical plants, which

typically produce their own hydrogen from fossil fuels, and face high costs for cleaning wastewater.

“It's a win-win situation for chemical (largest producer and consumer of hydrogen) and other industries,” said Lu Lu, the first author on the study and an associate research scholar at the Andlinger Center. “They can save on wastewater treatment and save on their energy use through this hydrogencreation process.”

Though a lifecycle analysis has not yet been done, the researchers said the process will at least be energy neutral, if not energy positive, and eliminates the need for fossil fuels to create hydrogen.

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EVENTS ALL-ENERGY EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE 2019

INTERSOLAR EUROPE

website : www.all-energy.co.uk

website : www.intersolar.de

Location : Glasgow, UK Phone : +44 20 82712179

START DATE : 15-May-2019 END DATE : 16-May-2019

E-mail : ae.helpline@reedexpo.co.uk

E-mail : info@intersolar.de

4TH SOLAR INDIA 2019 EXPO

SOLAR ASSET MANAGEMENT ASIA

website : www.solarindiaexpo.com

website : https://asia.solar-asset.management/ Location : New Delhi, India Phone : +91 9711 737395

START DATE : 22-May-2019 END DATE : 24-May-2019

E-mail : jens@solarplaza.com

SNEC 13TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION & SMART ENERGY CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

WORLD ENVIRONMENT EXPO 2019

Location : Shanghai, China Phone : +86 21 53893020

Location : Tokyo, Japan Phone : +31 10 3027910

START DATE : 30-May-2019 END DATE : 31-May-2019

E-mail : kulbeerg@eigroup.in

website : www.snec.org.cn START DATE : 04-Jun-2019 END DATE : 06-Jun-2019

Location : Munich Jermany Phone : +49 7231 58598-0

START DATE : 15-May-2019 END DATE : 17-May-2019

website : www.worldenvironment.in Location : New Delhi, India Phone : +91 1204138415

START DATE : 05-Jun-2019 END DATE : 07-Jun-2019

E-mail : info@snec.org.cn

E-mail : event@ies-india.com

RENEWABLE ASIA - 2019

PV 2019 PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR EXHIBITION & FORUM

website : www.renewableasia.in

website : www.pvfair.jp

START DATE : 21-Jun-2019 END DATE : 24-Jun-2019

Location : Bangalore, India Phone : +91 9845199545

E-mail : info@pvfair.jp

E-mail : info@renewableasia.in

THE 11TH GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL SOLAR PV EXHIBITION 2019 website : www.pvguangzhou.com START DATE : 16-Aug-2019 END DATE : 18-Aug-2019

Location : Guangzhou, China Phone : +20 2918 8152

E-mail : janicepv2018@gmail.com

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDIA EXPO 2019 website : www.renewableenergyindiaexpo.com

E-mail : Pankaj.sharma@ubm.com

INTERSOLAR INDIA 2019

website : www.thebig5solar.ae

website : www.intersolar.in Location : DUBAI Phone : +971 4 445 3609

E-mail : jessicascopacasa@dmgevents.

Location : Greater Noida, India Phone : +91 99 90962410

START DATE : 18-Sep-2019 END DATE : 20-Sep-2019

THE BIG 5 SOLAR START DATE : 27-NOV-2019 END DATE : 29-NOV-2019

Location : Yokohama, Japan Phone : +81 3 52978855

START DATE : 10-Jul-2019 END DATE : 13-Jul-2019

START DATE : 27-NOV-2019 END DATE : 29-NOV-2019

Location : Bangalore, India Phone : +49 7231 58598215

E-mail : feth@solarpromotion.com

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SMD Mounting Machines Solar Lanterns Solar Lights / Solar LED Solar Forms / Cities / Homes / Villages Solar Street & Billboard Lighting Solar Software Solutions Solar Cells Manufacturers Photovoltaic (pv) Modules Project Consultants Manufacturing Equipment Vendors Materials And Equipment Monitor, Mounting Systems, Trackers Traffic Lights Equipment Smart Grid Technologies LED Chandeliers , Crystal Lights etc LED Displays LED Assemblies & Products LED Software Solutions LED Manufacturers LED Screen / Video Walls LED Encapsulation Materials LED Manufacturing equipment LED Machinery LED Applications & Lighting LED Signage & Displays LED Components / Chips LED Accessories & Raw Materials LED Products & Fixtures

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LED Spot Lights / Fixtures LED Module Connectors LED Turnkey Solution Providers, etc.

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LED Bulbs / Tubes /O LEDS Solar Batteries Battery Manufacturers Battery manufacturing machines Battery vent plugs & packing jali Battery Containers Battery Raw Materials Automotive Batteries E-vehicles Batteries Battery Separator MC Battery Battery Invertor / Battery Charger Battery Lead Manufacturers Battery Terminal Manufacturers Labs & R & D Battery Chemical & Inks All Batteries Products & Technologies Deep Cycle Application Battery Battery Part Manufacturers

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2/3/4 wheel electric and hybrid vehicle manufactures Commercial, Cargo, Passenger and Personal Electric Vehicle Indian/International Electric Vehicle parts and component Battery Technology companies Charger Manufacturer Accessories Manufacturer Government sector and Departments / Nodal Agencies Homologation/Testing Agencies Banks and financial Institutions Insurance Companies Research and Training Institutes Body/ Chassis Fabricators Solar Power Technology Companies Branding Solution Providers E-Vehicle Manufacturers Automotive and Parts Manufacturers Components manufacturers & suppliers Material suppliers Engineering services / Consultants Testing, R&D and Education Institutions Connectors /Cables Wires and Harness manufacturers and suppliers Manufacturer & Suppliers of Auto Ancillaries Machinery & Equipment Manufacturers Design and simulation Charging station manufacturer Power management companies

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FINANCE UPDATES

FORTUM’S Q1 PROFITS HURT BY LOWER HYDRO VOLUMES Finland’s utility Fortum reported its operating profit grew merely by 1 per cent to EUR 408 million during the JanuaryMarch quarter of 2019, on the back of positive effect of improved prices offset by lower hydro volumes.

The company had reported an operating profit of EUR 405 million during the same quarter last year.

Commenting on the company’s performance, Fortum, President and CEO, Pekka Lundmark said, “The firstquarter results were impacted by two main drivers: higher power prices and lower hydro production volumes.”

Pekka further elaborated that, “The generation segment’s Nordic hedge price for 2019 is clearly above last year’s

level, and with the spot prices in the first quarter also above last year’s prices, the achieved power price for the generation segment increased by 14 per cent.

Unfortunately, the low reservoir levels at the beginning of the quarter negatively affected our hydro production, offsetting almost all of the positive effect of the

higher power prices.”

During the quarter, its EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization), too, rose by 1 per cent at EUR 545 million as compared to EUR 538 million last year.

Despite the fall of power generation in Nordic countries, it's sales for the first quarter grew to EUR 1690 million, as against EUR 1585 million a year ago.

Recently in March, the Finnish utility has won the right from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to build a 250 MW solar power plant in Rajasthan, India.

The project is expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2020. This solar park will be entitled to a fixed tariff of Rs 2.48/kWh for 25 years.

TATA POWER’S RE BIZ SHINES; EBITDA UP 35% IN Q4

RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATE SALES DROP 65% IN APR

Utility giant Tata Power’s renewable energy business again unveiled a significant growth during the fourth quarter of FY19, as it’s consolidated EBITDA surged 35 per cent to Rs 1,879 crore, mainly driven by renewable business and better operational performance by the businesses.

It has reported an EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) of Rs 1,391 crore in Q4 FY18, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Furthermore, it’s consolidated EBITDA for renewable business in Q4 FY19 grew by 34 per cent on q-o-q basis, to Rs 606 crore on the back of higher operational revenues and EPC volume.

During the quarter, the Mumbai-headquartered company’s profit after tax (PAT) before exceptional items stood at Rs 259 crore, as against Rs 118 crore.

However, it has reported a sharp drop in its consolidated PAT at Rs 107.32 crore during the fourth quarter of FY19, from Rs 1,364.33 crore in Q4 FY18 on the back of an exceptional adjustment in previous year. The company’s consolidated revenue rose by 6 per cent at Rs 7,574 crore during the quarter ended March 31, 2019, as compared to Rs 7,174 crore last year. Recently, with an aim to optimise operating costs, Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL), a renewable arm of utility giant Tata Power, has entered into a pact to sell its 32 MW operating wind assets in Maharashtra.

Besides, the company has also made it publicly clear that it will cease building new coal-fired capacity, according to the report released by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The report highlighted the company’s long-term strategy that will see renewable energy dominate its power capacity build-out going forward.

Sales of renewable energy certificates dropped by about 65 per cent to 3.68 lakh units in April as compared to 10.62 lakh in same month last year due to lower supply, according to data released by the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange of India (PXIL).

The two power bourses in the country engaged in trading of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and electricity revealed the following.

IEX saw total trade of 2.24 lakh in April, less than a third of what it managed in the same month last year with sale of 7.81 lakh certificates. And, PXIL recorded sale of 1.44 lakh RECs in the month compared to 2.81 lakh a year ago.

As many as 1,61,949 units of non-solar RECs were traded at IEX, with sell bids for 3,51,915 units and buy bids for 6,97,502 units. Besides, 62,853 units of solar RECs were traded, with sell bids for 1,42,148 units and buy bids for 3,61,606 units in April.

Both non-solar and solar RECs continued to to suffer with buy bids again surpassing sell bids due to the lacking inventory in the country.

Similarly at PXIL, for solar RECs, there were sell bids for 78,637 units while buy offers were for 1,97,645 units. In the non-solar REC category, the sell bids were for 1,32,223 units while buy bids were for 3,40,999 units in April.

Under the renewable purchase obligation (RPO), bulk purchasers like discoms, open access consumers and capacitive users are required to buy certain proportion of RECs. They can buy RECs from renewable energy producers to meet the RPO norms.

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FINANCE UPDATES

ZUNROOF SECURES $1.2 MN FUNDING FROM GODREJ ZunRoof, a smart energy solutions provider, has raised a fresh round of pre-Series A funding of $1.2 million from Godrej.

The company plans to utilise this round of capital for expansion and further strengthen its product portfolio.

According to a statement issued by the company, the funding comes at an opportune time for it, as it is working towards the fulfilment of the government's target of achieving 40 GW by 2022 for rooftop solar.

Pranesh Chaudhary, Founder & CEO, ZunRoof, said, “Sushant and I have been blessed to find the right angel investors to fund us since we started.

Our pre-Series A and backing from Pirojsha Godrej comes at the perfect time - allows us to hire and retain great talent, scale solar rooftop operations

across India and launch our homeIOT products. We are already market leaders for residential solar rooftops in 40+ cities (including Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bangalore) and aim to build on this lead to bring smart and clean energy choices to every home in India.”

ZunRoof, which has designed solar rooftops for over 10,000 residential houses, has earlier raised fundings from investors Ramakant Sharma, Founder of Livspace, Gaurav Gupta (Asia Director, Dalberg Advisors), Pradeep Tharakan, a senior energy specialist at Asian Development Bank (ADB), Vismay Sharma, managing director at L’Oréal (UK & Ireland), Ajith Pai (Paipal Ventures) and Arun Diaz of IntelleGrow and a group of IIT Kharagpur alumni based in the U.S. Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairman, Godrej Properties, said, “We are delighted to support ZunRoof's exciting plans in the home IOT and solar rooftop spaces.

The Founders' exciting vision combined with the passion, knowledge and the leadership they've demonstrated in the space makes us very excited to be a part of their journey.”

EBRD, GCF PROVIDE $16.7MN SOLARHOME RAISES $1 MN FOR KAZAKH SOLAR PV PLANT FOLLOW-ON EQUITY The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have together provided $16.7 million as a loan to support the development of a new 30 MW solar PV power plant in Zhangiz-tobe in Kazakhstan.

Stepping up its efforts to support renewables in the country, EBRD signed the financing agreement with China’s Universal Energy, during the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. The agreement was signed by Nandita Parshad, EBRD Managing Director for Sustainable Infrastructure Group, and Nan Yi, President and CEO of Universal Energy.

The financing package arranged by the EBRD includes a local currency loan of up to KZT 4.4 billion (US$ 11.7 million) and a loan of up to US$ 5 million from the GCF. The proceeds will be used to finance the construction of a new 30MW solar power plant, which will be located in Zhangiz-tobe village in the east of the country.

Once completed the plant is expected to generate over 38,900 MWh of electricity per year, helping reduce CO2 emissions by 31,650 tons annually.

The investment is the eighth project signed under the Bank’s Kazakhstan Renewables Framework, a €200 million facility for financing renewable energy projects in Central Asia, which benefits from a US$ 110 million contribution from the GCF. In 2018 alone, under its Green Economy Transition approach, the EBRD mobilised investments worth €3.4 billion into green economy projects.

Singapore-based off-grid solutions provider, SolarHome has announced that it has secured an additional $1 million in equity funding as part of its series A round.

The startup which is working on providing off-grid solar solutions to households in Myanmar on a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model has secured the funding from its existing investor Trirec.

TRIREC an investment holding company which focuses on renewable energy and clean technology projects was joined

by Insitor Impact Asia, Bee Next, and a group of Singaporebased family offices when it invested $4.2 million in SolarHome in a convertible note offering, including the Japanese crossborder crowdfunding platform Crowd Credit in 2018.

SolarHome, which was launched in 2017, has been seeded by fintech venture builder FORUM and has core operations in Myanmar with 20 branches in four regions.

In December 2018, following the $4.2 investment in 2018, the startup raised US$10 million in debt financing from a consortium of international investors, including Crowdcredit and Trine, a Sweden-based crowdfunding platform for off-grid solar.

The company which had already installed close to 28,000 solar home systems in Myanmar announced that the funds would be used to accelerate expansion across the country.

Through this expansion, the company aims to reach 100,000 homes with its product packages that include budget, basic and premium solar system bundles for lighting and phone charging purposes, as well as TV bundles by the end of the year.

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FINANCE UPDATES

SPRUCE FINANCE SECURES $208MN FOR RESI SOLAR ASSETS Distributed generation solar plants operator Spruce Finance, a leading owner and operator of residential energy assets in the U.S., has announced the successful closing of a $208 million senior secured financing of its residential solar assets.

The debt financing gives Spruce access to competitively priced capital, improve its capital structure and help the company grow in new solar markets.

Silicon Valley Bank and ING both acted as coordinating lead arrangers and joint book runners. Key Bank acted as a joint lead arranger and there were several other participating lenders. The firms

were chosen due to their position as market leaders in financing residential solar assets. Spruce is reportedly actively pursuing acquisition opportunities to add to its 150MW portfolio.

"As the solar financing landscape continues to evolve, we see an opportunity to grow our portfolio while providing integrated services," said Christian Fong, president and CEO of Spruce Finance, "Our strong financing and M&A capabilities, paired with our subsidiary Energy Service Experts' servicing offerings puts us in a unique position in the industry."

In November of last year, Spruce

announced that it was acquired by HPS Investment Partners, a leading global investment firm with more than $48 billion of assets under management. Spruce's independent subsidiary, Energy Service Experts, services more than $1 billion of residential accounts, providing financial asset management, consumer billing and collections, fleet management and homeowner support.

Currently, Spruce manages more than 150 MW of installed capacity and is reportedly acquiring operating residential and commercial and industrial solar assets and power purchase agreements in North America.

ØRSTED TAKES FID ON TWO TAIWAN WIND FARMS

EBRD GRANTS €48 MN LOAN FOR 220 MW WIND PROJECT

Denmark-based power company has announced that it has taken the final investment decision (FID) on the Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farm in Taiwan.

Prior to the FID, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs approved Ørsted’s local supply chain plan, and subsequently Ørsted has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Taipower at the feed-in-tariff level announced on January 30, 2019.

The Greater Changhua 1 and 2a were facing extraordinarily high costs related to creating a local supply chain at scale, reinforcing the onshore grid infrastructure and building, operating and maintaining offshore wind farms in challenging site and weather conditions. After the Ministry had issued the FiT, the Danish firm had decided to review and decide on the final investment case once it had clarity on the outcome of supply contract renegotiations and relevant project milestones being achieved in time to keep the projects on track for potential commissioning in 2021.

Martin Neubert, Executive Vice President and CEO of Offshore at Ørsted, said, “Over the last couple of months, we have been working intensively to obtain establishment permit, renegotiate contracts, get our supply chain plan approved and sign the power purchase agreement. Thanks to a close and strong collaboration with our supply chain partners, Taipower and decision-makers in Taiwan, we have achieved all these milestones and can now take the final investment decision on this landmark project, which will be Taiwan’s largest offshore wind farm and demonstrate offshore wind’s potential to decarbonise energy systems in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region.” Changhua 1 and 2a will be located 35-50 kilometers off the coast of Changhua County and will have a capacity of approx. 900MW, enough to supply around 1 million Taiwanese households with green power.

The offshore wind farm will be constructed in 2021 and 2022.

In its first project in renewable energy in Poland in over three years, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)has announced that it is supporting the 220 MW Potegowo wind farm with a local currency loan of up to PLN 209.1 million (€48 million).

The plant in north-eastern Poland will be constructed and operated by Potegowo Mashav, a special purpose vehicle incorporated in Poland and majority-owned by the Israel Infrastructure Fund, for a total cost of PLN 1.25 billion (€290 million). The wind farm is expected to make a major contribution to reducing air pollution by replacing 480,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The EBRD’s return to financing renewables in Poland has become possible thanks to a new renewable support mechanism, the implementation of which the Bank was able to support with technical assistance and policy engagement. The project represents a milestone as the first large scale onshore wind farm financed under the new support mechanism.

The main goal of the new support system is to allow Poland to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix. At present, the country remains dependent on coal for almost 80 per cent of its electricity generation which constitutes a serious challenge. All EU member countries are committed to source at least 32 per cent of their final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030.

Harry Boyd-Carpenter, EBRD Director for Energy EMEA, said, “This is a milestone project which represents a turning point for the Polish energy sector. Three major developments have made this possible. Renewables now are at the heart of the framework for the European energy sector. In this context, the Polish energy policy foresees a progressive shift away from coal to renewables.”

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UPDATES

AZURE POWER'S INDERPREET WADHWA TO STEP DOWN Inderpreet S Wadhwa, who has led Azure Power to become one of the country’s largest solar power developers and operators with over 1.5 GWs of operating assets plus over 1.5 GWs of contracted projects, plans to retire.

The company said in a statement that, “Inderpreet Wadhwa, will be retiring from his position as CEO and Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of Azure Power and all its subsidiaries.”

He will continue as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) until a new successor is named or December 31, 2019, whichever is earliest.

The New York Stock Exchange listed company's Non-Executive Directors said they will conduct a search for a new CEO. However, Wadhwa will remain with the organization as an advisor till December 31, 2019 even if a new CEO joins prior to that date.

The company’s board has expressed its great appreciation to Wadhwa for his leadership and contributions towards the company, and for making Azure a dynamic leader among all renewable

energy companies in India.

Under Wadhwa’s leadership, Azure Power has established its leadership through a series of industry firsts, including the first Indian solar company to list its shares publicly on the NYSE and the first successful issuance of green bonds for Indian solar assets.

He founded Azure Power in 2008 and prior to this he served as a Vice President

of Loyalty Lab and as a Senior Director of Oracle Corporation. Additionally, he has been a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Wadhwa is among the prominent thought leaders in Indian solar industry. He is a renewable energy enthusiast with over 20 years of experience in technology and infrastructure businesses.

SOLAR DEVICES DEMAND RISES IN ODISHA AFTER FANI

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After the cyclone Fani hit shores of the state Odisha, people are now grappling with water shortage, lack of electricity, poor mobile connectivity and cash crunch.

With no end to electricity woes on sight, residents of the capital city, grappling with acute power shortage after cyclone Fani, are now looking for other unconventional modes of power.

In order to meet day-to-day requirements especially during the night hours, people have begun to use battery-charged lights and solar devices following which electrical shops are witnessing heavy rush of customers.

Keeping the huge demand in view, traders and shopkeepers have opened up stalls at several places and are selling Chinamade battery-operated lights, solar lights and fans.

“People of Bhubaneswar had never expected to face such times of distress. Since 11 KV power lines have been snapped we believe that electricity restoration may not be possible for few more days, so we are forced to depend on battery and solar lights for safety during night time,” said a resident.

Most of the demand is for solar powered lights and fans, followed by solar rechargeable batteries to recharge mobile phones to aid communication between families affected by the cyclone. However, people are complaining about the price. Due to the heavy demand most of the products sold SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

in shops are witnessing daily rise in price.

India which has finished the electrification of over six lakh villages in the country last year, including last 19,000 villages by the government, still has 40 million rural households in India do not have affordable electricity and off-grid solar provided the much-needed answer, according to World Bank's private lending arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC).

MARKET UPDATES

RE OUTPUT EXCEEDS COAL IN US FOR THE FIRST TIME According to the EIA’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, coal-fired power plants only accounted for 20 percent of total U.S. electricity generation in April, while renewables made up 24 percent. It’s the first time on record that renewable energy generated more than coal on a monthly basis. The trend is expected to continue in May, with coal accounting for 21 percent and renewables capturing 22 percent. Natural gas is the largest source of electricity in the U.S. at this point, taking home 35 percent in April and expected to account for 36 percent in May. The IEEFA estimates that in April,

renewables will generate 2,322 thousand megawatt-hours per day, while coal will generate 1,997 thousand MWh/day. In May, the IEEFA estimates that renewables will generate 2,271 thousand MWh/day, and coal will generate 2,239 thousand MWh/day.

An analysis by Energy Innovation shows that in 74% of cases it is cheaper to build new wind and solar than to keep running existing coal plants today and that number will increase to 86% by 2025.

Still, renewables account for less than 10% of all electricity generated in the United States overall at the moment.

Recent investments into wind and solar

energy have also helped decrease the cost of renewable energy, which means that now people can afford to install solar panels in their homes. Not to mention, the current climate crisis has led to businesses, governments, and private citizens demanding cleaner energy sources especially for solar energy in India.

Interestingly, renewable energy will only produce 18% of U.S. electricity in 2019, and around 20% in 2020, according to the IEEFA. While those figures are increasing slowly but surely, renewable energy still has a long way to go before it provides the majority of the US energy.

CARBON TAXES BEST WAY TO CUT GHG EMISSIONS

RE CAPACITY GROWTH DIPS IN 2018 POST 20 YR EXPANSION

An IMF Executive Board review of the fiscal policies for Paris climate strategies and discussed a paper providing country-level guidance on the role, and design of, fiscal policies for implementing climate mitigation strategies that countries have submitted for the 2015 Paris Agreement and for addressing vulnerabilities in disaster-prone countries.

On the mitigation side, the paper presents a spreadsheet tool for judging the likely impact on emissions, fiscal revenues, local air pollution mortality, and economic welfare impacts of a range of instruments including comprehensive carbon taxes, emissions trading systems, taxes on individual fuels, and incentives for energy efficiency. The paper discusses the cases for voluntary carbon price floor arrangements at the regional level, or among large-emitting countries, to reinforce domestic initiatives and help address concerns about competitiveness without resorting to trade penalties on other countries.

It revealed that at $70 per ton of carbon dioxide, a carbon tax would be the most efficient means of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The directors broadly recognized the potential of carbon pricing in effectively reducing emissions and mobilizing revenue resources.

“The 2C target would require cutting emissions by roughly a third by 2030 and a global carbon price of around $70 per ton,” IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and Vitor Gaspar, the fund's head of fiscal affairs, said in a joint blog post. “There is a growing consensus that carbon pricing... is the single most effective mitigation instrument,” they said.

However, the board also noted that other fiscal instruments or regulatory measures could also have an important, and sometimes preferable, role to play, depending on country circumstances and preferences.

2018 was the first time since 2001 that growth in renewable power capacity failed to increase year on year, a new report has revealed.

New net capacity from solar PV, wind, hydro, bioenergy, and other renewable power sources increased by about 180 Gigawatts (GW) in 2018, the same as the previous year, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest data.

Reaching only 60 percent of the net additions needed every year to meet long-term climate goals.

Renewables have a major role to play in curbing global emissions. Renewable capacity additions need to grow by over 300 GW on average each year between 2018 and 2030 to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, according to the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS). But the IEA’s analysis shows the world is not doing enough. Last year, energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 1.7% to a historic high of 33 Gigatonnes. Despite a growth of 7% in renewables electricity generation, emissions from the power sector grew to record levels. “The world cannot afford to press “pause” on the expansion of renewables and governments need to act quickly to correct this situation and enable a faster flow of new projects,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA’s Executive Director.

Since 2015, global solar PV’s exponential growth had been compensating for slower increases in wind and hydropower.

But solar PV’s growth flattened in 2018, adding 97 GW of capacity and falling short of expectations it would surpass the symbolic 100 GW mark. The main reason was a sudden change in China’s solar PV incentives to curb costs and address grid integration challenges to achieve more sustainable PV expansion. Moreover, lower wind additions in the European Union and India also contributed to stalling renewable capacity growth in 2018.

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MARKET UPDATES

US WIND PIPELINE GREW BY 6.14 GW IN Q1 2019 A burst of new wind farm announcements in the first quarter of 2019 propelled the total volume of U.S. wind power construction and development activity to a record level according to the newly released U.S. Wind Industry First Quarter 2019 Market Report.

The American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) report reveals that U.S. project developers announced new wind farms with a total capacity of 6,146 megawatts (MW) in the first quarter of 2019, which is more than the capacity of all the currently operational wind farms in California.

The additional capacity brings the U.S. construction and advanced development pipeline to a record-breaking 39,161 MW, an 11 percent increase over the previous quarter. Eight states are now on track to double their installed wind capacity.

Of the total wind pipeline, 17,213 MW were

under construction across 21 states at the end of first quarter. Texas boasted the most wind under construction with 6,528 MW—1,255 MW of which is new this year.

Project developers also reported 21,949 MW of wind capacity in the advanced development stage, which also reached

a record level.

Projects in advanced development have not yet begun construction but are likely to come online in the near term because they have either signed a long-term contract, placed turbine orders, or are proceeding under utility ownership.

SOLAR POWER CAPACITY IN US DOUBLED IN LAST 6 YEARS

INDIA MAY INSTALL 54.7 GW NEW WIND CAPACITY BY 2022

Over the past six years, solar energy capacity more than doubled in 45 of America’s 57 largest cities, according to a new study released by the Environment America Research & Policy Center.

Along with the vast majority of cities that showed marked growth in solar capacity, a select group made even greater strides in going solar between 2013 and 2018, the report finds.

One-third of the cities surveyed in all of the report’s editions more than quadrupled their installed solar PV capacity over that period.

“Cities are rapidly adopting solar energy and driving the renewable energy transition across the country, bringing pollution-free power to our homes, schools and workplaces,” said Bret Fanshaw, Go Solar Campaign Director with Environment America Research & Policy Center. “We applaud the leadership shown by many cities and invite even more to let the sunshine in.”

Beyond the historical analysis, the 2018 report expanded to include 69 major U.S. cities. The newest numbers show that Honolulu rates No. 1 for solar energy installed per resident.

This performance from Hawaii’s capital reflects strong state and local commitments to tackle climate change. In 2015, the Aloha State committed to using 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.

When it comes to overall solar power capacity, Los Angeles remains the leader for the second year in a row, after ceding the top spot to San Diego two years ago. L.A. has taken this spot in five of the six years of the survey.

India is likely to install 54.7 GW of wind capacity by 2022 against the 60-GW target set by the government, a new report has revealed. According to the latest Fitch Solutions Macro Research report, India has set an ambitious target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022, which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro-power.

"We remain cautious on India meeting its ambitious 2022 targets for wind power capacity growth, as land acquisition issues and grid bottlenecks will lead to delays to project implementation in the sector... We forecast India to install 54.7 GW of wind capacity by 2022, compared to the 60 GW government target," Fitch Solutions Macro Research, unit of Fitch Group, said in its outlook for the country's renewable energy sector. “The combination of several challenges in the country's wind power sector will hit near-term growth momentum, including land availability hurdles, grid access bottlenecks and concerns over the viability of low tender bids. This informs our view that India only will add on average 4.5 GW of wind capacity annually between 2019 and 2022, with the aforementioned risks highlighting further downside risk,” the report said.

Further, the grid connection issues have been also plaguing developers of wind power projects.

“In addition, should the facility not be able to sell electricity, the project's loan interest could start to pile up and alter project economics. As such, grid connection bottlenecks represents a key risk to project developers.

VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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MARKET / UPDATES

ROOFTOP SOLAR KEY TO INDIA’S 175 GW RE TARGET Rooftop solar is the fastest growing renewable energy sub-sector in India but installations must rapidly accelerate if the nation is to meet its ambitious renewable energy target of 175 gigawatts (GW) by 2022, a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

Vibhuti Garg, IEEFA energy analyst and co-author of the briefing note: Vast Potential of Rooftop Solar In India says India has installed 28 GW of solar capacity, a fourfold increase in less than three years. “Despite this strong growth, India has achieved only 10% of its 40 GW rooftop solar target. This is well below the run-rate anticipated by government. To achieve the 2022 target, India will have to greatly accelerate the pace of new solar rooftop installations,”

Garg said.

The report estimates that for next three years, solar rooftop installations will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 50 percent, suggesting a cumulative 13 GW of installed capacity by FY2021-22.

The report further stressed that shifting

subsidies away from imported fossil fuels and reallocating to assist the capital cost of rooftop solar deployments is one way to fund the energy transition for marginalised households.

“At the moment around 70% of the market growth in the solar rooftop market is driven by commercial and industrial consumers enjoying high tariffs,” Garg added. “Residential consumers and state governments are lagging behind. The government’s recent 2040 percent financial subsidy for new residential rooftop solar installations should accelerate the pace at the local level.”

Solar is now cheaper than commercial and industrial grid tariffs in all major states in India, with average tariffs between Rs 6-11/kWh.

FRESH HIT TO BHADLA SOLAR PARK FROM MAY 11 STORM

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The Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, which saw some damage to installations in the recent storm on April 17, took yet another hit, this time with more damage, from a storm on May 11.

That could mean some serious rethink for developers on their installation specifications.

When the April 17 storm hit Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, one of the biggest and most celebrated solar parks of India, many people shrugged it off as a one-off, confident that the limited damage would be papered over, and lessons learned. Unfortunately, the industry just hasn’t had the time to put those lessons to use.

A second storm that hit the area on May 11 has left behind a trail of damaged installations, and an embarrassed set of developers looking for respite. Even as repair work had barely started on the earlier damage, the latest storm has cut a much wider trail of destruction, affecting equipment belonging to developers across the board present at Bhadla, from NTPC to Renew Power to Azure, Tata power, Hero Future Energies and more to be confirmed.

While wind speeds have not been as high as last time, the damage has been higher, perhaps due to the weakening caused by the first wave on April 17, so to say. Bhadla, which saw the lowest bids for solar power at Rs 2.44 per unit, might just be a good example of what cost pressure can lead to. It should be very interesting to know if the damage was caused due to deficient workmanship or simply because of higher than rated wind speeds. The fact that the two storms hit the site within 25 days of each other certainly didn’t allow for remedial steps, it seems.

With Odisha still reeling from the massive aftermath of Cyclone SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

Fani, India’s renewable industry needs to seriously consider if their assets can withstand extreme weather events, and with weather anomalies likely to become more frequent, possibly due to climate change, it certainly strengthens the case for better quality, only possible with better prices.

With the widespread damage caused, a census is still on at the site by various developers to put a number on the total damage caused. But don’t count on a number making it public anytime soon, thanks to the multiple developers that have been impacted.

Workers at the site we managed to speak to simply confirm that the damage is higher than caused by the April 17 storm, at this stage.

PRODUCTS

1. d.light S3 Solar Lamp The d.light S3 is the next generation of one of the best-selling solar lanterns the S2. This easy-touse solar-powered light enables people without regular access to energy in developing worlds with affordable and reliable light source.

FEATURES: The S3 comes with an integrated solar panel that charges the battery pack that powers the lamp. The battery can power the lamp for 12 hours on a single charge. The product boasts of a 60,000-hour life cycle and lifetime well over 5 years (inclusive of the battery). The S3 has two brightness settings, compared to just one on the previous generation S2. A dimmer setting, on which it will run for as long as 12 hours; and a brighter setting (40 lumens) at which it will run for 4 hours.

The battery pack is usually charged in 5-6 hours.

BENEFITS: The tough and sturdy design of the lamp is extremely lightweight and also provides resistance to extreme weather conditions. The adjustable and portable lamp does not require maintenance and can be placed on a table, hung from a wall, and even used outdoors. Its AC charging time- 2 hrs, solar-varied.

AVAILABILITY: The product currently retails for Rs 550 on the company’s official website and a few select e-commerce websites.

2. ABS Foldable Solar Power Camping Lantern The ABS foldable solar power rechargeable led camping lantern manufactured by Chinese firm Ninghai Yisen Daily Use Co. This solar powered lantern is designed for outdoor use and provides multiple levels of brightness for different scenarios.

PRODUC T FEATURES: The lamp comes with a built-in 1200 mAh battery that is charged using solar panels that are integrated in the design. The lightweight and foldable design makes it an easy-to-carry flashlight. When expanded, it is used as a lantern with a handle; when folded, it can be used as a flashlight.

BENFITS: The lamp comes with three working modes for brightness and at the highest brightness level the battery can power the lamp for 2.5 hours. The system also has a USB I/O port which can be used to charge mobile devices. At 160 grams, the lamp is best suited for outdoor camping and travelling. Its charging time- 2.5 hours.

AVAILABILITY: The product is a available for purchase online at alibaba.com and retails for $3.40-3.60.

3. D.light S500 Mobile Charger Plus Lamp

The d.light S500 solar-powered lantern takes over from the company’s previous S300 model. The USB-enabled lantern comes with mobile phone battery chargers¬. The unique, angled lens of the S500 reflects light at a wide angle, allowing it to light up an entire room. The sturdy, rugged design of the S500 ensures that you have a fully charged mobile, whenever you need it.

level when the battery is running on low.

PRODUCT FEATURES: The S500 is powered by an integrated battery that powers the system and is charged using the solar panels that are provided with the kit. On a single charge the battery can power the lamp for at least 100 hours on the lowest setting. The S500 provides four different brightness settings, from our "Bedlight" to “High" and automatically adjusts the brightness

BENEFITS: With light and mobile charging in one device, the system comes with a 60,000-hour life. The sturdy design offers portability and resistance against extreme weather conditions. The lifetime the product is 5 years and doesn’t require any maintenance meeting global lighting quality standards. Its charging time - AC- 2.5 hours, solar- 4-5 hours.

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AVAILABILITY:The product currently retails for Rs 2395 (pack of 6) on amazon.in and the company’s official website.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

PRODUCTS

4. FTC Solar “Voyager” Single-Axis Tracker FTC Solar h as recently entered two markets with its single-axis tracker, the “Voyager”. The company believes the product provides industry-leading ease of installation, performance, and reliability. The product has been optimised for bifacial performance with up to 0.5% yield improvement due to less backside shading and better albedo capture.

Features: The voyagers has support for GCR from 20-60 percent. The 60 mtr (116 module) row provides layout compaction with more MW/site. The Hierarchy of row, zone and site controllers provide communication and data redundancy. And, the self-powered drive with battery backup which are powered by the two smaller modules that come with the system have a 3 day autonomy, and work well to mitigate interruptions.

Benefits: The product according to the company leads the industry in lowest cost of installation. Designed for lean construction, it requires less than 300 Man-Hours per MW for installation and uses the up to 60 percent fewer post per MW than the competition. The system requires only 7 posts for a typical 60 metre (116 Module) row, brining down costs by almost 2 cents per Watt.

Availability:Available

5. Reolink Launches Solar-Powered Outdoor Smart Home Camera Home security and camera solutions provider, Reolink has launched a new model in its flagship battery-powered security camera lineup with the unique and revolutionary ‘Argus PT’ outdoor pan tilt security camera.

Features: The camera is powered by a rechargeable battery or Reolink Solar Panel, which enables customers to charge the camera directly without replacing the battery. By adding a solar panel to Argus PT set up. The camera has an ultra-wide viewing angle with 355-degree pan and 140-degree tilt design. The IP65 weatherproof rating enables it to endure extreme weather conditions.

Benefits: The camera adopts an industry-leading starlight CMOS image sensor and is able to shoot stunning images, even in the dark. The video footage can be recorded at the maximum rating of 1080p full HD. Customers can configure or access the camera with smartphones or computers and whenever there are motion events, the system sends out a real-time app or email push notifications to alert the user. As per reviews, its charging time is variable(2-5 hours).

Availability: The product currently retails for $118.99 on the company’s official website and a few select e-commerce websites.

6. Timex Expedition Solar Watches The Expedition Ranger Solar is a sustainable, adventure-ready companion powered by natural energy. With a water-resistant tan leather strap, silver-tone case and blue dial, this solar-powered watch is well-built for the outdoors.

FEATURES: The watch can be charged by directing sunlight towards the dial of the watch. In addition to sunlight, the watch also charges up when any other light strikes the dial. The product is water resistant up to 50 meters and is designed primarily for outdoor adventure use.

BENEFITS: The watch is available in many designs with different straps which offer high rigidity, and performance. Well built for surviving outdoor performance the watch has a natural power reserve that can last up to two months. As per reviews, it has 2 months battery backup. It can charge all the time in any light.

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AVAILABILITY: The product is available for purchase on the company’s official website and through e-commerce websites.

Price starts at US $70.

SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL | VOL 3 l ISSUE 09

OPPORTUNITIES

1. Chairman & Managing Director - IREDA

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), incorporated with the objective to promote, develop and extend financial assistance for setting up projects involving Renewable Sources of Energy in the country has invited applications for the post of Chairman and Managing Director.

The qualification criteria for eligibility is that applicants should have a graduate degree from a recognized University/ Institution and those with a technical/MBA qualificationwill have added advantage.

The applicant must, on the date of application, as well as on the date of interview, be employed in a regular capacity – and not in a contractual/ad-hoc capacity – in one of the followings:- (a) Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) (including a full-time functional Director in the Board of a CPSE); (b) Central Government including the Armed Forces of the Union and All India Services; (c) State Public Sector Enterprise (SPSE) where the annual turnover is Rs 1000 crore or more; (d) Private Sector in company where the annual turnover is Rs 1000 crore or more.

The salary package for the selected candidate will range between Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 3.2 lakh per month (IDA).

The Chairman and Managing Director is the Chief Executive of the Corporation and accountable to its Board of Directors and Government of India/Share holders. He is responsible for the efficient functioning of the Corporation, and for achieving its corporate objectives and performance parameters.

Apply for the post here: https://pesb.gov.in/Home/Index

2. Director (Finance) - SJVN Limited

SJVN Limited, (formerly Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited) a Miniratna CPE in power sector with an installed capacity of 2003.2 MW (comprising of 1912 MW Hydro + 85.6 MW Wind Power + 5.6 MW Solar Power). The company was incorporated as a JV of the Government of India & Government of Himachal Pradesh, with the objective to develop power projects, in India and abroad optimally and economically. The company is now seeking applications for the post of Director (Finance).

The qualification criteria for eligibility is that applicants should be a Chartered Accountant or Cost Accountant or must have a full time MBA/PGDM course with good academic record from a recognized University/Institution.

The applicant must, on the date of application, as well as

on the date of interview, be employed in a regular capacity – and not in a contractual/ad-hoc capacity – in one of the followings:- (a) Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) (including a full-time functional Director in the Board of a CPSE); (b) Central Government including the Armed Forces of the Union and All India Services; (c) State Public Sector Enterprise (SPSE) where the annual turnover is Rs 2000 crore or more; (d) Private Sector in company where the annual turnover is Rs 2000 crore or more. Preference would be given to candidates from listed Companies.

The salary package for the selected candidate will range between Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 3.4 lakh per month (IDA).

The Director (Finance) will be a member of the Board of Directors and report to Chairman and Managing Director.

In charge of the finance and accounts of the organisation and responsible for evolving and formulating policies related to finance and accounts as well as implementation thereof.

Apply for the post here: https://pesb.gov.in/Home/Index

3. Planning Engineer (Solar Power) - Sterling and Wilson

Sterling and Wilson, agroup company of Shapoorji and Pallonji, one of India’s premier MEP service provider is looking for planning engineer (solar power) for projects being executed in Chile.

The qualification criteria for eligible candidates is a degree in Civil, Electrical or Mechanical engineering followed by a MBA or M’Tech degree. The interested candidates must have working experience in the solar power business.

The salary package for the selected candidate will be in the vicinity of Rs 20 lakh per annum.

Key Responsibilities will include: 1. Deciding on proper engineering techniques and milestone sequences for each project stage.

2. Set targets for activities based on each phase of a project plan and ensure it meets clients specifications.

3. Make estimations for timescales and costs using specialised design software packages.

4. Monitor day-to-day work progress for a project and provide accurate weekly and monthly reports by communicating potential progress delays or project slippages.

5. Continually make comparisons between planned progress and actual progress and report any differences to their project manager.

6. Ensure complex projects are handled on time and on budget by overseeing the project planning, inventory services, cost control, team leadership, and project management.

7. Works closely with others involved in a project and directs the daily workload of subordinate team members.

Apply for the post here: https://bit.ly/2Yo6E5Z VOL 3 l ISSUE 08 | SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL

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