44 minute read
Technical Feature
WAFER A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE PV CELL TECHNOLOGIES
D.N. Singh
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Chief Executive Officer Bergen Solar Power and Energy Limited
PVcell manufacturing is today majorly silicon wafer based (approximately 98%), whether technology of production is Al-BSF, PERC, TOPCON, IBC or HJT. Even in future tandem cells, primary cells will be silicon wafer based. It is, therefore, important to be careful in selection of the wafers. The major criterion and considerations in selecting the wafers are as follows:
1.Type of wafer: Here choice is between Multi-crystalline or Poly-crystalline and Mono-crystalline wafers. Multicrystalline wafers ruled the roost for over a decade in PV cell manufacturing with Al-BSF technology but have now given way to Mono wafers since PERC technology has become the mainstay technology. So here choice of Mono wafers is obvious for all technologies except Al-BSF for which still multi wafers are being used. 2.Size of wafers: In last five years, wafer manufactures, mostly Chinese, have introduced multiple choices of wafer sizes in quick succession starting from Mo(156mmx156mm) to M12 (210mmx210mm) increasing the area in M12 wafers by 66%. Presently M10 (182mmx182mm) is becoming favourite for PERC technology compared to M12. The simple reason being that at module level if 72 cell format either half-cut or 1/3rd -cut is used for M12 wafers, the module size will become unwieldy (>2.6meterx1.14meter), so for this size wafers maximum 66 cell format is being used where as in case of M10 awfers,144 half-cut format can easily be deployed.
Good news, however, is that cell line equipment manufacturers have built their lines for universal, use which can handle all sizes of wafers from M0 to M12. Any way no one would like to set up such a line and process in that M0 wafers, so most probable scenario would be that lines will be universal and initially will be configured for M10 wafers, so that manufacturers will be able to switch over to M12 size easily whenever all issues related to M12 are sorted out. 3.Dopant: So far for P-type wafers for P-Mono PERC technology, boron has been the most favoured dopant. In P- Mono wafer-based technologies, LID (Light Induced Degradation) is a difficult issue, and it is basically due to Boron in the silicon. So much so, that PERC technology could not take off until this issue was suitably contained through regeneration process introduction after co-firing.
In order to control LID, gallium dopant was introduced and now it has acquired mainstream technology status. N-type wafers are used in TOPCON, IBC and HJT technologies and generally dopant for these wafers is either phosphorus or arsenic. LID is not an issue in these technologies. 4.Wafer Sawing: Diamond wafer sawing has almost replaced the steel wire slurrybased sawing for both Multi and Mono wafers due to its very low kerf loss. In diamond wire sawed multi-wafers texturing is challenging and requires MCCE (metalcatalysed chemical etching) process in place of normal acidic texturing.
There are no issues in diamond sawed mono wafers, however, one should be careful about saw marks and other surface defects. In PV, there is no system of precleaning of the wafers before texturing, however, it would be coming in future. 5.Lifetime of minority carriers: This is the most important parameter which is very critical in deciding the efficiency for energy conversion. The problem with this parameter is that the wafer manufacturers are able to measure it only at brick level which gives only bulk lifetime.
For measuring lifetime of minority carriers at wafer level, pre-processing e.g. texturing is required. It is, therefore, necessary to have as high as possible lifetime at brick level from the wafer supplier. 6. Wafer Thickness: There has been continuous effort to reduce the thickness of wafer to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency, however, yield loss in the line due to breakage is the restriction in reducing the wafer thickness beyond a certain limit. With larger size wafers coming, the thickness of the wafers will remain in 165–175 micron range. 7. Microcracks and other crystallographic defects: These defects are part of the wafering process and those need to be minimised by the wafer suppliers by improving their processes. If these defects are not in limits, those can affect the efficiency severely.
In light of these facts, it becomes very clear that for large scale production facilities, inspection of incoming wafers as comprehensively as possible is must. Secondly, building of wafer production facilities in the country are necessary in the coming years if India wants to compete in the global market.
International RECs: A reliable way to go 100% Renewable
Kranthi Tej
Senior Manager, New Products & Technology, Amplus Solar
The Race to Zero campaign was launched by the UNFCCC’s Climate Ambition Alliance with a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. As of February 2021, 1,397 businesses have pledged to join the Race to Zero campaign and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. These include the likes of Amazon, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Atos, Infosys, Uber, Siemens, Schneider Electric to name a few.
In addition, 288 companies across the world have pledged to the RE100 initiative. RE100 is the global corporate renewable energy initiative bringing together hundreds of large and ambitious businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity.
Firms have also been setting ambitious goals targeted at reducing their carbon emissions. For example, under The Climate Pledge which include Microsoft, Amazon, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, firms have committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. With the increasing focus on emission reductions and ambitious goals, it becomes necessary for the companies to layout out a green strategy and roadmap with objective milestones to achieve the goals. This strategy shall include reducing their current energy consumption, procuring energy from renewable energy sources and, off-setting fossil-fuel based energy consumption through energy attribute certificates.
Procurement of energy from Renewable Sources
• One of the important means for a company to reduce their carbon emissions is to procure power from renewable energy (RE) sources like solar, wind, hydro, etc. This can be achieved by: • Setting up own renewable energy plants within their premises and use the generated energy for their consumption • Procuring electricity from renewable energy plants through an Open Access mechanism where in the plant is not
located within the consumer’s premises • However, procurement of renewable energy may not be possible in several cases. Some of them are listed below: • There may not be sufficient/suitable space within the company’s premises to set up a renewable energy plant (Ex:
Solar plant) • Some/all of the facilities of the company may not qualify for the Open Access mechanism due to the minimum load restrictions • RE generators may not be available to supply power through the Open Access mechanism depending on the facility’s location • The company’s facilities are spread across many locations and setting up RE plants may not be feasible in terms of costs or finding RE developers • The company’s energy consumption is high and the RE power procured is not sufficient to meet all of the energy demand
In such cases, there is a need for an alternate instrument to reduce the carbon emissions which can keep the companies on track towards achieving their sustainability goals. International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) are one of the effective instruments available in the market which aim to bridge this gap and help companies meet their sustainability goals.
International Renewable Energy Certificates or International RECs (I-RECs) are energy attribute certificates which are administered by the International REC Standard (I-REC Standard). The I-REC Standard is the same body that developed the Europe’s ~550 TWh/year renewable energy certificate scheme.
I-RECs are generated from an underlying RE asset. Each RE plant is registered as an asset on the I-REC Registry after a thorough and rigorous qualification protocol which ensures there is no double counting of the emissions reductions arising out of the generation from the RE asset. The I-Registry, which is the repository of I-REC assets and transactions obtains the energy meter readings from the registered assets at regular intervals and issues I-RECs against the RE generation. Periodic audits are also conducted to ensure that the registered assets are following the protocol set forward by the I-REC standard.
Each International REC or I-REC represents 1 MWh of electricity produced by a registered renewable energy asset and has a unique ID associated with it. This ID can be used to track the asset that has generated the renewable energy and enable the purchaser of the certificates to verify the authenticity and quality of the RE generation. The rigorous qualification criteria and the unique certificate IDs also prevent the double counting, double issuing and double claiming of underlying RE attributes.
To ensure the reliability and scalability of I-REC issuances across the world, the I-REC Standard has authorized issuers in major countries who are authorized to issue I-RECs against the RE generation arising from a registered asset. For instance, Green Certificate Company (GCC) is the authorized issuer of I-RECs in China, South Africa, India, Malaysia and many more countries.
How does I-REC mechanism work?
The RE generators register their plants on the I-REC Registry by making an application along with a set of plant documents. The application is then validated by the Registry and they seek clarity (if required). After the validation, an independent audit may also be initiated by the Registry based on their discretion. Once the registration is approved by the Registry, the generator can furnish the meter readings from time to time to get I-RECs issued on the electricity generation from the RE asset. The end-consumer or a trader can then purchase the issued I-RECs and
may redeem/retire or trade the certificates respectively. The following chart demonstrates the flow of events described above.
The revenue generated out of the sale of I-RECs can be put back into the system by the RE generator to finance development of new RE projects. In effect, the I-REC mechanism encourages development of new RE projects and reducing the carbon emissions across the world while passing on the benefit to the end-consumers.
Who should go for I-RECs?
1. Companies that have committed to carbon emission reduction initiatives like Race to Zero or RE100 or selfdeclared sustainability goals and are unable to procure sufficient renewable power to reduce their carbon emissions can opt to purchase I-RECs to reduce their emissions and help them achieve their RE targets 2. Companies that have set goals to reduce their carbon emissions from their supply chain including their suppliers’ emissions and find it infeasible to procure RE power for these emissions, such companies can purchase I-RECs for their suppliers and reduce the emissions across their supply chain 3. Companies which want to claim that their products are manufactured using renewable energy from a branding standpoint and cannot physically achieve renewable energy consumption can purchase I-RECs to make claims on the green attributes of the manufacturing of their products. The
RE100 guide to make claims based on energy attribute certificates like I-RECs can be found here
How can an end-consumer redeem/retire I-RECs?
The I-RECs can be redeemed/retired either directly from an I-REC registered RE generator or through a trader who purchases the I-RECs from the RE generators and sells them to the endconsumer. The end-consumer needs to furnish the following details: 1. Quantum of electricity (in MWh) that needs to be off-set 2. Legal entity name against which the
I-RECs must be redeemed/retired 3. Purpose for purchasing the I-RECs 4. These details are recorded in the I-REC
Registry as a transaction and will be available for future reference.
Why I-RECs over other carbon mechanisms?
1. International Acceptance: I-RECs are widely accepted and are recognized by international reporting standards including CDP, GHG Scope 2 Protocol and RE100. I-RECs are also recognized by Governments in developing countries. 2. Ease of Quantification: In case of carbon credits, the electricity component (kWh) and the environmental attributes of RE generation are decoupled and the green attributes are quantified in terms of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) avoided. 3. I-REC Standard and I-REC Registry:
The I-RECs are transacted and maintained on the I-REC Registry which acts as a repository as well as facilitator of I-REC asset maintenance and transactions. 4. Stricter standards: The I-REC
Standard has laid out very strict criteria for registration of the assets on the I-REC Registry as compared to other existing carbon mechanisms. For instance, I-REC
Registry does not allow registration of projects which are being utilized for fulfilling Renewable Purchase
Obligations (RPO) in India while such projects are allowed in some mechanisms. 5. Flexibility and cost-effectiveness: The end-consumer can choose between the different renewable energy sources available and can purchase the type which is more suitable to them. 6. Tackling double counting: Each
International REC comes with a unique certificate ID which can be used for reporting purposes as well as track the source of the renewable energy. 7. Traceability: Each certificate consists a unique ID and the details of the underlying RE asset which has generated the renewable energy and this can also be verified on the I-REC
Registry’s website.
Conclusion
In a time when there is increasing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and with companies setting forward ambitious sustainability goals, procurement of renewable energy sourced electricity becomes an essential means to achieve them. However, procurement of RE generated electricity may not be feasible in several cases. In such circumstances, I-RECs can bridge this problem by enabling the endconsumer to claim the green benefits of RE power even if they are not able to source it physically. With the increased focus towards net-zero carbon emissions through campaigns like Race to Zero, I-RECs become an indispensable instrument to achieve the sustainability goals and help the companies achieve them.
A PLI Scheme For Inverters Could be a game changer for India
For Fimer India, ever since it completed its acquisition of ABB’s Solar Inverter business in March 2020, it has been all about building on it in India. Present in the country since 2010, it’s not like the firm was not known brand in India. Just that they are suddenly in the top tier, with plans to stay there. The firm also has a presence in the EV segment with its chargers, something it hopes to see in India too. We connected with Filippo Carzaniga, Chairman at Fimer, for his views on the market .
FILIPPO CARZANIGA
Chairman, FIMER
Give is a brief on Fimer for our readers. Turnover, global revenues, presence across countries. Top 3 markets. Filippo Carzaniga: FIMER is the fourth largest, tier one, solar inverter supplier in the world. We provide market-leading inverter systems across the utility, residential and C&I solar sectors, as well as e-mobility solutions. We have over 1100 employees in 25 countries together with local training centers and manufacturing hubs. FIMER also invests heavily in R&D - it is part of our DNA and we are constantly looking for new ways to improve our solutions and platforms.
How is the progress in India so far? After the ABB Inverter deal, does the firm plan to expand manufacturing further? Any plans to export from India? Filippo Carzaniga: We have been doing well in India in the utility, C&I and residential segments and also recently expanded our services into energy storage projects. Our installed base in India is >12GW+ spread across more than 5000 locations across the country. We foresee a bright future thanks to the push for 24/7 power encouraged by different government policies. India has recently achieved the 100GW milestone of installed renewable energy capacity, with a further 50GW of renewable infrastructure under installation and approximately 27GW under tender. India has also enhanced its ambition to install 450GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. With such encouraging moves towards solar and renewable energy in the country, it is our ambition to support this growth with the advanced technology our solar inverters bring. Our India facility has been the global manufacturing centre for utility-scale application products as well as being one of FIMER’s R&D centres. We manufacture central inverters in our Bengaluru plant along with battery energy storage converters and microgrid energy storage products. We continue to invest heavily into R&D with a clear focus on delivering manufacturing excellence. Our factory in Bangalore is the largest supplier of locally manufactured solar inverters in India, with an annual production of more than 5GW (gigawatt) with the latest infrastructure as well as testing facilities. FIMER supports local employment and the Indian factory operations is driven by a local team. This world-class facility has set a benchmark in India for other manufacturers to follow suit. The same factory is also delivering outdoor central inverters to markets around the globe, supporting India’s ambition for excellence in exports.
Fimer has also introduced a utility string inverter, the PVS-350 TL. Does the firm see the market shifting completely to string inverters now? Fimer’s own present and future portfolio plans? Filippo Carzaniga: We know that, while string inverters are becoming increasingly popular for utility projects, more traditional central architectures are still prevalent, currently accounting for almost 40 percent of the market. With this in mind, our two new market leading platforms for the utility market - a high-power MPPT inverter, the PVS-350,
and the PVS-260/PVS-300 modular conversion platform – are designed to cater for both decentralized and centralized applications, covering 100% of utility customer needs. The PVS-350 is the most powerful and power dense multi-MPPT string inverter in the solar industry, optimized for decentralized PV system architectures with a maximum efficiency of ɳMAX > 99 percent to ensure the highest energy yield. It also has the smallest footprint when compared to other similar products, and significantly reduces the risk of downtime that can occur with central inverters. For centralized system architectures the PVS-260/PVS-300 provides a fully modular solution engineered with a single-MPPT string platform. It can easily replace central inverters in more traditional designs, significantly improving performance and lowering BoP costs, optimizing the LCOE – achieving a 2.3 percent reduction on the LCOE of a modular conversion architecture compared to a central solution. It also has higher system availability, above 99.9 percent compared to 99.5 percent maximum from central solutions. In addition, the PVS-260/PVS-300 has a large capacity combined with supercompact design single MPPT power block, to enable system designers to keep a ‘centralized’ system architecture if preferred.
Unlike the solar modules/cell market, the government has placed relatively fewer restrictions on inverter imports for the sector. Do you believe that could change anytime soon? Why/Why not? Filippo Carzaniga: The government of India has recently imposed a 20% BCD on solar inverter imports to boost local manufacturing to push India’s self-reliant or “AatmaNirbhar Bharat” vision. This was imposed to achieve maximum localization and build a robust supply chain. It is to be seen whether the government approves a PLI scheme for inverters similar to the module market. If PLI scheme is introduced, it could be a game changer for the inverter market.
Post-acquisition of ABB Inverters, how has Fimer India performed? How do you feel about your prospects in India in the coming 3 to 5 year period? Filippo Carzaniga: We are one of the most experienced solar inverter players in the market and have had a presence in India since 2010-11. While we are amongst leading top 3 suppliers for central inverters, we have been making steady and upward inroads into the string inverter market as well. For example, we recently launched our PVS 10-33 for the commercial and industrial market segment along with the new PVS350-TL for the utility segment. We have also launched our e-mobility solutions in India and recently commissioned our first pilot project with the installation of our EV AC wallbox and REACT 2 at the prestigious IISC in Bengaluru. We will also be releasing new residential platforms in the month of October shortly. According to IESA, the Indian EV market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 36 percent by 2026 and the EV battery market is also projected to grow at a CAGR of 30 percent during the same period. India has a lot to gain from the widespread adoption of
e-mobility and FIMER has the right products, services and experience with over 35,000 EV charging stations installed globally to help India drive this EV revolution. We are also active in energy storage solutions and have a number of products for both the residential and utility segments. We have recently commissioned a 15MW system with 6MWhr storage facility in India, one of the biggest in the country. We are optimistic about making a difference with our innovative products and leading the way for the growth in the country.
On inverters, do you see any key differences in the Indian market vis a vis other large market? What’s a key market challenge for you? Filippo Carzaniga: Increasing demand for standby sources of power across industrial and commercial applications is one of the key factors driving the Indian inverter market. Additionally, factors such as growing urbanization and the rising demand and supply gap of electricity are further propelling the market. India has been a benchmark player in adopting renewable sources of energy, especially solar, leading to a growth of projects across the country. With the country’s ambitious plan of 450GW by 2030, the road ahead is interesting and challenging at the same time. India has been the lowest price per watt market, so the price dynamic is quite challenging. Lower tariffs as seen in the bids of several government tenders are driving this low-cost market, leading to several long-term and short-term implications on the prices of both modules and inverters. The residential market has been crowded with several new players sourcing lowquality equipment with the lowest prices which is further making the segment competitive. Considering the impetus on local manufacturers, the demand supply gap is also a major challenge that needs to be addressed properly in a planned manner.
As module prices have fallen in the past decade, so too has the pressure on other parts of the solar supply chain to follow suit. With the market seemingly finding or getting close to a ‘bottom’, do you believe the price drops are history now? Filippo Carzaniga: We are not looking at absolute price per watt comparison of the inverters. With the development of new technologies in inverter applications, we are focussing on the cost of energy and passing the maximum benefits to the customer. There is this need to work with our customers and educate them about the long-term benefits and potential of the plant and understand the importance of cost of energy over the direct price per watt of the inverter. Our inverters are specifically designed to achieve reductions in LCOE. Price drops could be temporary depending on various factors and also as an after effect in the post-pandemic era.
How do you see the impact of storage+ systems in the coming years? In terms of share and contribution to sales? Filippo Carzaniga: Storage is expected to play a key role in the future success of solar PV – not just for residential and C&I, but for utility-scale as well. The cumulative installed capacity of energy storage projects is expected to increase from 11 GW in 2020 to 168 GW in 2030, according to BloombergNEF’s New Energy Outlook. As batteries become more powerful and last longer, the switch from fossil fuels to solar PV renewable energy will be further supported, increasing overall demand. For example, our new utility platforms have been specifically designed to easily integrate with future requirements for battery storage, providing a whole-system solution for the utility market now and in the future, and forthcoming products will also be storage-ready. The stationary energy storage market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of about eight per cent during 2020-27. We have inverters and storage solutions for both residential and utility segments. REACT 2 is FIMER’s photovoltaic energy storage system, allowing users to store excess energy and optimize the energy use in residential applications. FIMER’s MGS100 brings together all of the components required for a sustainable microgrid in a single device. Our bidirectional converter, PVS980-58BC, is aimed at large-scale grid connected energy storage applications. The converters are available from 1454 kVA up to 2091 kVA. The PVS980-58BC bidirectional converter is based on the world’s leading converter platform used also in FIMER’s solar inverters, ensuring high performance, reliability and availability of global service support. KN Sreevatsa, Managing Director -India, enthusiastically adds- “We have some fantastic projects done in India so far on Microgrids. Our storage solutions available with easy integration for DG/wind/biomass gen are an ideal fit for village electrification and telecom towers. With over 10MW installation under different stages of installation, we are optimistic about growth in energy storage solutions.”
If you had to be really optimistic, what is that one policy move the solar sector could benefit from? Filippo Carzaniga: The PLI (Production Linked Incentive) Scheme is a Central Government scheme introduced to provide financial incentives for domestic manufacturing of goods and also to attract large investments. The scheme did well enough for a roll-out to the solar modules market. If a similar PLI scheme can be introduced for solar inverters, it could be a game changer for the inverter market.
Fimer also has a suite of offerings in the EV charging space. Are you offering those in India yet? How do you see the potential for those here? Filippo Carzaniga: The growth in the global e-mobility market is increasing, both in terms of registrations of ‘hybrid (PHEV) and ‘full-electric (BEV) vehicles which means that the need to offer charging infrastructures is increasing. Since 2017, we have been working with the main players in e-mobility, developing and manufacturing charging solutions for electric-powered vehicles. We have developed platforms, both in DC and in AC, designed to meet the diverse needs of users, who are seeking solutions for private, public and commercial use. Our FIMER FLEXA AC Wallbox, FIMER FLEXA AC Station and FIMER ELECTRA (Fast) DC Station, all easy to install, certified and customizable, cover today the different needs of the market. To date, we have supplied more than 35,000 charging stations, both AC and DC, to respond to the specific needs of our customers.
Making components In House Gives us a huge advantage over competitors
Rydot Infotech, a Gujarat based firm which also offers a solar monitoring solution has tasted success with its offerings. Riding the solar wave in India, the role such monitoring devices can play in better maintainance and consequently productivity and returns is vital. Rydot’s ‘Radiant’ offering is seeking a high growth in the coming quarters. We spoke to Jigar Desai, Founder And CTO, on the firm’s plans.
JIGAR DESAI
Founder and CTO, Rydot Infotech
Tell us about your solar monitoring device and the business model behind it. Jigar: Our solar monitoring device - "Radiant" is an IoT gateway in the core that collects data from various devices like inverters, energy meters and weather stations and publishes the same to our cloud in a secure manner in real time. This real time data can create various benefits for users of solar farm and we leverage annual cost based on those benefits. Our business model is very much clear that we will have our partner network of EPC contractor and SI’S.
Does it work across all categories of users? Jigar: We have created various models of Radiant device that fit in all types of installations. We have smaller Radiant device that fits in roof top installation and one extensive advanced model that gives all required features for commercial installations.
How do you differentiate from other monitoring apps available in the market ? How competitive is this market? Jigar: We have all technologies under single roof that allows us to develop a seamless IoT system. Various components of our Radiant system like IoT device, installation hardware, cloud software, backend intelligence, AI/ML models for prediction are all made by us from scratch. This gives us huge advantage from our competitors. How do you market and distribute your solution currently? Jigar: We are in process to have system integrators and EPC contractors registered with us for increasing footprint for this solution.
How big is your installed base currently? Jigar: We have various sites ranging from 2kW to 12 MW.
Are you planning for more products and services in the renewable energy space? Jigar: Yes, we are actually planning to develop IoT systems for pure water and pure air monitoring systems.
Rooftop solar in India has lagged behind so far. Do you see the picture changing in the future? Jigar: Yes of course. More people are going for rooftop installations and our device helps them in maintaining the solar panels for long time hence giving them more financial output.
What attracted you to build a solution for the solar market? Jigar: The solar industry is booming right now but the main problem with solar panels is they require continuous maintenance and cleaning for maximum output. Our systems come into play at this stage and help user to plan the maintenance and reduce maintenance cost which increases their financial gains.
An electric future
is nearer than we think
Matter’ is a technology start-up set-up by Mohal Lalbhai, a scion of the Lalbhai Group from Gujarat know more for their textile empire. Founded in January 2019, Matter is a two-year old start-up that seeks to introduce frugal and innovative solutions in the energy storage space which would include batteries for mobility applications, stationary applications, energy distribution solutions as well as renewable energy solutions . Designed for India, we speak to the firm’s founder on just how it’s all coming together.
MOHAL LALBHAI
Founder and CEO, Matter
Give us your view on the EV transition in India? Is it moving fast enough, or is it too slower than it needs to be? Mohal Lalbhai: In India, the electric vehicle market is constantly growing. However, I believe we need to shift our focus away from what is now in play and instead focus on anticipating market changes and innovating to provide what the customers need. Policy support, charging infrastructure, education and awareness are some of the key factors that will help accelerate EV adoption. Further, for EVs to find a place in our cities, tackling awareness at the individual level is of paramount importance. Policymakers can play a critical role in spreading awareness and they must develop partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders in the EV ecosystem to reach a larger audience. The Delhi government’s “Switch Electric” campaign, which aims to alleviate consumer concerns and raise knowledge of EVs, is a good example of this. As the government steps up and supports in creating a robust infrastructure for energy supply for EVs, this will only help build a positive attitude towards adoption of EVs as a preferred mode of transportation. So, while the transformation may take time, I believe India’s mobility revolution is significant. The targeted and systemic policy assistance as well as adjustments in market architecture, business models, and financial structuring that we are seeing now are only going to add more fuel to the revolution. An electric future is nearer than we think.
In India, along with the shift to EV’s, we see a simultaneous move to say, blend ethanol with petrol, or build up thousands of CBG (Compressed Bio gas) plants to use in transportation again. How do you see all these coexisting and being sustainable in the long term beyond , say 2030? Mohal Lalbhai: India’s automobile industry is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), accounting for 14% of global CO2 emissions from energy. These emissions have more than tripled since 1990, and they are predicted to continue to rise when India’s urban population doubles by 2050. As environmental concerns grow in popularity, India has set ambitious goals by 2030 under the Paris agreement to reduce its carbon footprint and build a greener environment by promoting alternative energy/fuels, renewable energy, and cleaner fuels. Technology, I believe, will be at the forefront of finding these solutions. These alternatives should be implemented and each one has potential benefits as well as challenges to overcome Given the market size and the ambitious targets set as per the Paris agreement, I believe that we will see the rise of new and alternative technologies in the automotive space. This is also relevant as the transition to a cleaner way of moving goods and people will happen at different times in different segments. For example, long haul commercial vehicles may be the last ones to transition to electric vehicles. However, a transition to other modes of fuel may be much easier for these vehicles. Recently, the government has stepped up its efforts to achieve a 20% ethanol-to-petrol ratio by 2025. When it comes to CBG, as described in the SATAT project, it has also become a valuable component in India’s shift towards greener fuels. The developments in the automotive fuel field are happening at a very fast pace and are the need of the hour. What is certain is that in the future, greener technology will emerge. Thus, I see various technologies coexisting and driving the country towards green mobility in the near future. Just as CNG and petrol/diesel cars are co-existing right now, I think Bio-gas and Ethanol-petrol fuel blend vehicles shall co-exist the same way. However, these technologies only reduce the emissions as compared to conventional fuels. Thus, EVs would still play a major role in reducing pollution from vehicle exhaust. Further with better charging infrastructure, more advanced and high-range battery packs, electric vehicles will definitely give other technologies a run for their money.
Can you explain your tech platform with a use case example? Mohal Lalbhai: We are an organisation founded on the tenets of technology and innovation with a vision to revolutionise the electric ecosystem within India. Even as technology megatrends like autonomous systems and electrification are redefining the benchmarks of industry, Matter has developed an integrated technology stack that has tremendous potential to make a disruptive impact on the electric ecosystem. Realizing the different needs of our customers, we have branched out into two separate business lines- first one is Matter Energy, an integrated energy solutions company and the second is Matter Mobility which focuses on electric two wheelers. Matter Energy will be our first offering which is poised to enter the market in September - 2021. On the whole, our products are backed by extensive testing and validation and are being developed completely from scratch keeping the expectation of Indian customers in mind and considering the Indian weather conditions. Our aim is to offer robust products to our customers and in process create value for them. Applications of the Matter Technology platform span across the electric energy ecosystem, ranging from energy distribution to energy consumption products that include energy storage solutions, an EV propulsion platform as well as mobility platforms such as electric vehicles (EVs).
At Matter energy, do you see a core chemistry like say, Lithium ion dominating the battery space, and your own attention for the foreseeable future? Or are you chemistry agnostic? Mohal Lalbhai: What I see happening now in battery technology is explosive growth, in India and other markets as well. We need to think ahead and I’m also bullish on the growth of new technologies and newer cell chemistries. Very recently researchers at IIT Bombay have developed a LithiumSulphur (Li-S) battery with thrice the energy efficiency and cost effectiveness, and four times the range as compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. It is fascinating to learn that new and enhanced electrolytic solvents are being continuously introduced. Upcoming solid-state battery is also a promising candidate for nextgeneration battery technology. But it will take time before these battery technologies find their way into the market At Matter Energy, one of our core values is to provide technologically advanced and sustainable energy solutions to our customers. Our product platforms are agnostic to the battery technologies and can be adapted to newer chemistries as well. So while we are currently focussed on the Lithium ion batteries, we are also open to exploring new technology if it helps us in providing better products to our customers.
What are the biggest risks you see for an orderly transition to EV’s in India and beyond? How long will the sector require subsidy support? Mohal Lalbhai: Yes, we haven’t really seen huge uptake in the adoption of electric vehicles as a mainstream product in India. And that is troubling at best, but when we look through the mirror, we realize that there are a lot of gaps in terms of the customer
requirements and the current product positioning. At present the Indian customers do not have a good value proposition to shift away from petrol. Moreover, I believe that the major hurdle for electric vehicles will be to provide an improved experience to the customers over that of a conventional vehicle. Thus, for an effective transition to EVs, the products can’t be offered just as a replacement for the conventional vehicle. This is an area where the manufacturers need to think long term. We need to see better quality products which are designed and developed for the Indian customer. So in that sense I see that there are many start-ups who have entered this space and are offering products which are only assembled by them. These products are selling at a lower price and are also eligible for subsidies. However, these products also have a huge potential to play a deterrent for the EV adoption, since they have not undergone the rigorous testing and validation and are bound to underperform. This can add to the existing anxiety among the customers with regards to EV. Another important factor to consider will be the policy measures from the government. Current policies by the central and the state government are playing an important role in the EV adoption. However, it is important to have a consistency in such policy measures across the country and over time. I believe subsidies are important for creating the pull from the consumer and encouraging the manufacturers to invest in developing the EV ecosystem. It is difficult to comment on how long this support will be needed as it depends on multiple factors such as adoption rates of EVs, evolution of new technologies, cost of the battery and pace of EV infrastructure development to name a few. However, I believe that the industry will need subsidy support till the EV population reaches a critical mass and the battery prices come down to around $70/ kWh from the current rates of over $150/ kWh. Your site and reports also cite a strong plan for storage applications across products, including distributed solar products. How do you see the market potential there? Will you approach it with a different distribution strategy? Mohal Lalbhai: Yes, I believe that there is a strong potential for energy solutions in the stationary application. As per the India Energy outlook report 2021, India’s clean energy contribution/ renewable capacity contribution is expected to grow to 450 GWh by 2030. With the increased focus on clean energies such as solar and wind, we believe that the demand for the energy storage applications will also see an increased uptake. We will start our operations in August and stationary applications will be one of the key focus areas for us. Our solutions will be available in a range of stationary applications such as industrial & home UPS, solar inverter, and telecom. We are looking at the distribution strategy from the B2B perspective. Thus, distribution strategy and entire support system will be attuned to provide a superior product and service solution to our customers based on the specific requirements.
On the bikes front, we see an ambitious plan to manufacture 60,000 bikes per annum initially. Where are we on the key dates for that? As a newcomer to the segment, are you considering any new approaches to your marketing and distribution? Mohal Lalbhai: Matter aims to occupy a space wherein we will offer mobility products that are engineered from a deep understanding of the specific needs of Indian customers at a competitive price. We should be ready with our underdevelopment vehicle in early 2022 and would be happy to share more information closer to the launch. As far as the reach of our product is concerned, we will be looking at a potential customer base across India. There are different approaches being considered for the marketing and the distribution strategy of the product. We are also working on an omnichannel sales strategy and look forward to working with partners who not only share our passion but also our vision of driving India to a sustainable future. However, we will be glad to share the details once we are ready with the product.
How do you plan to support potential customers when it comes to charging? Mohal Lalbhai: We believe that the development of charging infrastructure is important for faster EV adoption. However, the way it is being projected as a make-orbreak deal for owning an EV is misleading. When it comes to two-wheelers, which have energy demands up to 5 kilowatts, a 5-amp plug can charge them in around six hours. Even a 5-kilowatt-hour battery could be charged from zero to 100 percent in two hours using a 15-amp outlet. As a result, a convenient, economical, and simple system is what is required when it comes to charging two wheelers. These solutions are already available at every small and large shops in our cities. I agree that there is a need to devise a solution for monetization of these solutions. However, education and awareness can play a larger role in alleviating the anxieties related to the charging infrastructure availability. We are working on offering a solution to our customers that is easy to use and offer a great experience, so different charging solutions are under consideration at the moment considering our product portfolio and future plans. Battery swapping is another option that we will be offering at some point in the future and that is where for us Matter Energy and Matter Mobility come together in terms of setting the entire battery swapping infrastructure and supporting our EV products.
Is there a ballpark revenue number you see for your firm, by 2025? Mohal Lalbhai: We want to make Matter a potent harbinger of change in this ecosystem by offering not one, not two but many different products and solutions that address pain-points on the one hand and accelerate the use of electric technologies on the other. Matter’s team has set internal targets of reaching a US$ 1Bn top line by 2025
Low ceiling tariff for small capacities has impacted the participation of Farmers and developers in PMKUSUM
SAEL Limited has emerged as a key solar EPC in North India, with an established capacity of 350 MW already in place. The firm is currently setting up 300MW fully automated Module Manufacturing Facility at Firozpur, Punjab. This will also Manufacture EV Chargers as well as Li-Ion Batteries for EV Market. We got in touch with Khalid Nadeem, Chief Operating Officer (Solar and EV Infra), who has been leading the group’s push in these sectors.
KHALID NADEEM
How do you see India’s progress so far in solar? Khalid Nadeem: India has already achieved almost 99.99% electrification target. To achieve “Power for All”, decentralized renewable energy (DRE) sector will play a critical role especially for providing power to remote locations. With the Kusum and CM Agri feeder schemes, I think India is moving in the right direction to meet the target by 2023. However, the quality and reliability of electricity access remains an issue. To achieve “27/4 power for all” will requires further upgradation of electrical infrastructure including substations and distribution networks which may take few more years to accomplish.
The make in India plan for solar equipment finally seems to be moving forward. Do you believe it will deliver on its promise of self sufficiency? By when? If no, then why not? Do you see potential for a PLI scheme targeted at inverter manufacturing also? Khalid Nadeem: Presently Indian Solar Market is largely depending upon import of Solar Cells and Modules. With the Make in India plan, India will soon become self sufficient as most of the big corporate houses are coming up with plans for setting up/ expansion plans for Manufacturing of cells, modules in India. And within next 5 years, it is expected that India will become a major exporter hub of Solar Modules worldwide in addition to decreasing its dependency of imports from China. Production linked Incentive scheme is a great initiative started by GOI and can help to provide the much needed boost to solar manufacturing sector and can also be extended towards Solar Inverters also as Solar Modules and Inverters are the only two items which are imported by Solar developers presently.
Do you believe our manufacturing policy is skewed towards large manufacturers? Or is there enough space for smaller manufacturers to thrive too? Khalid Nadeem: Right now most of the manufacturing policies are more inclined towards large manufacturers like the PLI scheme to encourage setting up of Module manufacturing of 1000 MW and above. However, once these GW manufacturing facilities will be set up, it will become very difficult for smaller/medium manufacturers to thrive in this competitive market resulting in monopolistic scenario. So, GOI should come out with policies to help small/medium scale manufacturers also.
Do you believe the new rules and deregulation in power distribution will open up growth for the solar rooftop market? Residential and C&I? Why? Why not? Khalid Nadeem: Solar Rooftop market is not growing in India with the pace that was expected earlier and still need govt. incentive to accelerate the rooftop solar implementation. There is also an urgent need for unified rooftop solar policy for all states in India. Currently, most of the state’s rooftop polices are not favourable for C & I consumers which has a huge potential for installing rooftop systems. Further, with limiting the Net Metering capacity upto 500 KW only as per recent MOP circular, it seems that growth of Solar Rooftop market will further slowdown in coming years.
The PM KUSUM scheme is supposed to deliver almost 32 GW of solar capacity, but real progress has been seen only in component B, i.e. off grid solar pumps? Do you see the picture changing significantly soon? Between PM KUSUM, Solar rooftop for C&I and large utility scale plants, which segment do you see growing and helping India meets its targets the most in the coming future? Khalid Nadeem: PM Kusum scheme is still at a very nascent stage and impact of Covid-19 has slowdown its progress. Further, setting of very low ceiling tariff of approx. Rs 3 per unit for small capacities has impacted the participation of Farmers and developers. State Electricity Regulatory Commissions should have a relook at these very low ceiling tariffs considering the significant increase in project cost in last 1 year to promote PM Kusum scheme which is going to play a vital role in providing 24/7 power to All scheme. Presently only large utility scale segment is growing at the intended pace.
Role of IoT in boosting mass adoption of EVs in India
Sameer Aggarwal
Founder and Founder and CEO of Revfin
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the flavour of the season, and India is no exception. Rising fuel prices and commitment towards sustainable development goals is leading to a big push towards EVs. The EV market in India is expected to top USD 50 billion by 2030. After a temporary setback in the last 18 months, the adoption of EVs has picked up the pace. With EVs now becoming the preferred choice for e-commerce deliveries and passenger transport, the future looks promising.
While the EV demand is expanding, this comes with its own set of challenges. Every point on the EV value chain is progressing at a different pace, from business models to pricing mechanisms around charging stations to industry standards around critical items like wattage, charging cables, plug etc.
There is a sense of apprehension and anxiety among the buyers as the EV industry is still in its early days. Buyers, habituated to the ubiquity of gas stations, vary the product, range, and charge time. Insurers and lenders are unable to identify and quantify risks or compute the residual value. Numerous business models are being tested, which will take time to develop fully.
IoT devices (telematics) play a key part in eliminating these complexities by addressing the root cause of most uncertainties by providing real-time information. Some ways in which IoT devices are helping the EV industry include:
Safer and Smarter EVs
The new-age technology and fintech players are investing in IoT-enabled vehicles to create an integrated EV platform that would help drivers improve their income, get financing, ensure better EMI repayment, and reduce their insurance claims, thereby providing a better user experience to make the EV experiment successful in India. Besides this, it would also enable real-time monitoring of the vehicles, equipment, and other assets in an enterprise. Predictive and preventive maintenance offered by the technology makes the users find it more reliable.
IoT devices embedded in EVs can provide users with the following features: • It can gauge the absolute and relative parameters of the driver, such as speed, acceleration, and others, for providing real-time tips to ensure better performance. • Theft can be prevented through real-time tracking, geo-fencing, and immobilisation.
Thus, there will be enhanced safety and security to reduce the dependence on insurance. • It will monitor the vehicle performance data, based on which the EV and battery
OEMs can improve the products. The parameters include a range for each charge, utilisation of a vehicle, performance difference based on geography, weather conditions, age, and alteration in range for each charge over a certain period. • Maintenance of battery • Warranty and maintenance prediction
In India, EV players have started to opt for high-quality Li-ion battery packs as they have a longer life and give a better range because of high energy density. Along with these advantages, there are some drawbacks too. Besides being very expensive, there has to be strict control of the charging and discharging of the battery by keeping the temperature at a limit.
In such a scenario, the onboard sensor data obtained through IoT can help in managing the challenges. Then, these can be run through AI-based models for performance evaluation.
Tests can be conducted on some Li-ions to assess the patterns of partial & complete charging and discharging and the thermal stress pattern. Models are characterised using the data collected from each step. These are integrated with AI before deploying on a server. The EV sends crucial sensor data to the server, providing insights on the next course of action and performance. We can say that the EV’s state is monitored by the server.
Though EVs are carefully designed, there can be situations where the components might fail. To predict this, AI algorithms and remote IoT data can be instrumental. This helps in alerting the EV users ahead of time to fix any possible issues or avert a total breakdown. This will lead to a better customer experience as they will find it to be reliable.
Keeping in view the overall temperature and moisture conditions in India, monitoring the remote performance is extremely important. This will not just help in resolving the issues quickly but also provide a sense of comfort and security to the users about the EV’s health through predictive diagnosis.
Use in EV charging stations
With an IoT ecosystem in place, EV charging stations can stay connected and easily accessible from remote locations. The maintenance can also be done quickly. Let’s see how: • Better support and management for Users
With IoT technology, EV charging stations become smart, connected, and easily accessible for remote support and maintenance.
Moreover, a great number of factors such as charging time, weather conditions, charging queues are analysed by IoT powered AI software, so users can access real-time information about charging process.
• Cloud solution for data collection and analysis at a single place
Advanced cloud solutions help the users collect and analyse the various parameters at a place. The data relating to voltage, temperature, electric current help the service workers to maintain the station conveniently and monitor the processes. • Dashboards showing geographically dispersed EV stations
IoT powered apps enables users to search for nearby stations and schedule trips. IoT provides different access levels based on the job and capacity of the clients. The clients can obtain high-level help in case the network admin of a charging station fails to resolve an issue.
Geographical distribution of the EVs also allows the management to assess the demand for charging infrastructure in respective geographies and helps plan the strategic expansion.
