solar rooftop special
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Volume 09. l Issue 12 December 2019
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Solar Quarter • December 2019 3
in conversation
Table of Contents Industry Insights Global Energy Transformation : The Role Of Solar PV...............11
Mr. Manu Karan, Vice President, CleanMax Solar
Deployment Of Rooftop Solar PV Systems For Distributed Generation............................................................................................13 Indian Energy Storage Market.........................................................15
12
Expansions Of Markets In Solar PV Sector...................................19
“Our Cumulative Operating Capacity Is Over 550+Mw As Of 2019 Across Rooftop Projects And Open Access Solar Farms”
End-Of Life Management Of Solar PV...........................................21 Crack Issues in Solar PV Backsheet Olefin Layer/O film (Cell Side).....................................................................................23
Ms. Nicole Shu, APAC Director, Power Plant Business Division, Sungrow
Applications : Beyond Fields And Rooftops ................................24 Will Residential Rooftop Solar Drive Growth In The Future ...26
14
The Indian Solar Rooftop - The Way Ahead ...............................32
“Being the world’s most bankable inverter brand, Sungrow places a strong emphasis on Innovation”
Operations And Maintenance Of Solar PV Modules ................35 Mr. Imran Chowdhury, Country Head, Bangladesh Region- EPC & IPP, Sungrow
Perspective Is The Indian Rooftop Solar In Its Right Trajectory To Meet 40 GW 2022 Deadline.......................................................25 Will Residential Rooftop Solar Drive Growth In The Future........................................................................................26
14
Do You Think We Need To Build More Consumer Awareness In Terms Of Economical And Other Benefits Of Rooftop Solar.................................................................28
“Being the world’s most bankable inverter brand, Sungrow places a strong emphasis on Innovation”
Mr. Dipal C Barua, President, Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy Association
Factors That Will Further Aid Solar Rooftop Installation In Maharashtra....................................................................................29 16
Company Feature Insolation..........................................................................................31
“Rooftop Program is growing quickly in Bangladesh and it has around 6000MW potentials”
Dr. Someshwer Dutt Sharma, CTO & Head – Solar Projects, Sun Renewables
WAREE................................................................................................34
Opinion 18
Benefits Of Adopting Solar Rooftop.............................................30
“Our Core Objective Is To Be The Leading Player In The ‘Distributed Generation’ Sector Of Solar Market”
Biggest Threats And Opportunities For The
Sri Lanka Solar Industry ..................................................................30
Mr. Brijesh Prajapati, Managing Director, SOFAR SOLAR
20
“Sofarsolar Is A Biggest Installer As A Top Position In Sky Project Scheme”
Mr. Anil Bhasin, President Lighting & Solar, Havells
22
“Today, We Are Present In The Rapidly Growing Rooftop Solar PV Segment Along With The Solar Off-Grid Solutions For Power Deficient Areas”
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Power Market goes Green
IEX PLANS TO COMMENCE GREEN POWER MARKET
IEX has filed petition in CERC to introduce Green Term-ahead Market (G-TAM). The market would encourage obligated entities i.e. distribution companies, open access consumers and CPP consumers to buy renewable power at competitive rates, to meet their RPO compliance. It would also help RE resource rich states to develop RE capacity beyond their own obligation, thereby creating a trade balance between the RE rich and the deficit states. The signals provided by the market are also expected to result in setting up of new merchant RE capacity.
6,500+ Participants Located Across 29 States & 5 UTs
Electricity Market
55+ Discoms 4,100+ Open Access Consumers 500+ Generators 136 MU Daily Average Cleared Volume
Efficient Price Discovery
Day-ahead Market (DAM)
24x7 Trading
Term-ahead Market (TAM)
Diverse Participation
Intraday and Day-ahead Contingency
Flexibility in Scheduling
Renewable Energy Certificates
In FY20, 24 solar generators with 1,100 MW capacity, sold more than 2 MU in DAM
Solar & Non-solar Certificates Energy Saving Certificates
(*Statistics for FY’19 as on 30th September, 2019 #MU=Million Units)
Solar
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IEX is approved and regulated by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)
India News
U
P Government Exploring Blockchain For Rooftop Solar The state government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India is working on a pilot project to
developed under Open category, where modules can be procured from either domestic manufacturers or imported.
explore peer-to-peer (P2P) rooftop solar power trading through blockchain technology.
Single developers can compete for 50-300 MW of available capacity in 10 MW multiples.
For this, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has contracted India Smart
Bids must be accompanied with bank guarantee of Rs2 crore for 50 MW, Rs5crore for 60-
Grid Forum (ISGF) that’s partnering with Australia’s blockchain based renewable energy
110 MW, Rs10 crore for 120-220 MW, and Rs 20 crore for 230-300 MW. To be eligible, the
trading company Power Ledger.
bidder should have an average annual turnover of not less than Rs 210 crore during the
Under phase I of the pilot project, drafted by UPPCL and UP New and Renewable Energy
last three financial years.
Development Agency (UPNEDA), ISGF and Power Ledger will enable energy trading for power generated through rooftop solar plants installed at select government buildings in the state capital Lucknow. This energy will be traded with neighbouring households.
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1.7 GW Cumulative Solar PV Capacity Installed In India Till October 2019
S
ECI Modifies Its 1.95 MW Solar Tender For Lakshadweep Islands
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued an amendment for its tender for
the development of 1.95 MW of solar projects in the union territory of Lakshadweep. SECI had issued a tender for the development of the project with 2.15 MW of battery energy
The Indian government remains confident of achieving its 100 GW solar PV installed
storage systems (BESS) in September 2019.
capacity target by December 31, 2022, although only 31.696 GW were installed by October
Earlier, regarding the operation and maintenance of the projects, SECI had stated that the
31, 2019. According to an update on the installation numbers released by the Ministry of
contractor must demonstrate the committed CUF (capacity utilization factor) at the end
New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India has 17.998 GW capacity at various stages of
of every year per the commitment made in line with the performance guarantees. Now,
installations while tenders for 36.278 GW have been issued.
the amended version states that instead of the CUF, the contractor must demonstrate the
MNRE head RK Singh informed about the ministry’s aims to tender another 15 GW
committed availability factor at the end of every year.
between FY 2019-2020 and FY 2020-21. Additionally, the ministry informed that from FY 2016-17 and FY 2019-2020 (as on October 1, 2019), it released around INR 85.19 billion ($1.19 billion) to support various solar power programs in the country. Beyond this, most of the solar projects are being set up with investment from the private sector.
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ndian Manufacturing-Linked Solar Tender Now Reportedly Oversubscribed
The much-delayed manufacturing-linked solar tender by Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI)
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has finally succeeded in attracting bidders. The four-to-one ratio of manufacturing-to-
Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) has floated a tender for the supply,
fabs under the last change to the terms of the tender, made last month.
installation, and commissioning of 1.5 MW of grid-tied rooftop solar power projects to be
Solar ingot and wafer production lines would secure only three times as much project
amil Nadu to Install 1.5 MW of Rooftop Solar Projects on Government Buildings
installed on various government buildings in the state.
project capacity indicates that all three bidders are focusing their manufacturing offer on producing cells and/or modules as that is the ratio applied to those sorts of production
capacity as manufacturing commitments under the tender, which is currently designed to
The projects will be developed under the CAPEX (capital expenditure) model. The
secure 2 GW of manufacturing capacity by offering 7 GW of projects. Under the terms of
prospective bidders need to pay ₹80,000 (~$1,117.05) as the earnest money deposit (EMD).
the exercise, the manufacturing bids accepted will be for 500 MW of each of ingots, wafers,
The tender states that the interested bidder should use a domestically manufactured solar
cells and module capacity.
cell only if they have been manufactured in India using undiffused silicon wafer (black wafer) classifiable under customs tariff head 3818.
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ECI’s 7.5 GW Solar Tender for Leh and Kargil Gets Another Deadline Extension
U
ttarakhand Retenders 40 MW Grid-Connected Solar Project
The Irrigation Department of Uttarakhand, in Dehradun, has retendered the 40 MW solar project in district Udham Singh Nagar that has had multiple bidding extensions, the last
The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has extended the bid submission
being until June 28. The project—to be developed on ‘build, own, operate and transfer’
deadline for its mega solar tender that calls for 7.5 GW of grid-connected solar power
model—shall come up on dams at Haripura (27 MW) and Tumariya (13 MW), near Kashipur.
projects in Leh and Kargil districts. The new deadline for the submission of bids has been extended up to January 31, 2020. The earlier scheduled date for bids submission was November 29, 2019. The total capacity of 7,500 MW under the Request for Selection (RfS) has been divided into three packages of 2,500 MW each.
To be eligible, the bidder should have experience of installing at least one solar PV project of 10 MW in the last five years, along with operation and maintenance of an equivalent capacity in the last two years. The project—estimated to cost Rs 1613.18 million—must be completed within a year. Bidding for the re-tendered project closes on December 3. Technical bids will open on December 6. The irrigation department will sign a power purchase agreement for 25 years with the successful bidder.
I
ndian Railways Eyes 500 MW Of Rooftop Solar By 2021-22 Indian Railways, the nation’s largest electricity user with 2.4% of total consumption, plans
to install 500 MW of rooftop solar generation capacity by 2021-22. Minister for railways, commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal, told the Lok Sabha lower house of the Indian parliament 95.67 MW of solar rooftop capacity has already been installed on railway buildings, including 835 stations, and a further 248.46 MW is under development.
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ajasthan’s 113.5 MW Solar Tender Oversubscribed by 38 MW
The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited’s (RRECL) recent solar tender for 113.5 MW of decentralized solar projects in the state has been oversubscribed. RRECL stated that its 113.5 MW tender was oversubscribed by 38 MW, showing that there is sufficient interest and demand for the project from the developers.
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oal India Arm Issues 100 KWp Solar Tender for Nagpur Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI), an arm of state-run Coal
India Ltd (CIL), has issued a tender for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of 100 kWp (10 sets X 10 kWp) capacity grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant. As per the tender details, this solar energy power plant will be mounted on rising structure without battery back up at the rooftop of residential quarters building of CMPDI, Regional Institute – IV at Jaripatka in Nagpur. Further, the cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 55 lakh and earnest money will be Rs 68,800. However, the period of completion of work will be 60 days. If number of bids received will be less than three, the bid submission end date will be extended initially for two days, however, if still less than three bids will be received, the end date will be extended by another five days automatically by the system.
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TPC Extends Bidding For 1 GW Solar Project State-run power producer NTPC has extended bidding for 1 GW grid-connected
solar project. The projects—which can be ground mounted or floating—are to be
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Four participants had submitted bids for a total of 152 MW. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) submitted bids for the full tendered capacity of 113.5 MW, Sukhbir Agro for 16 MW, Hero Future Energies Private Ltd (HFE) for 15.5 MW, and ATA Renewables for 6.5 MW.
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raded Volumes of Solar RECs Witness 45% Decline in November 2019
In the November 2019 renewable energy certificate (REC) trading session, there was a significant decrease in the number of solar and non-solar RECs that were traded when compared with the preceding month. A total of 54,453 solar RECs were traded on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India Limited (PXIL) together. A total of 36,801 and 17,652 solar RECs were traded on the IEX and PXIL, respectively. These RECs were traded at ₹2,400 (~$33.9)/REC, and the price remained unchanged on both the trading platforms. According to the IEX, the increase in REC prices lately has mainly been due to the shortfall on the REC inventory, which has been continuing since March 2019.
Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 6
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Asia News
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($1.15 billion) approved for the industry in 2019. The ministry is inspired by the continuous
Energy Monitor (GEM) finds that new coal capacity has fallen sharply from a peak of almost
decline in manufacturing costs for renewable energy forcing large scale solar to compete on
13 gigawatts (GW) in 2016 to just 1.5GW in the first half of 2019.
hina Announces Further RE Subsidies Cuts For 2020 The Chinese Ministry of Finance will be shelling out only RMB 5.67 billion ($806.5
million) to subsidize renewable energy for the year 2020, 30% less than the RMB 8.1 billion
grid parity with conventional sources of power generation. Eligible technologies to avail this subsidy will be wind farms, biomass power generators and distributed solar power operators. Solar power projects of the Poverty Alleviation scheme in 11 regions will continue to be subsidised but large scale solar power plants will have to manage on their own.
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outheast Asia Turning Away From Coal Power Countries in Southeast Asia are building fewer coal-fired plants than expected as
lenders distance themselves from the polluting technology. A new report from Global
Campaigners have attacked coal power for increasing local air pollution. In Indonesia, citizens have filed a lawsuit against the government to force them to address air pollution. There has also been resistance in Cambodia against plans to relocate a retired Chinese coal plant that’s considered too polluting in China. The falling cost of renewables is also making it easier for governments in the region to reassess their energy plans. Vietnam has rapidly expanded solar power from almost nothing in 2017 to more than 4GW in 2019.
ingapore Aiming For 2 GW Solar PV Capacity By 2030 One of the emerging PV markets in Asia, Singapore is aiming to scale up its target
for the technology to have a total of 2 GW of installed capacity by 2030, according to the country’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing. Calling it the country’s most promising renewable energy source, Sing said Singapore is on track to achieve its target of
350 MW of solar by 2020. For its 2 GW solar target, it plans for this capacity to come from the deployment of solar by companies, researchers and the general public which would be enough to power around 350,000 households in Singapore. It is also open to the idea of building integrated PV (BIPV)
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hinese Cities Can Produce Solar Power Below GridSupplied Price
Researchers have found the costs of solar power to be lower than local grid power in all 344 Chinese cities they studied, even without subsidies. And in 76 of those cities, the price of solar power is equal to or below coal-fired power. The competitiveness of solar varies from city to city mostly because of differences in sunlight, coal prices, power market prices and solar investment costs.
for vertical installations on buildings and rooftop solar as well as utilizing any available space
The researchers, from Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, calculated the costs
for solar installation as water reservoirs for floating solar, and even offshore spaces.
of large (more than one megawatt) distributed solar power generation – where power is produced at or near the point of use – and compared these with local grid-power prices
B
.Grimm: Rooftop Solar Projects In Oman & Philippines Thailand based diversified business conglomerate B.Grimm Group will be developing
and the price which coal-fired power generators sell electricity to the grid. (Local grid prices include generating and distribution costs, profits, government funding and surcharges. While generator-side prices entail generation costs and generator’s profit.)
a 30 MW rooftop solar power plant in Oman for one of the real estate developers in the Sultanate, Al Madina Group. The Thai company executed an agreement with the developer through its subsidiary B.Grimm Solar Power Rooftop Limited. In a brief announcement made through its social media handles, B.Grimm said this rooftop solar contract follows another similar project it secured in the Philippines to be jointly
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hinese Module Maker Trina Explores Tie-Ups To Fund Distressed Solar Projects
Trina Solar of China is keen to invest in Indian solar power projects as part of its wider
developed with Alaska Milk Corporation, a daily products producer. The exact capacity of
strategy to expand the market for its own solar modules and photovoltaic cells, the head of
the said plant is not known.
its local partner said. The company is keen on under-construction projects and distress opportunities in India’s
J
apanese RE Firm Raises JPY 29 Billion For 216 MW PV Japanese utility scale renewable energy project development company Pacifico Energy
raised JPY 29 billion ($26.48 million) for its solar investment fund II to be used to acquire five
renewable energy sector, said Raj Kumar Roy, founder director at Engenrin Energy Pvt. Ltd, a renewable energy startup which is the development and engineering-procurementconstruction (EPC) partner for Trina Solar in India.
operational solar power plants representing more than 216 MW capacity in Japan.
So far, Trina has evaluated four to five such projects in India and is currently at an advanced
For its fund II, it completed the acquisition of the first asset with 35 MW Kinugawa Forest
stage of evaluating assets of 50-150 MW size in Gujarat and Odisha, Roy said. The target
Solar Power Plant in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, which is operational since May 2018. The
is to do 100-150 MW projects in the first year and then scale up based on the experience
other four projects will be acquired in 2020, it said, but without identifying them. It will also
with these projects.
be providing operation and maintenance (O&M) services for the projects acquired. The fund was raised from Japanese institutional investors with Nomura Securities and Goldman Sachs Japan acting as co-placement agents.
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V Could Help Clear Indonesia’s Air
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enesola Exits Vietnam, India And Korea The end of the remarkable solar gold rush witnessed in Vietnam this year appears to
have been confirmed by Chinese small scale solar developer Renesola in its latest quarterly financial update.
The government of Indonesia appears to have accepted the net metering scheme it
The Shanghai-based business, which plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to the
introduced in November to drive rooftop PV has proven ineffective. The authorities said they
U.S. shortly, has cancelled its project pipeline – as well as those it held in India and South
hoped the program would lead to 1 GW of rooftop capacity but industry insiders complained the tariff on offer for excess power fed into the grid was too low.
Korea – after determining “projects in these markets are not economically viable for us”. Renesola’s third-quarter update, published yesterday, reflects a decision by the authorities in
The nation’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has reportedly now tweaked the
Vietnam who in September proposed a 20% feed-in tariff (FIT) reduction for large scale solar
MEMR Regulation No. 49/2018 net metering legislation. A statement issued by the Institute
projects which had been connected after June. The generous FIT offered in Vietnam up to
for Essential Services Reform (IESR) to pv magazine indicated MEMR Regulation No. 12/2019
that point is believed to have secured around 5 GW of solar generation capacity, a significant
has replaced the MEMR Regulation. 29/2012 to exempt power system owners with power of up 500 kVA from having to obtain Operation License from MEMR and certification of worthy to operate (SLO) from Technical Inspection Agency/LIT, as long as equipment and installation complies with engineering standards. The regulation applies to rooftop PV system owners as well, while also simplifying installation procedures.
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angladesh Expands Incentive Plan For Domestic Solar Industry
The Bangladeshi government has extended an incentive program launched last year to encourage local companies to manufacture and export solar modules. The government
proportion of which arrived in a scramble to beat the end-of-June deadline.
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ambodia Has Turned To Solar To Meet Its Energy Shortage, But It’s Not Quite Ready To Give Up Fossil Fuels
One hour west of Cambodia’s capital an array of iridescent panels stretches between palm trees, glistening through dust clouds from a neighbouring highway. A year ago it was a barren expanse of chalky soil. Now it’s Cambodia’s largest solar farm. The joint Cambodian-Chinese project, which came online in August, is only Cambodia’s second utility-scale solar project. But the government has approved more than four major
rewards solar manufacturers with 10% of their export value to promote the development
solar farms to be built across the country.
of the domestic photovoltaic industry. The state-owned bank Bangladesh Bank recently
For a nation that has relied on massive dams, fuel oil, and more recently, coal power for
announced that the plan will be extended to this fiscal year.
electricity, the solar surge is a significant step toward a lower-carbon electricity grid. However,
The country’s small panel manufacturing industry has an annual production capacity of 100
Cambodia has also signed off on more fossil fuel power plants. As electricity demand in the
MW. Bangladeshi manufacturers claim that their products are mainly exported to Nepal and
country and across Southeast Asia continues to climb, whether solar can displace fossil-fuel-
the Philippines, which can generate 320 watts of power with an efficiency of 19.5%.
generated power will greatly influence the region’s air pollution and carbon emissions.
w w w . s o l a r q u a r t e r . c o m
Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 8
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Solar Quarter • December 2019 9
Global News
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wedish Power Firm Vattenfall To Build 1.2 MW Floating Solar Plant In Netherlands.
Swedish government backed power company Vattenfall will build its first floating solar
power company innogy provided its EPC services as part of an EPC joint venture with local company Solel Boneh. The project was built for Shikun & Binui Renewable Energy Ltd., the renewable energy arm
farm in the Netherlands. The energy company’s maiden floating PV project will enter
of Israeli infrastructure and real estate group, Shikun & Binui. Build near Zeelim village,
construction in late December 2019 and will have 1.2 MW capacity. The project will come
the 120 MW project is expected to generate more than 220 GWh of clean power annually.
up on a gravel quarry in Gendringen where local company Netterden has been extracting
Belectric Israel will provide its operation and maintenance services to the plant. This is the
sand and gravel for the past 25 years, which has led to the creation of a pond where the
German company’s 25th solar project in Israel where it has been operating around 270
floating solar plant will be deployed.
MW since 2013.
Power generated by the 1.2 MW project will meet half of the extraction site’s power demand. Vattenfall will complete the project for Netterden which is financing the project. The PV floating plant is expected to become operational by May 2020.
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reece Will Increase Its Renewable Energy Share In The National Energy Mix To 35% By 2030.
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irst Small Scale Renewable Energy Auction In Estonia The Estonian Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure (MKM) has officially launched the
country’s first small scale renewable energy auction seeking to procure 5 GWh of clean power annually from small wind turbines, solar panels and biogas plants. The Minister Taavi Aas says in this first round, the government will test the market capacity, basis that it
Greece has committed itself to achieving a renewable energy share of 35% in its aggregate
will go in for large-scale purchase of green electricity in the future.
energy mix by 2030, up from 31% presently which is planned to come mainly from wind,
Auction winners will be decided according to the lowest bid offered for the state support
solar and hydroelectric power plants. The Greek cabinet approved these and several other
sought. Ceiling tariff for this support is capped at €53.7 ($59.4) per MWh, which is the
measures under its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030 to bring down its
current subsidy rate for all renewable energy technologies except for biomass, and cannot
carbon footprint by more than 55% by the target year from 2005 levels and opened it for
go beyond €93 ($103) per MWh at market price. Contracts will be signed for 12 years and
public consultation.
will come into effect from 2021. Eligible technologies will need to offer bids for systems
EU member states have until the end of 2019 to submit their final NECPs to the European
ranging between 50 kW and 1 MW.
Commission as the region strives to reach a 32% renewable energy target by 2030. Currently, Greece depends on oil and gas imports that represent 65% of its total energy consumption. Chasing its fossil fuel reduction targets are expected to cost an investment of about $49 billion.
1
2 Florida Municipal Utilities For 223.5 MW PV Project In a major boost to Florida’s solar market, 12 municipal utilities in the state are
backing a 223.5 MW solar power plant. The entities committed to purchase power for their
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wiss Utility To Build Vertical Solar Plant On Dam Swiss energy utility Axpo Holding AG plans to install solar PV panels on the walls of a
dam with 2 MW capacity in the Alps. The vertical solar array which Axpo terms as the ‘first large-scale alpine solar plant is expected to generate about half of its power production during winters to make up for the power shortage the country faces during the harsh cold season. Available power during winter months in the country is not enough to suffice the population and PV projects in the central part of the country see their production volumes drop during the season with snowfall and cloudy days. Hence, the idea to deploy panels on higher altitudes and on innovative locations as dams are being explored by Axpo. The PV Muttsee project on Muttsee Dam at the Limmern pumped storage plant will have close to 6,000 solar panels covering a surface area of 10,000 m2, expected to generate 2.7 GWh of clean solar power annually.
customers from that plant. Called Florida Municipal Solar Project and tagged the ‘largest municipal-backed solar project in the US,’ the project may be even expanded to 375 MW capacity by 2023. Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), a wholesale power agency owned by municipal electric utilities in the state, is acting as the project coordinator with the 12 utilities as buyers of the power produced. The tariffs at which power will be purchased hasn’t been disclosed but FMPA says the cost of solar energy produced by the plant is about one-third the cost of electricity from a typical private rooftop solar system.
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olarEdge To Double Capacity By 2020 Year End SolarEdge Technologies of Israel plans to expand its current production capacity for
power optimizers to 30 million units a year and solar PV inverters to 1.4 million units a year in 2020 from current capacity of 16 million optimizers and over 700 million inverters. Manufacturing capacity will be increased in Hungary, China and Vietnam by 2020 and by
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0 MW Floating Solar Power Plant In Portugal Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infraestruturas do Alqueva (EDIA), the Portuguese
the same timeline, SolarEdge plans to achieve 100% automation of its production facilities, going up from current automation capacity of 20% to 30%.
water utility company has launched a tender for the deployment of 50 MW floating solar
Production capacity increase is being done to address higher customer demand, curtail
PV capacity. Till now the crown is with 17 MW O’MEGA 1 Floating Solar Plant In Piolenc
expenses related to air shipments, produce more products that are not suffering from
Commune in France commissioned by Akuo Energy in Oct. 2019.
import tariffs imposed by the US and to basically lower costs with economies of scale, explained SolarEdge management when sharing its strategy and business plan during its
The plant capacity in Portugal will be distributed over 10 sites whose individual capacity is not known. The largest of the 10 plants will be installed next to Alamos Pumping Station, which EDIA describes as the largest power consumer of Alqueva. On completion, the 10 plants are expected to generate 90 GWh of clean power annually all of which will be locally consumed at the pumping stations. Excess power generated will be fed into the grid if required.
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2019 Analyst Day.
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tatkraft Builds Team For RE On Iberian Peninsula Norwegian energy company Statkraft is taking a deeper interest in the solar and
wind power market opportunities available on the Iberian Peninsula. For this reason, it has established a separate department in Spain. It will be headed by Luis Miguel Alvarez who joins the company from Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) where he was the corporate
ore Solar Power For Facebook In Virginia
business development head.
Apex Clean Energy, solar and wind power utility scale project developer in North
With this team, Statkraft will develop onshore wind and solar projects in Spain and Portugal
America, has bagged its second clean energy power supply contract with Facebook in the
either on its own or through partnerships. It will also be open to mergers and acquisitions
US. In August 2019 the first contract was for a wind power project, this time it is related to
(M&A) opportunities in the field.
a 80 MW solar power plant in Virginia. Facebook will be procuring power from 61.6 MW of the 80 MW Altavista Solar Project in Campbell County, Virginia once it is online in March 2020. Power contracted by the social media giant will power its operations in Virginia. For Apex Clean Energy, the Altavista Solar
I
reland Approves Renewable Energy Auction Scheme The Government of Ireland has approved the country’s first Renewable Electricity Support
Project is the company’s largest solar project to date and its first renewable energy facility
Scheme (RESS) auction under the Climate Action Plan that puts it on a path to achieving
on the East Coast. Through the solar plant, the company says it will be able to generate
70% renewable energy in the total energy mix by 2030. The scheme is subject to European
around 200 full-time jobs during the construction period.
Union (EU) State Aid Approval. The Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) shared
I
srael’s Gets Country’s ‘Largest’ Solar Project As a 120 MW PV power project in Israel has started commercial operations, it has become
the country’s largest solar project’, announced Belectric. The subsidiary of Germany’s
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details of the auction scheme under which renewable energy projects will be invited to bid for capacity and win a guaranteed price for the electricity they generate. It envisages a ‘minimum’ of four auctions to take place between 2020 and 2027 but the frequency of the auctions will depend on the renewable energy project supply pipeline.
Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 10
Industry Industry Insights Insights
Global Energy Transformation : The Role Of Solar PV Climate change has become a major concern of this century. The Paris Agreement
by 2050. The share of electricity consumed in industry and buildings would double. In
establishes a mechanism to limit global temperature rise to “well below 2 °C”, and ideally to
transport, it would increase from just 1% today to over 40% by 2050.
1.5 °C, compared to pre-industrial levels. The profound transformation of the global energy
Solar, along with wind energy, would lead the way in the transformation of the global
landscape is essential to realise the agreement’s climate targets. Such a transformation is possible with the rapid deployment of low-carbon technologies in place of conventional
electricity sector. Wind power would be one of the major electricity generation sources, supplying more than one-third of total electricity demand. Solar PV power would follow,
fossil fuel generation and uses.
supplying 25% of total electricity demand, which would represent over a tenfold rise in
To set the world on a pathway towards meeting the aims of the Paris Agreement, energy-
the solar PV share of the generation mix by 2050 compared to 2016 levels. In the context
related CO₂ emissions need to be reduced by around 3.5% per year from now until 2050,
of total installed capacity by 2050, much greater capacity expansion would be needed for
with continued reductions thereafter. The transition to increasingly electrified forms of
solar PV (8 519 gigawatts [GW]) as compared to wind (6 044 GW).
transport and heat, when combined with increases in renewable power generation, would deliver around 60% of the energy-related CO₂ emission reductions needed by 2050. If additional reductions from direct use of renewables are considered, the share increases to 75%. When adding energy efficiency, the share increases to over 90% of the energyrelated CO₂ emission reductions needed to set the world on a pathway to meeting the Paris Agreement targets.
Wind power would be one of the major electricity generation sources, supplying more than one-
The energy transformation would also boost gross domestic product by 2.5% and total employment by 0.2% globally by 2050. In addition, it would bring broader social and environmental benefits. Health, subsidy and climate-related savings would be worth as much as USD 160 trillion cumulatively over a 30-year period. Thus, every dollar spent in transforming the global energy system provides a payoff of at least USD 3 and potentially
third of total electricity demand. Solar PV power would follow, supplying 25% of total electricity
more than USD 7, depending on how externalities are valued. Scaling up electricity from renewables is crucial for the decarbonisation of the world’s energy system. The most important synergy of the global energy transformation comes from the combination of increasing low-cost renewable power technologies and the wider adoption of electricity for end-user applications in transport and heat. To deliver the energy
demand, which would represent over a tenfold rise in the solar PV share of the generation mix
transition at the pace and scale needed would require almost complete decarbonisation of the electricity sector by 2050. The REmap Case sets a pathway to achieve a share of 86% for renewables in the power generation mix by 2050. On the end user side, the share of
by 2050 compared to 2016 levels.
electricity in final energy consumption would increase from just 20% today to almost 50% IRENA (2019), Future of Solar Photovoltaic
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 11
In Conversation
“Our Cumulative Operating Capacity Is Over 550+Mw As Of 2019 Across Rooftop Projects And Open Access Solar Farms” Mr. Manu Karan, Vice President, CleanMax Solar
What have been some of the recent developments at your organisation? Could you brief us about your upcoming projects? CleanMax Solar is the sustainability partner of choice for leading corporates and industries in Asia. We have offices and highly skilled professional teams across India, the Middle East, and South-East Asia. Over the years we have completed over 400 projects for over 130+ corporates, and are constantly looking to venture into newer sectors and markets. Our cumulative operating capacity is over 550+MW as of 2019 across rooftop projects and open access solar farms. We are expanding our solar farms to five to six more states in India by mid – 2020 apart from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and currently, we are also developing a 150MW solar farm in Sirsa district of Haryana. Earlier this year, we had raised INR 275 crore in equity funding from UK Climate Investments LLP (UKCI) managed by Macquarie.
In case of solar farms, development of the transmission infrastructure is of crucial importance for the easy banking of solar power. The recent Power Ministry approval in July 2019, on the early regulatory nod for transmission schemes for 66.5 GW renewable energy generations in order to fast-track green projects in the country was an order in the right direction. As the gestation period of Renewable Energy projects is much shorter in comparison to the implementation period of the transmission facilities, it is necessary that the present system of transmission planning and implementation for Renewable Energy projects to be carried out in fast track.
What are the highlights of your company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility? Our business model in its entirety is dedicated to environmental and social responsibility. With the current operating capacity of CleanMax Solar at 550 MW (i.e 5,50,000 kW) helps in the abatement of 7,92,000 tons of carbon emissions; this equals to planting
Internationally, we have ventured into the UAE and Thailand markets. Currently in UAE
around 1.90 Crore trees – which is a humongous contribution to significantly improve
we have project portfolio of over 20MWp and in Thailand over 8MWp. These markets
the air quality of the country while being socially responsible and being committed to
are scaling very rapidly for CleanMax and we expect over one third of our rooftop solar
the cause.
volumes to come from these markets in the next financial year.
Financing is still a major issue in the sector? What is your policy wishlist to encourage investments in the sector?
Over the years we have completed over 400
Financing is no doubt one of the biggest challenges of the sector; since renewable
projects for over 130+ corporates, and are
energy is a capital intensive business, hence the availability of funds and cost of capital is crucial. In terms of solar-specific lending, in recent times, the lending environment
constantly looking to venture into newer
has improved with banks compared to last year, where raising debt for the solar segment was challenging, however, since then, there have been positive changes, and
sectors and markets.
banks are less sceptical about lending today. That being said, we still require a long term and stable national level policies that will help attract long term capital in the sector and accelerate India’s adoption of decarbonised electricity in the fight against global warming.
What do you think are the untapped opportunities which need to be explored in the solar sector? We are observing an abundance of opportunity in the micro, small and medium
Internationally, we have ventured into the UAE and Thailand markets. Currently in UAE
enterprises (MSME) segment. These enterprises can become potential clients for solar energy uptake provided credit risk issues are addressed. A well aligned policy would
we have project portfolio of over 20MWp
need to recognise the specific constraints of this segment and careful analysis must be catered to. Once those obstacles are removed, then these companies can harness the cheap and plentiful energy of the sun, to the benefit of the entire country. We feel
and in Thailand over 8MWp.
that MSME is a low hanging fruit which can easily generate a huge demand for rooftop solar in the country.
List some of the challenges you come across while developing a project? There are multiple challenges that elude the system currently. For rooftop solar
With the current operating capacity of
adoption, net-metering is posing to be the biggest challenge in the current economy. The objective of the net metering policy was to make solar electricity more accessible
CleanMax Solar at 550 MW (i.e 5,50,000
while ensuring that the surplus power generated is supplied back to the grid. But the current policy framework is restricting the growth of rooftop solar on account of the 1 MW cap on system size. An increasing number of companies are looking at independent energy generation options such as rooftop solar to meet their energy needs; however, most of these commercial and industrial consumers need more than
kW) helps in the abatement of 7,92,000 tons of carbon emissions; this equals to
1 MW of electricity to meet their requirements. So the removal of the cap on the size of the project will accelerate the adoption of rooftop solar in India and help the sector reach the lofty goal of 40GW.
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planting around 1.90 Crore trees.
Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 12
Industry Industry Insights Insights
Deployment Of Rooftop Solar PV Systems For Distributed Generation Distributed energy resources (DER) are small or medium-sized power sources that are
Australia, India, Japan and the Netherlands remained significant markets at over USD 1
mainly connected to the lower voltage levels of the system (distribution grid), near the end
billion each, the United States, which is the biggest market for small-scale solar, witnessed
users. They can potentially provide services to the power system. In the context of solar PV,
a decrease of 15% year on year to USD 8.9 billion
distributed generation comes from plants connected at low and medium voltages, such as solar PV panels on rooftops. The deployment of rooftop solar PV systems has increased significantly in recent years, as has distributed storage, in great measure thanks to supporting policies, mainly net metering and fiscal incentives, and falling costs. For example, behind-the-meter storage business models allow consumers to store electricity generated by rooftop solar PV and consume it later when needed or sell it to the grid. In 2018 distributed-scale solar PV capacity additions amounted to approximately 43 GW.
There are several examples of DER increasingly being deployed globally. For instance, the sonnen Community is an aggregator in Germany consisting of about 10 000 customers with solar PV generation, battery storage, or both. The aggregator was launched in 2015 mostly for peer-to-peer trading as a virtual power plant (VPP), but as of 2017 the VPP became available to the power grid to provide grid services such as frequency regulation. Compared to alternatives, such as pumped hydro storage, this distributed “virtual” storage resource can react very quickly (in sub-seconds), making it a great provider of primary
China represents the leading solar market not only in Asia, but also in the world, with
frequency services to grid operators. A small part of this storage is made available to the
distributed plants contributing 47% of the capacity installed in 2018. Distributed solar
German power grid. This reduces both variability in renewable generation and expensive
has been growing in India as well, where installed rooftop capacity reached 6 GW in
grid expansion requirements.
2018, representing the addition of over 2.5 GW over the previous year. This increase, however, is marginal when compared to utility-scale installations in India, which represented 82% of cumulative installed capacity, while distributed represented just 10%. As such, policy support is required to intensify offgrid and rooftop installations across the country.
Every challenge under the sun, has an innovative solution
www.Lntecc.com
Another player in the region is the Republic of Korea, which has made the expansion of distributed power production a policy goal for its energy planning. This is to overcome issues related to its mountainous terrain, which makes the development of large utility-scale PV plants difficult. The national energy plan aims to increase distributed power generation to reach 18.4% of total generation by 2030, compared to the current 11.2% In Latin America, Mexico has witnessed strong
growth
in
installed
solar
capacity, also thanks to a boom in distributed solar – it currently has more than 100 000 solar roofs on homes and on industrial and commercial buildings. The competitiveness of distributed solar is supported by its low installation costs and savings of up to 95% per month on the electricity rates paid by users. Distributed solar PV has grown significantly in Brazil as well, where newly added capacity amounted to 390 MW in 2018, mainly
We are among the world’s leading solar PV installers. The track record includes the largest solar plants in India. Our canvas is vast, and growing wider.
Records under the Sun: •
Over 2 GWp of projects incorporating various technologies
EPC Capabilities are on offer for Utility Scale, Rooftop, Microgrid, Distributed Generation and Storage Solutions. Product Offerings include Horizontal Single Axis Tracker, Solar Pumps, Battery Energy Storage Container.
•
India’s first landfill solar PV project of 14.4 MWp in Rajasthan
•
One of the world’s largest rooftop PV plants of 7.5 MWp in Punjab
•
Biggest tracker portfolio for EPC in India with more than 440 MWp of projects
•
Largest rural electrification and microgrid project covering 229 villages in Bihar
•
India’s first large scale Solar PV Project of 2x10 MW with 16 MW/8 MWh battery energy storage system in Andaman (under execution)
due to the increasing competitiveness of
the
net-metering
regulation
throughout the country. According to the Brazilian Solar Energy Association (ABSOLAR), this growth is expected to more than double in 2019 Globally investment in small-scale than 1 megawatt[MW]) amounted to
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USD 36.3 billion in 2018, a decrease of
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distributed solar PV systems (smaller
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15% from 2017 levels. Whilst Germany, IRENA (2019), Future of Solar Photovoltaic
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 13
In Conversation
“Being The World’s Most Bankable Inverter Brand, Sungrow Places A Strong Emphasis On Innovation”
Ms. Nicole Shu, APAC Director, Power Plant Business Division, Sungrow
Mr. Imran Chowdhury, Country Head, Bangladesh Region- EPC & IPP, Sungrow
How has your journey been with Sungrow?
Kindly brief us about the presence of Sungrow in Bangladesh.
Before Year 2017, Sungrow’s Power Plant Business division focus on domestic market and
Sungrow started operation in Bangladesh market back to June 2019 as EPC, Project
win 5GW market share which lays a solid foundation for us to start international business.
Developer & Inverter Manufacturer. After working in Bangladesh Renewable Energy
We pick Vietnam as our first foreign market as at that time we see the favorable FiT policy
Industry for 10 Years, It was really a great opportunity for me to join Sungrow as Country
and government’s determination, then we win 90MW(AC) project in the first round. Based
Head of Bangladesh Region to look after EPC & IPP business. From last six months, we
on the experience in Vietnam, we enter into more potential markets in APAC region such
tried to introduce Sungrow’s activities to all Bangladesh customers including Government,
as Bangladesh, Australia, South Korea, and Indonesia. Our projects in Australia, Victoria
Semi Government & Private Sector. With help from GIZ, a team from Bangladesh Govt’s
just finished COD and we also have ESS reference in South Korea this year, so we really
power ministry (SREDA, BPDB) visited our Headquarter & Inverter factory in Hefei & also
hope we can make some contribution and difference to Bangladesh RE industry as well.
the world’s largest 150MW floating solar project constructed by Sungrow. Participating
What are the key changes you see happening in your product portfolio? Being the world’s most bankable inverter brand, Sungrow places a strong emphasis on
in Bangladesh Solar Week-2019 as main sponsor was one of the key platform for us to highlight Sungrow’s footprint in Bangladesh market. We are also going to set up our local office by next one month & there will be combination of minimum 15 number foreign & local staff to expand business in Bangladesh market.
Innovation, with a research and development (R&D) team which accounts for more than 35% of the company’s workforce. Sungrow is one of the few global inverter suppliers with
What type of Renewable Energy projects Sungrow is looking to
a full inverter portfolio that can serve residential, commercial and utility-scale installations
build in Bangladesh market?
including energy storage applications with maintaining 15%+ global market share. Some
Currently we are mainly focusing on utility scale projects including land base & floating
of our latest product portfolio introduced in various international exhibition like SG250HX-
base where we can work as EPC & IPP. For the EPC business in Bangladesh market,
world’s most powerful 1500VDC string inverter compatible with bifacial modules, SG3150UMV- Another flagship 1500 VDC solution optimized for large-scale utility plants and a high DC/AC ratio of 1.5, SG33CX-US, SG55CX-US- The latest string inverters, focusing on commercial & industrial segments to North American market, enables flexible vertical and horizontal installation With built-in PID recovery function, ST556kWh-250UD- With joint venture of Sungrow and Samsung SDI, this all-in-one solution is tailored to C&I projects with compact design, small footprint and optimized thermal performance.
Sungrow’s biggest advantage is to use own manufacturing product, It means we will work as EPC+ Manufacturer which will add more value to project sponsor for getting special inverter warranty support & after sales service. From next year 2020, we will also work as project developer/IPP to play a vital role to meet Bangladesh Government’s Renewable Energy Generation target. When we will be on Project Developer/ IPP role, our key focus will be to meet the COD timeline as per PPA & IA. As Sungrow is the global leader in floating solar segment, so we truly believe that Bangladesh people will see lots of floating
For Inverter business in Bangladesh market, we have dedicate manpower from HQ Inverter
projects to be built by Sungrow in upcoming days. For roof top segment, currently we are
division & we have also finalized a local distributor who can provide ready stock support
focusing mainly on Inverter business because we saw there are lots of local EPC players
& service to local roof top customers.
already fighting hard to keep minimum profit margin. We have plan to identify some large
What is Sungrow’s growth strategy in Asia Market in order to expand the EPC business? For EPC business, the key parts are project quality and cost. To some extent, the EPC cost is transparent nowadays as the equipment price is clear and the subcontractor cost is within certain range. Project quality is always our priority and we’ll make Sungrow EPC more competitive by optimizing design, supply chain and localization.
space roof top of Govt. Organizations where minimum 5MW solar power can be produced.
What are the emerging investment opportunities in Bangladesh Renewable Energy Industry? Bangladesh achieved an impressive annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 7.86% in 2018 which is the highest in South Asia. What we have seen regarding development of Bangladesh Renewable Energy industry is that it is really a potential market for next five years & there are lots of opportunities for foreign players in different segment like roof
For Inverter business in Bangladesh market,
top, utility scale, floating & others. One of the major advantage is that Bangladesh current
we have dedicate manpower from HQ Inverter
& incentives for foreign investors like exemption of Corporate Income Tax (Period: 15yrs,
division & we have also finalized a local distributor who can provide ready stock support
Government is very much focused for renewable energy development & giving lots benefits
Exemption of Custom Duties, VAT & other Surcharges, Tax exemption on capital gains from transfer of shares by the investing company, Repatriation of Equity along with Dividends, Avoidance of Double Taxation through Bi-lateral Agreements. For developing large scale solar power plants, we think making Joint Venture with Govt. Utility companies / Public Private Partnership (PPP) can be most suitable option because it will more easily for a Govt. Organization to secure huge amount of land by maintaining local laws & regulation. In
& service to local roof top customers.
summary we can say that Sungrow has really vast plan for Bangladesh market & we want to be the leader in each EPC, IPP & Inverter business segment in upcoming days.
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Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 14
Industry Industry Insights Insights
Indian Energy Storage Market The push for distributed energy systems and electric mobility has led to a significant
Decentralized market structures
demand in the energy storage applications. Globally, it is expected that energy storage
� Grid disciples - Frequency between 49.95 Hz and 50.05 Hz.
will account for 16 TWh by 20307 . Though India’s energy storage market is at a nascent stage, it is expected to grow upwards of 2 TWh by the year 2030.
� Load serving entities are severely affected due to these grid discipline rules. � Restrictions on overdraw and underdraw. � Lack of regional balancing principles and generation supply sharing market
Drivers of Energy Storage Energy storage could play a pivotal role in enabling renewable penetration without
mechanism.
overreliance on transmission corridors that could require huge capital investments and
Apart from this, Government is pushing for increased EV uptake in the next decade,
underutilization of such assets due to the variable nature of renewable energy resources.
resulting in exponential demand for energy storage technologies.
An example of this application is the tender released by Solar Energy Corporation of India to set up two different systems with aggregate capacity of 14 MW solar with battery storage capacity of 42 MWh, in Leh and Kargil. In such remote areas, these projects can help in providing opportunities of utilising clean energy and reducing the dependence on the grid. Also, increased power sector disruptions have resulted in urgent need for flexibility in
Energy storage could play a pivotal role in enabling renewable penetration without
India and energy storage technology is best placed to provide this flexibility across the
overreliance on transmission corridors that
value chain. Arguments supporting this viewpoint are: Load following generating stations - Thus far used for balancing the demand fluctuation in the Indian power system � Hydro plants with un priced fuel are traditionally used, however peak demand in India is unmet in many instances.
could require huge capital investments and underutilization of such assets due to
� Peaking stations with high variable costs are used for rescue. � Furthermore, gas stations not optimally used due to un-economical gas purchase Advent of higher share of renewables - High variability and intermittency � Load following stations capacity addition can solve. However, the addition of new hydro & gas renders time consuming and un-economical.
the variable nature of renewable energy resources.
� Below technical limits, flexibility of coal plants is not possible. FICCI - Battery Storage The Next Big Frontier
Leaders in Solar Park
Ranked among Top 10 Solar Companies in India Solar Parks in: Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
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info@raysexperts.com
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 15
In Conversation
“Rooftop Program Is Growing Quickly In Bangladesh And It Has Around 6000Mw Potentials” Mr. Dipal C Barua, President, Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy Association
Please enlighten us on the role of Bangladesh Solar & Renewable
c) Achieving SDGs: Potentials of Renewable Energy in Bangladesh:
Energy Association (BSREA) in the Bangladesh solar sector?
Development of renewable energy and optimum implementation of Sustainable
Since 1996, being Involved with the Pioneering of Solar Energy in Bangladesh, I had
Development Goals (SDGs) are closely linked and ought to be propelled forward hand
designed a monthly installment based financial model at the price of kerosene which has
in hand. RE augmentation could be an integral driving force for achieving SDG target.
made the Solar Home System (SHS) affordable for the rural people of Bangladesh and by
BSREA promotes and supports the government and private sector to implement
following the path Bangladesh has already installed over 5.5 million Solar Home System in
environment friendly energy generation towards achieving SDGs. With this, BSREA had
the off grid areas of Bangladesh which is the largest solar program in the world. In addition,
organized a Conference named Achieving “SDGs: Potential of Renewable Energy in
around 2100 solar irrigation pumps have been also installed and It can potentially replace
Bangladesh” on October, 2017 where the main focus was to find the co-inter relation
over 1.3 million shallow (diesel operated) pump. Over 200 thousand Solar Street light has
between SDGs and Renewable Energy.
been installed especially in the rural areas of Bangladesh and have Potentials of 1 million
d) Green Finance for Sustainable Development:
street lights in Bangladesh. Rooftop Program is growing quickly in Bangladesh and it has
Without access to finance, commercialization of renewable energy will be at stake.
around 6000MW potentials. Around 25 Mini grid has completed and 50 Mini grid under
BSREA thus advocates for Green Finance for the private sector of Bangladesh in order
process for Implementation. Recently 2 Utility Scale Solar Projects have been completed
to encourage investment in renewable energy. In doing so, BSREA not only collaborates
and total of 31 MW Solar power electricity has already been connected to the National
with Bangladesh Bank and other commercial banks and financial institutes but also
Grid Line and around 800 MW Solar Power Plants has been approved by The Government
with various development partners.
to be connected to the National Grid Line. Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy association (BSREA) is the largest and only Association
What are the factors that impede the growth of Bangladesh solar
of Business Houses and NGOs working for promoting Clean Energy Industry in Bangladesh.
sector? What are the steps that can be taken to accelerate the
It promotes private sectors in developing and expanding renewable energy in all over
growth of the Bangladesh Solar Sector?
Bangladesh. It’s a non-profit organization established in 2011. Currently it has around 50
Land Spacing is the main impediment of the growth of Solar Utility Scale Project in
members and 21 executive members which are actively working with us to expand the solar
Bangladesh. Utility Scale Solar or Large Scale Solar requires a lot of land space which is
& renewable energy sector in Bangladesh. BSREA provides a platform for dialogue among
very costly as Bangladesh is an agriculture based country and the lands are very expensive.
policy makers, practitioners and experts for sustainable market growth. BSREA sometimes
Solar Roof top does not need extra land spaces and it can be very crucial to accelerate the
also negotiates with the Government about the withdrawal of VAT, TAX and providing
growth of Bangladesh Solar Sector.
Incentive over renewable energy equipment so that this sector can be expanded extensively. BSREA also intends to collaborate with renewable energy private sector associations in the
How can renewable energy be made more affordable?
region and around the world to establish cooperation and share and exchange knowledge.
� By demonstrating large scale of solar systems around the country and utilizing all the
What are the initiatives taken by BSREA for the development of solar sector in Bangladesh?
rooftops covered by solar panels and integrate with National Grid, as there are about 67,000 secondary school buildings and 30,000 college and university buildings, About
For last few years BSREA has been facilitating the newly developed renewable energy sector of the country by providing policy making support in national level, negotiating with NBR about the taxation for importing renewable energy products as well as corporate income tax imposed by the government of Bangladesh for solar and renewable energy companies, negotiating with government for including a significant amount in the national budget for RE expansion. BSREA is also providing support to SREDA (Sustainable & Renewable Energy Development Authority) for sustainable policy making and development. BSREA has done several Campaigns and Workshops for the development of solar sector in Bangladesh. Those are as follows:
Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy association (BSREA) is the largest and only Association of Business Houses and NGOs working for promoting Clean Energy Industry in Bangladesh.
a) Building “My Village : My Town” – The role of Renewable Energy : With years of experience and expertise, BSREA endeavored to create a unique platform to turn each village into role model for sustainable development in line with Bangladesh Government’s ambitions. The aim is not to turn villages into cities life will be available in villages without harming the nature and the environment. As a smart village, it will have all provisions of renewable energy and energy efficiency to ensure energy security in the most efficient way.
BSREA also intends to collaborate with renewable energy private sector associations
b) Campaign on: Responsible Use of Electricity:
in the region and around the world to
establish cooperation and share and exchange
With Bangladesh’s ambition to become an advanced economy by 2041, BSREA is particularly supporting the Government towards climate change mitigation. In doing so, not only does BSREA promote renewable energy in a business viable way, but also
knowledge.
a campaign on responsible use of electricity to develop an energy conscious society launched in February 2018.
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Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 16
53,000 madrasahs, 300,000 mosques, temples and other religious buildings which can be used to generate Massive amounts of electricity, will make renewable energy like solar much more affordable. � With the help of Government supported Policy and without TAX & VAT on Solar Accessories, Solar energy can be more affordable. � Establishing a strong Human resources training facilities for Renewable Energy
Development of renewable energy and optimum implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are closely linked
Organizations to implement different RE projects like Solar Rooftops, Solar Irrigation
and ought to be propelled forward hand in
Pumps, Solar Street Lights etc. � Building up testing facilities to ensure the better quality of RE Material and Accessories which will also ensure the services. � Promote and protect the trade, commerce, business and industrial relations amongst
hand. RE augmentation could be an integral driving force for achieving SDG target. BSREA
entrepreneurs of solar and renewable energy in Bangladesh. � Promote private sectors in developing and expanding renewable energy in all over Bangladesh. � Working closely with the relevant Government, semi Government authorities and organizations by helping in Policy making and to develop renewable energy.
How do you envision the future of the solar sector in Bangladesh?
promotes and supports the government and private sector to implement environment friendly energy generation towards achieving SDGs.
It is time that we all need to explore new horizon of renewable energy to scale up countries electricity production and to ensure the green environment for our future generation of Bangladesh. We need to promote appropriate, efficient and environment friendly use of renewable energy by providing training and by
creating
awareness
about
the
environment. By Solarising Secondary Towns and Creating Climate Resilient and Migrant Friendly Towns & Cities, Covering all rooftops by solar panels and integrated with National Grid, Solar Street Lights, Solar Irrigation, Grid Integration with Solar Irrigation System, Solar Pumping, Green Building, 100% RE, Waste to Energy, Human Resource development and Training Centre, creating Eco-village in the neighbourhood of towns, Modernizing and Diversifying Agriculture, use of Energy Efficient Technology, Developing Energy
Efficient
Cooling
Storage,
Electric Vehicle, Development of Public Transport run through electricity and RE, Low Carbon Technology, Green Garments Factory, LED Light Factory, Rain-water Harvesting, Waste to Energy , Biogas and organic fertilizer, Wind energy, Floating Solar in Different water bodies Rivers, Lakes, Haors, Ponds etc. We need to promote appropriate, efficient
and
environment
friendly
use of renewable energy by providing training and by creating awareness about the environment. I hope that in the coming days, we will be able to accomplish our vision and with combined efforts and by reaching more than 50% of the people of Bangladesh with Renewable Energy, we will be able to make Bangladesh the ‘First Solar Nation’ by 2050.
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 17
In Conversation
“Our Core Objective Is To Be The Leading Player In The ‘Distributed Generation’ Sector Of Solar Market” Dr. Someshwer Dutt Sharma, CTO & Head – Solar Projects, Sun Renewables
Sun Renewables has a decade of experience in the industry, having
adequate large reservoirs available. Govt. needs to come up with specific guidelines
commissioned and operated more than 2 GW of solar projects in
for safety, floater quality, anchoring & mooring etc. Floating solar provides energy
India, How has the experience been?
enhancement of around 7 % due to water cooling effect, reduce ~ 60 % evaporation
SUN Renewables is a JV between a diversified Indian group, SUN Group, and one of
rate and save most precious land bank.
the largest Japanese conglomerates, ORIX Corporation. It is headquartered in NCR with
For Solar Plus Storage Solution, most of the OEMS in India are basically importing the
offices in Gurgaon and New Delhi as well as a regional office in Bangalore with pan-India
Lithium Cells and assembling it in India due to which the inflection point to make the
coverage. SUN Group is a leading principal investor and private equity fund manager in
ESS commercially viable is difficult to achieve, especially due to the duties and taxes
India, Russia and other emerging markets. The founding shareholders of SUN are part
imposed on the import of cells. We envisage the ESS market to grow at a rapid pace
of an Indian family group (Khemka group) that has been active in India for more than
as there is a huge potential and demand in the Indian C&I and EV industry subject to
100 years. The group has been active in areas such as Aerospace, Oil & Gas, Mining, Real
having indigenous Lithium Battery Manufacturing.
Estate, Infrastructure, Food & Beverage, Technology and Renewable Energy. ORIX is one
We may expect advanced technologies implementation in the near future. Few of them
of the leaders in the solar power generation business in Japan and has solar portfolio
are IoT based monitoring solutions, Blockchain for P2P microgrids, Drones mapping and
more than 1 GW in Japan.
AI/Data Analytics based services etc
Our core objective is to be market leading player in the “Distributed Generation” sector of Solar Market (Projects< 50 MW) serving Commercial & Industrial (C&I) clients’ clean energy requirements. Our core team which is based in Delhi, Gurgaon and Bangalore
Solar project should be designed for a life of 25 years. What quality parameters do you consider while procuring equipment for
has best-in-class industry experience and track record, having collectively designed,
your projects?
commissioned and operated more than 2 GW of Solar Projects Worldwide. We have
There are many quality parameters which are skipped most of the time during solar PV
strong sponsorship from both its parents and a range of industry partnerships to create
power plant development. In my opinion, the strength of the weakest link determines
differentiated long-term partnerships with its clients and to mitigate risk. We have
the strength of the complete system. For example, quality of PV Modules and selection
fostered blue-chip channel partnerships locally with global real-estate services giant
of BOS and method of execution plays a key role for PV Power Plants operating
Jones Lang LaSalle.
satisfactorily. We had evaluated around 500 MW portfolio for acquisition and found out that most of the PV Plants underperforming due to defects in the PV modules,
What technological breakthroughs can we expect from your
poor execution of cables laying and serious cable faults, improper conduct, no drainage
company in the coming years?
network, electrical equipment placement without proper clearance at front and rear side
We are working on following technology for improving energy yield, prevent PID effect
of the equipment and poor data monitoring of the plant.
and storage etc. 1. Integration of Reflectors in both the Brownfield as well as greenfield projects to enhance the incident radiation on the PV Panels. We envisage a gain of 8 - 10% in
Can you share any case study of an interesting project undertaken by Sun Renewables?
the generation by integration of reflectors based on the site-specific ray optics. This
Yes, in one of our projects, we had designed a control loop wherein we ramp down the
concept is not new, but we need to develop accurate and flexible design for reflector
Inverters to meet the curtailed load requirement at Client’s premise. On weekends, being
positioning and size. This concept will lead to reduced payback period and help us
an Institution, the Client’s Load requirement comes down to 50% of the total generation
to be competitive in India. We had filed a patent application and its in process.
capability of the Solar PV Plant. So, we had integrated the Solar PV System with a control
2. We may prevent Potential Induced Degradation (PID) effect & losses by implementing anti PID device at the string or inverter end. By doing this at the very outset, when
functions wherein we ramp down the Inverters to meet the curtailed load requirement and thereby inhibiting any spurious tripping of the equipment in the institution.
the plant is designed, we can prevent the non-refundable losses PV Plant suffers due to PID effect, especially now, with the 1500V Modules being used in the Plants. 3. PV + Storage Solution to C&I Customers to mitigate the DG running hours and
SUN Group is a leading principal investor and
creating a win-win situation.
We are offering PV + Storage solution for our C & I clients to reduce DG operation
private equity fund manager in India, Russia
hours and peak power shaving applications. It’s important to design right system to cater to specific application requirements. It has been observed that very less no of
and other emerging markets.
installation is available presently for right application despite so many advantages which can be accrued from solar + storage solution. Major obstacle is the overall price of the Storage system, which includes Li battery, Racks, PCS, EMS and BMS etc and clear understanding of right application needs. 4. PV Solutions for EV Charging.
Do you think India needs to pace up in its technology adoption to be at par with the world leaders? Yes. We are lagging in the technology race and this is impacting big time in the viability of different renewable projects. For instance, India’s adoption of Floating Solar Technology
We may prevent Potential Induced Degradation (PID) effect & losses by implementing anti PID device at the string or inverter end.
has been quite slow looking at the potential (approx. 100 GW+) that the country has
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Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 18
Industry Industry Insights Insights
Expansions Of Markets In Solar PV Sector Solar PV power is one of the fastest-growing energy resources in the world and is now the
the next decade thanks to the rising number of installations in China, India and Japan.
second most deployed renewable energy technology in the world by installed capacity,
The Americas were the next largest regions in the global solar PV inverter market, with
after wind. Despite the unprecedented demand growth in recent years, solar PV modules
a market share of approximately 24% and reported solar installations of approximately
and inverters have fallen in price, benefiting project developers and disadvantaging
15 gigawatts (GW). The solar PV markets in the United States and in Canada continued
manufacturers, who have struggled to sustain margins.
to grow, and in South and Central America, the focus was Chile. The EMEA solar inverter
The expansion of solar PV markets, combined with falling prices, has contributed to
market was the third-largest globally by value in 2018, accounting for 13%. Germany,
the emergence of new players in the industry, such as Apple and Tesla (mainly in the manufacturing of modules), while some of the top wind turbine companies, such as Gamesa, Goldwind and Mingyang, have also entered the solar industry.
France and Italy were the top markets in Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the major markets in the Middle East. At a country level, China, the United States and India were the top countries, collectively
Solar Modules
accounting for approximately 70% of global PV inverter installations in 2018. With 44.4 GW
The global market for solar module production is highly diversified, although some
of annual installations and 48.7% of the global market, China was the most prominent
consolidation among manufacturers is taking place. The majority of the market is held by crystalline silicon (c-Si) module manufacturers, thanks to the maturity of the technology and the lower investment costs due to the fall in the price of polysilicon – its raw material. In 2017 the Asia-Pacific region dominated the market for solar modules, accounting for the majority of the solar PV modules installed globally (76%). This is followed by the Americas and Europe with a share of 14% and 9.5%, respectively. In 2012 specifically,
country in the global solar PV inverter market in 2018. After China, the United States registered annual installation of 10.9 GW, representing 12% of global solar PV inverters installed in 2018. The third-largest market was India, recording annual installation of 8.68 GW in 2018 and accounting for nearly 9.5% of the global market. In all three countries, solar PV and inverter installations have been driven by government support policies and schemes such as net metering and feed-in-tariffs.
Europe, the Middle East and Africa all together had a higher rate of installation compared to the Asia-Pacific region due to significant solar module installations in Germany, Italy and Spain. However, following subsidy cuts the annual installation rate fell sharply in Europe and paved the way for the Asia-Pacific region to become the global leader in solar
Solar PV power is one of the fastest-growing
PV installations.
energy resources in the world and is now the
Solar Inverter
second most deployed renewable energy
The market for solar inverters is currently in a growth phase, the rising demand for power together and various global initiatives to encourage the implementation of renewable smart grids being the main drivers behind this development. In 2018 theAsia-Pacific region dominated the market for solar inverters, accounting for
technology in the world by installed capacity, after wind.
71% of new installations globally. It is expected to continue dominating the market in IRENA (2019), Future of Solar Photovoltaic
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Solar Solar SolarQuarter Quarter Quarter•••December December December2019 2019 2019 19 19
In Conversation
“Sofarsolar Is A Biggest Installer As A Top Position In Sky Project Scheme” Mr. Brijesh Prajapati, Managing Director, SOFAR SOLAR
What are the recent projects in India where Sofarsolar played a significant role? SOFARSOLAR is a Biggest installer as a TOP Position in SKY PROJECT Scheme. SOFAR inverters are installed in the farms under SKY PROJECT (Surya Kisan Yojana) initiative of GUJARAT Government at different Feeders covering GUJARAT region. SOFARSOLAR inverters installed more than 28MW in SKY PROJECT-GUJARAT. SOFARSOLAR have another more than 20MW projection for Coming SKY PROJECT (KUSUM YOJANA)
Given the tough competition how cost competitive is Indian and Global solar Inverter market? If manufacturer compromise in quality to make cheap rate products then it’s very difficult to take a stand in market with long vision work & warranty duration. So now a days it’s very difficult to get proper products in cheap rate. For good product manufacturer focusing on to control on lower marginal game, no extra expenses & how can save an extra coast
Scheme.
and not impact on business strategy. For manufacturer in India market also need to invest
Same scheme will start very soon with another state from coming years.
higher coast in BIS certification & also invest in another product generation, also another
SOFARSOLAR is a Biggest installer as a TOP Position in GEDA-GUJARAT.
side to compete with cheap rate brand product. “Serving good quality product on lower
In Roof top project scheme still SOFAR is first preference from client/EPC. Local sales-
margin with prompt service support “tagline will give good business in tough competition.
service support, profitable generation with reliable product performance, not using cheap quality component to make cheap price product. Same product features availability in
How does your company cope up with the competition in the
India & abroad. Not a compromise in quality & price to compete with cheap quality brand
market?
product. Started good quantum business with top most renewable Reputed EPC partner in India & SAARC, Middle East market.
We are performing very good in India renewable market. SOFARSOLAR is a fastest growing product with good qualities, lesser service complain & prompt service solutions. No compromise in quality to make cheap product, no compromise in product component
What are the technological innovations that Sofarsolar is planning to bring in India? To cater to the Indian Market we have established ‘’Sofarsolar India Pvt. Ltd’’ our Marketing and Service Center in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Our range of grid tied inverters include 1KW to 6KW in single and 3KW to 70KW in three
material, wide display is OUR KEY Features. Sofarsolar have good strong market in ROOFTOP Solar business & also in EPC Sector. We are believing in LOCAL SALES-PROMPT SERVICE SUPPORT with LONGVISION Reliable Product Business Policy.
phases, Support zero export solution. 3kW power storage inverters and 3-6kW hybrid
In price competitive market SOFAR OFFERING 8 YEARS Warranty with GOOD Quality
inverters in Single Phase & 10-20kW hybrid inverters in Three Phase, Li-Ion Batteries.
Products.
PRODUCT ROADMAP 2020:Hybrid Inverter- 3kW/3.6kW/4kW/5kW/6kW (1 Phase) Hybrid Inverter- 8kW/10kW/12kW/15kW/20kW (3 Phase) AC Retrofitting Single phase 6kW 2nd generation of 50kW/60kW/70kW New upcoming Rating: - 80kW/100Kw/120Kw New upcoming Rating: - 220kW/250Kw with 1500v DC Electrical Vehicle Charger SOFAR AMASS Li-Ion Batteries.
We are performing very good in India rooftop market. SOFARSOLAR is a fastest growing product with good qualities, lesser service complain & prompt service solutions.
What according to you is the future of Solar Industry in India? Yes, we are performing very good in India rooftop market. SOFARSOLAR is a fastest growing product with good qualities, lesser service complain & prompt service solutions. No compromise in quality to make cheap product, no compromise in product case material, wide display. In Indian solar market expecting big projection in the coming year after last years slowdown & uncertainties due to some policy & project, PPA. Coming year expected more than 10-12GW in rooftop & Medium - large scale projects. The Government has up-scaled the target of renewable energy capacity to 175 GW by the year 2022 which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydropower. The government needs to be more concentrated on the end user’s requirement & support their ability for solar market development, net-metering
If manufacturer compromise in quality to make cheap rate products then it’s very difficult to take a stand in market with long
confusion/clarification, subsidy provision. BIS Certification proposal has been welcomed by the solar industry & It’s likely to also
vision work & warranty duration.
attract more investment & development from Domestic and international manufacturers. It will create more employment in the market & also come with MAKE IN INDIA Concepts.
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Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 20
Industry Industry Insights Insights
End-Of Life Management Of Solar PV Despite the growth of solar PV and its bright future, the sun sets on even the best panels. As
by an equivalent of 20% of its expected average lifetime of 30 years (IRENA and IEA-PVPS,
the global PV market increases, so will the need to prevent the degradation of panels and
2016). If flaws and imperfections are discovered during the early phase of a PV panel’s
manage the volume of decommissioned PVpanels. The sections belowexplore innovative
life, customers can claim guarantees for repair or replacement and insurance companies
and alternative ways to reduce material use and module degradation, and opportunities
may be involved to compensate for some or all ofthe repair/replacement costs. When
to reuse and recycle PV panels at the end of their lifetime.
replacement happens, quality tests to check electrical safety and power output – such as
The framework of a circular economy and the classic waste reduction principles (reduce,
flash test characterisation and a wet leakage test – can be undertaken to recover some
reuse and recycle) can also be applied to PV panels.
value from a returned panel through resale. Repaired PV panels can also be resold as
REDUCE: MATERIAL SAVINGS IN PV PANELS The best option is to increase the efficiency of panels by reducing the amount of material
replacements or as used panels at a reduced market price of approximately 70% of the original sales price, and partly repaired panels or components might be sold on the second-hand market (IRENA and IEAPVPS, 2016).
used. Whilst the mix of materials has not changed significantly, efficient mass production, material substitutions and higher-efficiency technologies are already happening thanks to strong market growth, scarcity of raw materials and reduction of PV panel prices. Research is progressing towards reducing the amount of hazardous materials, as well as minimising amount of material per panel to save costs. PV material availability is not a major concern in the near term, although critical materials might impose limitations in the long term. In addition, higher prices will improve the economics of recycling activities and drive investment for more efficient mining processes, such as extraction of metals used in the PV manufacturing process (i.e. silver, aluminium, copper and tin). R&D for PV is focusing
RECYCLE: DECOMMISSIONING AND TREATMENT OF PV PANELS Future waste management of installed PV systems largely depends on their type and size. For example, whilst the small and highly dispersed nature of rooftop PV systems can add significant costs to dismantling, collection and transport of expired PV panels, waste management of large utility-scale PV applications is logistically easier. Currently PV waste quantities are very moderate, which reduces the economic incentive to create dedicated PV panel recycling plants. End-of-life PV panels are therefore typically processed
on reducing or substituting different components used for solar PV panels, namely: c-Si
in existing general recycling plants. However, in the long run constructing dedicated PV
panels (glass, silicon, etc.), CIGS panels (glass, polymer, aluminium, etc.) and CdTe panels
panel recycling plants could increase treatment capacity and maximise revenues thanks
(glass, polymer, nickel, etc.) (IRENA and IEA-PVPS, 2016).
to better output quality, and could also increase the recovery of valuable constituents. Recycling technologies for PV panels have already been researched for the past 15 years
REUSE: REPAIRING PV PANELS
and now the main challenge is to keep abreast of ongoing cell and panel innovations to
Most PV systems were installed in the last six years. A six-year-old panel today has aged
obtain the best possible results at acceptable costs (IRENA and IEA-PVPS, 2016).
IRENA (2019), Future of Solar Photovoltaic
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 21
In Conversation
“Today, We Are Present In The Rapidly Growing Rooftop Solar PV Segment Along With The Solar OffGrid Solutions For Power Deficient Areas” Mr. Anil Bhasin, President Lighting & Solar, Havells
Havells is a well-renowned company in India. Would you please let us know how the journey has been so far in the solar industry?
discerning customer who looked for higher yields, trouble free service life and long service
Havells ventured in to Solar as a business vertical in May 2016 for supply of complete Solar
It is our strong belief that the trend of moving to MLPE technology being witnessed
solutions for residential, commercial and industrial segments. We already had been a key
in the more developed markets such as US, Europe & Japan will also catch up in India
component supplier to the Solar industry since the past few years through our Cables
where customers will realise that the advantages and benefits of this technology through
and Switchgear divisions. Today. we are present in the rapidly growing Rooftop Solar PV
its service life of 25 years far outweigh the marginal increase in initial investment. Over
segment along with the Solar off-grid solutions for power deficient areas. We also have a
and above the benefits of the modularity offered by this technology to customers across
very well developed range of Solar Street Lights and Landscape Lighting solutions which
segments is unique and helps a customer to progressively scale up their installation based
too are a high growth segment today.
on their actual need or financial comfort. We are working to introduce more advanced
We are very satisfied with the progress made in the last three years and have been able
technologies MLPE going forward and have committed considerable resources and
warranty (12 to 25 years) of the Inverter and have gone on to deploy almost 70MW of this technology thus far and anticipate a faster rate of deployment going forward.
to create a good footprint for the solar business at a national level. We aim to expand this
manpower towards this endeavor.
reach in a more penetrative manner to reach more users and resellers in the coming years.
The market is also evolving for Hybrid Inverters and this month we have introduced our
Adopting the philosophy - “HAVELLS ASSURANCE & PEACE OF MIND” has been a great
3kW & 5kW single phase Hybrid Inverters to augment this segment. The concept of “Peak
growth driver and catalyst which has really helped us gain wider acceptance in a short time span. Our customers are greatly reassured that they get a complete HAVELLS Solar package from our authorized Solar channel partners comprising all critical components such as PV Modules, Inverters, DC & AC electrical panels, etc. From a customer’s perspective this is significant in view of the long service life of 25 years offered for solar plants and a big relief in an industry which otherwise is driven by local integrators supplying systems comprising critical components of multiple brands. Contacting just a single agency for their servicing needs instead of the harassment of multiple ones is of great comfort to the customer
Hour Power Shaving” will slowly begin to gain momentum in Indian market as it has in the western markets where peak hour tariffs, which are usually 2 to 2.5 times the regular tariff, have been introduced, necessitating the need for energy storage. This technology coupled with long life Lithium batteries will be a sought after solution in the coming years. We also plan to introduce the three phase range of Hybrid Inverters for Residential and medium Commercial customers early next year.
What are the milestones which you wish to achieve this fiscal year?
along with the knowledge that HAVELLS will be around for the next 25 years of warranty.
Some of the key milestones targeted this year by HAVELLS are –
We have further enhanced the HAVELLS value proposition and customer experience by
� To be among the top 10 Roof Top players in India
developing a strong back-end design engineering team located out of our HO at Noida and
� To be a major grid-tie inverter supplier in Indian market
in Hyderabad to support and provide quick and sound technical assistance to specifiers, system integrators and end customers. This service which includes varied services such as site surveys, capacity estimation, array layouts, electrical wiring and interconnection details, structural requirements and BOM along with cost estimation has been greatly appreciated by all stakeholders in the value chain. It helps the customer get the most optimized techno-commercial solution addressing the customer’s key needs resulting in
� Expand our channel partner network both quantitatively and geographically � Developed and grown our team to address a larger customer base and increase market share � Significantly enhance the HAVELLS Solar brand equity through more intense promotional events and programs
overall savings in cost and combined with the use of the right system components ensures a long trouble free system life. We have also groomed a dedicated after sales operations and service team which provides guidance and support for on-site commissioning and troubleshooting. The team also gives
Aware of the changing trends and evolving
guidance on proper O&M procedures of the solar plant to get maximum yield through the service life. For the ease of the end user advice is also provided to help identify a trained local service provider for the same. BTI (Bridge to India) data also placed us within the top 20 roof top players in March 2019. We are confident that by March 2020 we will be amongst the top 10 roof top players
technologies in Solar Inverters, especially Gridtie Inverters, we entered the Solar industry with
in India. Moreover, we have seen a rapidly growing demand for our “HAVELLS ENVIRO GTi” Grid-tie String Inverter series ( 1.1kW to 60KW) by both medium and larger EPC companies since we launched the same in March this year. We hope to be a leading player
a very different proposition of Module Level
in this segment as well in the coming years and are investing in newer and more efficient technologies in this segment. Keeping in sync with the HAVELLS growth and expansion strategy, our journey thus far in
Power Electronics (MLPE)
the Solar industry has motivated us to look beyond the Indian shores and explore other emerging and high potential markets as we go forward.
Technology trends in the solar inverter market are changing with time. Kindly brief us about your current strategies for the Indian market?
We are working to introduce more advanced
Aware of the changing trends and evolving technologies in Solar Inverters, especially Grid-
technologies MLPE going forward and have
tie Inverters, we entered the Solar industry with a very different proposition of Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) in Jan. 2017. We were amongst the pioneers in India to aggressively promote this cutting edge technology especially in the Solar Roof Top market segment. Though it has been a challenging journey in a market which is totally driven by cost (INR/Wp), we are proud of the strides we have made in propagating this
committed
considerable
resources
and
manpower towards this endeavor.
technology albeit it being slightly more expensive. We got good acceptance with the
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Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 22
Industry Industry Insights Insights
Crack Issues in Solar PV Backsheet Olefin Layer/O film (Cell Side) We are gradually moving towards greener environment with rapid Solar PV installations around the world but at the same time our industry is going through several hurdles and one of them is the “SYSTEM COST”. And when it comes to System cost, first thing comes in our mind is “SOLAR PV MODULE”. In this competitive era, cost reduction is very important in supply chain but at the same time Balance of Cost and quality is also necessary. These days, “Solar PV Backsheet” is a very hot topic where various renowned Solar Backsheet manufacturers are locking horns with each other to take bigger market share. Some of the backsheet manufacturers are using cheap materials to reduce the cost and launched new models of backsheets with new types of materials which only have the advantage of cost but not the quality. In short, they are only considering short term profits and not considering the 25 years life span of Solar PV Module. Solar Backsheet OLEFIN Layer/O Film Cracking: We have came across with the issue of Olefin (O film) inner/Cell Side layer Crack Issues in Solar PV Backsheet found in Modules Installed in Rajasthan (Western Region of India) which is typically high heat & UV area. � During Inspection of approx. 400 Modules, around 38 modules have cracks in inner/ Cell Side layer (Olefin) of backsheet. � Main point of concern here is that this installation is just 1 year older. � Reason of cracking of O film is UV exposure and that would also results in further cracking of Middle Layer (Insulation layer). � Solar Backsheet is the combination of different materials where Inner/Cell side layer main functions are adhesion with EVA along with blocking of UV coming from front/ Cell side. � Olefin or Polyolefin contains lots of Tert hydrogen bond which breakdown and yellowing under UV exposure of the wavelength below 330 nm. � TI of Olefin/Polyolefin is less than 90°C and that result in degradation quickly. At the same time, TI of PET is 125°C. � Melting Point of Olefin/Polyolefin is only 120°C. At higher lamination temperature(145°C to 165°C) and pressure make the ribbon pass through the thermoplastic O/PO layer. After lamination, thermoplastic Olefin/Polyolefin layer has lost its parts of electrical insulation function. This point is mainly regarding PO film where it is being used as insulation material on the place of PET. � This Inner layer cracking would results in higher degradation of Module along with bad insulation in next 3 to 4 years and hence the project would go into huge losses. “Only Cost reduction is not important by using low grade/incompetent material which results in losses for end user but balance of cost & quality is important & required for Solar PV Industry”. Below are some pictures of Olefin inner/cell side layer crack in Backsheet for reference:
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 23
Industry Industry Insights Insights
Applications : Beyond Fields And Rooftops
Taking advantage of the rapidly growing solar PV capacity across the globe, several research
Solar-Powered desalination
projects or prototypes are underway to stimulate future market growth, exploring innovating
Most desalination plants today are powered by fossil fuels, which makes them unsustainable in
solar technologies at the application level. The major developments are as follows.
the long term. The two techniques mostly used by the desalination industry to produce potable
Floating PV Floating PV is an exciting emerging market, with the potential for rapid growth. According to a World Bank report, as of the end of September 2018 the global cumulative installed capacity of floating PV plants was 1.1 GW. Demand for floating PV is expanding, especially on islands (and other land-constrained countries), because the cost of water surface is generally lower than the cost of land. Floating solar is particularly well suited to Asia, where land is scarce but there are many hydroelectric dams with existing transmission infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, the world’s top ten plants are located in Asia, namely China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. In particular, Korea has announced the completion next year of what will then become the world’s largest floating solar plant, with a capacity of 102.5 MW. Other Asian countries, namely Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and India, are also actively pursuing floating solar project development.
water are membrane-based (i.e. reverse osmosis, nanofiltration and electrodialysis) and thermal (i.e. multi-stage flash distillation, multi-effect distillation). Because membrane-based desalination techniques do not require heat, they can be coupled with wind and solar power generation. With the fall in the cost of PV equipment and the increasing demand for desalination, more PVpowered membrane desalination plants can be expected in the coming years.
Solar carports Solar carports are ground-mounted solar panels that are installed so that parking lots and home driveways can be laid underneath to form a carport. They have been a very popular alternative or supplement to the classic rooftop systems, with the advantage that they can be installed entirely independently of the roof angle, shape and orientation of the house. Besides providing shade to the vehicles parked underneath, they can efficiently produce electricity and thus offer a number of benefits. First, if coupled with a well designed charging system, the electricity produced can be used for EV charging and thus reduce the costs
Building-integrated PV Panels
of running the vehicle. Second, they can provide energy storage enhancements by having
Building-integrated PV (BIPV) solar panels are an application also known as solar shingles.
battery storage integrated and available in the system, making the solution independent of
BIPV solutions have several advantages. First, they are multifunctional as they can be adapted
sunshine hours. Third, unlike ground-level systems, they are easy to customise and can save
to a variety of surfaces (e.g. roofs, windows, walls) as an integrated solution, providing both
space as they do not require an additional structure or land to install them on.
passive and active functions. A key passive function is thermal and acoustic insulation, as
Solar PV-T systems
with any other construction material, which is complemented by a unique active function –
Solar PV-T systems combine the production of both kinds of solar energy in one collector.
the PV component – which generates renewable electricity that can be directly used in the
It consists of a solar PV panel combined with a cooling system where cooling agent
building. Other functions, also unique to BIPV systems, include the possibility of real-time
(water or air) is circulated around the PV panels to cool the solar cells, such that the warm
thermal or lighting regulation.
water or air leaving the panels may be used for domestic applications such as domestic
Second, they provide a cost-efficient solution. They offer potential cost-reduction benefits
heating. This cooling system for PV panels has a twofold benefit: it significantly increases
related to the savings on roofing material, as well as potential efficiencies and time saving in
the efficiency of PV systems in the electricity sector, and it also allows for the capture of
labour/construction (i.e. with roofing and panel installation done simultaneously). Moreover,
the heat from the PV system for use in space, water and process heating in a range of
BIPV can reduce the cost of refurbishment and renovation of existing buildings and create
industries and applications. In fact, PV modules normally use 15–20% of the incoming
a business case for efficient strategies. When compared to classic roofing materials, BIPV
solar energy, while the rest is lost in the form of heat. The PV-T technology aims to increase
cladding is somewhat more expensive. However, when the additional revenue generated
the overall efficiency by using this “lost” energy to heat air or water and at the same time
from the electricity produced is taken in to consideration, this higher cost is more than offset.
cool the PV cells by taking away the heat from the panel.4
Finally, other advantages include versatility and design flexibility in size, shape and colour.
Agrophotovoltaic
Solar Trees
Agrophotovoltaic (APV) combines solar PV and agriculture on the same land and consists of
Solar trees work very much like real ones, as they have leaf-like solar panels connected through
growing crops beneath ground-mounted solar panels. Although the concept was proposed
metal branches using sunlight to make energy. Solar trees can be seen as complementary to
long ago, it has received little attention until recently, when several researchers have
rooftop solar systems. They are more ergonomic than solar panels, taking nearly 100 times
confirmed the benefits of growing crops beneath the shade provided by the solar panels.
less space to produce the same amount of electricity as a horizontal solar plant and, as such,
These include higher electricity production, higher crop yields and less water use. APV is a
constitute a solution for land- and space scarce economies.
win-win situation for both crops and the solar panels. Many types of food crops, such as tomatoes, grow better in the shade of solar.
IRENA (2019), Future of Solar Photovoltaic
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 24
Perspective
Is The Indian Rooftop Solar In Its Right Trajectory To Meet 40 GW 2022 Deadline Mr. R. Sunder, Head Rooftop Solar Business, Hero Future Energies Rooftop solar which is the fastest growing renewable energy sub-
regulations, especially by major power contributing states will have an adverse impact in
sector in India, grew at an estimated CAGR of 83% in the last
terms of scaling up this sector.
three years. Despite this strong growth, India has achieved only
With renewable power costs falling rapidly, C&I consumers have strong financial incentive
10 percent of its 40 GW RTS target by 2022 and contributes ~ 1%
to switch to solar. The estimated savings compared to grid power is nearly 25 - 30%,
of total power output of the country. Ambitious target in RTS are
besides fulfilling of their RPO. To spruce up consumption in C&I sector, regulations around
likely to be met provided the drivers are put in place. Policy certainty for new and existing RTS projects, financial support, adopting latest technologies and increased consumer awareness will accelerate the pace of RTS installations in India. Reality is Indian states are turning their backs on rooftop solar. Sadly, central government has limited power to influence state policies. Net metering has played a key role in the growth of RTS in India and around the world. Efforts to dilute or weaken net metering
OPEX model across states, to be made more flexible. Going forward, DISCOMs to be designated as nodal agency for rooftop solar approval and policy implementation, which is being implemented in states like AP and GUJ. DISCOMS should take ownership and be responsible for closures. States are also likely to implement new policies for RTS installation for residential sector with good enough CFA, which is the best part to achieve 40GW targeted by 2022.
Ms. Ritu Lal, Senior VP & Head, Institutional Relations, Amplus Solar In my view, we are fretting too much over the 100 GW target and
In the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment, solar delivers a lot of savings. This has
its achievement by 2022. This target obsession has led to frenetic
made rooftop solar very popular with C&I customers. However, as the same C&I customers
activity with an eye on the clock. Also, the focus has shifted away
are responsible for the discom revenues and cross-subsidy recoveries, discoms have
from rooftop solar to the utility segment, where it is faster to
started losing from the rooftop solar story. This has led to major retaliatory roadblocks
add large volumes. But in this rush, we should not lose sight of
for C&I rooftop solar from the states desperate to protect their already distressed utilities.
the basics – quality, high performing and lasting solar installations as the goal is energy
However, rooftop solar need not be a tussle between discoms and developers. All we need
generation and not just capacity addition.
is to ensure that discoms get a fair percentage of the savings realised from rooftop solar
The rooftop solar target seems to have been abandoned midway. It is 2019, and we have
generation. The solar generation within a discom’s territory could also count towards their
achieved less than 5 GW to date. It looks certain that we will fall short of our goal of 40 GW. Apart from the shift towards solar farms, restrictive solar policies and arbitrary flip-flops
RPO targets. Once discoms start to gain from rooftop solar, they will become enablers in the process and 40 GW will not be a worry anymore.
are the major contributing factors for this situation. This should be a cause for concern and immediate course correction as rooftop solar has a very important role to play in a country like India, where land is expensive and resources limited. Besides, as energy is generated and consumed on-site, there are no transmission or distribution losses. It’s an easy to execute, plug and play system where no additional investments are required to upgrade distribution infrastructure.
Mr. Hitaksh Sachar, Director, Asun Solar Power Pvt. Ltd First of all, I am proud that India has been recognised as one of the leading Solar Power Generators in the world. India is well recognised globally for not only having one of the largest installed bases- but even as a major solar component supplier after China. We all are aware about that cost of Solar PV plant construction in India is one of the cheapest in the World and this is all achieved through economies of scale. In my opinion India could not have achieved any of the above without pushing for such huge targets. According to me achieving 50% of the target is also an achievement for the country. Having said that unless the in-consistent Regulatory Framework, contradictory state policies and empanelment procedures, smooth net metering procedures are laid – the said target cannot be achieved in my opinion. Even if the hitches in the regulatory framework are resolved, I feel that the below factors would be a limiting the 2022 target: a. Focus on Residential and small-scale C&I sector to achieve scale. b. Nationwide customers’ acceptance and awareness by either imposing mandatory installation norms or other regulatory methods, to achieve scale. c. Improvisation in the planning and Installation practices by focused EPC Contractors in order to achieve timely project completions. d. Price competition amongst Industry Members which indirectly induces to accept orders with incorrect costings will not let the EPC Contractors improve their efficiency neither achieve scalability nationwide.
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 25
Perspective
Will Residential Rooftop Solar Drive Growth In The Future
Mr Ashish Khanna, President, Tata Power Even though Residential Rooftop Solar (RRS) may be contributing
Indian government’s initiatives like the National Solar Mission (NSM) aims to achieve 100
very little compared to the commercial solar industry, it has seen
GW solar PV installed capacity by 2022, out of which 40 GW is supposed to come from
an impressive growth this year. According to a recent report, the RRS industry grew at a healthy pace with India adding around
RRS.
1,836 MW to the total power output. At the end of the current
While cost of installation has dropped by almost 80%, the rooftop solar industry is
financial year, the industry notched up to an impressive growth wherein the total power
benefiting from economies of scale. The solar power industry is also responsible in creating
generated increased by 72%. All sections of the society including residential, commercial, industrial and public sector contributed effectively to aid its growth. RRS is without a doubt an environmentally sound choice which is why people opt for
employment opportunities as creating 1GW of solar power creates approximately 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.
it. However, one big draw is the cost benefit incurred by a RRS user. The rate for solar
Given the above factors one can safely assume that solar power, although not considerably,
rooftops are cheaper by 17% and 21% when compared with industrial and commercial
can spur economic growth in India to meet the rising power demands and ensure
tariffs. Also, consumers can sell the extra electricity generated to the grid and save even more costs.
sustainability along the way.
Mr. Pinaki Bhattacharyya, CEO, AMP Energy India Rooftop Solar is the fastest growing sub-sector in India with a CAGR of 116% between 2012 & 2018 (IEEFA). It contributes about 14% to the total solar installed capacity of 34GW (as of September 2019). Of this, 70% is contributed by commercial & industrial (C&I) customers and 30% comes from a combination of government and residential consumers. Rooftop solar can be harnessed for demand side management & helps to minimize T&D losses due to its decentralized nature. Countries like Germany and the USA have proved that residential solar can be scaled into a progressive market. In India, rooftop solar has seen greater adoption from C&I customers due to high tariffs and CSR programs of corporates; residential solar on the other hand, in spite of a 180GW potential hasn’t been able to scale up adoption due to factors such as low residential tariffs, availability of finance, policy uncertainty and limitation of the solar RESCO model etc.
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Another key factor that has hampered solar adoption in the residential sector is the growth of high-rise buildings in India due to space constraints. This limits the roof space available for solar installation. To alleviate this issue, India can adopt the community solar garden model like in the USA that allows customers to enjoy the advantages of solar energy without having to install their own solar energy system. Residential consumers can subscribe to units generated by a solar plant that can be set off from their bill from the discom. This would help in aggregating demand and tax benefits can be provided to the subscribers to promote quick adoption. Another opportunity could be coupling Solar with Storage which is particularly relevant as a substitute to expensive and polluting diesel gensets. Rooftop solar has the scope to drive India’s solar rooftop growth to steer the clean energy transition similar to the C&I segment but its on ground success depends on various factors such as effective net metering policy, not capping the size based on the contract demand, support from distribution companies and easier access to low cost debt financing.
Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 26
Perspective Mr. Sishir Garemella, Founder & CEO, Sunvest With 300 million homes, residential solar in India presents a very
Secondly, the adoption at present, is largely driven by cash buyouts, that too in very specific
large market size and if we look at other adjacencies that it could
demographics in the country. Consumer awareness around benefits of solar is minimal. To
potentially unlock, such as storage, mobility, energy efficiency, data, we notice that residential solar can create a substantial shift in the clean energy adoption at a consumer level. However, this
expand into more geographies and for adoption to work at scale, end consumer financing will be critical. Specialized lenders like Sunvest Capital understand the nuances of a
growth can be captured only if a few factors are managed well.
residential solar projects and the consumer mindsets hence we have designed financial
Firstly, there must be a strong process driven approach to standardize the downstream
products which allow for a consumer to go solar with affordable and hassle free EMIs.
elements such as equipment quality and last mile delivery for the end customer. We
Lastly, from the regulations perspective, we notice that subsidy mechanism continues to
have seen many “solar kit” players in the market. Kits are a move to standardize systems in a market where each roof is heterogeneous. After sales service network is critical in managing assets which are subject to performance issues if not cleaned / maintained well regularly.
have a few frictions in disbursements. In addition to the above, if subsidy and metering processes can be streamlined, then the market will be poised for an unprecedented growth in the future.
Mr. Manjesh Nayak, COO, Oorjan Cleantech Private Limited As a part of its Climate Change mitigation strategy, Government
competition and reduced hardware cost has made solar affordable to residential solar
of India (GoI) has set an aggressive milestone to adopt
adopters. Innovative financing solutions, like the Low-cost EMI product devised by
renewable energy.
Oorjan along with its partners, is helping quicker solar adoption.
Of the ambitious solar target of 100 GW by 2022 set by
We at Oorjan are working to eliminate the frictions to improve the solar adoption
Government of India, 40% is expected to be achieved from rooftop solar. With a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 110% between 2012 and 2018, the rooftop solar segment has been the fastest growing renewable subsegment in India. However, the total achievement in this sub-segment till date is only about 10% of the rooftop solar target and has been majorly driven by the Commercial
experience of rooftop solar consumers. Our focus on premium quality hardwares, easy financing options and hassle-free adoption experiences - are helping us to grow. Oorjan in a short span of time has expanded to 14 states and growing upward. At about 40% of the global average Levelized Cost of Electricity from rooftop solar, Indian
and Industrial (C&I) segment (comprising 70% of the growth). The Government and
rooftop solar cost is the lowest in the world. Further, residential rooftop solar market is
residential segments have contributed about 15% each.
expected to grow exponentially. Historically, technology adoption by residential users
The steady but low growth in the residential rooftop solar segment has been due to
has been slow in the beginning but spurts later due to increased awareness, falling costs
various reasons ranging from lack of consumer awareness and difficulties with net
and improved policies. The Indian Solar industry is eyeing an opportunity to be a global
metering process to lack of financing options and delayed subsidy disbursal. However,
leader in rooftop solar market and the residential sub segment would be key.
the residential solar market is showing early signs of take-off. The consumers are increasingly more informed about technology, hardware quality, economics, rooftop policies and incentives. The continuing decline in the cost of solar power due to increased
Mr. Rakesh Sharma, Advisor, HFM Solar Power Private Limited
Solar Structures you can count on
Out of the 100 GW target set by the government, solar capacity installation has seen a growth of 17 % from 2014-2019 and is expected to reach 90% of the target capacity, adding around 65 GW till 2022.Rooftop solar has witnessed limited penetration, comprising 14 % of the total solar installation.
Light Weight
High Strength
Corrosion Free
The inflating grid tariff and the declining tariff of solar has increased the viability of rooftop solar. The provision for single window mechanism, clarity in detailing of metering regulations and subsidization for both off takers and developers has come with effective policy support. Further international financial organizations such as World Bank, ADB, KFW and others are providing financial assistance for loans and zero down payment options to push rooftop solar development in the country. However, there are various issues that need to be resolved for the growth of solar rooftop market. There is limited support from the loss making discoms because of fear of revenue reduction. Even though 118 GW of rooftop potential in untapped; the households lack credit facilities and financial strength which make banks and other financing body hesitant. Even though the consumer awareness has increased over time, it still needs to improve so that the rooftop target can be achieved. The bureaucratic hassles and untimely subsidies are other areas that need to be looked into. With increased government impetus and cost reduction in rooftop installation, solar installed capacity has seen the fastest growth with CAGR of 116% from 2012-2018. The government has imposed RPOs, provided opportunities and gave financing support which lead to growth of the rooftop market. Further, innovative initiatives like “uberisation” of residential solar rooftop where discoms act like aggregators for demand and supply of power and new financing models will drive residential rooftop growth in
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the future.
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 27
Perspective
Do You Think We Need To Build More Consumer Awareness In Terms Of Economical And Other Benefits Of Rooftop Solar Mr. Prerak Thekadi, Dy. General Manager - Techno Commercial, Adani Rooftop Solar comes with immense financial benefit for the consumer and this benefit further enhance with Government subsidy. As a rule of thumb, typically ROI for rooftop installation without Government subsidy is achieved as early as 4-5years and this further decreases if we consider subsidy. Looking at the performance life of solar panels of around 25 years, ROI within 5 year is a great investment instrument. However, there is still lack of awareness among consumers regarding economic viability and long term benefit of rooftop solar. Most consumers are concerned about the upfront investment and they prefer paying monthly bills rather than lump sum investment in solar installation. However they are
oblivious of the fact that this investment will not only save their hard earned money for 20 years but also will help contribute to the environment. Hence it is required for Government and Installation agencies to represent the cost benefit analysis of solar installation to consumers in more lucid manner. Further, a lot of financial institutions have already started providing loans with easy EMI options to address the concern of capital expenditure of consumers. With the addition of more and more stakeholders, it is hopeful that it is possible to address the concern in a more effective way. However, there always remains a concern regarding the quality of module and other components, so consumers are required to be aware of quality brands and also verify the credentials of the installer before making any investment.
Mr. Yogish HN, DGM – Business Development, Enerparc Energy Pvt Ltd Roofs and large swathes of land across the country and world are turning blue, the colour of green energy and solar modules. Customer awareness across the world with regards to solar has grown exponentially over the past decade. Governments across the world have announced policy-support over the past decade that have led to widespread adoption of solar across consumer markets-utility, commercial/industrial and residential. Corporates across the world too, have developed sustainability goals that are derived from reducing wastage, reusing by-products of manufacturing processes and turning to green sources of power to fuel production lines. However, in order to ensure that the momentum of solar adoption in the country is maintained, customer awareness on solar deserves to be examined more closely. For instance, on the one hand, the residential solar market in India is still on its
way to a growth spurt, and on the other, the C&I demand for solar has been growing at a higher rate. Broadly, the customer in India today looks at solar through a few specific lenses. One, through the lens of sustainability commitments. Each state Discom or industrial player is committed to fulfilling its set Renewable Purchase Obligations, which allows them to turn to solar-both rooftop and open access, in order to meet their energy needs. Another aspect of the sustainability lens is a corporation’s internal sustainability agenda, which is often met through green energy sources. The second lens that solar energy is viewed through is the point of view of savings. Drawing on solar energy can stand to significantly increase a large power consumer’s operational expenses on power. Although the Indian power consumer is, at large, tuned in closely to the solar market, sensitizing them on the detailed benefits of solar would go far in raising rates of solar adoption.
Mr. Vamsi Gaddam, Joint Managing Director, Visaka industries Ltd. Rooftop solar in India has made large strides in the last 3 years from witnessing a mere 500MW worth of installations in 2015 to 2000 MWs of installations in 2018. Factors that enabled this industry boom were primarily government incentives, trade shows, entrepreneurs, foreign funds and financial institutions. Though the rate of growth of rooftop solar has been impressive, the growth is yet to peak its potential. This gap in achievement can be attributed to several hindrances like policy uncertainty, unqualified service quality and lack of technological
Innovation in financial instruments is the need of the hour, created to encourage the adoption of rooftop solar, amongst the already activated customer. Today the technology, economics of solar is well known and easily available at the click of a mouse. However, the missing link for a consumer to become a customer of solar is to provide enabling agents, of which the lack of good financial instruments is the main lacuna. ATUM has tied up with financial institutions to offer zero cost solar, where the consumer pays his electricity bill savings from solar to the bank as monthly EMI for 5 years. After 5 years the consumer owns the plant and saves every month for a lifetime enjoying the benefits of a roof as well
advancement to cater to off-grid and storage requirements. Today, the Indian consumer
as solar power.
has high levels of awareness about solar PV, its advantages and available incentives and
Rooftop solar is set to take off hugely, with over 2.5 GW installations slated to occur every
environmental consciousness required to adopt solar PV. However, this awareness is still
year. From the experience we have had in the way ATUM solar roof has been received in
marred by uncertainties and apprehensions, gathered in the due course of interaction with
the market, we believe the consumer awareness levels are high and the consumer trust
market forces. More than creating awareness, there is a need to address systemic issues
on solar is at its peak. However, it is time for the system, administration and the market
which can create a strong foundation of faith not just Solar but also on its regulatory
forces to ensure quality, ease of doing business and viable financial instruments to cater to
environment.
the consumer who is waiting for the right combination of these to take up his solar power
Policy uncertainty and ad hocs are some key hindrances plaguing the commercial and
project.
industrial sectors. C&I contributes to 70% of the installations every year. 60% of these are undertaken in CAPEX model where the cost of capital and resource mobilization is a tedious exercise for organizations which aim to install solar power covering over 80% of its consumption. In this scenario, removal of accelerated depreciation benefit, vis-à-vis reduced corporate tax has hit the solar C&I segment badly. Also, abrupt changes in net-
Residential solar is the only segment which
metering policy for example in Maharashtra has impacted the customer confidence in the industry. Visaka Industries introduced ATUM Solar Roof for C&I segment which creates higher installable area reducing the payback period at the same time serving as a roof with a life of over 50 years. In commercial buildings like hospitals, the additional real estate is created by constructing an elevated solar roof structure is adding to the ROI and keeping the consumer hooked to solar amidst all the policy debacles. Residential solar is the only segment which is witnessing unabated growth owing to the subsidy benefit which drastically lowers the payback period. But this subsidy regime has
is witnessing unabated growth owing to the subsidy benefit which drastically lowers the payback period. But this subsidy regime has
been subjected to various changes at national and state levels. Reduction in benchmark price has impacted the payback period. Policy uncertainty related to mandatory use of Indian cells has also put many residential projects on hold. Even in this scenario innovation and advanced products have kept the momentum in the industry unabated. ATUM has seen a large rise in orders from the residential segment, as it catered to the major pain
been subjected to various changes at national and state levels.
points of residential customer namely, utilization of roof area, creation of real estate, fire and hurricane proof installation.
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 28
Perspective
Factors That Will Further Aid Solar Rooftop Installation In Maharashtra
Mr. Prateek Kothari, Founder & CEO, Raylios Solar Maharashtra features in the top 5 states where net metering connections have been installed across the country.
relevant application is stuck, for what reason, and time associated with it. This would help
The recent intent of the state government to shift to a net billing / gross metering regime has made investors extremely nervous. Need of the hour is for the government to allay investor concerns that older projects donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get affected and that this regulation gets rejected out-rightly, otherwise the capacity addition momentum in the rooftop sector will fizzle out rather quickly not to mention this becomes an issue for CCI (Competition Commission of India) to look at.
Having penalties in place for delayed responses should be looked at since it will keep both
Another issue a lot of developers face is time bound clearance of important government approvals like CEIG and Net Metering. Today it takes between 4-6 months for relevant CEIG / Net Metering approvals to come through.Would be prudent to check if this process can be further streamlined. The online application process should clearly show where the
Thus we strongly believe that a clear policy intent coupled with single window and
in faster approval process for CEIG / Net Metering across entire approval value chain. sides honest. For faster adoption by residential and smaller customers net metering process should be streamlined to ensure it is simplified to the maximum extent possible. Policy initiatives like installing Net Metering connections across all new housing projects / new commercials projects by default should be mandatory. time bound clearances for CEIG / Net Metering process (especially across smaller / new customers) should help drive the next leg of growth in the distributed rooftop space in Maharashtra.
Mr. Rajesh Mutha, Managing Director, Vitronics Controls
In present time the world has been adopting renewable power at a rapid rate. This inclination towards solar generation has allowed India to overpower the US and become the 2nd largest country in terms of solar power generation in the world . The development of solar roof top installation offers will constitute a huge opportunity for the development of solar power in Maharashtra. 1. Empowering renewable prosumers:Generation based incentive should be offered rather than subsidy . This data can be easily available in electricity provider bills . 2. Creating a regulatory framework: Customer should have the choice to select net meter
or Gross meter . Net metering procedure should be single window .Net Meter should be fitted within one month from the date of application . This process should be complete digital and complete open to the customer. 3. A flexibility Roadmap for Maharashtra Electricity markets:All potential sources of flexibility should be optimized to transition towards a cleaner and more decentralized energy system.An adequate flexibility roadmap would enact the boost solar installation in Maharashtra 4. Storage Systems: Small solar rooftop also play a vital role in the growth of self sustainable and independent energy.Tax benefits can be given to LiFePO4 batteries in order to develop energy storage creating independent energy sources.
Mr. Naresh Bazzar, Co-Founder, GSE Renewables India Pvt. Ltd. Regulation: As per Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) Regulations, 2019. Net Billing Arrangement means an agreement under which energy generated by Renewable Energy Generating system is purchased by the distribution Licensee and the distribution
Impact: If above regulation is applicable in coming future in the form of circulation or Notification in Official Gazette of MERC, then to extract business out of Maharashtra in Opex/Boot model will be extremely difficult as Net Billing Arrangement means an agreement under
Licensee raises the bills on the consumer for his consumption at the approved grid tariff,
which energy generated by Renewable Energy Generating system is purchased by the
after giving credit for total generated electricity against a pre-determined tariff.
distribution Licensee and the distribution Licensee raises the bills on the consumer for his
The Eligible Consumer of the Residential category may set up the Renewable Energy
consumption at the approved grid tariff, after giving credit for total generated electricity
generating system under the Net Metering Arrangement but industrial and commercial
against a predetermined tariff.
premises are not eligible. Eligible Consumer means a consumer of electricity in the area of supply of the distribution Licensee who uses or intends to use a Renewable Energy Generating system having capacity less than 1MW, installed on a roof-top or any other mounting structure in his
So in above procedure Power user shall not be getting any benefit by opting Opex model and profit of Power Producer will get hit massively.
premises.
Desired conclusion:
Provided further that in case of Net Billing Arrangement, the capacity limit of 1 MW shall
So in my opinion, such regulation has to be withheld if India is targeting at 175 GW by
not apply.
2022 as Maharashtra plays vital role in contribution to total Solar Plant Installation.
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarterâ&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘December December2019 2019 29
Opinion
Benefits Of Adopting Solar Rooftop Mr. Yash Jain, CMO, MicroSun Solar Tech Pvt Ltd In present times, the world has been adopting renewable power
emissions of harmful gases. Furthermore, it is a good source of energy that combats
at a rapid rate. India is also emerging in the global arena as a
climate change. Thus, rooftop solar is ideal as it reduces carbon footprints.
leading generator of renewable energy.
In the coming years, solar energy will play a more significant part in ensuring the future of
The Factors are -
sustainable energy and reduction of carbon emissions. From lighting to transportation, its
Cost Savings – The first and foremost benefit that rooftop solar
potential is as bright as the sun.
panels bring with them is the cost saving. Compared to the industrial and commercial tariff rates the rooftop solar panels offer 12% to 24% cheaper tariff rates. Besides, these solar panels also help in cutting down electricity bills by providing the required electricity to the building. Secured Investment- When it comes to electricity buying from the grid, it is harder to keep a record of the expenditure with the fluctuating price of the electricity. But, with rooftop solar panels, the power generated can be calculated easily without any problem. Moreover, one can even calculate the cost of power generated by solar for the next 15 years.
In present times, the world has been adopting renewable power at a rapid rate. India is also emerging in the global arena as a leading generator of renewable energy.
Government support- To support the adoption of rooftop solar panels, the government is taking many steps, including schemes and new policies. Low maintenance cost- The key reason that allure most of the building owners towards solar panels is the low maintenance cost. If maintained properly, they come with a life of almost 25 years without any inconvenience. Suitable climatic conditions in India- Solar panels absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity, which makes them ideal for the geographical location like India. There are almost 300 sunny days on average in India receiving an ample amount of sunlight, which is great for generating a large amount of power. Reduces carbon footprints- Solar panels harness sunlight to generate electricity. So, they pose fewer pollution risks to the environment in comparison to conventional sources of
The first and foremost benefit that rooftop solar panels bring with them is the cost saving. Compared to the industrial and commercial tariff rates the rooftop solar panels offer 12% to 24% cheaper tariff rates.
energy. Unlike a generator, they run without producing any noise and give out lesser
Biggest Threats And Opportunities For The Sri Lanka Solar Industry Mr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, Director (Development), Ministry of Power, Energy & Business Development
Sri Lanka has implemented solar systems on the roof top from late 90’s as off-grid solar systems as a solution for electricity. Later with the rapid expansion of the distribution network the program was introduced as grid connected solar rooftop systems. At present, there is approximately 235MW capacity has been installed as solar systems on roof tops. However, there are issues and opportunities of this program. I am of the view that lack of awareness among the key stakeholders of the program
Sri Lanka has implemented solar systems on the roof top from late 90’s as off-grid solar systems as a solution for electricity. Later
especially the utility engineers of the distribution level, Solar service providers and also the customers is one of the key issues. Lack of knowhow/in depth knowledge among the distribution engineers on management of distribution level generation and lack of knowledge within the solar service providers on power system management are the challenges faced by the program. Further customers are skeptical about the economic
with the rapid expansion of the distribution network the program was introduced as grid
benefits, parity of the solar technology. Though the program implemented last ten years approximately 22,000 customers installed solar roof top system out of 6.5 million customers. Since the Solar roof top Feed in Tariff(FIT) is linked up with the customer tariff inevitably it hampers the development as a cost benefit analysis is assessed by both utility and customers based on the customer tariff. There are a lot of opportunities for the Solar rooftop program. Government policy target to achieve 1,000MW by 2025,Tax concessionary policy of the government, availability of
connected solar rooftop systems. At present, there is approximately 235MW capacity has been installed as solar systems on roof tops.
concessionary financing assistance through commercial banks, good network of service providers, creation of direct and indirect employment, ensuring quality service through the standards for the appliances and mandatory registration process for service providers, forecasted day demand growth of the system(at preset the gap of day peak and night peak is approximately 200MW) and grid congestion in the future due to planned railway
However, there are issues and opportunities of this program.
electrification, Popularization of EVs will ensure maximum benefit out of the program.
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 30
Company Feature
Has Introduction of Safeguard Duty Helped The Domestic Module Manufacturers? India’s move to impose safeguard duty on imports of solar cells and modules last year hasn’t helped domestic manufacturers. To protect local producers, the government had imposed a 25 percent tariff on imports of Chinese and Malaysian solar cells and modules for the first year starting July 30, 2018, and 20 percent and 15 percent for the two subsequent six-month periods, respectively. This came after the Directorate General of Trade Remedies, a unit under the Ministry of Commerce, said that solar panel imports had caused “serious injury” to domestic manufacturing. One and a half years after India imposed an additional import duty on solar cells and modules to stimulate local production and reduce dependence on imports, no new domestic manufacturing unit has been set up. Before it was imposed, around 90% of solar panels and modules used in local solar projects were imported, mostly from China and Malaysia, as they were cheaper than locally manufactured ones. The imposition of safeguard duty has not changed the situation. “Share of imported modules in utility scale solar still hovers around the 90% mark,
Even after the imposition of safeguard duty, the demand for local solar panels has not increased and manufacturing capacity in the country is still the same. According to
consistent with the preceding years, as per the recent weekly report on the solar industry.
NIMMA(North India Module Manufacturing Association), the current installed capacity is
The report noted that local manufacturing remained in dire straits. “Most of the cell
10 GW for solar modules and 2.5 GW for solar cells.
manufacturers have indeed shut down and module manufacturers are operating at low
“Also the Manufacturers in SEZs enjoy all privileges and export advantages compared to
capacity utilisation .
Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) units. These SEZs don’t pay the export duty, GST, electricity
But despite the tariff, imported solar panels and cells were still nearly 10 percent cheaper
charges, and are not even paying safeguard duty but are selling in India. The DTA units pay
than locally made modules, The import duty increased the price of Chinese solar panels to 26 cents per watt against the domestic cost of around 28 cents per watt. While imports of solar cells and modules from China have declined since the duty was implemented in July 2018, India still imported $1.9 billion worth of panels in the 11 months ended June 30, according to government data compiled by BloombergNEF.
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GST, safeguard duty, and GST on safeguard duty, and our working capital gets blocked. This has created a huge imbalance in India. The price gap between SEZ and DTA unit prices of modules is ₹1-1.5 ($0.02)/W. SEZs need to pay safeguard duty on imported cells and modules but are not paying.”
Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 31
Industry Industry Insights Insights
The Indian Solar Rooftop - The Way Ahead
Most developed economies started their solar programmes by targeting household
and disbursing subsidies will need to be efficient and painless to motivate consumers to
rooftops; as a result, they now have a sizable share of installations in the residential
invest in this new technology. Loans need to be made available, which requires significant
rooftop segment Rooftop and utility-scale solar in different countries. China and India,
capacity building of retail bank branches. Instead of these much needed policy initiatives
on the other hand, have used large-scale solar installations in an effort to quickly achieve
and administrative interventions, the government has largely relied on subsidies (70
scale and — simultaneously — push down costs. In the case of India, this focus on large
per cent for hill and north-eastern states and 30 per cent for other states) to drive SRT
utility-scale solar seems to have become an unintended obstruction in the development
installation.
of the rooftop segment. India, though, does have an ambitious plan for solar rooftop or SRT, as it is called: a target
The policy environment: A subsidy-driven strategy
of 40 gigawatt (GW) capacity by 2022. But so far, the achievement has fallen short of the
Achieving significant capacity addition in rooftop solar would require close engagement
goal. According to the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), only 2,158
with numerous small consumers, which is a challenging task in itself. Concerted effort
megawatt (MW) of SRT systems had been installed in the country till December 2018.
would be needed for raising consumer awareness about the benefits of SRT systems and
The shortfall in capacity is compounded by the fact that a large proportion — 70 per cent — of the installed rooftop systems is for commercial and industrial (C&I) customers; residential consumers account for less than 20 percent of the total installed capacity. Of the states with sizable SRT systems — Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi — the industrial segment has the largest share in all except Delhi. Public sector undertakings (PSUs) have been the largest rooftop driver in Delhi. There are clear economic considerations behind industrial and commercial consumers’ preference for rooftop systems: solar rooftop power is cheaper than grid-supplied electricity. These consumers have the financial resources to make the necessary investments, which are sizable, to install SRT systems. Moreover, they also have access to the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model (in which developers install the system on the consumers’ premises and sign a long-term contract to sell them electricity), under which they do not need to make any investments. The dominance of ‘large-scale’ rooftop installations by commercial industrial, institutional and government/PSU segments has meant that attention to the residential solar rooftop segment has lagged behind. Distributed solar rooftop systems, installed on individual residences, offer many advantages. They help minimise transmission and distribution losses, as the generated power is consumed locally. In large cities, they can act as a back-
PV technology and their installation. Processes for approving net metering applications and disbursing subsidies will need to be efficient and painless to motivate consumers to invest in this new technology. Loans need to be made available, which requires significant capacity building of retail bank branches. Instead of these much needed policy initiatives and administrative interventions, the government has largely relied on subsidies (70 per cent for hill and north-eastern states and 30 per cent for other states) to drive SRT installation. There have been a few half-hearted efforts to break this mould. One such effort was the Solar City Programme initiated in 2008 — but it has not been backed by any concrete steps. Similarly, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 requiring buildings with an area over 5,000 square metre to have at least 1 per cent of their connected load through SRT4, has not had much impact due to non-existent monitoring and enforcement.
Policies at the state level Several states and Union territories (UTs) have announced regulations governing SRT installation. These regulations focus primarily on clarifying the limits on capacity that a consumer can install. In addition, they define the terms of metering (net or gross) and the purchase cost. However, the policies of most states have not done anything yet to encourage installations.
up, replacing polluting diesel generator sets. Solar rooftop can be harnessed for demand-
So far, 30 states and UTs have defined their net metering guidelines. Feed-in tariff (FiT)
side management (for example, time-of-day pricing to match household demand with
for SRT systems are decided by the state tariff regulators. Most regulators allow payment
solar generation). With falling solar prices and steadily increasing discom tariffs, SRT
to SRT systems based on the annual pooled purchase cost (APPC) of the discom. A few
systems are being seen as financially attractive.
states and UTs, such as Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka, allow FiTs that are higher than the APPC. Some states have introduced other measures to boost the SRT
The policy environment: A subsidy-driven strategy
market:
Achieving significant capacity addition in rooftop solar would require close engagement
Additional state subsides: Gujarat provides as much subsidy as the Centre; this means
with numerous small consumers, which is a challenging task in itself. Concerted effort
the cost of solar rooftop systems for homeowners in the state becomes Rs 30,000 per
would be needed for raising consumer awareness about the benefits of SRT systems and
kilowatt (kW).5 Uttar Pradesh is disbursing up to Rs 30,000 as incentive to residential
PV technology and their installation. Processes for approving net metering applications
customers, while Maharashtra provides 100 per cent subsidy to government and semigovernment offices and 15 per cent to private offices.
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Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 32 32
Industry Industry Insights Insights SRT mandates: In May 2016, the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and
households which pay higher tariffs stand to gain much more).
Technology Promotion Society (CREST) made installation of rooftop solar systems in the
Finally, the process of installing solar rooftop on one’s own can be a daunting prospect.
city mandatory within two years in residential houses measuring over 500 square yards as
The larger and better known companies do not operate in this market. There is no reliable
well as in group housing societies.7 Karnataka has decided that 40 per cent of the state’s
source of market information. Most consumers do not even know about the government
solar energy target (2,300 MW) should be met through rooftop solar, with a cap of 200
subsidies, and those who do, fear the bureaucratic process of obtaining the subsidy.
MW per taluk to ensure widespread installation by 2021-22.8 Delhi, on the other hand, has
Consumers, typically, have a poor opinion of discoms’ customer services and believe that
mandated that all government-owned buildings must have a rooftop solar plant within the
obtaining approvals for the SRT system would be an exhausting process.
next five years.9 Expanding the target base: Karnataka has tried a new approach: landowning farmers are
The way ahead
offered additional incentives to put up solar installations of 1-3 MW capacity under the
It is clear that SRT systems provide multiple benefits — to households, to the grid and
land owners’ category. Till November 2018, the state had already triggered installation of
even to discoms. Promoting them, therefore, is a desirable policy goal. SRT systems can
290 MW under this scheme against the allotted 314 MW.10 Delhi has recently introduced
offer reduced power bills for households; the gains may increase as tariffs are likely to
a scheme under which private companies can install SRT systems in one-third of a farmer’s
keep going up. They provide environmentally friendly, inexpensive back-up supply of
land; the farmer receives a rent.11 However, it is still too early to assess the success of
power (compared to DG sets), a big advantage given the persistent supply interruptions in
these schemes. Overall, the measures put forth by the states are not backed by concrete
most places. They can result in lower T&D losses and improved grid management, since
efforts to raise awareness, remove bureaucratic bottlenecks or even monitor the progress
the generation is close to the point of consumption. Solar rooftops, however, also face
— as a result, they have had very little impact.
several challenges, as indicated in the preceding section: lacklustre growth, little consumer
The challenges Financing The total funding requirement for installing 40 GW of SRT systems by 2022 is estimated to be over Rs 2.8 lakh crore (US $40 billion). 30 per cent capital subsidy support from the government does cover a portion of this cost. However, most prospective customers either do not have the savings to cover the upfront costs, or are simply unwilling to invest given the relatively large amount. Also, most customers do not have access to bank financing. In recent years, the government has taken steps to improve the availability of loans for SRT projects. The Reserve Bank of India has identified solar rooftop as a priority sector for lending. Eight public sector banks have included SRT systems under their housing or housing improvement loans. Multilateral banks are providing concessional loans against sovereign guarantee to public sector banks to support subsidised lending to the segment. Despite this, collective lending from them till 2017 for solar rooftop financing was only to the tune of US $1.4 billion, just 3.5 per cent of the total required funding. Some of the possible ways of breaking the financing logjam could be: The RESCO model: In this, developers install the SRT and sign long-term PPAs with the customer. Almost exclusively targeted currently at industrial, commercial and institutional consumers, this model can give a big boost to household segment installations, since developers will no longer need to make a sizable investment in the installation. Currently, RESCOs are not keen on the household market because they are unable to assess homeowner risk and are wary of the cumbersome legal process in case of payment delays or defaults by the homeowner. A neat solution could be for discoms to partner with RESCOs to install SRT systems. Another alternative could be that discoms collect a monthly PPA amount on behalf of
awareness, lack of innovative government policies or attention, bureaucratic hassles, and limited support from discoms. Sustained and broad-based efforts are required to promote SRTs. Refine the SRISTI scheme: SRISTI needs to focus on strengthening the longterm viability of discoms, which should ideally play a central role in the SRT market. Discoms need to explore innovative business models to not just avoid revenue losses, but also profit from the emerging SRT sector. For instance, discoms have valuable customer data and can assist solar developers in identifying clients, sizing up SRT systems etc. They can act as a franchise to bill and collect for a range of entities, and take a fee for providing this service. Since residential customers are unlikely to default on bills, discoms can help banks collect the EMIs for individual SRT systems, thereby expanding the available financing. They can also act as intermediaries in structuring loans for large numbers of customers in an area. City-wide concerted efforts: Policymakers should focus their efforts on cities and involve city administrations and town and district authorities. An ideal beginning could be the development of a city-wide long-term plan and targets. The SRT sector involves the participation of a large number of small consumers — accordingly, raising awareness about the financial benefits of SRT, the durability and performance of solar PV, and about government subsidies is very important. These efforts need to be intensive and down to the town/housing colony level. Subsidy approvals need to be processed efficiently. Nodal offices should be set up to monitor city-wide goals as well as performance of various authorities which are responsible for promoting SRT. Streamlining processes: Discoms need to deploy more resources to encourage SRT installation. This will involve both hiring people and training staff about net metering processes. Discoms must also enforce tight timelines to approve applications and install net meters and ensure they are meeting those performance standards.
the RESCO, along with the electricity bills — this mechanism would protect RESCOs from homeowners’ credit risk, while discoms could earn a fee. Furthermore, this arrangement will allow RESCOs to raise financing from banks and other investors, which would otherwise be reluctant to extend funding to RESCOs targeting households. Securitisation: Bundling a number of individual SRT loans and raising finance against them can be explored as an alternate source of funds. However, this would require measures
Concerted effort would be needed for raising consumer awareness about the benefits of
to develop the relatively underdeveloped debt market. It would require strengthening repossession of defaulting assets, assignment of collateral and targeting new investors such as IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency).
SRT systems and PV technology and their
Municipal bonds: Another idea is to have municipal authorities issue bonds that are backed by house or other taxes and use the proceeds to finance rooftop installation or to extend loans to rooftop developers.
Consumer apathy
installation.
Processes
for
approving
net
metering applications and disbursing subsidies
Residential consumers have been, largely, staying away from SRTs for a number of reasons. They are not familiar with the solar PV technology, its performance and its life. They are wary of claims that it is reliable and worry about its maintenance needs, especially when
will need to be efficient and painless to motivate
confronted by the fact that it has to be in operation for at least 25 years. The rooftop installers who are tasked with the maintenance are small new companies, and hence do not arouse any confidence.
consumers to invest in this new technology.
The financial benefits — in terms of monthly deductions in the billed amounts — tend to be relatively small for many middle class consumers whose tariffs are low (in fact, rich IRENA (2019), Future of Solar Photovoltaic
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 33
Company Feature
The Largest Module Manufacturer in India Headquartered in Mumbai India, Waaree Energies is a part of Waaree Group founded in 1989. Waaree is both a Global leading manufacturer of solar PV modules and a provider of solar energy solutions, with over 2500 employees globally. Owning to the state-of-the-art module manufacturing facility of 2 GW Waaree is now the largest Module manufacturer in India. Waaree has delivered more than 2.5 GW of premium quality solar modules to customers in over 30 countries in the past 12 years. Waaree is the only Indian company to listed consecutively for 19 quarters in Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s Tier 1 Module Manufacturers ranking in terms of bankability. Waaree has over 325 franchisees across India which is the largest sales and service network held by any Solar company.
Energising a clean and sustainable future Reliable energy supports growth of the key segments of an economy viz, industrial, agricultural, trade and transportation. These are the building blocks that scatter and reach people to help and prosper for a better future. With the best solar system installations across the globe, Waaree Energies Limited is generating clean energy for a brighter tomorrow. With strong emphasis on high-quality, advanced innovation and timely execution, Waaree, over the years, has completed over 600 MW worth of EPC projects and supplied modules generating over 2.5 GW power globally. Our growth is powered by the large portfolio of photovoltaic (PV) modules, rooftop solution, EPC projects and various solar products. With vertically integrated business approach and environment-friendly solutions across the solar value chain, we have delivered superior customer satisfaction every time. We are well-positioned to surge ahead in the global energy landscape with a talented workforce, extensive retail network and supportive Government policies. The Company’s vision to expand globally with cleaner and greener energy solutions will increase energy security, enhance sustainability and value for all.
Vision Our vision is to provide high quality and cost effective sustainable energy solutions across
We, at Waaree, follow strict production guidelines and the best-in-class standards for our
all the markets, reducing carbon foot-print, paving way for sustainable energy thereby
manufacturing processes with successful third party audits. By procuring reliable quality
improving quality of present and future human life.
raw material and conducting stringent quality checks in our state-of-the-art In-house
Mission By virtue of our commitment to our stakeholders, we strive for continuous improvement in the quality of our products and services. We are truly energised by the strengths which the Company has built over the years. Our aspirations are aligned with the Governments vision of addressing the increasing energy demand by promoting solar energy solutions. With a broad product offering, quality solar modules and excellent services, Waaree continues to create a difference in people’s lives and increase value for the stakeholders. Our robust capabilities to execute projects
testing laboratory, we ensure excellence across our products and services.
Catalysing the energy revolution through extensive franchisee network For us, being close to our customers is more than just geographical proximity. We are focused to actively support and transform lives of the customers through our widespread franchisee network and retail stores under the brand Waaree, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Our franchisees have got deep understanding of the local markets where they
even under difficult scenario and within the committed timeframe has positioned us at
operate, thereby building a sustainable growth ecosystem. We constantly strive to reach
the forefront of the industry. Looking ahead, we aim to place the ‘Waaree’ brand as the
out to more customers and exceed expectations through accessible and quality products
country’s leading solar player and amongst the top five players globally. Waaree serves as a
that add true value. Waaree has the largest franchisee network of over 325 franchises
‘one-stop solution’ providing advanced value-added products that are optimally designed.
across the county.
We are present across the solar spectrum with PV modules, rooftop solar, floating solar, various solar products, EPC services, while also extending to operations and maintenance services and energy storage solutions. We deliver the most advanced solar PV modules with the latest technology and durability. With high potential of our new Super 400 module series, we are looking at an exponential
Waaree Energies Is Powering India Forward With Its Presence Across The Solar Energy
growth trajectory. Our fully-integrated approach to EPC projects and rooftop solutions with strong execution capabilities, make our unique solar solutions a sound investment with greater peace of mind. Also, by entering new markets and growing our product portfolio, we are constantly helping people around the world, transition to a self-sufficient energy supply model. Over the years, Waaree has strategically enhanced its module
Sector In Various Regions Of The Country And Across The Globe.
manufacturing capacities. Our avant-garde automated production facility offers mono & poly crystalline PV Modules ranging from 3Wp to 400Wp for various on-grid and offgrid applications across India and exported globally. With the best-in-class capacity, the Company has achieved higher productivity, efficient utilizations and carved a niche on the
Beyond boundaries: Our growing
solar energy landscape globally.
global footprint
During the year, the Company expanded its solar PV module manufacturing capacity with a new 1 GW facility in Vapi, which took the overall module manufacturing capacity from 2 GW.. As a result, the Company is well placed to reinforce its position as the leading solar PV module manufacturer and capitalize on the opportunities offered by the country’s next leg of growth journey. Our manufacturing facilities are equipped with globally benchmarked machineries which are currently used by top tier PV players. Deep-rooted foundation and
The Company expanded its global footprint by commissioning 49.5 MW ground-mounted solar project in Vietnam. With an expected power generation of more than 78,600 MWh per year, the project marks Waaree’s presence and expertise in
expertise in every field has enabled us to deliver high-quality affordable solar products and
the international market.
consistent service to our customers With its commitment to rigorous R&D and continuous
With strengthening fundamentals and a clear vision,
innovation, the Company has launched high efficiency Super 400 series, a Mono PERC
the Company plans to spread internationally by
Module, with 400Wp output and the Super 400 Pro Module, a Bifacial module, with up to
setting up around 30 retail franchisee across the
30% higher output. We also introduced world-class Merlin technology for the first time in
potential markets in next three years.
the country.
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Mr. Sunil Rathi Director- Sales & Marketing Waaree Energies ltd
Solar Solar Quarter Quarter •• December December 2019 2019 34
Industry Industry Insights Insights
Operations And Maintenance Of Solar PV Modules
An operation and management (O&M) system is a key component of a solar plant, as it ensures that the PV system will be able to maintain high levels of technical and economic performance over its lifetime. In addition, the O&M phase is the longest in the lifecycle of a PV project, as it typically lasts 20–35 years. As such, ensuring the quality of O&M services is essential to mitigate potential risks. Innovations and improvements, including more data driven solutions, are becoming increasingly important because they help O&M services to keep up with market requirements. Important trends in O&M innovation can be grouped in two main categories: 1) smart PV power plant monitoring; and 2) retrofit coatings for PV modules.
SMART PV POWER PLANT MONITORING Drones for intelligent monitoring of solar PV The exponential growth seen in PV markets has led to the development of large-scale power plants, which has increased demands for better tools for inspection and monitoring. Normally, the process of monitoring is done by conducting manual inspections; however, these can be replaced by intelligent systems, such as drones. Drones are becoming highly suited to the solar industry due to a wide range of surveillance and monitoring capabilities, the possibility of long-range inspection and easy control. In recent years they have become popular for their capability to monitor large scale solar parks in less time than by human inspection. With the help of sensing elements, drones efficiently capture the necessary data and send them to the cloud for analysis in less time and in more accurate form.
PV plant power output forecasting Electricity generation from PV plants is limited by the variable nature of the sun’s radiation. The growing penetration of PV into electricity markets creates the need for new regulations to guarantee grid stability and the correct balancing of electricity demand and supply. The ability to predict PV production is therefore an essential tool to capture economies in a market with a high penetration of non-predictable energy. Currently simulation models and meteorological forecasting resources for specific PV plants are well proven technologies. Algorithms that are able to match weather forecasts with PV plant characteristics are being used to predict energy production on an hourly basis for at least the next 48 hours.
Smart PV plant monitoring Innovations in monitoring systems aim to improve the ability to identify the root causes of performance problems that lead to plant underperformance and unavailability. These innovations include advances in single plant and system portfolio monitoring and management, such as: 1) automated maintenance (preventive and emergency), intervention management and (re)scheduling, based on parameters such as alarms and performance data; and 2) algorithms for equipment or plant behaviour and reliability predictions based on historical failure data and simulation models.
RETROFIT COATINGS FOR PV MODULES Solar power coolant While progress is being made on increasing efficiency and maximising power output of solar PV, difficulties remain in addressing the need to keep solar PV modules cool, because their performance and lifetime are reduced by the heat of the sun. In fact, the chemical reactions that cause degradation of solar modules double for every 10 °C increase above
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ambient temperature (around 25 °C) causing their lifetime, as well as their voltage output, to shrink. PV-T systems are currently one of the most popular methods for cooling PV panels. Other techniques include the use of water, which has been widely researched but less successfully applied as an effective PV coolant around the world, because while water can be extremely effective in maintaining the equilibrium of solar panels, incorporating water-based systems into module manufacturing or installation adds cost and complexity. Other approaches include applying a transparent coating of patterned silica to solar cells to capture and radiate heat from infrared rays back to the atmosphere. This was found to improve absolute cell efficiency by more than 1%. Other researchers have found that greater improvements in efficiency can be obtained through processes including infrared reflation and radiative transfers. The idea is to reflect the wavelengths of light in the infrared that cells cannot use (but simply absorb to heat up the system) before they enter the module. If done perfectly, this would result in a temperature drop of about 3°C. Radiative transfer to the sky or to cooler areas around the panels holds the greatest promise for boosting solar module efficiency.
Anti-soiling solutions Regular module washing is common practice in PV plants, as soiling can significantly and negatively impact their performance. For instance, in Europe soiling causes an average 2% power loss with significant rain, which can go as high as 11% in non rainy environments. In this context, several anti-soiling solutions are being implemented. First, robotic panel cleaning technology consists of robots moving along the array of panels. Robotic cleaning strategies involve substantial CAPEX investment, but are very effective for areas with high soiling rates, insufficient water supplies and high labour costs. They are mostly deployed in the Middle East and North Africa, as they are best suited for frequent washing schedules, such as those that require washing on a weekly basis. Second, sprinkler systems consist of a water filtration system and a soap dispensing system, mainly used in very dry areas to keep the panels clean with the same cleaning effect as rain. This is indeed a very good and tested system; however, it has two main disadvantages: 1) the large amounts of water used; and 2) the need to constantly monitor filters and soap levels, which is costly and time consuming. Finally, anti-soiling coatings are used to treat modules so that they get dirty less quickly, while making them easier to clean, and thus maintain higher performance levels for longer. Currently various anti-soiling coatings are already commercially available and have been installed, and in parallel new solutions are also being developed, mostly based on spray technologies.
Biotechnology/seed selection for zero vegetation treatment Ground-mounted PV plants may suffer from shading if vegetation inside and outside the plant is not properly controlled. The main innovations in this area seek to reduce the maintenance required without using pesticides or other dangerous products. In particular, these include: � Using weed control fabrics inside the plant, under the modules and around the perimeter to help limit weed growth. These fabrics combine soil erosion control and weed control into a single product, thereby minimising maintenance needs for green areas. � Selecting seeds of plants with slow growth and limited height to avoid the need for frequent maintenance.
Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 35
Company News
L
J
ONGi Received “Best Equipment Supplier Award” from World Energy Giant Iberdrola in Spain
LONGi has been elected as “Best Equipment Supplier” by world energy giant Iberdrola at
inkoSolar Expands Mono Wafer Production Capacity to 18 GW with Added 5 GW Capacity to Sichuan Production Facility
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (“JinkoSolar” or the “Company”), one of the largest and most
the “Supplier of the Year Awards 2019” ceremony held on 10th October in Bilbao, Spain. The award for “Best Equipment Supplier” has been awarded to LONGi, recognized for its firm commitment to product value creation and efficiency. LONGi is the only module
innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced it is expanding its high-efficiency mono wafer production capacity at its production facility in Leshan,
supplier and the only overseas enterprise among all elected enterprises conducted by Iberdrola. 11 companies in total have been distinguished by Iberdrola this year with its
Sichuan Province, with an additional 5GW.
“Supplier of the Year” awards. The Iberdrola “Supplier of the Year Awards 2019” consists of 10 categories and recognizes the key role of the value chain in achieving the group’s strategic projects, underlines the importance of creating an ecosystem of suppliers working with the same objectives and reiterates the commitment to incentivize business management in areas such as sustainable
JinkoSolar’s mono wafer production capacity is expected to expand to 18 GW once the phase Ⅱ of the capacity expansion is complete. Full production of the additional 5GW of production capacity is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2020.
development, safety and quality, innovation, internationalization and job creation. Li Zhenguo, President of LONGi, attended the grand ceremony among 250 distinguished guests and received the “Best Equipment Supplier Award” from the CEO of Iberdrola Ángeles Santamaría Martín at its global headquarters in Spain. “LONGi always attach great importance to collaborate with Iberdrola as a global partner. The award is a recognition of LONGi’s products and services, and a very good beginning of long-term cooperation with Iberdrola to achieve the global goal of sustainable development.” said Li Zhenguo.
The Phase I 5GW of capacity expansion project began production in the second quarter of 2019 and has already reached full capacity. Mr. Kangping Chen, Chief Executive Officer of JinkoSolar, commented: “With this added capacity, we will be ideally positioned to benefit from the growth opportunities that strong
Today Iberdrola is one of the leading companies in renewables in the world and maintains a firm commitment for flagging an energy transition that sets up an energy model in which the well-being of people and the preservation of the planet is a priority. Iberdrola envisages the installation in Spain of 3,000 new renewable MW until 2022 and up to 10,000 MW by 2030.
demand for high-efficiency mono products are creating. Rapidly expanding capacity for mono products will enhance the overall integration of our production and significantly improve overall profitability going forward.”
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isen Energy at Bloomberg Summit London: Asset Securitization Can Reduce the Leverage Cost of Energy Finance
rowatt Becomes the NO.1 Solar Rooftop Inverter Supplier in India
Recently, the Bloomberg NEF Summit was held in London, England. Jieling Zhang, Director
In the twelve-month period ending Sep-2019, India added a record 1,853 MW rooftop
of Overseas Investment and Financing from Risen Energy Co.,LTD (Hereinafter referred
solar capacity, which is 17% higher than the same period last year according to the latest
to as “Risen Energy”) attended the summit on behalf of Risen. When talking about the company’s future financing plan, she commented, “the commercialized operation of solar projects’ is a general trend in the future. On one hand, the assets of solar power plants that have been subsided in the market are more than one trillion yuan. On the other hand, the demand for future power station construction funds is still growing rapidly. Photovoltaic power plant ABS (asset securitization) will be one of the most applicable and most important financial means to solve future funding needs. “ In Jieling Zhang’s point of view, securitized assets are removed from the initiator’s balance
report released by BRIDGE TO INDIA. PV inverter suppliers from China are the top players in the solar rooftop sector. Growatt, one of the TOP 3 rooftop solar inverter brands in China, has become the NO.1 solar rooftop inverter supplier in India according to the report. Growatt entered the Indian solar market around eight years ago. It provides a wide range of solar inverters with capacity from 1KW to 80KW for the rooftop sector, and is planning to launch an advanced 200KW inverter model next year for ground-mounted and utility-
sheet, thereby business risk is reduced during project development. At the same time,
scale solar farms. The company’s growth momentum has been very strong over the past
asset securitization also frees industry and business opportunities from the shackles
years.
that could only be reached by fixed investors, in order to face more investors. The lower financing costs brought by asset securitization can accelerate the reduction of financial
Rucas Wang, Growatt regional director attributed the achievement to the company’s
leverage costs of energy and make photovoltaic power generation more cost-competitive.
strong foundation built upon its product reliability and professional service. “Growatt is a
As a supplier of EPC and O&M projects, Risen Energy’s “footprint” has spread all over the
global leading inverter brand in the solar rooftop sector. Our advanced PV technologies
world, including Europe, Kazakhstan, Australia, Nepal, Vietnam and many other countries.
and product reliability are very well recognized by clients and end-users around the world,”
To this date, , the total installed capacity of projects has exceeded 1500MW and the installed capacity of power stations under construction has also exceeded 1000MW. After the summit, Fernando Calisalvo General Manager of Risen Energy (Europe and
said Wang. The company pursues a strategy of localization and has established service center and
Latin America), was interviewed by BloombergNEF Summit’s financial reporter. He
warehouse in Hyderabad. Additionally, it has hired local Indian sales representatives and
commented, “In both Eastern Europe and South America, the sales volume of modules
now has more than 20 Indian service engineers in 8 major cities to provide on-site services
is steadily increasing, and the company will also make every effort to further enter the
across India. “Growatt provides advanced and reliable products and has been increasing
South American market to achieve broader overseas expansion. In addition, in order to promote the company’s “new energy, new materials, two new development strategies”,
investments in India. We have a lot of training workshops and a lot of advertisements. And
the company has increased the Energy Storage Business Sector’s resource allocation and
we have a big Indian team that provides superb services for our clients and end-users.
reserve quality projects.”
That’s why we stay ahead of the solar rooftop competitors in India,” said Wang.
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SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 36 Solar
Technology News
M
C
IT Study Bats For PV Panels With Shorter Shelf Life
hina to build spacebased solar power station by 2035
China plans to accomplish a 200-tonne megawatt-level space-based solar power station
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say solar panels with a shelf
by 2035, according to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The space-based
life of 10 years or 15 years make more economic sense than the current breed of those with
solar power station would capture the sun’s energy that never makes it to the planet, said Wang Li, a CAST research fellow with the program, when attending the sixth ChinaRussia Engineering Forum held last week in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province. The energy is converted to microwaves or lasers and then beamed wirelessly back to the Earth’s surface for human consumption, Wang said. “We hope to strengthen international
25 years to 30 years of lifespan. Such panels will be a snug fit for grid scale installations as well, they claim. What such a thing could do is open up a world of opportunities for promising new solar PV technologies which the researchers argue can help save costs since instead of replacing the panels after 30 years, these can be replaced earlier with the
cooperation and make scientific and technological breakthroughs so that humankind can
existing racking and electrical systems while these can still be used. Balance of system
achieve the dream of limitless clean energy at an early date,” Wang said.
(BOS) costs, comprising costs of everything else but the panels, are higher than that of the
Compared with traditional fossil energy, which has been increasingly exhausted and is
panels themselves.
responsible for severe environmental issues, space-based solar power is more efficient and
Cost of solar panels may be decreasing by the day and after a few years it may still go
sustainable, providing a reliable power supply solution for satellites and disaster-hit areas or isolated areas on the Earth, Wang said. The concept of collecting solar power in space was popularized by science fiction author Isaac Asimov in 1941. In 1968, Peter Glaser, an American aerospace engineer, wrote a formal proposal for a solar-based system in space. China has proposed various sunlight collecting solutions and made a number of major
lower, but the BOS cost would still be higher than panels. Former MIT postdoc and CEO of Swift Solar Joel Jean said, “Most of the technology is in the panel, but most of the cost is in the system. Instead of having a system where you install it and then replace everything after 30 years, what if you replace the panels earlier and leave everything else the same?
breakthroughs in wireless energy transmission since the country listed space-based solar
One of the reasons that might work economically is if you’re replacing them with more
power as a key research program in 2008. However, ambition has long been a challenge
efficient panels.”
for current technology because it involves the launch and installation of numerous solar
The team analysed a typical 6 kW residential system, a 200 kW commercial system and a
panel modules and the efficient wireless transmission of mega energy. With an investment of 200 million yuan (28.4 million U.S. dollars), China is building a testing base in Bishan, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, for the research of high-power wireless energy transmission and its impact on the environment. Researches in this field will spur the
large 100 MW utility scale system with solar tracking to calculate levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and found that replacement with new modules after 10 years to 15 years could provide economic advantages in many cases while maintaining several environmental and
country’s space science and innovation in emerging industries like commercial space
emissions-reduction benefits of solar power. Through the research they want to bust the
transportation, Wang said.
myth that longevity is an essential condition for an efficient solar panel.
A
C
lgorithm To Improve Solar Panel Efficiency
anadians Analyse Liquid Like Behaviour Of Perovskites
A team of researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada have figured out an algorithm
Researchers at Canada’s McGill University have developed what they call a unique instrument
to enable controllers to better deal with fluctuations around the maximum power point of
hand-built by the team called multi-dimensional electronic spectrometer (MDES) that helped
a solar PV system that can help increase its efficiency. Their study titled Nonlinear Optimal Feedback Control and Stability Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Systems has been published
them discover perovskite’s liquid-solid duality by the virtue of it being able to measure the behaviour of electrons over short periods of time, as short as 10 femtoseconds.
in the journal IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology. Lack of effective controls in the hardware of a solar system can reduce the volume of power that currently goes to waste. The team developed the algorithm within the hardware of the system without changing the hardware itself or without adding additional circuits.
The cesium lead iodide perovskite nanocrystals (CsPBI3) were observed to behave like liquid in response to light. The two-dimensional spectroscopy revealed liquid-like line shape dynamics in CsPBI3 perovskite nanocrystals during the course of the research.
This approach can save up to 138.9 kWh annually for a small home-use solar array including
These revealed diffusive dynamics qualitatively inconsistent with the coherent dynamics in
12 modules of 335 W, according to Professor Jun Lui and Milad Farsi, PhD candidate in the
covalent solids as CdSe quantum dots.
Department of Applied Mathematics at the university.
“In contrast, these dynamics are consistent with liquid-like structural dynamics on the
“The savings may not seem significant for a small home-use solar system but could make
100-femtosecond timescale. These dynamics are assigned to the optical signature of polaron
a substantial difference in larger-scale ones, such as a solar farm or in an area including hundreds of thousands of local solar panels connected to the power grid,” explained Farsi. For a large-scale solar plant as 97 MW Sarnia project in Canada, the technique could save around 960,000 kWh annually, they estimate and add, can then be used to power hundreds of households. Savings could go up when a fast-changing ambient environment is taken into account or
formation, the conceptual solid-state analogue of solvation,” as per the research. “Polaron formation arises from the dynamical coupling of atomic fluctuations to electronic states. Measuring the properties of these fluctuations is therefore essential in light of potential optoelectronic applications. Senior author and Chemistry Professor at McGill, Patanjali Kambhampati explained that
when the power loss in the converters due to undesired chattering effects seen in other
instead of searching for perfection in defect-free silicon microelectronics, they have figured
conventional control methods is taken into account.
out a defective thing that’s defect-tolerant.
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Solar SolarQuarter Quarter••December December2019 2019 37 37
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Solar Quarter • December 2019 39