Industry Updates

Launched initially in March 2019 and further expanded in September 2023, the PM-KUSUM Scheme aims to provide affordable and accessible power to farmers throughout India.

In a recent update provided by the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power, R.K. Singh, it has been revealed that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme has successfully facilitated the installation of more than 2.95 lakh standalone off-grid solar water pumps across the country.

Launched initially in March 2019 and further expanded in September 2023, the PM-KUSUM Scheme aims to provide affordable and accessible power to farmers throughout India. The primary objectives of the scheme include reducing dependence on diesel in the agricultural sector, ensuring energy and water security for farmers, boosting their income, and mitigating environmental pollution.

In his written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister Singh highlighted the substantial progress made under the PM-KUSUM Scheme, underscoring its significant impact on enhancing renewable energy infrastructure and empowering farmers nationwide.

Under the scheme, there are three main components:

Component ‘A’: Setting up 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground/Stilt Mounted Grid Connected Solar or other Renewable Energy based Power Plants by farmers on their land.

Component ‘B’: Installation of 14 lakh standalone off-grid solar water pumps.

Component ‘C’: Solarization of 35 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps through individual pump solarization and feeder level solarization.

Financial assistance is available for all farmers across the country based on the scheme guidelines. The progress made under PM-KUSUM as of January 31, 2024, indicates significant strides in achieving these targets, with installations underway in various states across India.

The scheme offers procurement-based incentives to DISCOMs for purchasing solar or other renewable power, with a total incentive of INR 33 lakh per MW over five years. Additionally, farmers receive financial support for the installation of solar pumps and solarization of agricultural pumps, with the central government contributing 30 percent to 50 percent of the benchmark cost depending on the region.

Source : Energetica India

The policy also aims to encourage new technologies and methods involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.

The National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy was released by the Union government on May 14, 2018, with the main objective to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land. The policy also aims to encourage new technologies and methods involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.

The key features of National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy include:

In case of fixed speed wind turbines connected to grid using an induction generator, the integration can be on the HT side at the AC output bus. However, in case of variable speed wind turbines deploying inverters for connecting the generator to the grid, the wind and the solar PV system can be connected to the intermediate DC bus of the AC-DC-AC converter.

The sizing of the wind-solar hybrid plants would depend on the resource characteristics. However, a wind-solar plant will be recognized as hybrid plant if the rated power capacity of one resource is at least 25% of the rated power capacity of other resource.

Existing wind or solar power projects, willing to install solar PV plant or respectively to avail benefit of hybrid project are conditionally allowed to do so under the policy.

Battery storage may be added to the hybrid project to reduce the variability of output power from wind solar hybrid plant; providing higher energy output for a given capacity (bid/ sanctioned capacity) at delivery point, by installing additional capacity of wind and solar power in a wind solar hybrid plant; and ensuring availability of firm power for a particular period.

The Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) — Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), NTPC Ltd , SJVN Ltd and NHPC Ltd have brought out tenders for solar-wind hybrid projects, solar-wind hybrid projects with assured supply during peak hours and round-the-clock (RTC) renewable power. As on 31.12.2023, around 1.44 GW of hybrid projects are already commissioned.

This information has been given by the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power RK Singh, in a written reply to a question, in Lok Sabha on Thursday

Source :Economictimes

The ALMM, which was put on hold for the fiscal year 2023-24, will now be enforced once again.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued an Office Memorandum reinstating the Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (ALMM) order, effective from April 1, 2024.

The ALMM, which was put on hold for the fiscal year 2023-24, will now be enforced once again. However, it will only be applicable to projects sponsored or subsidized by the government. This includes projects procuring power for governmental consumption or distribution through Distribution Companies, as well as Solar PV Rooftops and PM KUSUM initiatives benefiting from subsidies. 

Private ventures, such as those established under open access or as captive setups, will not fall under the ALMM mandate.

Previously, projects commissioned by March 31, 2024, were exempted from the ALMM requirement. However, the latest decision expands this exemption to include projects in advanced stages of construction with module orders placed before the aforementioned date. Verification of the project’s construction progress and the opening of an irrevocable Letter of Credit (LC) by March 31, 2024, will be necessary to qualify for this exemption.

This decision aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to regulate and streamline the solar power sector in India.

source :Eenergetica India

Lucknow: Focusing on renewable energy and reducing carbon footprint, Uttar Pradesh govt has approved Rs 6.31 crore to install rooftop solar power plant for the Lucknow bench complex of the high court.

Located in Vibhuti Khand, the court complex was developed on 2.5 lakh sqm area for Rs 2,300 crore.

“The decision for a rooftop solar plant for high court was taken as part of a green energy project,” an official said.

Earlier, state govt had decided to develop all 17 municipal civic bodies, which govern urban areas in the state, as solar cities. Govt is already developing a 40MW solar power plant on 165acre of land in Ayodhya, which is expected to be operational by the end of the current financial year.

Official sources said that a 14MW solar power plant was already functional in Ayodhya.

“The success of Ayodhya has motivated govt to push solar policy implementation across remaining 16 municipal bodies that govern urban areas. Soon, we will see solar power plants in Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Shahjahanpur, Varanasi and Mathura-Vrindavan,” the official added.

Another officer said the govt was planning to install around 25,000 rooftop solar plants in Varanasi. In Prayagraj, Lucknow, Agra, and Gorakhpur, the Indian railways has installed solar power panels on its land and official buildings to meet energy demand and reduce carbon footprint.

We also published the following articles recently

‘82% of India’s residential solar rooftop installations in Gujarat’

Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojana’, rooftop solar electrification systems will be provided to one crore households. Gujarat, with over 2000 MW capacity, leads in residential solar rooftop installations. Solar panels save households money and earn them revenue through selling excess units. Subsidies will be directly deposited into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

Adanis Kamudhi solar plant has produced 840 crore units of electricity since 2015

Adani’s 648 MW solar power plant in Kamudhi, Tamil Nadu, has generated 840 crore units of electricity since 2015. It has lit up 2,65,000 houses and saved 77 lakh metric tonnes of carbon emissions compared to a thermal power plant. The plant covers 2,500 acres and uses various technologies for power generation.

Revised solar scheme aims to up green power generation

The scheme offers financial assistance for the installation of grid-connected solar rooftop systems with net metering. The assistance is restricted to Rs 36.5 crore and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Source : TimesofIndia

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) has invited bids to supply bi-facial PV modules rated 540 Wp each for the 1,515 MW DC solar project in Gujarat. Bidding closes on March 5.

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) has invited bids to supply PV modules for 1.2 GW Khavda Solar Project in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

The successful bidders will supply bi-facial PV modules with a minimum wattage of 540 Wp, for the project DC capacity of 1,515 MWp (comprising four blocks of 378.75 MWp each)

The scope of work includes manufacturing, supply, packing and forwarding, and transportation of open-category crystalline solar PV modules.

Source : PV Magazine