Solarcity to collaborate with Tesla on Lithium battery storage for its Solar Panel Systems
July 3, 2013Indian Regulators and Courts start to enforce REC compliance as prices crash
July 4, 2013UP to join the Solar bandwagon
All major Indian states have launched independent solar power programs using a reverse auction bidding mechanism which has been pioneered by the Indian federal government. Gujarat was the only state to use a fixed feed in tariff program which proved to be a huge success. Uttar Pradesh has become the latest state to join the solar bandwagon by giving 200 MW of solar capacity to seven bidders based on a reverse auction. Given UP’s size the 200 MW capacity seems too small, since other states such as AP and Tamil Nadu have given much bigger capacities of 1 to 3 GW to bidders. Uttar Pradesh suffers from a major power deficit and the state is one of the most underdeveloped states in India.
It has become feasible to install solar power systems in homes and buildings across India as the backup power solutions are very expensive. Diesel power costs R 15-17/ KwH, compared to the Rs 7-10/ KwH for solar electricity. A government push could really bring about a solar revolution in India. Some cities such as Madurai have made it mandatory to install solar systems on new buildings.This should be made common across India as fuel price are rising rapidly. India imports billions of dollars of crude oil each year which the country cannot afford. The massive current account deficit and the crashing rupee attest to this fact. However, the Indian bureaucracy remains short sighted and the politicians are even worse.
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to establish a joint venture company of the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation to tap the solar energy potential of the state…The 100 MW capacity solar power plant would be based at Kalpi in Jalaun district. The UPNEDA will be making available 267.47 hectare of non-agricultural land for this purpose and the power plant will be installed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. The total cost incurred in the project is in the vicinity of Rs 400 crore and the project is expected to become operational in a time span of 14-15 months, after the signing of the MoU…In another decision, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has also approved the selection of seven companies on the basis of competitive tariff based bidding for the 200 MW power capacity under UPNEDA’s Solar Energy Policy-2013 after receiving the single coated tariff. Further action in this regard would be taken by UPNEDA.