Solar Power
Coming of Age
The solar power market in India has entered the maturity phase over the past year. It recorded a growth rate of about 82 per cent in 2016-17. In fact, solar power capacity addition has picked […]
Trends
Wind Power
Still Winds: Ultra-low tariffs slow down segment growth
The year 2017 will be remembered as a landmark year with regard to the Indian wind power segment. From the discontinuation of generation-based incentives (GBIs) and phase-out of the accelerated depreciation (AD) benefit starting April […]
Bioenergy
Untapped Potential: Lack of a clear policy framework stymies bioenergy expansion
While redefining India’s renewable energy targets to meet the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, the government had set an ambitious target of 10 GW of installed capacity for bioenergy by 2022. Despite the high potential […]
Small Hydro
No Silver Lining: SHP segment beleaguered by policy uncertainty and investor reluctance
The growth of the small-hydro power (SHP) segment in India has been sluggish year after year. While the government has been fairly optimistic about the segment, it has failed to translate this into a real […]
Emerging Segments
Promising Technologies: Industry focuses on emerging renewable segments
In addition to developing the traditional sources of renewable energy, the market is increasingly focusing on emerging technologies in order to be future-ready. The key among these are wind-solar hybrids, electric vehicles, offshore wind, and […]
Off-Grid Power
Sluggish Growth: Off-grid segment faces multiple challenges
Connecting remote areas to the grid continues to be a daunting task for the government. Of the 15,019 villages electrified over the past two years, only 8 per cent have achieved 100 per cent household […]
Finance
Steady Flow of Funds: Significant domestic and foreign capital infusion despite cautious sentiment
India’s installed renewable energy capacity currently stands at a little over 60 GW. While technological advancements and a progressive policy and regulatory framework have played a key role in achieving this capacity, the financing community […]
Trends
Spiralling Tariffs: Wind power drops to Rs 2.64
India’s wind power tariff fell to a record low of Rs 2.64 per kWh in the second wind project auction conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for 1 GW of wind power […]
Trends
Policy Prescriptions: NITI Aayog releases three-year action agenda
Policy think tank NITI Aayog, or the National Institution for Transforming India, is bringing about a paradigm shift in the government’s planning approach for the country. Formed in 2015 to replace the erstwhile Planning Commission, […]
Trends
Micro Grids, Macro Gains: A viable option for small habitations
A microgrid is a group of inter-connected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that can be operated in a controlled and coordinated way. Microgrids can either be connected to the main […]
Trends
Changing Lives: Solar microgrids power villages in Uttar Pradesh
Not long ago, after sunset, it was difficult to even imagine that a hamlet of over 150 people existed in Hata block of Kushinagar district in east Uttar Pradesh. Now, the village can be seen […]
Trends
Wheels of Change: Gearing up to meet the growth in power demand from electric vehicles
As envisioned in the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), 2020, electric vehicles (EVs) are likely to play a significant role in India’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The government is pushing for e-mobility and […]
Trends
Scope for CSP: Design innovations, potential and applications
Solar energy implementation has taken off exponentially in India. Much of the credit for this goes to photovoltaic (PV) technology. Concentrating solar power (CSP), which had an equal importance when the National Solar Mission was […]
Wind Power
Bleak Times: Wind project pipeline dries up
The turbulence in the wind power segment is getting worse by the day as the industry is at loggerheads with the government regarding multiple issues, most of which stem from the ongoing process of migration […]
Trends
Debt Surge: Bonds and borrowings drive capital influx in the renewables market
With the constantly evolving ecosystem of the Indian renewable energy market, financial instruments too have developed over the years. The government envisages an investment requirement of $100 billion to realise the renewable energy targets over […]
Emerging Segments
Smart Renewables: Powering urban infrastructure development
India is in the process of developing its renewable energy technologies in a bid to ensure a sustainable power system. The evolution of existing renewable energy technologies to smart renewables will help power economic growth. […]
World View
Growth Projections: IRENA expects renewable energy capacity to reach 518 GW by 2030
India’s ambitious renewable energy targets, strong climate change mitigation commitments and record capacity additions over the past two years have put it firmly on the global renewable energy map. Its position has been further strengthened […]
Emerging Segments
Power from Scrap: Energy generation emerges as an effective means of waste management
The growth of municipal waste is directly linked to the population and economic progress of a town, city, state or a country. With a population of around 1.34 billion, India generates about 80 million tonnes […]
Trends
Reviving Pumped Storage: Operationalising PSPs to promote grid stability
The short-term power market has witnessed significant growth in the past few years. Against less than a 0.5 per cent share in the total power generation a decade ago, the share of power trading touched […]
World View
Value Creation: Growth in solar and wind segments opens up job opportunities
Human resource plays a major role in the development and growth of any industry. It is no different for the renewable energy sector where an informed understanding of human resource skills for production, installation and […]