Author Archives: Nithin Thomas Prasad
About Nithin Thomas Prasad
Nithin is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Reuters News, he has covered oil, metals and agricultural commodity markets across global markets. He has also covered refinery and pipeline explosions, oil and gas leaks, Atlantic region hurricane developments, and other natural disasters. Nithin holds a Masters Degree in Applied Economics from Christ University, Bangalore and a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai. More articles from Nithin.

Tender Issued for Rural Electrification Work Using Solar Mini/Micro Off-Grid Systems
The Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) for electrification work at seven villages with 583 kW of mini and micro-grid solar power systems ...

Solar Generator’s Plea to Get Compensation for Power Supplied Over 19% CUF Turned Down
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has rejected a solar power generator’s petition seeking compensation for power supplied over the contracted amount. It directed the developer to limit annual ...

Top Developments That Influenced the Rooftop Solar Segment in 2020
Rooftop solar is still one of the easiest ways for consumers to go solar. Compared to utility-scale solar, the rooftop solar segment was especially hard hit from COVID-19 this year, ...

Andhra Pradesh’s Tender for 6.4 GW of Solar Projects Oversubscribed by 8.5 GW
The Andhra Pradesh Green Energy Corporation’s (APGECL) tender to develop 6.4 GW of solar power projects has been oversubscribed by 8.5 GW, according to Mercom’s sources. The state agency received ...

Bids Invited for 1 MW of Ground-Mounted, Rooftop Solar Projects at Srikalahasti Temple
The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) has invited bids for a 1 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) project at the Srikalahasti Temple in Chittoor district ...

Rajasthan Rooftop Solar Installers Write to State Nodal Agency to Address Grievances
The Renewable Energy Association of Rajasthan (REAR) has written to the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC) to address grievances faced by installers empaneled under the Rooftop Solar Subsidy Program. REAR ...

Consumers Seeking Additional Rooftop Solar Capacity Must Shift to Gross Metering
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has rejected a request by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) for adopting the solar net feed-in (gross metering) methodology for ...

SECI Floats Tender for a 20 MW Solar Project with 50 MWh of Battery Energy Storage in Leh
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has floated a tender for a 20 MW solar power project with a 50 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The project will be ...

US Extends 26% Solar Investment Tax Credit Until 2022
The United States Congress has passed a bill providing a two-year extension on its solar investment tax credit (ITC) facility, allowing solar power projects across the residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale segments ...

Telangana Tourism Corporation to Deploy Solar Boats to Ferry Passengers
The Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Limited (TTDCL) has floated tenders to procure two units each of 25, 80, and 150-seater solar boats for carrying passengers at lakes, rivers, and reservoirs ...

SECI’s 1.2 GW Solar-Wind Hybrid Auction Gets Lowest Tariff of ₹2.41/kWh
Three companies won 1.2 GW of solar-wind hybrid projects quoting a tariff of ₹2.41 (~$0.0326)/kWh – the lowest-ever for solar-wind hybrid projects, according to Mercom’s sources. The tariff was discovered ...

EESL Releases Tender to Procure 500 Electric Cars
The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has floated a tender to procure 500 cars. The procurement will be financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its program for scaling ...

Tata and Ashoka Buildcon Win 470 MW in NTPC’s Auction for Solar EPC Services
Tata Power Solar Systems Limited and Ashoka Buildcon Limited have won 470 MW of solar projects in NTPC Limited’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) auction for 1,070 MW of solar projects ...

Maharashtra Allows DISCOM to Float Open Tenders Under State’s Solar Program
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has issued an order allowing the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to float open tenders for its solar projects under the Mukhyamantri ...

No Net Metering for Rooftop Solar Systems Over 10 kW: Ministry of Power
The Ministry of Power (MoP) has issued The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 laying down the rights of power consumers to minimum standards of quality. The rules cover the ...
![Top Five Solar Tenders of 2020 [Infographics]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img,w_800,h_554/https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Top-Five-Solar-Tenders-of-2020-Infographics.jpg)
Top Five Solar Tenders of 2020 [Infographics]
According to Mercom India Research, nearly 36.2 GW of solar tenders were floated during the year – a testament to the sector's resilience amid the COVID-19 crisis even as other ...

Railways to Discuss Ways to Make Solar Tenders More Attractive After Poor Response
The Railway Energy Management Limited (REMCL), a subsidiary of RITES Limited, has announced a stakeholder meeting on December 23, 2020, to get feedback for developing future strategy and bid documents market ...

SECI Floats Tender for 1.2 GW of ISTS-Connected Wind Power Projects
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender to select developers for 1.2 GW of interstate transmission system (ISTS) connected wind power projects (Tranche X) in the ...

Ajmer DISCOM Floats Tender to Solarize 29 Agricultural Feeders Under KUSUM Program
Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (AVVNL) has floated a tender for distributed grid-connected solar systems for agricultural consumers under component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan ...

Major Developments in India’s Wind Sector in 2020
Project development slowed down to a crawl in the wind sector for most of the year as supply chain issues, transportation restrictions, and workforce shortages weighed down the sector due ...

Building-Integrated Solar PV Has Environmental, Aesthetic, Marketing Value: Report
The Australian PV Institute (APVI) has published a report discussing the benefits of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems integrated into buildings and has proposed business models outlining their value to different ...

Madhya Pradesh Exempts EVs and E-Rickshaw Charging Stations from Tariff Hike
The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) has determined tariffs for low voltage (LV), high voltage (HV), and extra-high voltage (EHV) consumers in the state in its retail supply tariff ...

Convergent Finance Invests ₹2 Billion in Solar Glassmaker Borosil Renewables
Convergent Finance LLP, a Maharashtra-based investment firm, announced it has invested ₹2 billion ($27.2 million) in solar glassmaker Borosil Renewables through a qualified institutions placement (QIP) of equity shares. In ...

EESL Floats Tender Seeking Fleet Management Services for its Electric Cars
The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has floated a tender seeking to hire a fleet management agency to deploy its electric cars to government organizations or public sector undertakings (PSUs) ...

NTPC Subsidiary Floats Tender for 30 MW of Solar Projects in Madhya Pradesh
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has issued a tender for 30 MW of grid-connected rooftop, ground-mounted, and elevated structure solar photovoltaic (PV) projects ...