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.
JP Morgan Commits $200 Billion for Sustainability, To Stop Lending to Coal Companies
U.S.-based JP Morgan Chase, one of the world’s largest banking institutions, announced that it has committed $50 billion (~₹3.59 trillion) towards green initiatives as part of a larger $200 billion (~₹14.37 ...
A 1 kW Rooftop Solar System to Cost Just ₹22,200 for Residential Consumers in Punjab
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has announced subsidies for grid-connected rooftop solar systems ranging between 1 and 10 kW in the residential sector, which could make solar very ...
LONGi Solar to Acquire a Chinese Solar Cell & Module Manufacturer for $253 Million
LONGi Solar, a Chinese manufacturer of high-efficiency mono-crystalline solar cells and modules, has announced a framework agreement to acquire solar cell and module manufacturer Ningbo Jiangbei Yize New Technology for ...
IFC to Help Burkina Faso Assess Economic Benefits of Solar Energy Storage Systems
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the financial wing of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Energy to assess the economic benefits of private ...
Gujarat Budget Allocates ₹9.12 Billion for Solar Rooftop, ₹1.25 Billion for KUSUM Program
Gujarat’s Finance Minister Nitinbhai Patel presented the state budget for the financial year 2020-21, which included a ₹9.12 billion (~$127.19 million) provision for a subsidy for solar rooftop projects and ...
NTPC’s Tender for 600 MW of ISTS-Connected Wind Projects
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has floated a tender for 600 MW of interstate transmission system (ISTS) connected wind energy projects in the country. The last date for the ...
Research Demonstrates 17% Power Conversion Efficiency in Organic PV Cells
A team of researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a technique that could increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells to 17% ...
EESL Tenders Evacuation Bays and Transmission Lines for 300 MW of Solar Projects
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has floated an invitation for bids (IFB) to construct power evacuation bays and transmission lines for nearly 300 MW of solar projects in the state ...
Andhra Pradesh Approves ₹28.94 Billion for DISCOMs to Clear Solar & Wind Power Dues
The Andhra Pradesh government has approved ₹29.84 billion (~$415.67 million) to distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the state towards the payment of 25% of their losses, allowing them to clear their ...
US Solar Industry Created Nearly 250,000 Jobs in 2019
Solar Jobs in 2019 rose across the United States after two straight years of decline, according to the latest reports from The Solar Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit educational and research organization ...
India Likely to Stop Coal Imports by 2023-24
The Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Pralhad Joshi, recently announced India’s plans to stop the import of thermal coal from 2023-2024. Coal-based power makes up the largest share of ...
Solar Federation Requests Andhra to Withhold Hearing of Forecasting Regulations
The National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) has written a letter to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) asking it to withhold from a public hearing until the ...
Rajasthan Commission Approves Tariff of ₹2.50/kWh for 680 MW of Solar Projects
The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) issued an order approving the tariff rate for 680 MW of solar projects issued by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). In July ...
NTPC Releases Details for the 1.2 GW Solar Tender, Sets Ceiling Tariff at ₹2.78/kWh
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has issued a detailed request for selection (RfS) for 1.2 GW of Interstate Transmission System (ISTS) connected solar projects across the country. The ceiling ...
IFC to Invest Over ₹18 Million in Rooftop Solar Projects in West Bank
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the financial wing of the World Bank Group, and Massader, a subsidiary of the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), announced that they signed a loan agreement ...
Tamil Nadu Commission Approves Tariff of ₹2.91/kWh for 441 MW of Wind Projects
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) approved a tariff rate of ₹2.91 (~$0.04)/kWh for procuring about 441 MW of wind power through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) ...
Africa and Middle East Wind Capacity Additions Down 7% in 2019
Africa and the Middle East have added 894 MW of wind power capacity in 2019, down by 7% from the previous year, according to data released by the Global Wind ...
Assam to Install Standalone Solar LED Streetlights Across Four Zones
The Urban Development Department (UDD) of Assam has floated a tender to install standalone solar light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting systems with seven-meter galvanized octagonal poles in the city. The ...
NTPC Issues Notice Inviting Tender for 1.2 GW of Solar Projects
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has floated an invitation for bids for the selection of solar power developers for setting up 1,200 MW Interstate Transmission System (ISTS) connected solar ...
Andhra Proposes to Raise Deviation Settlement Charges for Renewable Projects
The Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (APTRANSCO) has issued a notice to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) seeking amendments to the existing regulations for forecasting, scheduling, and deviation ...
Himachal Pradesh Floats a Tender for 10,000 Solar Lanterns
The Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (HIMURJA) has floated a tender for 10,000 solar lanterns in the state. The scope of work under the contract includes supplying the solar lanterns ...
BIS Certification Can Clean the Solar Market of Small, Weak Players: Growatt Interview
The extension of BIS standards certification for solar inverters was met with mixed responses. Some believe that it was essential because it gave them more time to go through the ...
NIWE Announces Tender to Assess Wind and Solar Resources in India
The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has invited tenders for sensors and data loggers with accessories to assess wind and solar resources across the country. The scope of work ...
Impact of Basic Customs Duty on Solar Cells and Modules: Winners and Losers
Basic customs duty (BCD) on the import of solar cells and modules was announced at 20% in the Union Budget for 2020-21. While the exemption on this duty remains in ...
Tender Announced for 4.43 MW of Rooftop Solar at a Mumbai Metro Station
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has floated a tender for 4.43 MW of rooftop solar projects at a station site of the Mumbai Metro Rail Project. The scope ...
