Author Archives: Rakesh Ranjan
About Rakesh Ranjan
Rakesh Ranjan is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Prior to joining Mercom, he worked in many roles as a business correspondent, assistant editor, senior content writer, and sub-editor with bcfocus.com, CIOReview/Silicon India, Verbinden Communication, and Bangalore Bias. Rakesh holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). More articles from Rakesh Ranjan.

Toyota and Panasonic Join Hands to Develop Automotive Prismatic Batteries for EVs
Toyota Motor and Panasonic Corporation have joined hands to establish a joint venture specializing in automotive prismatic batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The joint venture will be called Prime Planet ...

Chandigarh Floats Tender for 40 Electric Buses with Charging Stations
The Chandigarh City Bus Service Society (CCBSS) has floated a tender to procure 40 midi AC electric buses, including charging stations on a kilometer basis for ten years. The society ...

Government-Owned Solar Cell and Module Manufacturer CEL Up for Sale
The government of India has invited an expression of interest (EoI) for the proposed disinvestment of 100% shareholding in Central Electronics Limited (CEL). The last date for the submission of ...

Large Solar Module Manufacturers with Multiple Products Could Pay a Hefty Fee for ALMM
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a clarification regarding the compulsory requirements of registration for solar manufacturers under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) ...

Solar Power Generation Up by 12% in the Fourth Quarter of 2019
The solar power generation increased by 12% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) in the last quarter of the calendar year (CY) 2019, totaling 11,750 MUs, according to the data released by the Central ...

Total to Acquire 50% Stake in Adani Green’s Solar Portfolio for $510 Million
Total, a French oil and gas major, has entered into an agreement with Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) to acquire a 50% stake in a joint venture company for $510 ...

Adani Green Registers 11% YoY Revenue Growth in Q3 of FY 2020
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), a part of the Adani Group, has announced its financial results for the nine months (9M) and quarter ending December 31, 2019. The total revenue ...

There is Not a Lot for the EV Sector in Budget 2020
Budget 2020 has failed to meet the expectations of the electric vehicle (EV) segment of the country. The segment’s stakeholders were expecting more measures from the government to promote electric ...

Key Policy Announcements for Solar and Other Renewables from January 2020
The month of January witnessed some key policy announcements that were aimed at facilitating the growth of the renewable sector in the country and removing the bottlenecks for fostering a ...

Robotic Cleaning of Solar Modules Gaining Traction in India Amid Water Scarcity
Water is a scarce commodity in a country of nearly 1.4 billion people, and the use of water in energy generation is a big concern. The rise of solar and ...

BHEL Issues O&M Tender for a 1.7 MW Solar Power Project in Madhya Pradesh
The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has floated a tender for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of a 1.7 MW solar project for one year at Bina in Madhya Pradesh ...

SECI Issues Tender for 14 MW of Solar with 42 MWh Battery Storage in Leh and Kargil
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for setting up 14 MW of solar power projects with 42 MWh battery storage system (7MW/21 MWh each) at ...

Nine Open Access Wind Generators Given Deadline Extension to Install Energy Meters
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has granted an additional period of three months to nine wind developers to complete the installation of special energy meters (SEMs) at the individual ...

CERC Allows Solar Developers’ Claim for GST Compensation on EPC Cost
In its recent order, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has reiterated its opinions on the restitution principle in power purchase agreements in the face of a Change in Law ...

Gujarat: Bidding Deadline for 600 MW of Residential Rooftop Solar Projects Extended
The Energy and Petrochemical Department, under the Gujarat government, has extended the deadline for receiving applications from empaneled agencies for setting up 600 MW of grid-connected residential rooftop solar projects ...

SECI Announces Notice Inviting Tender for 5 GW of Renewable Power Bundled with Thermal
The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has announced a notice inviting tender (NIT) for the procurement of 5 GW of power on a round-the-clock basis from renewable energy ...

BHEL Floats an O&M Tender for NTPC’s 50 MW Solar Project in Andhra Pradesh
The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has floated a tender for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of a 50 MW solar project in Andhra Pradesh. The project belongs to the ...

EXIM Bank Lends $35.8 Million for Solar DG Hybrid PV Systems in the Republic of Suriname
The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has extended a line of credit (LC) of $35.80 million (~₹2.54 billion) to the Republic of Suriname. This line of credit comes as ...

West Bengal Announces Tender for 10 MW of Solar Projects in Jhargram
The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) has floated a tender for 10 MW (AC) of solar projects. The projects will be developed at Chuasole and Kasturia Mouza ...

Maldives Set to Develop Solar Battery-Diesel Hybrid Systems
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the environment ministry of Maldives have started to implement solar battery-diesel hybrid systems in 48 islands out of the 160 inhabited islands of the ...

NTPC Issues 300 kW Rooftop Solar Tender for a School in Vindhyachal
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has floated a tender for the development of a grid-tied interactive rooftop solar PV project in Madhya Pradesh. The rooftop system will be installed ...

Rajasthan Asks Bidders to Match Counter-Offer for 45 MW of Rooftop Solar Projects
The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) has decided to issue the award of work for 45 MW of rooftop solar projects. The RRECL has issued the counter-offer to the ...

Chhattisgarh to Empanel Vendors for Rooftop Solar Projects Under CAPEX Model
The Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) has floated a tender for the empanelment of vendors for the installation of 1 kW to 500 kW of rooftop solar projects ...

Bengaluru-Based EV Startup Numocity Raises Funding
Bengaluru-based startup Numocity Technologies has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Ideaspring Capital, Rebright Partners, and ABB Technology Ventures (ATV). The early-stage startup is focused on providing end-to-end solutions ...

Jharkhand Issues New Regulations for Renewable Purchase Obligation
The Jharkhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) has come up with regulations for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for obligated entities within the state. The earlier regulations are set to expire in ...