Author Archives: Soumik Dutta
About Soumik Dutta
Soumik is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Prior to joining Mercom, Soumik was a correspondent for UNI, New Delhi covering the Northeast region for seven years. He has also worked as an Asia Correspondent for Washington DC-based Hundred Reporters. He has contributed as a freelancer to several national and international digital publications with a focus on data-based investigative stories on environmental corruption, hydro power projects, energy transition and the circular economy. Soumik is an Economics graduate from Scottish Church College, Calcutta University.

BHEL Issues Tender to Supply BoS Components for 69 MW of Solar Projects in Telangana
State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has invited quotations for the supply of balance of system (BoS) items for the installation and commissioning of two grid-connected solar PV projects with ...

SECI Amends 2 GW Solar Tender; Extends Commissioning Deadline from 18 Months to Two Years
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has introduced an amendment in the Request for Selection (RfS) for the 2,000 MW grid-connected solar tender it had floated under the second ...

Oman Seeks Independent Power Producers to Develop Two Solar Projects
The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company, (OPWP), has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) for developing two utility-scale solar PV projects at Manah, Sultanate of Oman. In the second ...

Oil India Limited Seeks Bidders for 100 MW of Solar Projects Under CPSU Program
Oil India Limited (OIL), a Navaratna enterprise, has invited prospective bidders to develop 100 MW (AC) of solar project capacity anywhere in India. The projects will be tendered under the ...

Government Invites Proposals for Establishing EV Charging Infrastructure Across Cities
The Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) has invited proposals for deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the country’s big and smart cities under the government’s FAME program. The last date ...

Andhra Pradesh Government Justifies its Stance on Revisiting of Solar & Wind PPAs
Justifying its decision to renegotiate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for solar and wind projects signed by the previous government led by Chandrababu Naidu, the new government of Andhra Pradesh has ...

Haryana Retenders 300 MW of Solar Projects Amid Tepid Response
The Haryana Power Purchase Company (HPCC) has invited Requests for Proposal (RfP) for the procurement of power from 300 MW of solar projects. The tender has been floated on behalf ...

Former President of Tata Motors Backs E-Scooter Startup BattRE
BattRE, a technology-driven startup manufacturing electric scooters, has received an undisclosed amount of funding from Tata Motors’ former President Gajendra Chandel. The funds will be utilized for the launch of ...

AIIB to Provide $100 Million Loan to L&T for Solar and Wind Projects Financing in India
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has announced that it will provide a $100 million loan to L&T Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (LTIF). The loan proceeds will be used to ...

BHEL Seeks BoS Vendors for 5 MW of Floating Solar Projects in West Bengal
State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has issued a tender for the supply of Balance of System (BoS) items needed for the installation of the 5 MW of floating solar ...

Central Electronics Limited Floats Tender for 50 MW of Solar Projects in Maharashtra
The Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a public sector enterprise, has issued a tender for 50 MW of grid-tied solar PV projects ranging from 500 kW to 10 MW at various ...

Andhra Government Summons Wind Power Developers for Retrospective Tariff Negotiation
Continuing with its decision to renegotiate the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for wind and solar power projects signed during the former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure, the present government of ...

Singapore Calls Developers to Bid for 50 MW of Floating Solar Projects
Public Utilities Board of Singapore is looking for eligible bidders for a 50 MW floating solar PV project in the Tengeh Reservoir. The last date for bid submission has been ...

Deadline for BIS Certification of Solar Inverters Extended to September 2019
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the deadline for the Bureau of Indian Standards certification of solar inverters. Considering that the series guidelines for inverters are ...

Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc in Madhya Pradesh, Damage a 250 MW Solar Project
The onslaught of monsoon and severe weather has caused significant damage to a 250 MW solar PV project in Madhya Pradesh. Heavy rainfall and lightning accompanied by storm with wind ...

GAIL Issues Tender for Operation and Maintenance of a 5 MW Solar Project in Jaisalmer
The Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has issued an annual domestic bidding contract for the operation and maintenance of a 5 MW solar PV project at Ramgarh, Jaisalmer. The ...

SunEdison to Acquire Two Renewable Companies for $21.2 Million
Chennai-based renewable energy company SunEdison Infrastructure Limited (formerly YKM Industries Limited) has informed of the acquisition of Megamic Electronics Private Limited and Enrecover Energy Solutions Private Limited, according to a ...

Maharashtra DISCOM to Amend EPAs for Purchase of 500 MW of Wind Power
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has received the approval it sought from the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for deviations in the standard bidding document for the ...

353 Million LED Bulbs Distributed Under Government’s UJALA Program
Under the government’s UJALA program, the Energy Efficiency Services Limited has distributed over 353 million LED bulbs so far. This, in turn, has resulted in an estimated energy savings of ...

World’s Largest Single-Site Solar Project Commissioned at Sweihan, Abu Dhabi
Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest single-site solar power project located at Sweihan which has an installed capacity of 1,177 MW, has been successfully commissioned. The project is a Joint ...

Tirupati Joins the Club of Solar-Powered Airports
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has inaugurated a 1 MW ground-mounted solar project at Tirupati’s Renigunta International airport. Fourth Partner Energy commissioned the project. The club of solar-powered airports ...

Andhra Pradesh to Issue Recovery Notices to Solar, Wind Projects for Loss Caused to DISCOM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy held a review meeting with the state’s energy department to deliberate on the recent decision to revisit the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) of the ...

Solar Developers Seek Transparency in DISCOM Payments, Approvals and Grid Curtailment
In the recent strategic meeting held by the Solar Power Developers Association (SPDA), the key industry stakeholders deliberated upon major issues affecting the developers ranging from deviation settlement issues to ...

FICCI Endorses Battery Swapping Facilities to Boost EV Adoption Under FAME Program
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has suggested the inclusion of the battery swapping model of charging under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles ...

Solar Developers Association Writes to MNRE on Non-Payment of Dues by Telangana DISCOMs
The Solar Power Developers Association (SPDA) has written to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) regarding the overdue payments from state distribution companies to solar power developers. The ...