Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation (HPPCL) has invited bids to commission an 8 MW solar power project at Bada Basot in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The scope of work includes comprehensive operation and maintenance service for eight years. The last day to submit the bids is August 14, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day. Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹10 million (~$119,679). The bidders’ responsibilities under the contract encompass the entire process from inception to completion of the commissioned project for HPPCL.

South Eastern Coalfields has issued a tender for a 1.5 MW grid-connected floating solar power project at the Sharda OC, Sohagpur, in Madhya Pradesh. The scope of work covers the project’s design, engineering, construction, fabrication, erection, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning. It also includes civil, structural, and electrical works and evacuation arrangements. The successful bidder will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project for ten years. The total cost of the work, including the GST, is ₹13.39 billion (~$160.25 million). The earnest money deposit (EMD) is ₹1.67 million (~$20,005). Bidders liable for EMD exemption must provide proof supporting the exemption. The total contract period is 11 years.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved loans of $240.5 million to finance rooftop solar systems in India. The financing will be provided to the State Bank of India (SBI) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to offer loans to developers and end-users for installing rooftop solar systems across India. ADB will allocate $90.5 million from its Clean Technology Fund (CTF) to SBI, while NABARD will receive $150 million, which includes $80 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and $70 million from the CTF.

India is striving to boost domestic manufacturing for renewable energy projects and strengthen local supply chains to meet its clean energy targets. Initiatives such as production-linked incentive programs aim to promote local industries while shielding them from cheaper imports by imposing higher customs duties and implementing non-tariff barriers like the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. These measures are designed to foster a vibrant domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem. The upcoming ‘Mercom India Renewables Summit 2024,’ scheduled for July 25-26 in New Delhi, will address critical issues. One of the key sessions, titled ‘The Rise of Domestic Manufacturing: Strategies to Meet Growing Demand,’ will take place on July 25, 2024.

The fourth edition of Mercom India’s flagship event, the Mercom India Renewables Summit, is scheduled for July 25 and 26, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi. Amidst this technology evolution, the critical question is how stakeholders across the private sector, policy arena, and investment community can collaborate to foster an ecosystem that accelerates innovation and attracts capital to support developing and deploying cutting-edge clean energy technologies. During the summit, the session, ‘Exploring Next-Generation Technologies Driving the Clean Energy Market,’ on July 25, will delve into the transformative technologies currently reshaping the energy landscape and explore upcoming innovations poised to revolutionize the industry.