Reliance Industries will commence the production of solar photovoltaic modules at its giga-factory in Gujarat by the end of 2024. The first phase of its integrated solar production facilities includes modules, cells, glass, wafer, ingot, and polysilicon with an annual capacity of 10 GW. The giga-factory is designed for modular expansion, and the capacity can be increased to 20 GW at minimum cost and time. “We have fully integrated and indigenized the HJT technology from REC Singapore, our wholly owned subsidiary, to develop 1 Gen bifacial solar panels with cell efficiency exceeding 26%,” Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani told the company’s shareholders.

Telangana-based solar cell and module manufacturer and EPC solutions provider Premier Energies‘ ₹28.30 billion (~$337.4 million) initial public offering of shares received an overwhelming response from various investor categories, with the issue subscribed over 74 times. The Qualified Institutional Buyers quota was subscribed over 216 times, while the quota for non-institutional investors was subscribed nearly 50 times. The retail individual investors category was subscribed 7.25 times. The price band of the IPO was fixed between ₹427 (~$5.09) and ₹450 (~$5.37) per share.

Textile units in Tamil Nadu with solar projects for captive consumption have opposed a directive by Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation to use only solar modules included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). The Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association has written to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy urging the withdrawal of the directive. It has threatened legal action if the demand is not met. The Non-Conventional Energy Sources wing under Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation recently mandated the use of only ALMM-approved solar modules in the solar projects to be commissioned and grid tie-up approval to be granted after due verification.

The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a budget of over ₹100 billion (~$1.2 billion) for the CM’s Solar Agriculture Feeder Program 2.0. The program aims to provide a 24-hour reliable electricity supply to agricultural pumps across the state. It will increase solar energy capacity to 16,000 MW, with 9,000 MW allocated to solar projects and 7,000 MW decentralized solar capacity by 2025. The state government, following the center’s model of financial assistance, will also provide 30% financial assistance for solar power generation capacity from 2024-25 to 2026-27, amounting to ₹100.41 billion (~$11.97 million). This includes ₹62.79 billion (~$748.57 million) for 2025-26 and ₹37.62 billion (~$448.47 million) for 2026-27.

REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited has handed over Bhadla-III Power Transmission to Power Grid Corporation of India at a cost of ₹64.2 million (~$765,151). The project involves developing an additional 20 GW transmission system to evacuate power from Bhadla-III PS as part of the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone Phase-III on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis. The project covers the augmentation of Bhadla-III PS with 765/400 kV, 2×1500 MVA, and 400/220 kV, 2×500 MVA Interconnecting Transformers and associated works.

The Northeast Frontier Railway has floated a tender to set up grid-connected rooftop solar projects with a cumulative capacity of 2.93 MW at 42 stations, service buildings, and 204 level crossings in the Rangiya railway division in Assam. The last date to submit the bids is September 27, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day. The tender has an advertised value of ₹132.90 million (~$1.58 million). Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹814,500 (~$9,712). The project must be completed within six months.

Meyer Burger Technology, a Europe-based solar cell and module manufacturer, has announced a strategic shift in its operations, focusing on its solar module production facility in Goodyear, Arizona, while halting plans for a new solar cell manufacturing plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The decision is part of a broader restructuring effort to achieve sustainable profitability. The company has deemed the construction of a solar cell production facility in Colorado Springs financially unviable, leading to the project’s discontinuation. This move also halts the planned collaboration with a U.S. technology group. Meyer Burger is concentrating on ramping up its 1.4 GW nominal module production capacity at the Goodyear, Arizona plant.

Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has invited bids for 258 MW of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. The last date to submit the bids is October 1, 2024. The tender follows a ‘pay as bid’ bidding procedure. The maximum value is €0.105 (~$0.12)/kWh. If the bid value surpasses the maximum value, the bid will be excluded from the award procedure. Bidders must comply with the format specifications issued by the agency under the Renewable Energy Act. Any unused cash deposits of project security, overpaid fees, and other payments received for this procedure will be released immediately after the results of this bidding date have been published.