The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has granted a final extension to solar projects pending installation under Component A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan program to September 30, 2023, citing the difficulties faced by farmers in accessing finances during the initial phase. However, the extension will only include projects where the beneficiary has reported financial closure to the state implementation agencies on or before March 31, 2023. For projects which miss the extended deadline, the balance capacity will be withdrawn and reallocated to the states based on fresh proposals.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids to develop 1,200 MW of the interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind power projects (Tranche XIV) in the country. The last date to submit bids is April 03, 2023. Bids will be opened on April 10. Bidders must furnish ₹1.38 million (~$16,692)/MW as an earnest money deposit. In addition, the successful bidder must provide a performance bank guarantee of ₹2.08 million (~$25,160) /MW/project before signing the power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Assam Power Distribution Company (APDCL) has invited bids to procure 70 MW of power from solar projects to be developed in Dhubri, Assam. The power purchase agreement (PPA) will be valid for 25 years. Projects should be commissioned within 18 months from the date of execution of the PPA. Developers must also provide five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance services. APDCL has set a ceiling tariff of ₹4 (~$0.048)/kWh.

Damodar Valley Corporation has invited bids from engineering, procurement, and construction contractors to commission an 8 MW ground-mounted solar power project with associated systems, including the power evacuation system in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. Contractors must also provide five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance services. The last day to submit the bids is March 27, 2023. Bids will be opened the next day. Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹5.2 million (~$62,437).

China-based module manufacturer Risen Energy claimed to have achieved a maximum power of 741.456 W with a module efficiency of 23.8% in its Hyper-ion HJT solar module. The module is backed by Risen’s 100 μm ultra-thin cell technology and low-temperature process, yielding a carbon footprint value that is lower than 400 kg equivalent CO2/kWc. The results achieved by Risen were confirmed by security and sustainability solutions partner TUV SUD.

China-based solar inverter manufacturer Growatt has started the first phase of its production plant in Haiphong, Vietnam, to manufacture 500,000 inverters and 100,000 batteries annually. The new facility will manufacture solar and storage inverters along with storage batteries. The company expects the expansion plans to support the increasing demand for storage to manage the intermittency issues of various renewable energy sources. Growatt will use automated and digital solutions for manufacturing.

Distributed generation storage and energy services provider SunPower Corporation‘s revenue came in at $497.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, a 43% jump year-over-year (YoY). The company’s performance was primarily driven by the addition of 23,700 new customers in the quarter, up 39% YoY. It was also the company’s highest-ever customer acquisition in a quarter. The company said that the revenue increase also includes the operational developments in the residential solar provider Blue Raven which SunPower acquired in October 2021.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said they have discovered the key to removing carbon dioxide directly from ocean water, which absorbs 30-40% of carbon emissions prevailing in the atmosphere. The inexpensive method can mitigate Co2 emissions and could potentially lead to overall net negative emissions. The findings were reported in the journal Energy and Environmental Science. The team came up with a reversible process consisting of membrane-free electrochemical cells. Reactive electrodes were used to release protons into the seawater, driving the release of the dissolved carbon dioxide from the water.