The Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids to set up 1,500 MW inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar power projects in India under Tranche XIV. The last date to submit bids is February 23, 2024. Bids will be opened on February 28. Bidders have to submit a bid document fee of ₹29,500 (~$354) and a bid processing fee of ₹500,000 (~$6,014) + applicable taxes for each project for quoted capacity from 50 MW up to 90 MW and ₹1.5 million (~$18,041) + applicable taxes for each project from 100 MW and above-quoted capacity.

Public infrastructure finance company REC Limited has been designated as the overall implementing agency for the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Program, which aims to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity by March 2026. REC will be responsible for executing the program prepared by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and coordinating with all stakeholders across the country for its effective implementation. The Phase II of the program, with an outlay of ₹118.14 billion (~$1.42 billion) for both the residential segment (Component A) and distribution companies (Component B), was initially launched in 2019 to achieve 40 GW capacity by 2022.

NTPC Green Energy has invited bids for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package with land for up to 300 MW of ISTS-connected solar power projects anywhere in India. The scope of work includes identification, acquisition, and complete transfer of ownership or lease of encumbrance-free land to NEEPCO. The developer must also identify and arrange grid connectivity to the ISTS substation. The last date to submit the bids is February 27, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day. Bidders must pay ₹22,500 (~$270.68) towards the cost of bidding documents.

NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam has invited bids from enlisted developers to install 6,352 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects on various buildings of public sector undertakings under the Department of Defense Production in the southern region. The last date to submit the bids is February 1, 2024. Bids will be opened on February 2. The successful bidder will be responsible for the design, engineering, testing, assessment of roofs, water arrangements, electricity security, and determination of the optimal capacity for setting up the solar power systems.

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy’s consolidated net loss was reduced by 37% year-over-year (YoY) to ₹623.9 million (~$7.5 million) for the third quarter of the financial year 2023-24. In the corresponding period last year, the company had run up a loss of ₹991.5 million (~$11.92 million) due to reduced contributions from the domestic and international EPC business segment. The company reported a total revenue of ₹6.1 billion (~$73.3 million), a 46% YoY increase. The revenue generated from the domestic EPC segment was ₹4.7 billion (~$56.5 million).

Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh has warned distribution companies that unjustified load-shedding will be penalized going forward, calling the practice of cutting off electricity supply to different regions “an insult to the people.” “We have said that consumers have rights to 24*7 electricity and that if there is any gratuitous load-shedding, then penalties have to be levied, and compensation has to be given,” he said at a review meeting of the power sector.

In a first, renewables covered the majority of electricity consumption in Germany, accounting for nearly 59.7% of the net public electricity generation in 2023. The share of renewables in the electricity mix coming from renewables stood at 57.1%, according to an analysis by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The total photovoltaic installations in 2023 are expected to exceed 14 GW when the full-year data, including December, becomes available. As a result, energy generation from lignite and coal fell sharply by -27% and -35% respectively.

Meyer Burger Technology, a Europe-based solar cell and module manufacturer, has started the process of shutting down its manufacturing facility in Freiberg, Germany. The closure is a part of the company’s plan to cut its losses in Europe and move the manufacturing base to the U.S. The company stated that maintaining a full-scale solar manufacturing operation in Europe is no longer viable and announced plans to shift focus to the U.S. market, which promises faster growth with lower capital demands.

Independent power producer AmpIn Energy Transition has signed a power purchase agreement of 25 years for 6 MW rooftop solar projects with the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation for the Nagpur Metro Rail Project. The solar projects will be developed in two packages of 2.5 MW and 3.5 MW. The projects will be distributed across 13 metro stations, two depot buildings, one administration building, and three station track walls.