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Daily News Wrap-Up: APTEL Criticizes MERC for Denying Petitioner Relief

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					</table>In a recent ruling, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://cercind.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CERC</a>) instructed the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh to strictly adhere to the action plan aimed at enhancing the reliability and security of the electricity grid in Western India. The states must submit quarterly progress reports to the Western Regional Load Despatch Center (<a href="https://www.wrldc.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WRLDC</a>) detailing the plan&#8217;s implementation.
However, the Commission refrained from imposing any penalties on the respondents &#8212; electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) and transmission companies of the four states.
The CERC urged these states to expedite the implementation of the Automatic Demand Management System (ADMS) and enhance their demand forecasting and estimation systems to minimize deviations from the allocated schedules for electricity consumption.
It directed the states to ensure that the demand ramp does not exceed 100 MW, as per the Grid Code. The Commission emphasized the importance of regular reviews of coal stock levels in thermal power plants to guarantee a stable fuel supply for power generation.
The CERC has made it clear that if the grid frequency falls below acceptable levels, all State Load Despatch Centers (SLDCs) must be prepared to swiftly implement emergency measures to control overdrawals during low-frequency situations to safeguard the integrity of the grid.
WRLDC had filed a petition seeking appropriate orders from the Commission regarding the over-drawal from the grid by regional entities leading to insecure operation of the grid.
Background
WRLDC is responsible for the integrated operation of the electricity grid in the western region, which comprises the power systems of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, and union territories of Daman &amp; Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli.
The issues brought up in the petition stemmed from the operational difficulties encountered by the Western Region&#8217;s electricity grid between August and October 2021. Within this timeframe, the grid faced a notable decrease in frequency, dropping below the necessary levels for safe and reliable operation. This extended decline in frequency gave rise to significant apprehensions regarding the grid&#8217;s overall security and stability.
Numerous factors contributed to these challenges, which included instances of thermal generation outages, diminished hydro generation, fluctuating wind speeds, and reduced internal power generation. This situation underscored the critical importance of effective state-level planning to adequately meet the increasing post-monsoon electricity demand and comply with grid regulations and reliability standards.
Despite warnings issued by WRLDC, the overdrawal persisted. Emergency measures, such as opening radial feeders, had to be implemented to contain overdrawal and restore grid frequency to safe operating limits during this period.
A similar pattern of overdrawal and low-frequency operation continued even after October 2021. Even at a frequency below 49.90 Hz, Gujarat has over-drawn in the range of 600-1100 MW, Maharashtra by 800-1000 MW, Madhya Pradesh by 700-1100 MW, and Chhattisgarh in the range of 200-300 MW.
CERC initiated proceedings on this matter and held an initial hearing on April 21, 2022. During the hearing, CERC requested the petitioner to provide specific instances of constituents not complying with grid discipline directions. Subsequently, WRLDC submitted a supplementary affidavit on May 4, 2022, containing detailed examples of violations, providing more specific quarterly progress reports to WRLDC regarding its implementation.
The WRLDC held meetings with the SLDCs and proposed an action plan to be implemented by the SLDCs. The plan included drafting quarterly resource adequacy statements, timely implementation of demand management measures, improved renewable energy forecasting, review of ADMS, addressing supply-side issues like coal shortage, and implementing ADMS programs across all DISCOMs. It also involved the identification of radial feeders for manual tripping as emergency measures and implementing spinning reserves within the state.
The primary issue raised by the petitioner revolved around state entities drawing excessive power, which subsequently resulted in frequency-related problems.
During the mentioned period, WRLDC issued numerous violation messages and took emergency measures to contain overdrawal.
Maharashtra 
Maharashtra consistently exceeded its power draw by 200-900 MW in multiple time intervals, even when the grid frequency dropped below 49.90 Hz. During August to mid-October 2021, Maharashtra had overdrawn power in the 1-7 MU range. Approximately 0.5% to 1% of its daily energy needs were met through overdrawing power from the grid, while around 4-8% of its daily energy consumption was satisfied by purchasing power from various segments of the short-term electricity market. The highest short-term purchase occurred during September 20-28, 2021, reaching up to 12-14% of daily consumption, with 2-4% sourced from the real-time market.
In its submission, the Maharashtra SLDC said it faced challenges with several thermal power units going offline in Maharashtra for various reasons. Among these, fifteen units with a combined capacity of 5,190 MW experienced disruptions due to a coal shortage. To address the overdrawal of power by Maharashtra, the Maharashtra SLDC swiftly increased hydroelectric generation.
Additionally, the Maharashtra SLDC stated that it had already implemented various measures, including automatic under-frequency load shedding, which involved reducing the frequency from 49.4 Hz to 48.80 Hz in four incremental steps, following the WRPC’s plan. The center also mentioned that it had introduced corrective actions such as enhancing renewable energy forecasting and addressing agricultural demand feeders. However, some of these initiatives encountered delays primarily due to administrative issues.
During this specific timeframe, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (<a href="https://www.mahadiscom.in/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSEDCL</a>)  optimized its contracted hydroelectric resources despite facing annual constraints on water usage. MSEDCL procured 679.36 MUs from the market at a rate of ₹20 (~$0.0241)/kWh and had the capacity to purchase a maximum of 3600 MW. Furthermore, MSEDCL explored power exchange options with other states, scheduling a transfer of 200 MW from October 16, 2021, to November 30, 2021, and from February 16, 2022, to March 31, 2022, in partnership with Tata Power Delhi Distribution Company.
Measures were taken to address the high electricity demands during the morning and evening peak periods, including reducing three-phase power availability to agricultural consumers by two hours limiting it to eight hours during both time slots. Additionally, staggered time schedules were introduced for various agricultural groups to mitigate sudden surges or drops in demand caused by changes in agricultural loads.
To cope with these challenges, MSEDCL explored the possibility of power banking with other states and finalized a schedule to transfer 200 MW of power from October 16, 2021, to November 30, 2021, and from February 16, 2022, to March 31, 2022.
MSEDCL primarily relied on long-term PPAs to fulfill peak demand requirements. During the peak summer months of April and May 2022, it operated its hydroelectric generation facilities at maximum capacity. Despite the use of advanced forecasting by renewable energy generators for solar and wind energy, there were instances of inaccuracies in actual power generation.
Madhya Pradesh
The overdrawal of power by Madhya Pradesh consistently exceeded 400-1,200 MW, even when the grid frequency dropped below 49.90 Hz. Madhya Pradesh had overdrawn power in the 2-9 MUs range during the said period. Madhya Pradesh fulfilled 0.5% to 4% of its daily energy needs through these overdrawals from the grid. The state sold energy equivalent to 3% to 16% of its daily energy consumption, translating to 5-30 MUs in the short-term market.
Notably, short-term sales reached 20-30 MUs between September 19 and October 3, 2021, a period when Madhya Pradesh was significantly over-drawing power, coinciding with the grid operating at very low frequencies ranging from 49.5 Hz to 49.7 Hz.
The Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company (<a href="https://www.mppmcl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MPPMCL</a>) and the Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company (<a href="https://www.mptransco.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MPPTCL</a>) emphasized their unwavering commitment to maintaining grid discipline and ensuring the secure operation of the integrated grid. They underscored that no grid disruptions could be attributed to Madhya Pradesh during the period in question.
They provided an overview of the factors contributing to inadvertent overdrawal in the state, including increased agricultural pump load during dry spells, the unpredictable nature of wind generation, reduced generation from hydro projects due to low reservoir levels, coal shortages impacting power plants, and the absence of alternative options.
Madhya Pradesh experienced a slight increase in deviations during the final week of August 2021, primarily due to several units from independent power producers.
Furthermore, they pointed out that Madhya Pradesh possesses adequate hydroelectric generation capacity to meet peak and contingency demands without resorting to grid overdrawal. However, the state had to procure power from the open market due to limited alternatives.
Additionally, they highlighted ongoing developments, including implementing the energy portfolio management system by Power Finance Corporation Consultancy and the automatic demand management program and load trimming programs within the state’s transmission network, all aimed at ensuring the grid&#8217;s reliability.
Gujarat
The overdrawal by Gujarat remained in the 400–1200 MW range in several time blocks, even at a frequency below 49.90 Hz during the period from August to mid-October 2021. Gujarat had met 0.5 % to 2.5% of its daily energy consumption by overdrawing from the grid by 2-7 MUs. Gujarat had met around 20-35% of its daily energy consumption by purchasing from various segments of the short-term electricity market.
The Gujarat SLDC highlighted that since August 2021, the state has been grappling with an unprecedented power situation. This situation was characterized by various factors, including unit outages at APL (Mundra), concerns related to coal quality and shortages at state-owned power plants, significant increases in variable costs for gas plants, and the challenges posed by the intermittent nature of wind and solar power generation.
During the specified period, the Gujarat SLDC pointed out that there were more instances of underdrawing blocks than overdrawing blocks, which indicated that there was no deliberate intent to exceed the grid draw limits to meet power requirements. State utilities heavily relied on the market, obtaining 30% to 40% of their energy from the short-term open access market.
To curtail overdrawal, measures were put in place, including restrictions on agricultural feeders, and a reduction in agricultural demand occurred naturally due to widespread rainfall in September 2021. Additionally, the Gujarat SLDC enforced load relief by imposing restrictions on the Jyoti Gram Yojana, a government program that provides 24&#215;7 three-phase power supply to rural areas, starting October 1, 2021.
The Gujarat SLDC further explained that it took proactive measures to limit unscheduled overdrawal and ensure that drawal remained within established limits. These actions included promoting internal generation within DISCOMs, collaborating with the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (<a href="https://www.guvnl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GUVNL</a>) to reduce agricultural supply hours, introducing staggered scheduling for industrial activities, and improving demand and renewable energy forecasting.
Additionally, it encouraged state-generating companies to expedite the revival of thermal units, optimized internal power generation and imposed load restrictions to control overdrawal. Initiatives were also launched to explore automatic load trimming programs, develop various methods for estimating demand, and activate the automatic demand management program in state-owned DISCOMs.
The Gujarat SLDC prepared reports on demand and resource availability, evaluated special protection programs, and implemented measures such as load trimming and under-voltage load shedding to enhance grid security.
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh consistently exceeded its power draw by 200-450 MW during various periods. Over this time frame, Chhattisgarh&#8217;s power overdraws ranged from 0.5-3.5 MUs. Chhattisgarh managed to meet 1% to 3% of its daily energy needs by over-drawing power from the grid. From September 19, 2021, and lasting until October 5, 2021, Chhattisgarh sold between 3% and 15% of its daily energy consumption, equivalent to 2.5-12 MUs, in the short-term market.
Notably, from September 19, 2021, to September 26, 2021, when Chhattisgarh significantly exceeded its power draw, the state&#8217;s short-term sales reached 8-12 MUs.
In its response, the Chhattisgarh SLDC explained that it actively addressed the low Available Transfer Capability (ATC) issue by implementing various programs to increase the ATC limit. The instances of simultaneous overdrawing and sales in the short-term market were attributed to unforeseen fluctuations in system demand and pre-committed sales that were not deliberate actions.
During the specified period, it calculated a maximum thermal generation outage of 39.78%, equivalent to 1130 MW out of a total capacity of 2840 MW, with the highest daily outage recorded at 27.12 MUs. The Chhattisgarh SLDC also faced forced outages of thermal units in August (9 instances), September (10 instances), and October (10 instances) of 2021. To manage the issue of overdrawal, it relied on unscheduled load shedding, which was implemented 111 times in August 2021, 16 times in September 2021, and 39 times in October 2021. Despite these challenges, the Chhattisgarh SLDC asserted that it diligently fulfilled its responsibilities without intentional violations.
Chhattisgarh SLDC stated in its reply that it actively addressed low ATC issues by implementing various programs to increase the ATC limit. The reported simultaneous overdrawing and sales in the short-term market were attributed to unexpected system demand fluctuations and pre-committed sales that were not deliberate actions. It calculated a maximum thermal generation outage of 39.78% (1130 MW out of 2840 MW capacity) during the specified period, with the highest daily outage at 27.12 MUs.
It experienced forced thermal unit outages in August (9 instances), September (10 instances), and October (10 instances) 2021. To manage overdrawal, it relied on unscheduled load shedding, which was employed 111 times in August 2021, 16 times in September 2021, and 39 times in October 2021. Despite the challenges, Chhattisgarh SLDC asserted that it diligently performed its duties without deliberate violations.
Commission’s Analysis
The Commission observed that, due to excessive power drawal by certain state entities, the grid frequency dipped below the prescribed lower limit of 49.90 Hz on numerous occasions between mid-August and mid-October 2021. During this period, the frequency remained below 49.90 Hz for a total of 117 hours, and at times, it reached exceptionally low values ranging from 49.5 to 49.7 Hz. Furthermore, the frequency remained below 49.7 Hz for a combined duration of 4.2 hours.
It noted that the overdrawal by the states takes the grid to a stressed situation that must be avoided. It is also necessary that reserves are maintained by the states on a day-to-day basis so that overdrawal is minimized in such situations and complies with the directions of RLDC, as the grid cannot be left in a vulnerable condition.
The state regulator directed the respondents to strictly adhere to the specified action plan and mandated that SLDCs provide quarterly progress reports to WRLDC regarding its implementation. Any necessary action plan modifications should be discussed and finalized in the Regional Power Committee.
CERC added that the types of messages issued by WRLDC have been reviewed and recommended that the logic for sending these messages be defined precisely in the operating procedure to ensure clarity for the states.
CERC, in this case, desisted from imposing any penalties on the respondents and encouraged the petitioner to approach the Commission if it encounters issues with action plan implementation or non-compliance with the issued directives.
Recently, CERC, in response to a petition filed by the Southern Regional Load Despatch Centre regarding critical operational challenges of the grid in South India, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cerc-directs-maintain-grid-stability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directed</a> the states to provide quarterly progress reports to SRLDC on actions taken to ensure grid stability.
Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates</a> to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.

CERC Directs States to Take Action for Maintaining Grid Security in Western India

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					</table>The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://rerc.rajasthan.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RERC</a>), in a recent order, has rejected the compensation claims by a solar developer for losses incurred due to voltage fluctuations and directed them to make necessary arrangements for injecting or withdrawing reactive power per the regulations outlined by the Central Electricity Authority (<a href="https://cea.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CEA</a>).
The Commission also directed the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (<a href="https://energy.rajasthan.gov.in/rrvpn/#/home/dptHome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RVPN</a>), the state load dispatch center (<a href="https://sldc.rajasthan.gov.in/rrvpnl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SLDC</a>), and the solar developers to take appropriate and necessary action to maintain the grid voltage within the operating limits for 200 MW (2*100 MW) solar power projects at the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan.
ACME Jodhpur Solar Power, ACME Rewa Solar Energy, and <a href="https://www.acmesolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ACME Solar Holding</a> had filed a petition with the Commission requesting it to direct the respondents to comply with the Grid Code and take measures to overcome the issue of consistent voltage tripping at the 220 kV Bhadla substation and compensate the petitioners toward the loss of revenue.
The respondents included RVPN, SLDC, <a href="https://sauryaurja.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan</a>, <a href="https://nrldc.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Northern Regional Load Despatch Center</a>, <a href="http://164.100.60.165/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Northern Regional Power Committee</a>, and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (<a href="https://www.seci.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SECI</a>).
Background 
ACME Solar Holding formed two special purpose vehicles (SPVs), namely ACME Jodhpur Solar Power and ACME Rewa Solar Energy, for the development of a 100 MW solar power project by each SPV at the Bhadla Solar Park, Phase-III in Rajasthan.
The projects supply power through a dedicated line connected to the Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan’s 33/200 kV pooling substation, which is the interconnection point of the projects with the grid.
The pooling substation is connected to RVPN’s 400/220 kV grid substation through two 220 kV transmission lines.
The solar developers, in their submission, said since 2018, they had encountered severe voltage fluctuations at the Bhadla substation, resulting in abnormal tripping of solar inverters, damage to electrical components, and reduced power generation. The continuous under-voltage problems had hampered the generation process, preventing it from reaching its maximum capacity.
The petitioners contended that the grid disruptions and low voltage incidents at the Bhadla substation resulted from the absence of a secure and dependable transmission system, which was the responsibility of RVPN and SLDC.
However, despite repeated requests and acknowledgment of such events of grid disturbances involving voltage tripping, RVPN, and SLDC had failed to undertake measures to resolve such issues.
The petitioners had engaged Hitachi Energy India to conduct the steady state analysis and determine the cause for under voltage. According to Hitachi, the cause of the constant tripping was due to issues at the Bhadla grid substation.
Following this, RVPN officially approved installing a 500 MVAr transformer at the 400 kV Bhadla grid substation. However, despite receiving authorization in August 2022, there has been no progress on installing the transformer and STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator).
In response, RVPN explained that some tripping had occurred on the 220 kV line 1 (from the Pooling substation to the RVPN Bhadla substation) due to the activation of under-voltage protection by the Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan. As of September 8, 2022, full solar generation had been recorded, and no further incidents of under-voltage tripping were observed.
RVPN also mentioned that on numerous occasions, the generator failed to provide reactive power to support the grid. Instead of assisting the grid, the generator had drawn reactive power from the grid when the grid voltage was low.
Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan argued that considering the issues of over or under voltage on Line-01, the Commission should instruct RVPN to install STATCOM to enhance grid voltage during peak generation. This measure would prevent solar generators from experiencing energy losses and inverter tripping.
Furthermore, they requested the installation of two 25 MVAr shunt reactors to manage voltage conditions at the pooling substation connected to the main bus, with the associated development costs being covered by the solar power developers.
Commission’s analysis      
The Commission observed that the solar developers had raised the issue of grid disturbances at the Bhadla substation and requested a compensation of ₹58 million (~$697,177) for loss of revenue.
The Commission noted that dynamically varying reactive support by generators is necessary to ensure a reliable voltage level. Voltage and reactive power control significantly impact system stability, and an imbalance of reactive power, i.e., drawl during low voltage supply, can lead to voltage instability.
The state regulator noted that RVPN and Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan had reported that the real-time reactive power injection and absorption support from the generator during under or over-voltage conditions did not meet the requirements of the CEA regulations.
It also directed the RVPN to commission the sanctioned +300MVAR, 400 kV STATCOM at 400 kV GSS Bhadla, and +100MVAR, 220 kV STATCOM at 220 kV GSS Phalodi.
It noted that the grid voltage should remain within the operating limits as specified in the CEA regulations, and the responsibility to maintain the grid voltage pertained to the solar developers, Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan, RVPN, and SLDC.
In light of this, the Commission instructed the solar developers to establish suitable arrangements for injecting or withdrawing reactive power per the regulations outlined by the CEA.
According to the CEA, the generating station must be capable of supplying dynamically varying reactive power support to maintain power factor within the limits of 0.95 lagging to 0.95 leading.
As the petitioner shared most of the responsibility in this matter, compensation could not be awarded to the developers.
In June this year, CEA <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/renewable-developers-must-comply-connectivity-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directed</a> renewable energy developers who have applied for connectivity until April 30, 2023, to comply with CEA Connectivity Regulations by September 30 or face disconnection.
Lately, Mercom <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/reactive-power-support-renewables-to-prevent-blackouts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">penned</a> an article discussing the crucial aspects of grid safety, emphasizing the necessity of compensating for reactive power (grid inertia) and maintaining voltage stability.
Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates </a>to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.

Rajasthan Rejects Solar Developer’s Compensation Claims for Grid Fluctuations

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					</table>Researchers from the <a href="https://www.cityu.edu.hk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">City University</a> of Hong Kong have invented a multifunctional, non-volatile additive that can regulate the growth of perovskite films and improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs).
During the experiments, the new additive boosted power conversion efficiency, reaching 24.8%, with an overall energy loss of 0.36 eV.
The unencapsulated devices also demonstrated improved thermal stability, maintaining 98% of their original efficiency after continuous heating at 65 ± 5°C for over 1,000 hours.
The team also found that this strategy could be applied to different perovskite compositions and large-area devices, highlighting its potential for fabricating scalable and highly efficient PVSCs.
The study was published in Nature Photonics under the title &#8220;Hydrogen-bond-bridged intermediate for perovskite solar cells with enhanced efficiency and stability.&#8221;
The researchers said this could pave the way for the widespread adoption of PVSCs in commercial applications.
Perovskite solar cells have emerged as a cost-effective and efficient replacement for conventional silicon-based solar cells. They can be deposited from solutions onto the fabrication surfaces, making them suitable for building-integrated photovoltaics, wearable devices, and solar farm applications.
However, the efficiency and stability of PVSCs are affected by defects present at the interfaces and grain boundaries of the perovskites, leading to severe energy loss.
Previous studies have focused on enhancing the morphology and quality of perovskite films using volatile additives.
However, these additives tend to evaporate from the film following annealing, forming a void at the perovskite-substrate interface.
The researchers at CityU said they addressed this challenge by adjusting the perovskite film growth to enhance the film&#8217;s quality.
The team discovered that adding a multifunctional molecule – 4-guanidinobenzoic acid hydrochloride (GBAC) – to the perovskite precursor creates a hydrogen-bond-bridged intermediate phase that alters the crystallization process.
This leads to high-quality perovskite films with large perovskite crystal grains and uniform grain growth from the bottom to the film’s surface.
Additionally, this molecule acts as a defect passivation linker that reduces the defect density of the perovskite film due to its non-volatility, resulting in significantly lower non-radiative recombination loss and improved film quality.
The researchers tested this approach by adding GBAC to the perovskite precursor and found that it significantly reduced the defect density of perovskite films and enhanced their quality.
Various organizations, including CityU, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Research Grants Council, the Green Tech Fund of the Environment and Ecology Bureau in Hong Kong, the Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Magnetic Functional Materials supported the study.
Last December, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy Systems (ISE) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/scientists-claim-efficiency-perovskite-silicon-tandem-cell-large-area" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collaborated</a> with industry partners to achieve an efficiency of 22.55% in a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell measuring over 100 square centimeters.
Earlier in the month, scientists at the Swiss Laboratories for Material Science &amp; Technology, Empa, claimed to have <a href="https://mercomindia.com/silver-tandem-solar-cells-achieve-record-efficiency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a low-temperature method using silver to produce a bifacial perovskite-copper indium gallium selenide tandem solar cell.

Researchers Say New Additive Improves Perovskite Solar Cell’s Efficiency

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					</table>A team of researchers from École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (<a href="https://www.epfl.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EPFL</a>), Switzerland, have developed a method that improves both power conversion efficiency and stability of solar cells based on pure iodide as well as mixed-halide perovskites.
The new approach resulted in power-conversion efficiencies of 24.9% and 21.2% for two perovskite compositions. The team claimed about 90% and 80% of the initial efficiencies were retained after 1,200 and 250 hours of continuous operation, respectively.
“By addressing the critical issue of stability, our results represent an important step towards large-scale practical applications of PSCs,” the researchers said.
The research was carried out by Michael Grätzel and Ursula Rothlisberger at EPFL and led by Essa A. Alharbi and Lukas Pfeifer.
The Problem of Halide Segregation
A major obstacle in commercializing perovskite solar cells is their operational stability, which puts them at a disadvantage. Finding solutions to address this becomes crucial to make perovskite technology a success, especially for solar cells.
The problem outstands with mixed-halide perovskites, which are ideal materials for both tandem solar cells and emission-tunable LEDs because they combine high compositional flexibility with optoelectronic performance.
Mixed-halide perovskites also feature wide bandgaps, an essential property that affects the energy needed for a photovoltaic material to generate electricity.
However, in most mixed-halide perovskites, light can cause a “halide phase segregation,” wherein the ingredients tend to “de-mix” into regions of differing halide content. This segregation inevitably can lead to efficiency problems during the operational lifespan of a solar cell.
Addressing Challenges 
The researchers said they used a method to treat perovskite solar cells with two alkylammonium halide modulators that work in synergy to improve solar cell performance.
The modulators are used as passivators &#8212; compounds used to mitigate defects in perovskites &#8212;  which otherwise promote degradation pathways.
In their study, the researchers were able to use the two modulators to stop halide segregation and substantially reduce the drops in power-conversion efficiency seen in the long-term use of perovskite solar cells.
Recently, researchers from Monash University, Australia, in collaboration with the Wuhan University of Technology in China, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-use-lead-acetate-to-make-perovskite-efficiency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they could use lead acetate as a precursor in making formamidinium-caesium perovskite solar cells with a conversion efficiency of 21%.
Earlier in the month, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iit-roorkee-claim-17-efficiency-perovskite-solar-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they had successfully developed a prototype of a low-cost, high-quality perovskite solar cell that achieved a stable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.05%.

Swiss Researchers Say Raised Perovskite Cells’ Stability at 24.9% Efficiency

An international team of researchers at the <a href="https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pusan National University</a>, South Korea, have claimed that they have developed a foldable solar cell that could be integrated into everyday appliances.
Existing solar cells and panels are rigid and flat due to the lack of flexibility of traditional conducting material used in solar cells. This makes it difficult to store solar cells and panels in large numbers and integrate them into everyday appliances like phones, windows, vehicles, and indoor devices.
In a report, the researchers said a thin, flexible, resilient, and transparent conducting material is required to develop a fully foldable solar cell.
Researcher Il Jeon said, “Unlike merely flexible electronics, foldable devices are subject to much harsher deformations, with folding radii as small as 0.5 millimeters. This is not possible with conventional ultra-thin glass substrates and metal oxide transparent conductors, which can be made flexible but never fully foldable.”
<div id="attachment_24728" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-24728" class="size-full wp-image-24728" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-scaled.jpg" alt="The-Future-of-Solar-Technology" width="2560" height="1509" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-300x177.jpg 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-2000x1179.jpg 2000w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-768x453.jpg 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-1536x906.jpg 1536w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-2048x1208.jpg 2048w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-650x383.jpg 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-624x368.jpg 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INFOGRAPHIC_The_Future_of_Solar_Technology-600x354.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />International research team creates solar cells with unprecedented flexibility and resistance.</div>
To resolve these issues, the researchers developed a solar cell using single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNTs) films because of their high transparency and mechanical resilience.
However, SWNT films require chemical doping as these films struggle to adhere to the substrate surface when force is applied. To address this issue, the researchers implanted the conducting layer into a polyimide (PI) substrate, which fills void spaces in SWNTs.
The researchers introduced small impurities into the SWNT-PI nanocomposite layers to enhance their conductivity to generate more charge for a given amount of current.
The 7-micrometer thick composite film demonstrated around 80% transparency, exceptional resistance to bending, and conversion efficiency of 15.2%. The film could withstand over 10,000 folding cycles too.
“The obtained results are some of the best among those reported thus far for flexible solar cells, both in terms of efficiency and mechanical stability,” Jeon said.
In August 2020, a research team from the University of Michigan <a href="https://mercomindia.com/organic-solar-cells-windows-generate-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they set a new efficiency record for color-neutral, transparent solar cells. Instead of following the conventional silicon-based design, the team had attained 8.1% efficiency and 43% transparency with an organic/carbon-based design. These organic solar cells were compatible with windows that cover the face of most buildings.
Mercom had earlier <a href="https://mercomindia.com/semi-transparent-perovskite-solar-windows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Australian researchers, led by members of the ARC Center of Excellence in Exciton Science, had succeeded in producing semi-transparent perovskite solar cells that generate electricity. This breakthrough could allow for windows in buildings and automobiles to generate electricity.

A Foldable Solar Cell With Conversion Efficiency of 15.2%

U.K.-based <a href="https://www.faradion.co.uk/about-us/background/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Faradion Ltd</a>, a manufacturer of sodium-ion batteries, has announced a partnership with <a href="https://infraprimelogistics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Infraprime Logistics Technologies</a> (IPLTEC) to provide batteries for commercial vehicles in the Indian electric vehicle market.
IPLTech is a Gurgaon-based heavy goods vehicle fleet service provider. The company has been trying to halve the cost of infrastructure development through a fleet of electric trucks coupled with data-driven vehicle management. The team at IPLTech has compiled datasets of project sites, crusher operators, miners, transporters, and routes on which trucks can travel. Using real-time analytics, they match unassigned orders with available vehicles.
This increases vehicle utilization and minimizes the chances of a few suppliers courting multiple orders. Through field operations, IPLTech has mapped data on concentrated routes in construction-heavy clusters. Leveraging this data, digital solutions are developed to provide real-time visibility to fleet operators and clients. IPLTech claims that theirelectric truck is the first of its kind heavy-duty fully electric vehicle to be integrated and deployed in India.
Faradion’s press statement said that “India has demonstrated a growing appetite for moving towards commercial electric vehicles, driven by the government’s target of 30% electric vehicle adoption by 2030. It has given a significant push to infrastructure by allocating $1.4 trillion (~₹105.2 trillion) for infrastructure to be invested by 2025.”
The company also noted that India’s allocation for the development of infrastructure of electric vehicles is higher compared to the U.K., which allocated $35 billion (~₹2.6 trillion) and the United States with an allocation of $500 billion (₹37.6 trillion) for the same period.
Faradion noted that its sodium-ion battery technology provides similar performance to conventional chemistries while replacing expensive materials such as cobalt and lithium with the far more abundant sodium. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, these batteries have exceptional thermal stability and safety and can be safely transported and maintained at zero volts.
Lithium-ion batteries are some of the most commonly used types of batteries used in electronic devices and vehicles. They are usually smaller, lighter, and more compact compared to their alternatives. However, they are delicate and need protection from being over-charged and discharged too far, which usually requires additional circuitry, making them more expensive to make. They also require much lower maintenance compared to other types of batteries.
Recently, researchers at the Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory <a href="https://mercomindia.com/rresearchers-announce-cheapersodium-ion-battery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that they had created a sodium-ion battery that can be made with widely and cheaply available materials. They said that these batteries work as well as commercially available lithium-ion batteries, adding that they offer similar performance and can retain more than 80% of their charge even after 1,000 charge cycles.
In May 2020, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-develop-new-way-turn-polymers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that researchers at Purdue University, in collaboration with researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology and Tufts University, had developed a technique to turn polymers into components for batteries using microwave radiation. The paper noted that sodium-ion battery cells have been seeing a rise in popularity because sodium is more widely and easily available than lithium.

UK’s Faradion Inks Deal with Indian Startup for the Use of Sodium-Ion Batteries

The Government of India wants to ensure 24&#215;7 affordable and quality power for all. Though this is an important target, the power grids across the country have historically been struggling with various issues which make this objective sound doubtful and unfeasible as of now. India is still home to millions of unlit households and suffers from long <a href="https://mercomindia.com/government-impose-penalty-discoms-power-cuts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">power outages</a>, even in the most developed cities and towns.
However, assuring that things <a href="https://mercomindia.com/states-urged-to-work-universal-household-electrification/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will soon fall in line</a>, the minister for power, R. K. Singh, stated in Parliament, “The ministry of power had constituted an enquiry committee to analyze the causes of the major grid disturbances in northern region and to suggest measures to avoid recurrence of such disturbance in the future. The committee submitted the report on August 16, 2012.”
Singh further added, “To mitigate the issue of load encroachment, the committee recommended review of zone-3 philosophy. Subsequently, a task force on power system analysis under contingencies was constituted in December 2012, which submitted its report in August 2013. Regarding the issue of load encroachment, the task force gave its detailed recommendation on zone-3 philosophy. The recommendations of this task force have been implemented in all the five regional electricity grids in consultation with their constituents.”
Key Measures Taken to Check Grid Outages and Power Swings
<ul>
<li>The operation of the power grids in the country and its monitoring are governed by the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC) issued by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://cercind.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CERC</a>). Accordingly, the operation of the regional grids is supervised by the respective Regional Load Dispatch Centers (RLDCs) whereas overall operation of the inter-regional grid is supervised by the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC). This includes operational measures to avoid any grid outage, on real time basis.</li>
<li>In cases of sudden disturbances which have potential to disturb prevailing load generation balance or which could result in overloading of some transmission corridors, Special Protection Schemes (SPS) have been provided on case to case basis to avoid cascade tripping and to ensure faster restoration of the electrical system.</li>
<li>In monthly meetings of Regional Power Committees (RPCs), the outage planning of inter-state and interregional transmission elements are discussed and finalized in consultation with RLDCs / NLDC.</li>
<li>The requisite protection to avoid the unwarranted tripping on lines due to power swings has been deployed in all five regional electricity grids.</li>
</ul>
Singh also stated that the government has also taken steps for better protection system of electricity grids to prevent future grid disturbances.
Third party protection audit of all substations is carried out periodically to identify deficiencies in existing protection system. Government of India has granted funds from Power System Development Fund (PSDF) for rectification of discrepancies identified in the third-party protection audit of the states and utilities. To date, an amount of ₹31,980 million (~$465.34 million) has been sanctioned for 41 programs for renovation and upgrade of protection system. Automatic Under Frequency Load Shedding (AUFLS) protection programs have also been implemented in all the regions to improve grid’s stable operation, added Singh.

stability

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