The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has amended the guidelines for implementation of Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) scheme phase-II for setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected solar projects with viability gap funding (VGF). According to the amended guidelines, power produced by the government producers could be used on payment of mutually agreed usage charges of not more than Rs 2.45 per unit. Earlier, it was mutually agreed usage charges of not more than Rs 2.80 per unit.

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat continues to be the preferred destination for setting up wind power projects in India. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Gujarat witnessed the highest addition of wind power generation capacity in the country in 2020-21. Wind power projects with the cumulative generation capacity of 1,020.3MW were installed and commissioned in Gujarat from April 2020 to March 21. That was the highest capacity addition by any state in India during the period, shows data compiled by Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA).

Industrialist Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Energy plans to add 2,600 MW renewable power generation capacity to its portfolio by 2023. With this, the share of its renewable power will increase to 55 per cent of overall portfolio from the present 30 per cent. ADVERTISING The renewable projects -- including wind, solar and hydel -- will help the 4,600 MW power generation company in reducing its carbon footprint. JSW Solar Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Energy, received Letter of Awards for setting up a total blended wind capacity of 810 MW from Solar Energy Corporation Limited (SECI).

Ind-Ra estimates that the allocation of INR 45 billion towards the solar modules manufacturing industry by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) can benefit the sales of 20 GW from the capacity developed under the under PLI scheme across the five-year implementation period, assuming 100% localization (up to 30 GW in case of 65% localization). Also, the scheme can promote an additional 8-12GW annual solar cell/module manufacturing capacity in India. Providently this estimate assumes the base PLI rate of INR 2.25 per watt power and entirely greenfield expansion.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced the release of its Renewable Energy market Update today, highlighting the rapid growth in global renewable energy capacity over the past year, and the outlook for growth going forward. According to the IEA report, renewable sources of electricity such as wind and solar grew at their fastest rate in two decades in 2020, with capacity added during the year rising by 45% to 280 gigawatts (GW), substantially ahead of prior forecasts of a 200 GW increase.