Tata Power Installs 1 Lakh Rooftop Solar Panels Across India, With 33,000 Specifically in Kerala

Tata Power has successfully installed one lakh rooftop solar panels across India, with 33,000 panels specifically in Kerala. This milestone is significant, especially considering the recent announcement of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, which aims to provide clean energy to every households. Tata Power Solar offers off-grid solutions for smaller roof areas.

This was announced by Tata Power CEO and Managing Director Praveer Sinha.

“We intend to replicate the successful Kerala model in other regions,” Sinha said during a press conference on Thursday.

In Kochi, Sinha launched the company’s “GharGhar Solar” initiative, designed to promote rooftop solar adoption and raise awareness of its benefits. Kochi is the third city to launch this program, following Jodhpur and Varanasi. The initiative offers significant financial incentives for homeowners to adopt advanced rooftop solar solutions.

Tata Power is expanding "GharGhar Solar” initiative across all states and union territories, aiming to capture a 20-25% market share of the one crore rooftop solar installations targeted by the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. The company plans to bolster its network of over 500 channel partners to 5,000, ensuring nationwide coverage.

A notable development in Kerala includes the commissioning of a 101.6 MWp floating solar power project in the backwaters at Kayamkulam. Floating solar projects are advantageous as they conserve land, reduce water evaporation, and enhance solar panel efficiency through the cooling effect of water. Sinha revealed that Tata Power has already installed a similar 88 MW plant in Madhya Pradesh and is exploring opportunities for additional floating projects in other states.

Tata Power Solar Systems Limited has launched the "Ghar Ghar Solar, Tata Power ke Sang" initiative in Uttar Pradesh (UP), starting from Varanasi. This ambitious program aims to power every home in UP with clean energy through state-of-the-art Rooftop Solar Solutions (RTS). Residents can avail a maximum subsidy of up to ₹1,08,000 on rooftop sor installation. The subsidy includes ₹78,000 from the Central Government for up to 3 kW and an additional ₹30,000 (₹15,000 per kW) from the State Government.

Tata Power Solar's commitment to quality and innovation ensures a hassle-free switch to solar power, contributing to energy availability and sustainability in the region¹. Additionally, there's a nationwide campaign called "#GharGharSolar, Tata Power ke Sangh," which encourages consumers across India to adopt clean energy by promoting residential solar rooftop solutions². If you're interested in installing rooftop solar panels, you can explore the government's portal for more information.

Waaree Energies Raises ~ ₹1000 Cr in 2nd Round of Equity Funding Led by ValueQuest

Waaree Energies Limited Raises ~INR 1000 Crore in Second Round of Equity Funding Led by ValueQuest

Waaree Energies Limited (WEL), a renowned player in the solar energy sector and contributing towards the transition to green and clean energy, has successfully raised a round of equity funding, amounting to approximately INR 1000 crore. The investment round was led by ValueQuest, an investment firm known for its strategic focus on sustainable and progressive ventures.

Waaree Energies Ltd. had earlier raised a primary round of ~INR 1040 crore from a clutch of investors including family offices, HNIs etc.

The current round of funding will be utilized for another 6 GW of capacity expansion, in addition to the existing capacity of 12 GW. The additional 6 GW capacity is intended for the manufacturing of solar ingots and wafers, cells and modules. This equity investment is in addition to the PLI Tranche II of INR 1,923 Cr awarded by the Government of India.

The company also plans for backward integration in the manufacturing of solar cells with a capacity of 5.4 GW. Within the next 2 years, Waaree Energies Ltd. will have 20 GW of Module capacity, 11.4 GW Cell and 6GW Wafers manufacturing capacity. This expansion plan will further consolidate Waaree’s position as world’s largest solar module manufacturer outside China.

Waaree Energies Ltd.’s long-standing association with ValueQuest has been instrumental in advancing its mission to provide clean and sustainable energy solutions globally. The collaboration has enabled the company to deliver solar products, strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and enhance its customer-centric approach.

The latest funding round is a testament to the resilience and potential of Waaree Energies Limited as a participant in the renewable energy market. The company remains dedicated to upholding its core values of excellence, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, as it continues to lead the way towards a greener and more environmentally responsible future.

Mr. Hitesh Doshi, Chairman & Managing Director at Waaree Energies Limited said, “This strategic investment reinforces our vision for a sustainable future and our commitment to revolutionizing the solar energy landscape. This funding, we believe will assist in our growth, expand our market presence, and drive positive change in the renewable energy transition. We appreciate the ongoing support from ValueQuest."

Expressing his optimism in the opportunity Ravi Dharamshi, CIO & MD of ValueQuest mentioned that “Megatrends are transformational and not incremental, with far reaching and disproportionate impact. Waaree Energies Ltd. is benefitting from twin megatrends of Energy Transition and the Supply Chain Shift away from China.”

About Waaree Energies Ltd.

Waaree Energies Ltd. is the flagship company of Waaree Group, founded in 1989 with headquarters in Mumbai, India. Waaree Energy is a vertically integrated new energy company. It has Solar panel manufacturing capacity of 12 GW at its plants in Chikhli, Surat and Umbergaon in Gujarat and has presence in EPC Services, Project Development, Solar Rooftop Solutions, Solar Inverter, and Solar Water Pumps. It is also an Independent Power Producer. Waaree has a presence over multiple locations nationally through its franchisees and 20 countries internationally as of June 30, 2023. Waaree has supplied 6+GW of solar modules and commissioned 1+ GW of solar EPC projects.

About ValueQuest:

ValueQuest is an investment firm that specializes in identifying and supporting businesses with long-term growth potential. The firm's investment strategy revolves around backing sustainable and innovative ventures across various industries, with a keen focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors.

AI-powered Deep Tech Solar Startup Renkube Bags INR 2.4 Cr in a Seed Funding Round Led by CIIE.CO

Renkube is the world's first company to offer a motion-free tracking solution embedded in the glass design for solar panel.

Halliburton Labs , JITO Angel Network, and K4 Mumbai Network also participated in the round

Renewable energy-focused deep tech startup - Renkube - has announced that it has secured $300K (INR 2.4 crores) in a seed round led by CIIE.CO. JITO Angel Network and K4 Forum Mumbai Network also participated in this round. Halliburton Labs, a wholly owned subsidiary of Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) is participating via Renkube’s selection to its clean energy accelerator. Renkube is the world's first company to offer a motion-free tracking solution embedded in the glass design for solar panels.

Founded by Balaji Lakshmikanth Bangolae, Dr Lakshmi Santhanam, Deepika Gopal and Dr Janardhana Vittal Rao in 2017 to build a sustainable future by producing cutting-edge products in the renewable energy field, the company plans to use the fresh funds to build industrial-scale manufacturing of this solar panel, secure necessary certifications and demonstrate the technology with top industrial customers in India, the US and Australia. The company will start with the Solar Photovoltaic market and, in future, enable this technology for different use cases such as an Integrated Solar Roof, Agri PV, Solar Water Heater and Solar Balcony.

Team Renkube

Commenting on the announcement, Balaji Lakshmikanth, CEO and Co-founder, Renkube - "At Renkube we want to enable the world to unlock the enormous potential of solar energy and accelerate the transition to a net zero carbon economy by 2070. Solar is booming and let’s make it even better.”

Large solar farms today have only mechanical trackers as their only option to increase energy yield which results in 15% more capital cost, an experienced workforce to maintain the trackers, and also the motors and gears have limited warranty. Renkube intends to replace this cumbersome technology with its AI based smart glass design that once installed lasts for the lifetime of the panel with absolutely zero maintenance overheads. Just like how a sunflower that tracks the sun to maximize the yield, our innovative light harvesting glass tracks the sun and improves the energy yield of the solar panels by 20% more. As long as the Renkube panel is installed as per the recommended latitude tilt, the design works across all geographies from Singapore to London.

“CIIE.CO has actively been investing in the Cleantech space since its inception and we believe this space requires crucial catalytic capital to foster innovation and better products for faster, efficient adoption. Renkube has a very strong technical background with founders having a decade of experience each in the engineering, research and software domains. Their patent pending light redirecting glass design based on their proprietary topology optimization algorithm is an extremely unique product and creates a strong defensibility and first mover advantage in the clean tech space”, said Vipul Patel, Partner, Seed Investing, CIIE.CO.

The company is also supported by prestigious government grants from IKP Knowledge Park, Hyderabad, as BIG partner (BIRAC) and Meity Tide 2.0 support from SINE, IIT Bombay. The company is also supported by AgHub Foundation, a Centre for Innovation and Agri-entrepreneurship at Prof Jaya Shankar Telangana State Agriculture University, (PJTSAU), Hyderabad. Renkube is working with AgHub under first of its kind Agritech Innovation Pilot, Cohort 2.0 and is currently conducting its innovation pilot at PJTSAU experimental farm on a real time basis for technology validation and developing farmer traction at Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

They were also initially supported for their prototype development by MSME Centre of Excellence (DESE), IISc Bangalore, by StartupNexus from US Embassy, and by Science and Technology Park, Pune under NIDHI PRAYAS programme of DST, Govt of India.

4 Reasons You Should Install Solar Panels Today

As a consequence of this question, many people fail to appreciate the value of solar technology. The use of solar power is clearly on the rise as a source of sustainable energy.

You should switch to solar electricity instead of fossil fuels for various good reasons beyond the obvious financial ones mentioned above.

Are there any additional benefits to adopting solar? Here are a few strong arguments in favor.

Solar Energy Is a Cost-Free Energy Source

No one can monopolize the sun's energy, which is much more abundant than humans could need. You'll begin saving money as soon as your solar power system is switched on, but the long-term benefits of solar electricity are best seen.

The more time you spend with a solar power system, the more you get the advantages of solar technology and help the environment.

Solar energy may be used for more than just generating power. The sun's energy is often thought of as a power source, but it may also be used to heat a home or building.

This procedure uses solar thermal systems to transform the sun's rays into heating solutions.

More Electricity Loss Is Preventable with Solar Power

It must be carried through enormous networks from extensive power facilities to provide electricity to homes and businesses. Transmissions across long distances result in power loss.

Having a solar panel will have great significance if you run an online gaming business like jackpot game since you will save more on power consumption, making you milk a good profit.

Your roof is covered with solar panels, which absorb the sun's energy to power your home or business.

Rooftop solar power may boost electricity efficiency because of its proximity. Consequently, you have more control over your costs and how much energy you use.

As a result of its durability, solar power systems have fewer possibilities of experiencing a service outage.

Environmentally Friendly Solar Panels are a good choice

First and foremost, solar panels are very eco-friendly since they produce all of their power from the sun's free, clean, and abundant energy. Unlike fossil fuels, solar power produces no greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, or toxic pollutants.

To enhance our health and well-being, we can lessen our carbon footprint by harnessing solar power. You could avoid almost two tons of carbon per year by installing solar panels, which would help fulfill the 15% renewable energy goal by 2020.

They Don't Require a Lot of Upkeep.

In addition, solar panels need no upkeep whatsoever. To ensure they're still operating correctly, you'll probably want to have them checked out by a professional once a year, but they're built to last and need very little maintenance.

Your primary role is to make sure their surface is free of debris and that no trees are blocking their view. The inverter should be replaced after 20 years, which costs about £800, while solar panels may endure for a long time with little to no maintenance.

Solar panels are a popular choice for many households for various reasons like enabling you to save funds in the short term, they are good for the environment, and need no upkeep.

Consult an engineer before installing solar panels so that you may enjoy the numerous advantages of solar energy for many years to come.

How Solar Panels are Redefining Ways to Meet Energy Needs

Solar panels are revolutionising the way energy is produced and used. How? Read on to know

In recent decades, there has been a surge in the demand for solar panels and solar energy systems for the home as well as commercial use. The increased adoption of solar power in India has boosted the popularity of sustainable sources of energy across industries. With the shift in public preferences, the price of solar panels in India has dropped drastically, making solar panels more affordable than ever.

Let us take a look at the reasons behind the soaring popularity of solar panels and how they are fulfilling the energy needs of various sectors. We will also look at factors to be considered while choosing the optimal panels to meet your needs.

Why do Solar Panels have an Edge in the Energy Production Process?

Fossil fuels are eventually going to run out, which means solar has the advantage of being a sustainable option. Further, it is not damaging to the environment in any way and does not contribute to global warming the way conventional fossil fuels do.

Given that solar energy systems are highly efficient and the most cost-effective way to produce energy in the long term, it makes sense for industries and residences to switch to solar power at the earliest.

Implementing solar will go a long way in reducing utility bills for homes and offices, and for running electric vehicles. This means that solar panel owners will be able to save a lot of money which can be used to grow their business or meet other needs.

Another reason for solar energy’s popularity is that it is highly scalable. For adding more capacity, users can simply add a new panel rather than paying a higher electricity cost every month.


Users of solar energy also largely benefit from selling the excess solar energy they produce. If the solar panels produce more energy than what the user takes from the grid, the excess energy can be sold to the grid at a profit, proving to be a great source of revenue for the user.

The Long-term Viability of Solar Panels

Unlike conventional sources of energy such as fossil fuels, the solar energy apparatus is extremely long-lasting. It is quite common for solar panels to operate at near-peak productivity for up to 25 years from the date of installation. Apart from that, solar panels do not require costly maintenance. They just have to be cleaned regularly to ensure efficiency and long life.

Picking the Right Solar Panels

Now that you know why solar panels have taken the energy sector by storm, you must know how to choose the right one for your needs to make the best of your investment. Here is the three-step process to picking the optimal solar panels for home as well as commercial use:

• Make sure your solar panel's efficiency is above the industry average of 16%-18%.
• Make sure that the panel manufacturer is providing you with a warranty of around 10-25 years, which is the industry average.
• Make sure that the panels provide value, i.e. they provide the best efficiency possible at a bargain.

Things to Keep in Mind while Picking Solar Panels

The three things to keep in mind while picking a solar panel are—durability, production, and manufacturing quality. To determine the amount of electricity a panel can produce, consider factors such as efficiency, temperature coefficient, power tolerance, and power rating. Next, look into the assurances and warranties on offer from the manufacturer, which will protect you in case the panel simply fails. Further, you can check for the IEC 61215 mark of durability, which is given by the International Electrotechnical Commission.

Conclusion

As you can see, solar panels are revolutionizing the energy sector unlike ever before. Its increased efficiency and long lifespan is driving the popularity of solar power across the world. If you too are planning to make the best of solar energy available and install a solar energy system for your home or commercial use, call Genus. At Genus, we can help you with all aspects of solar power generation and use including on-grid, off-grid and large installations with 300 Watt solar panels. So, what are you waiting for? Reach out to us now.

World’s Largest Solar Tree developed by India's CSIR-CMERI

India's CSIR-CMERI has developed the World’s Largest Solar Tree, which is installed at CSIR-CMERI Residential Colony, Durgapur. Prof.(Dr.) Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-CMERI, while elaborating about the technology stated that, “The installed capacity of the Solar Tree is above 11.5 kWp. It has the annual capacity to generate 12,000-14,000 units of Clean and Green Power”.

Founded in 1958, CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute ) is a public engineering research and development institution in Durgapur, West Bengal, India. It is a constituent laboratory of the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The Solar Tree has been designed in a manner to ensure maximum exposure of each Solar PV Panel to Sunlight and also creation of the least amount of shadow area beneath. There are a total of 35 Solar PV Panels in each tree with a capacity of 330 wp each. The inclination of the arms holding the Solar PV Panels are flexible and can be adjusted as per requirement, this feature is not available in Roof-Mounted Solar facilities. The energy generation data can be monitored either real-time or on daily basis.

Prof.(Dr.) Harish Hirani explained, “The CSIR-CMERI developed Solar Tree besides being the World’s Largest Solar Tree also has certain customizable features for application at diverse sites. The Solar Trees were designed in a manner to ensure minimum Shadow Area, thus potentially making these Solar Trees available for widespread usage in Agricultural activities such as High Capacity Pumps, e-Tractors and e-Power Tillers.

TheseSolar Trees can be aligned with Agriculture for substituting price-volatile fossil fuels. Each Solar Tree has the potential to save 10-12 tons of CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere as Greenhouse Gases when compared with fossil fuel fired energy generation.Besides, the surplus generated power can be fed into an Energy Grid.

This Agricultural Model can provide a consistent economic return and help the farmers counter the effects of the uncertain variations in Agriculture related activities, thus, making farming an Economic and Energy Sustainable practice.”

Each Solar Tree will cost Rs 7.5 lakhs and the interested MSMEs can align their Business Model with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme for farmers, for developing a Renewable Energy based Energy Grid.

The solar tree has the capability to incorporate IOT based features, i.e. round-the-clock CCTV surveillance in agricultural fields, real-time humidity, wind speed, rainfall prediction and soil analytics sensors. The CSIR-CMERI developed solar powered e-Suvidha Kiosks may also be connected to the Solar Trees for real-time access to the vast majority of agricultural database as well as to the eNAM i.e. National Agricultural MarketPlace for instant and real-time access to an unified online market.This Solar Tree is a Quantum Leap towards making an Energy Reliant and Carbon Negative India.

Everything You Need to Know about Solar Panels, Net Metering and Subsidy

Solar energy is rapidly gaining footprint worldwide. India is no different and is accelerating towards the adoption of this renewable energy rather quickly. The availability of technology and resources is enabling the feasibility of solar implementation in India. The role of government through the formation of specialised bodies such as MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) and SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) has also helped the case of solar power in India. From net metering to subsidy – solar power is proving to be a win-win situation for everyone in the ecosystem. 

The push towards solar power is mostly because of its unprecedented advantages. However, today’s market is full of options – from different solar panels to entire solar systems altogether. Choosing the right solar power system, including the right solar panels is crucial for maximum efficiency; hence, choose reputed brands like Luminous offering end-to-end rooftop solar power system solutions that are suited for all residential needs. 

If you’re looking for a rooftop solar system, it’s essential to understand about solar panels and other technicalities associated with a solar system.

Solar Panels

We are all aware that the sun is the only source of solar energy. Solar panels also called photovoltaic panels (PV panels) are devices comprised of photovoltaic cells (PV cells) that convert sunlight into electricity. 

Solar cells or PV cells are made from silicon, a semiconducting material that converts light into electricity.

There are two types of solar panels – Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline. The two options vary in their performance, appearance, costs, how they are made and the purpose of installation. 

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panels are made from a single continuous crystal structure and can be identified by its solar cells, all appearing as a single flat colour (typically black). They have a smooth texture, and the thickness of the slice is visible. These panels are slightly expensive to produce. 

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels contain many crystals as opposed to a single crystal in monocrystalline solar panels. Manufacturers melt many fragments of silicon together to form polycrystalline solar panels. These panels have a blue hue and are easily distinguished from monocrystalline solar panels. Polycrystalline panels are less expensive and ideal for Indian conditions. 

	Monocrystalline Solar Panels	Polycrystalline Solar Panels
Cost	More expensive	Less expensive
Performance	Good under low irradiation conditions	High while increasing the operating temperature
Efficiency	More efficient	Less efficient
Aesthetics	Black hue	Blue hue
Longevity	25 years	25 years

The choice of solar panels will depend on the use case and the area available for solar installation. 

[caption id="attachment_138920" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Monocrystalline Solar Panel and Polycrystalline Solar Panel[/caption]

Monocrystalline Solar Panel and Polycrystalline Solar Panel

Now that you know the difference between the two, let’s understand the types of solar systems and the one apt for your requirement before we move to net metering and subsidy.

Solar Power Systems

For residential purposes, solar power systems are typically installed on rooftops. These power systems are of two types:

•  On-Grid System 

On-grid systems work together with the grid, i.e. the mains electric supply. The homeowner consumes electricity generated by the rooftop solar system, and any power that is left is supplied back to the grid.

[caption id="attachment_138919" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] On-Grid Solar System[/caption]

On-Grid Solar System

Now, this is where net metering comes in the equation. All the electricity that is fed back to the grid and consumed by the owner is calculated by a net meter. The difference is then reflected in the electricity bill. 

Net Metering

Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they fed in the grid. The difference between the electricity generated by the consumer from a rooftop solar solution and the import of power from distribution companies (DISCOM) is billed to the customer. 

For instance, if you have an on-grid solar power installed on your rooftop, the system is likely to generate more energy than your consumption. So, with a net-meter, the electricity that is consumed and fed into the grid is calculated. The net energy usage is then billed to you. 

• Net metering allows solar energy users to control their electricity bills 


• Net metering protects the electric grid and creates a smoother demand curve for electricity that allows electric companies to manage peak loads efficiently

Here’s a state-wise net metering policy in India.

• Off-Grid System

Off-grid solar systems have a battery connected to them that stores the electricity generated by solar panels. These solar systems are typically used in areas with high power cuts or places that have no grid. 

Subsidy

The Government of India has launched a subsidy scheme for rooftop solar solutions to support the upfront cost of solar installation. Both the central government and State Nodal Agencies offer subsidy schemes. 

According to MNRE, the government pays 30% of the benchmarked installation cost for solar systems. The states in the North MNRE PV Rooftop Cell category (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Lakshadweep and Jammu & Kashmir) get up to 70% of installation costs. 

Some other perks offered are: 

• 
  
  
  
  • Homeowners opting rooftop solar systems can avail priority sector loans of up to 10 lakhs from nationalised banks. The loan taken for a rooftop solar system will fall under the category of home loan or home improvement loan. 
  
  
  • Homeowners are also eligible for generation-based incentives that will pay them Rs 2 per unit of electricity generated.
  
  
  • Homeowners with rooftop solar panels can sell the excess of power, and they would receive a regulated cost per unit as set by the government.
  
  
  
  

Specifications to Avail Subsidy for Rooftop Solar System:

• A requirement of 100 square feet of space for the installation of the rooftop solar system


• To avail incentive, the customer should generate 1100 kWh to 1500 kWh per year

Solar power has two significant benefits – first, it’s cost-effective, thus promotes savings; second, it’s sustainable, which means it tackles the impending climate change. The push towards solar in India is massive, and as of July 2019, India’s solar installed capacity has reached 30GW, a substantial jump from the initial target of 20 GW in less than four years. 

If you’re considering going solar, make sure to choose solar panels and solar systems from reputed brands like Luminous. They offer maximum efficiency, different batteries, pure sine wave output and a 25-year warranty!

India's Solar Installations Market Declined by 14% in Q2 2019 - Reports Mercom

Installations in the Indian solar market declined by 14% in Q2 2019 reaching 1,510 MW, compared to 1,761 MW in Q1 2019. Installations were also lower year-over-year (YoY) compared to 1,665 MW in Q2 2018.

Solar installations in the first half (1H) of 2019 reached 3.2 gigawatts (GW), a decline of 35%, compared to 5.1 GW of capacity added in 1H of 2018, according to Mercom India Research’s newly released Q2 2019 India Solar Market Update.

In Q2 2019, large-scale installations totaled 1,218 MW compared to 1,498 MW in Q1 2019 and 1,250 MW installed in Q2 2018. The large-scale solar project development pipeline has increased to 22 GW. About 34 GW of solar has been tendered and was pending to be auctioned at the end of the quarter.



Rooftop installations grew by just 11% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) in Q2 2019, totaling 292 MW compared to 263 MW installed in Q1 2019. The rooftop market picked up slightly after elections but nowhere close to the pace installed last year. Rooftop installations fell by 30% YoY compared to 415 MW installed in Q2 2018.

“It has been a rough couple of quarters for the Indian solar market, exacerbated by tough lending conditions. Post elections, we expect the second half of the year to be slightly better, but the liquidity issues need to be resolved for market momentum to return,” commented Raj Prabhu, CEO, and co-founder of Mercom Capital Group.

The report attributed the drop in solar installations in Q2 2019 to a slowdown in rooftop solar installations and partial commissioning of solar projects.

Total power capacity additions in the first half of 2019 was 8 GW in India from all power generation sources. Of this, renewable energy sources accounted for nearly 58% of installations, with solar representing 41% of new capacity and wind with 15%. Coal accounted for almost 42% of new capacity added.

According to the report, India’s cumulative installed capacity stood at 31.5 GW by the end of Q2 2019. However, rooftop installations still only make up 12% of total solar installations and the country has achieved only 10% of its target capacity addition of 40 GW by 2022.



Mercom India Research forecasts India to install over 8 GW of solar capacity in the calendar year 2019. The report estimates solar installations in India to reach approximately 70 GW by the end of 2022 based on the current market dynamics.

Tariff caps imposed by government agencies have slowed down the solar auction activity in the country. Developers are reluctant to bid at the levels prescribed by state agencies, instead of a market-based auction in which the lowest bid wins.

Land acquisition, transmission, and acquiring approvals remain a challenge to commission large-scale projects on time. Developers have also raised concerns about charges for forecasting and scheduling power during drastic changes in weather conditions.

But one of the biggest concerns, which looks like is close to being addressed through the courts, is the attempted renegotiation of PPAs. “The Andhra Pradesh government’s move to renegotiate and revisit solar and wind PPAs has rattled the industry and dampened investor sentiment. The industry is waiting for a ruling from the courts that sets a precedent for future cases and makes it difficult for government agencies to cancel or renegotiate signed contracts,” added Prabhu.

Rajasthan was the top installer with newly added large-scale solar capacity in Q2 2019 followed by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. Large-scale solar installations were concentrated in five states, which made up 94% of the installed capacity in the quarter.



Though the current state of the market looks weak, India will continue to be one of the top three solar markets in the world. With the new government in place, the support for renewable energy is stronger than ever among policymakers.

Key Highlights from Mercom India Research’s Q2 2019 India Solar Market Update.

• Solar installations in India in Q2 2019 totaled 1,510 MW, a 14% decrease compared to 1,761 MW installed in Q1 2019


• In Q2 2019, large-scale installations added up to 1,218 MW (81%), while rooftop installations accounted for 292 MW (19%)


• Cumulative installed solar capacity in India stood at 31.5 GW by the end of June 2019. Of this, cumulative rooftop solar installations amounted to 3,816 MW


• Solar accounted for 41% of the new power capacity added in 1H 2019


• Renewable energy capacity additions continue to increase at a significant pace in India, accounting for approximately 35.4% of India’s power capacity mix cumulatively


• Solar electricity generation crossed 12 billion units (BUs) in Q2 2019


• In Q2 2019, investments in the Indian solar sector totaled over $1.85 billion, 34% lower compared to investments made in Q1

IIM-Lucknow Incubated Skilancer Raises Seed Funding for its Robotic Water-less Solar Panel Cleaners

Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-Lucknow) incubated startup, Skilancer solar, which designs and manufactures automatic robotic, self-powered, water-less Solar Module cleaners for decentralized, rooftop, and utility scale solar power plants, has raised an undisclosed amount in seed funding from Alfa Ventures, a proprietary fund launched by angel investor Dhianu Das, reported VC Circle.

Founded in 2017, Manish Das and Neeraj Kumar (IIT Jodhpur alumni), Skilancer will use the funds raised in upgrading its product design and technology as well as in building its team and expand geographically.

Skilancer is a centrally controlled, self-powered, robot for automatic cleaning of solar panels with elements of Artificial Intelligence (AI).





Incubated at L-incubator of IIM Lucknow, Skilancer raised pre-seed funding from there in March last year. L- Incubator at IIM, Lucknow houses business startups and provides them with seed funding, office space, mentorship, and networking opportunities with various investors.

According a recent research report, the global solar panel cleaning systems market estimated to grow with a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. After 2018, the year of uncertainty for a global solar panel as well as generation market, 2019 has already begun to show a positive outlook. The global installed solar PV capacity is expected to cross 1 Trillion watts in the next 4 years.

Solar Panel Cleaning Robot in particular has been the major product in the Other Solar Energy Related Products market over the past year, and it was very popular in India, United States, Turkey, Australia and UAE. according to Alibaba sales & inventory, India, with 21.93% leads the market shares of these countries. The US is second with 14.06% market share foolowed by Turkey:3.82%, Australia:3.77%, UAE:2.76% and rest have 53.66% share

Dhianu Das, Founder, Alfa Ventures commented, "I am absolutely bullish on India’s solar energy story. New installations in 2019 will reach nearly 14 gigawatts. This is about 50% more than the capacity added last year. This is where I see potential for a business like Skilancer Solar."

Prior to investing in Skilancer, Alfa Ventures had invested in an another AI led startup, CivilCops, a government tech startup and social intelligence platform.

ISRO Launches Solar Calculator App

While turning to a renewable resource like solar energy is the need of the hour, but unfortunately, a lot of people in India shy away from doing the same as they are apprehensive if solar energy has the potential of meeting all their energy needs. Further, since installing the whole solar energy setup like solar panels etc. is predominately an expensive exercise, people don't wish to just take a chance and install it and find out if it works for their area or not. In order to solve this situation and encourage more usage of solar energy in the Indian subcontinent , Isro has come up with an innovative app called the Solar Calculator app using which anyone can accurately and easily calculate the benefit of installing solar panels at any location in the country.

The app, which is available on the web and for the Android platform, can prove to be extensively beneficial when it comes to setting up photovoltaic solar panels. In order to make things easier, Isro has also provided with a drop down menu of a number of locations in the country. The app also makes its possible for its users to directly click on a location in a map, or navigate using precise geographic co-ordinates. If the app is successful in acquiring the user's accurate location using GPS, the solar potential of that particular area is calculated using data processed from Indian satellites, including the Insat-3D, the Insat-3DR and the Kalpana-1, which is a matter of huge achievement and pride for the entire country. The solar energy potential of a particular location is shown to a user in kWh/m2 or mJ/m2.

[caption id="attachment_116166" align="alignnone" width="640"] A map of yearly solar insolation along with temperature
[/caption]

The app, which provides almost similar functionality as Google’s Project Sunroof, not just plainly blurts out the information of the solar energy potential. Along with the potential information, it also provides the user with other useful information that they might be needing in order to setup solar panels in their area.

A solar energy potential report of a particular area is can be easily exported from the application and shared with anyone and everyone in a .pdf file. The report contains extensive visualisations and tables for the duration of the days over the course of a year (365 days). If there is an obstacle to the sunlight in an area because of the terrain, the app is capable of accurately calculating that as well by using its digital elevation model. In addition to all this, it also provides suggestion for the optimum angle to set up the solar panels as well.



A solar potential report churned out by the Isro Solar Calculator application can be viewed in three ways, as a graph, as a map and as a table. In the map view, the direct satellite imagery is basically overlaid on the map along with the calculations of solar potential.

So, if you're an individual, a society, a community or an organisation considering setting up solar panels in your area, installing this app is the first step in realising your mission.

ISRO Launches Solar Calculator App

While turning to a renewable resource like solar energy is the need of the hour, but unfortunately, a lot of people in India shy away from doing the same as they are apprehensive if solar energy has the potential of meeting all their energy needs. Further, since installing the whole solar energy setup like solar panels etc. is predominately an expensive exercise, people don't wish to just take a chance and install it and find out if it works for their area or not. In order to solve this situation and encourage more usage of solar energy in the Indian subcontinent , Isro has come up with an innovative app called the Solar Calculator app using which anyone can accurately and easily calculate the benefit of installing solar panels at any location in the country.

The app, which is available on the web and for the Android platform, can prove to be extensively beneficial when it comes to setting up photovoltaic solar panels. In order to make things easier, Isro has also provided with a drop down menu of a number of locations in the country. The app also makes its possible for its users to directly click on a location in a map, or navigate using precise geographic co-ordinates. If the app is successful in acquiring the user's accurate location using GPS, the solar potential of that particular area is calculated using data processed from Indian satellites, including the Insat-3D, the Insat-3DR and the Kalpana-1, which is a matter of huge achievement and pride for the entire country. The solar energy potential of a particular location is shown to a user in kWh/m2 or mJ/m2.

[caption id="attachment_116166" align="alignnone" width="640"] A map of yearly solar insolation along with temperature
[/caption]

The app, which provides almost similar functionality as Google’s Project Sunroof, not just plainly blurts out the information of the solar energy potential. Along with the potential information, it also provides the user with other useful information that they might be needing in order to setup solar panels in their area.

A solar energy potential report of a particular area is can be easily exported from the application and shared with anyone and everyone in a .pdf file. The report contains extensive visualisations and tables for the duration of the days over the course of a year (365 days). If there is an obstacle to the sunlight in an area because of the terrain, the app is capable of accurately calculating that as well by using its digital elevation model. In addition to all this, it also provides suggestion for the optimum angle to set up the solar panels as well.



A solar potential report churned out by the Isro Solar Calculator application can be viewed in three ways, as a graph, as a map and as a table. In the map view, the direct satellite imagery is basically overlaid on the map along with the calculations of solar potential.

So, if you're an individual, a society, a community or an organisation considering setting up solar panels in your area, installing this app is the first step in realising your mission.

Solar panels 100 times thinner than a human hair could power wearable technology revolution

Saving the Earth's remaining resources is the need of the hour. With the population of the world growing at an unprecedented rate, their resources need is going to escalate at an even faster rate. Therefore, we all being the citizens of the Earth need to pitch in and do our bit. Solar energy is a positive step in that very direction. But, many of the commoners fret from going the solar way because of the huge spaces that the solar panels need, which many of the modern city homes lack. A team of researchers in South Korea have tried to solve this very problem.

The researchers have developed solar panels that are so thin and flexible in nature that they can be easily wrapped around the frame of a pair of glasses. According to industry experts, the invention could be a major breakthrough in the field of wearable electronics.

The panel are just a single micrometre across, which means they are much-much thinner than a coat of paint or the average human hair, both of which are usually about 100 micrometres thick. Further, when compared to the existing solar panels in the market, these South Korean invention are about 100 times thinner than the standard solar panels size and 3-4 times thinner than the slimmest of the solar cells available currently available in the market.

According to a statement given by Professor Jongho Lee, an engineer at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and one of the researchers actively involved in the invention, their solar panels are comparatively much less fragile under bending, and perform almost similarly or slightly better to the panels 3.5 micrometres across.



In order to make these super thin and super flexible solar panels a reality, the scientists made use of a new material that was so flexible that it could easily wrap itself around a pencil. Further, during tests, they also discovered that they could still function when they're wrapped around something which is just 1.4mm wide.

According to initial reactions from the industry, these super thin and flexible solar panels could be incorporated into clothing in order to power wearable technology or even used to provide power for smart glasses.

As per the journal published, the scientists revealed that they made use of a semiconductor, gallium arsenide to make these ultra-thin solar cells see the day of light. According to an article that they published in the journal Applied Physics Letters, their road to the discovery was laced with difficulties. One such instance was when they had to figure out a way to make the material super flexible. In order to make the material flexible, they wanted to avoid using an adhesive as that would add to the material's thickness. This is when they decided to cold-weld the cells to an electrode.

According to Professor Lee, he and his team are quite hopeful that using their method of transfer printing, highly flexible photo-voltaic cells can be made possible using a much lesser amount of materials.

Solar panels 100 times thinner than a human hair could power wearable technology revolution

Saving the Earth's remaining resources is the need of the hour. With the population of the world growing at an unprecedented rate, their resources need is going to escalate at an even faster rate. Therefore, we all being the citizens of the Earth need to pitch in and do our bit. Solar energy is a positive step in that very direction. But, many of the commoners fret from going the solar way because of the huge spaces that the solar panels need, which many of the modern city homes lack. A team of researchers in South Korea have tried to solve this very problem.

The researchers have developed solar panels that are so thin and flexible in nature that they can be easily wrapped around the frame of a pair of glasses. According to industry experts, the invention could be a major breakthrough in the field of wearable electronics.

The panel are just a single micrometre across, which means they are much-much thinner than a coat of paint or the average human hair, both of which are usually about 100 micrometres thick. Further, when compared to the existing solar panels in the market, these South Korean invention are about 100 times thinner than the standard solar panels size and 3-4 times thinner than the slimmest of the solar cells available currently available in the market.

According to a statement given by Professor Jongho Lee, an engineer at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and one of the researchers actively involved in the invention, their solar panels are comparatively much less fragile under bending, and perform almost similarly or slightly better to the panels 3.5 micrometres across.



In order to make these super thin and super flexible solar panels a reality, the scientists made use of a new material that was so flexible that it could easily wrap itself around a pencil. Further, during tests, they also discovered that they could still function when they're wrapped around something which is just 1.4mm wide.

According to initial reactions from the industry, these super thin and flexible solar panels could be incorporated into clothing in order to power wearable technology or even used to provide power for smart glasses.

As per the journal published, the scientists revealed that they made use of a semiconductor, gallium arsenide to make these ultra-thin solar cells see the day of light. According to an article that they published in the journal Applied Physics Letters, their road to the discovery was laced with difficulties. One such instance was when they had to figure out a way to make the material super flexible. In order to make the material flexible, they wanted to avoid using an adhesive as that would add to the material's thickness. This is when they decided to cold-weld the cells to an electrode.

According to Professor Lee, he and his team are quite hopeful that using their method of transfer printing, highly flexible photo-voltaic cells can be made possible using a much lesser amount of materials.