off-grid PV

Indian solar micro-grid operator wins “Terra Watt” prize for Innovative Energy Solutions

3 Comments / off-grid PV, Solar /

“300-400 million people who do not have access to electricity in India” – this is one statistic that is so frequently used that it has become a cliche. While this statistic props up every time there is a discussion about off-grid PV, there are very few companies that have had the courage to build a business around this […]

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Off-grid Solar PV’s role in expanding Energy Access, and Trade related challenges

Markets, off-grid PV, Solar /

More than 1 Billion people world over do not have access to quality electricity. Of these, nearly 800 million people live in Asia, while about 630 million people live in Africa. India alone accounts for about 400 million people who lack access to electricity or good-quality primary energy sources. How can off-grid Solar PV reduce energy poverty

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Kerala Solar Rooftop Programme – Tata Power Solar leads the way

1 Comment / Kerala, off-grid PV, Rooftop PV, Solar /

In the first phase of the Kerala Solar rooftop programme, Tata Power Solar(TPS) has been the most successful so far. According to an update published by ANERT, the renewable energy nodal agency for Kerala, subsidy has been released to 953 households(as of 18 December 2013) under the 10,000 rooftop power plants programme. Of these 953

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Solar in India breaches the 2 GW barrier; Wind sector continues to stagnate

4 Comments / MNRE, off-grid PV, Solar PV /

According to the latest updated by the MNRE, Solar in India has crossed the 2 GW landmark(grid-connected and off-grid systems combined). As of 31 August 2013, the total solar installed capacity stood at 2100 MW, out of which grid-connected solar capacity was 1969 MW and off-grid systems was 131 MW. About 130 MW of grid-connected

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Number of MNRE Solar PV Channel Partners decreases in June 2013

2 Comments / off-grid PV, Policy, Solar PV /

MNRE has announced the list of Channel Partners as of 01.07.2013. About 6 months back, we did an analysis of the channel partners and found some interesting details. For example, we found that in February 2013 that NCR region(Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad) had the highest number of channel partners(37) followed by Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat,

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MNRE revises off-grid benchmark tariff again

11 Comments / MNRE, off-grid PV, Rooftop PV, Solar PV /

MNRE had previously revised the benchmark tariff for offgrid systems in November 2012. Today, MNRE has come up with another revision for the benchmark tariff for off-grid systems. The most important change, in terms of small scale solar PV plants has been the downward revision of the benchmark tariff of these systems. PV systems (without

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Small is the new big – The Indian solar rooftop revolution

1 Comment / MNRE, off-grid PV, Policy, Rooftop PV, Solar PV /

(Editor’s note – This article on the status of rooftop solar PV in India and the comparison of state rooftop policies appeared in the April 2013 print edition of PV-Magazine and the May 2013 edition of the Chinese edition of PV-Magazine. The article was written by Madhavan Nampoothiri, Director of RESolve. Click here to read

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Residential Solar PV systems and higher electricity bills

5 Comments / off-grid PV, Plant Performance, Rooftop PV /

I came across a very interesting article about a scenario in which putting up a solar system actually leads to increase in electricity bill. I am sharing some excerpts below, and I feel that this is an important topic to address. “Recently with the prices of Solar Panels becoming affordable, people have started using Solar

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Kerala Releases Comprehensive Solar Policy Draft; Targets 500 MW by 2017

3 Comments / Kerala, off-grid PV, Policy, Regulation, Rooftop PV, Solar PV, Solar Thermal /

The Kerala government has been taking significant strides in promoting the use of solar in the state. Previous announcements such as the 10,000 rooftop solar(more details here, here and here) and the 75,000 rooftop solar program aims at proliferating the use of solar in the state with an aim to alleviate the growing energy deficit.

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