Solar Cells

Govt mandates use of locally-made solar cells from 2026 to curb imports

The government plans to increase its non-fossil fuel capacity to 500 GW by 2030 from about 156 GW at present

Govt to push green energy plans, will list ALMM for solar PV cells by 2026

The government is planning to introduce an Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar cells on the lines of module manufacturing to boost India's transition towards green energy. The government is aiming to make the second list (List II) under the ALMM for solar PV cells effective April 1, 2026. The government introduced the ALMM order (List I) in 2019 for solar modules to boost the manufacturing and usage of made-in-India solar panels. It was made mandatory to source PV modules from models and manufacturers included in the ALMM List I. According to an office memorandum of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the ALMM order dated January 2, 2019, specified models and manufacturers of solar PV modules, whereas List-II will identify and include models and manufacturers of solar PV cells. However, to date, List II of solar PV cells has not been issued because the installed capacity of solar PV cells in the country was lower than the demand, the government document

India expects surge in solar cell output, says will curb imports from China

In a bid to wean itself off Chinese imports, India has levied taxes on some solar components and introduced a so-called approved list of models and manufacturers

Tata Power's Tamil Nadu solar cell unit gets $425 mn from US govt agency

Investment by Development Finance Corporation will supporting India in its clean energy transition, says Tata Power

Govt rolls out mandatory quality norms for solar cables, cast iron products

The government has issued mandatory quality norms for solar cable and cast iron products to curb the import of sub-standard goods and boost domestic manufacturing of these goods. A notification in this regard was issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on August 25. Items under Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023; and Cast Iron Products (Quality Control) Order, 2023 cannot be produced, sold, traded, imported and stocked unless they bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark. This order includes electric cable for photovoltaic systems. These cables can be used indoor and outdoor for flexible and fixed installations with high mechanical strength in extreme weather conditions. Fire cables are designed to sustain the high temperatures for a defined minimum period of time under direct fire. It is used in nuclear power plants, airports, metro rails, refineries, high rise buildings, shopping malls and cinema ...

Shell's renewables boss Thomas Brostrom to leave after CEO strategy shift

Thomas Brostrom joined Shell from offshore wind giant Orsted in August 2021 to head offshore wind as the company planned to rapidly grow its wind and solar operations

IIT Roorkee announces development of low-cost solar cells by researchers

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee on Tuesday announced that its researchers have successfully developed high-quality, efficient, and low-cost perovskite solar cells

Duty on solar modules, cells to continue; don't want imports: R K Singh

There are "no plans" to review the basic customs duty (BCD) levied on solar modules and cells, Union Power Minister R K Singh has said.

NASA's diffractive solar sailing project could take science to new heights

Existing reflective solar sail designs are typically very large and very thin, and they are limited by the direction of the sunlight, forcing tradeoffs between power and navigation

Solar cells import jumps to $3,447 mn in Apr-Jan; most shipment from China

Solar cells import rose to USD 3,447 million (around Rs 26,000 crore) during April-January 2021-22 as compared to USD 572 million in the previous financial year, Parliament was informed on Thursday. The imports were worth USD 1,684 million in 2019-20 and USD 2,160 million in 2018-19, New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. During April-January 2021-22, the maximum import was from China at USD 3,117.78 million. In another reply, the minister stated that the government has set a target of installing 100 GW solar power capacity by December 2022 in the country. Against this, projects of 108.91 GW have either been commissioned or are in the pipeline. Total 50.78 GW of solar power capacity has been installed as on February 28, 2022. About 44 GW capacity is at various stages of implementation and 13.86 GW capacity is under bidding stage, the minister said.

Tata group likely to set up Tamil Nadu solar cell plant, invest Rs 3,000 cr

State seeks to have 25 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, become investment destination in sector.

RIL to invest Rs 75,000 cr in clean energy, build 4 giga factories: Ambani

It will also set up a platform for renewable energy project finance to source long-term global capital for investment in these sectors

White goods, solar modules get Rs 10,738 crore worth of PLI push

While incentives worth Rs 6,238 crore would be provided over five years for manufacturing of white goods in India, the outlay for solar PV modules is Rs 4,500 crore

Shadow over solar power

Punitive tariffs on components will cripple a growing sector

Customs duty on imported solar cells likely to hike power bill by 20%

There is a 14.5-per cent safeguard duty on imported solar gears from China and Malaysia.

Sterling & Wilson signs pact to build solar battery storage plant in Niger

Engineering firm Sterling and Wilson Pvt Ltd (SWPL) on Thursday said it has signed a contract to construct a solar PV battery storage and diesel genset-based hybrid power plant in Niger in West Africa. The company has signed the contract with France-based engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Vergnet and SNS Niger of Niger. In a statement, SWPL said its "Hybrid and Energy Storage division (HES), in consortium partnership with French EPC company Vergnet and SNS Niger, has signed an EPC contract to construct a solar PV battery storage and diesel genset based hybrid power plant in Agadez, Niger, in West Africa". The consortium will also be responsible for a two-year operation and maintenance (O&M) service of the power plant. Battery-based energy storage enables generated electricity to be stored and delivered at any given time, providing stability to the grid, and enabling energy delivered on demand. It will also aid flexibility and agility to better integrate ...

Renewable ministry, Niti Aayog organise conference on solar cell production

The statement said solar deployment has been the flagship green growth story of the last decade and this would be instrumental to stimulate growth and build a climate-resilient world

Domestic solar gear makers seek level-playing field for units in SEZs

Industry said without a level-playing field, domestic manufacturers in SEZs will have to shut shop and "may see job losses in tune of 15,000 people"

No customs duty on imported solar cells and modules, says ministry

There is already safeguard duty of 15 per cent levied on the imported solar cells and modules

Budget 2020: Customs duty ambiguity on imported solar power equipment

Solar modules constitute 80% of the cost of a solar power project.