Monthly Archives: May 2013

Solar Industry Anxious Over Defective Panels – Audit discovered defect rates of 5.5 percent to 22 percent during audits of 50 Chinese factories

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Jenya Meydbray, chief executive of PV Evolution Labs, a testing company in Berkeley, Calif., scrutinized solar panels. LOS ANGELES — The solar panels covering a vast warehouse roof in the sun-soaked Inland Empire region east of Los Angeles were only … Continue reading →

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Why gas based electrics are the cars for this decade! by Ritesh Pothan

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

This article was published in the April edition of Energy Next Magazine Vehicles are now the most polluting segment of any urban society and a lot of thought needs to go behind their detrimental effect to Indian society as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, Fuel Cells, Renewables | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

EU votes against module Anti Dumping, and hopefully so will India

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Eighteen EU member states vote against solar duties Countries who voted in support of the proposals include some of Europe’s largest solar players, most notably France, Italy and Spain. Image: Lightsource industry reaction to EU council vote on anti-dumping (04:20) … Continue reading →

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Find out what its going to take to make Solar Power in India a success both on grid and off

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (Solar RECs) – Today and the way ahead for Solar Power was the title of my presentation at InfralineEnergy’s 2nd Annual Conference on Solar Power – Future Possibilities held on May 28, 2013 at The Lalit, New … Continue reading →

Posted in DISCOM, PV, Renewable Energy Certificates, Renewable Purchase Obligation, Renewables, Solar | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

South Korea shuts more nuclear power plants due to fake certificates

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

South Korea said this week it was suspending the operations of two nuclear power plants and extended the shutdown of a third to replace cables that were supplied using fake certificates, reports Reuters. The nuclear shut downs may result in … Continue reading →

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43.6 % Four-Junction Solar Cell under Concentrated Sunlight New Manufacturing Technologies allow for Higher Efficiencies

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Image of a solar cell wafer with four-junction concentrator cells and test structures. ©Fraunhofer ISE In an ambitious industry project with the French company Soitec, Fraunhofer ISE is currently developing a new generation of multi-junction solar cells with efficiency potential … Continue reading →

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View Dr. Ashvini Kumar’s -Director (Solar) – Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) presentation on VGF (Viability Gap Funding) at the Solar Markets India 2013 conference

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Dr. Ashvini Kumar, Director (Solar), Solar Energy Corporation of India, needs no introduction as the designated government organization responsible for taking forward the JNNSM Solar Commitments by the MNRE. Phase II envisages another 750MW to be setup under the VGF scheme by … Continue reading →

Posted in JNNSM, Phase II, Renewables, SECI, Solar, Solar Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Punjab receives just 270MW bids against the 300MW requested for by PEDA

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

In a growing trend of developers not agreeing to the prices that are being floated by State Renewable Agencies, Punjab has just received 90% of the proposed capacity. In the past Solar projects have been oversubscribed in the multiples but … Continue reading →

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TN focuses on the true power of solar – to subsidise 2000 solar powered irrigation pump sets of 5HP by 4 Lakh Rupees

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

The Tamil Nadu Government will distribute 2,000 solar powered agriculture pump sets at subsidised rates to farmers in the current year, announced the Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa in the Assembly today. The Agriculture Department will distribute the 2,000 pump sets … Continue reading →

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Nuclear Headache: Task of Decommissioning Plants Is One of The Greatest Tasks of the Century which will take almost as long – The reason why Nuclear is not a renewable solution nor a viable solution at all!

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Japanese journalists visit the site of the Lubmin nuclear power plant, decommissioned 23 years ago, which is currently being dismantled in Germany. The dismantling of Germany’s nuclear power plants will be one of the greatest tasks of the century as … Continue reading →

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1000 jobs at SMA on the brink?

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

The solar technology manufacturer SMA is fully caught by the crisis in the solar industry. Sales in the first quarter of this year is so slumped that is being given to massive job cuts. Specific figures are not yet known by … Continue reading →

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Cumulative deployment of various Renewable Energy Systems / Devices in the country as on 31st March 2013

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

New & Renewable Energy Cumulative deployment of various Renewable Energy Systems/ Devices in the country as on 31/03/2013 Renewable Energy Programme/ Systems Target for 2012-13 Deployment during March, 2013 Total Deployment in  2012-13 Cumulative achievement up to 31.03.2013 I.   POWER FROM RENEWABLES: A.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomass, Crystalline, Geothermal, Hydro, PV, Renewables, Rooftop, Rural Lighting, Solar, Solar Thermal, Thin Film, Waste, Wind | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Methodology (Draft) for Implementation of 750 MW New grid connected Solar Power projects Under JNNSM Phase-II, Batch-I (Initial Draft*)

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Solar Energy Corporation of India (A Govt of India Enterprise) This documents is prepared based on draft guide lines issued by MNRE for selection of 750 MW New grid connected Solar Power projects Under JNNSM Phase-II, Batch-I and may undergo changes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crystalline, JNNSM, Phase II, PV, Renewables, Solar, Solar Policy, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Greenhouse Gases Hit Threshold Unseen in 3 Million Years of 400 PPM

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Residents cross a flooded street on a row of tables in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, on May 29, 2012. Photograph: AFP via Getty Images The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surpassed a threshold not seen for 3 … Continue reading →

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Domestic Content Requirement restricted to 300MW including Thin-film – India to Close Solar Import Loophole in Energy Auction

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

India plans to close a loophole before its next solar-power auction to stop companies from importing thin-film panels from overseas suppliers like First Solar Inc. (FSLR) for projects that otherwise must be built with local equipment. The government will invite developers by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cells & Modules, CPV, Crystalline, JNNSM, Phase II, PV, Solar, Solar Policy, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

India May Defer Fines on $1 Billion Solar Thermal Plants

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is seeking to defer penalties on about $1 billion of solar-thermal power projects that are delayed by a lack of water, financing difficulties and equipment shortages. Seven projects totaling 470 megawatts in capacity … Continue reading →

Posted in CSP, JNNSM, Phase I, Solar, Solar Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Solar panels could destroy U.S. utilities, according to U.S. utilities

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Natgrp: Where have I heard this before, Discoms want to be inefficient and squander our Nations  wealth chasing after generating and transmission technologies that are now out of date. Its time to wake up! This article enforces the point that Discoms … Continue reading →

Posted in DISCOM, Transmission and Distribution | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SECI Invites RFS for Implementation Of Grid Connected Roof Top Solar Pv System Scheme In Selected Cities/States In India (Phase-II) of 11.1 MW

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

SOLAR ENERGY CORPORATION OF INDIA (A GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ENTERPRISE) INVITES REQUEST FOR SELECTION OF BIDDERS (RFS) FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF GRID CONNECTED ROOF TOP SOLAR PV SYSTEM SCHEME IN SELECTED CITIES/STATES IN INDIA (PHASE-II) RFS No: SECI/Cont./SRT-II/58/2013 Dated: 01.05.2013 SOLAR ENERGY … Continue reading →

Posted in JNNSM, Phase II, PV, Renewables, Rooftop, Solar, Solar Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Andhra Pradesh Solar power bids heading for re-tendering? States now expecting developers to quote below Rs. 7

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

The government’s bid to finalise tenders for solar power and encourage generation of non-conventional energy to meet the gap in the demand and supply from conventional sources may not be a smooth affair. It may even lead to cancellation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crystalline, PV, Renewable Purchase Obligation, Renewables, Solar, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Germany’s solar-power success: Too much of a good thing?

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Solar panels on a German house. It’s been a long, dark winter in Germany. In fact, there hasn’t been this little sun since people started tracking such things back in the early 1950s. A few days before Easter, the streets of Berlin … Continue reading →

Posted in Crystalline, PV, Renewables, Rooftop, Solar, Solar Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Solar power producers oppose any anti-dumping duty on imported gears

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

(In the last batch of the projects…) Ten solar power producers, including Jackson Ltd, Vikram Solar, Symphony Vyapar Pvt Ltd and Lexicon Vanijya Pvt Ltd have written to the ministry of new and renewable energy ( MNRE) saying imposition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cells & Modules, Crystalline, PV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

2nd Workshop On “Challenges and Issues in Solar RPO Compliance/REC’s” December, 2012

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Natgrp: This workshop had some very useful presentation on numbers behind REC and RPO as well as valuable information on certain states compliance rules. Proceedings of the Workshop Inaugural Session Mr. Tarun Kapoor (Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable … Continue reading →

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REC suggestions jointly submitted by Solar Energy Association of Gujarat and Natural Group

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

REC modification suggestions were jointly submitted by Solar Energy Association of Gujarat and Natural Group to ensure the future of Solar in India. These suggestions will also be discussed by Shri Pranav Gupta and Ritesh Pothan on the panel chaired by CERC … Continue reading →

Posted in PV, Renewable Energy Certificates, Renewable Purchase Obligation, Solar, Solar Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Solar RPO and REC Framework by MNRE – March 2013, everything you wanted to know about RPO and REC in detail

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Among the various renewable energy resources, solar energy potential is the highest in the country. In most parts of India, clear sunny weather is experienced 250 to 300 days a year. The annual radiation varies from 1600 to 2200 kWh/m2, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crystalline, Renewable Energy Certificates, Renewable Purchase Obligation, Renewables, Solar | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Engineering the Solar Age – Suppliers for Photovoltaics

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Ritesh Pothan

Read the complete report here Photovoltaics, an application of electronic and semiconductor technologies, long since became an independent high-tech industry. This brochure presents the most important applications, backgrounds, technologies, and, most importantly, the key players in the fields of machine engineering, automation, raw and process materials, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cells & Modules, CPV, Crystalline, PV, Solar, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment