Cement Energy and Environment

"The global renewable market is not as attractive so investors are keen to invest in India. Their yield expectation is low but with bids close to Rs 4.50, even they appear to be taking a risk. They are bidding today on the assumption that panel prices will fall more in a year when they place orders," said Salil Garg, Director at Fitch Group-India Ratings & Research. Experts said solar panel prices are likely to remain flat and not fall as steeply as in the past as the glut in the market is getting absorbed. "While solar power does not have fuel cost, that cost is front-loaded as the solar panels need to run for 25 years. But most companies are buying panels from China and there are quality concerns," Garg said. At a conference on solar energy last week, when Tarun Kapoor, joint secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, was asked if bidders were being screened for quality, he said, "We are not." Price water house Coopers and Mytrah Energy said in a report that Indian renewable energy presents a profitable growth opportunity for investors even as tariffs are declining. Their contention is that India's renewable energy development is demand driven, unlike in Europe, which offers subsidies or bears losses incurred in displacing existing coal or nuclear power. Critics believe the industry is not mature enough to absorb such a steep fall in tariffs. While the government is pushing for green corridors, the transmission system needs big investments and fast execution. A solar power project typically takes 7-8 months to be set up, while the transmission line that connects it to the grid may take 24-36 months. "The low tariffs have put a lot of pressure on manufacturers to lower prices. Indian makers are grappling with stiff completion from China. power projects, while multi-crore investments by private companies such as Larsen & Toubro, Thermax and BGR on core equipment manufacturing units are yet to turn profitable. Solar power developers, too, are sourcing from China, not leaving much opportunity for the beleaguered equipment makers to 'Make in India.' Courtesy: The Economic times, 28.11.2015, From Internet NATIONS WORKING OUT THE BRASS TACKS OF SOLAR COLLABORATION Wasting no time after the high voltage launch of the International Solar Alliance, India along with representatives of 22 countries got down to working out the brass tacks of the solar collaboration. French foreign minister and the chair of the current round of climate talks Laurent Fabius has described the alliance as a "significant "initiative to tackle the challenge of climate change. France is among the 22 countries along with China, Australia, United Kingdom and a clutch of African countries which have formed the steering committee of the alliance. "Anyone who wanted to attend the meeting was welcome. There is no selection system for which country can be part of the steering committee," said senior Indian negotiator Ajay Mathur. India has been the force behind this effort, and will be hosting the alliance. Mathur said that at the steering committee's first meeting led to "large number of concrete suggestions for putting forward in the draft framework." Further actions and decision will be taken when the committee meets next in January in Abu Dhabi. The International Solar Alliance, an aggregation of countries with high solar resource, presents an opportunity to meet energy needs in a sustainable manner. Speaking at the launch, Developers wouldn't be able to develop these Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the solar projects without compromising on quality and alliance is a "bold global initiative" on which "our cutting corners," said Gyanesh Chaudhary, hope for a sustainable planet rests" as developing managing director of equipment maker Vikram world works to life billions of its people into Solar. prosperity. The private sector thrived on cheap imports 'This will enable developed and developing from China while building coal and gas-based countries to work together to attract investments