The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) on Thursday filed a petition in the Supreme Court, pleading for a review of the judgement in March that banned BS-III vehicles. Siam says certain facts were not covered in the judgement that went to the root of the matter. The order had stopped original equipment manufacturers to sell any BS-III vehicles after March 31.

Publication: Business Standard

Assured availability of quality power to people is the basic feature of a smart city, apart from slum-free city environment, proper delivery of services like clean water, affordable housing and meeting the needs of children, women and the aged, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya said today.

Publication: ET Energy World

The opportunity to build sustainable energy solutions and the ambitious plans of the centre lured Rupesh Agarwal into the solar energy sector, after he had spent more than 17 years in management consulting. Agarwal, India head of UK-based Lightsource Renewable Energy, one of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic energy generators, was earlier instrumental in setting up and leading renewable energy practice at consulting firms EY and BDO.

Publication: Live Mint

India’s solar power sector turned a corner on 10 February with record low winning bids of Rs3.30 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for building a 750 megawatts (MW) plant at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. Expectedly, it offered a template, with France’s Solairedirect SA going on to win the rights to set up a 250MW of solar plant at Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, and sell power to state run NTPC Ltd at the new record-low tariff of Rs3.15 per kWh in an auction this month.

Publication: Live Mint

The solar energy sector that has seen the entry of start-ups and foreign firms alike has not missed the attention of India’s large conglomerates. The Mahindra group, Hero Group and Aditya Birla Group are among those who have set up renewable energy firms, hired technical experts and are scouting for acquisitions.

Publication: Live Mint

The renewable energy sector reported a record capacity addition of over 11 gigawatt (gw) in fiscal 2017, an increase of around 60% over the previous year. The addition is neck and neck with thermal power capacity addition of 11.5 GW in FY2017, which has declined from the peak capacity addition of 22.5 gw in FY2016.

Publication: DNA

The proposal to sell electric vehicles without batteries, relying instead on leasing the crucial component, could well be the policy push that could help shift the transport sector away from fossil fuels. This policy innovation will make electric vehicles cheaper by as much as 70% without resorting to subsidies. The decision to start off with the public transport, specifically city buses, is a good scaled-up pilot, allowing government to absorb initial infrastructure costs, and provides an opportunity to tweak the system to meet local requirements.

Publication: The Economic Times

Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited (KGEPSL), a venture of auto major, Firodia group announced a launch of its first electric three-wheeler with the advanced Lithium-Ion Battery. The company claimed that this technology will have a revolutionary impact on green mobility for masses in the country.

Publication: The Economic Times

The futures of solar power and electric vehicles (EV) in India are closely interlinked, given that EVs have batteries that can offer a storage solution to India’s clean energy push.Solar power generated during day needs to be stored in batteries. Storage capability of EV batteries could help with grid balancing, complementing the centre’s push for solar power.

Publication: Live Mint

At a time when addition of coal-fuelled power generation capacity has come to a standstill globally, India is seeing a race to the bottom in solar power prices. The latest was the record low tariff of Rs3.15 per kilowatt hour (kWh), quoted by France’s Solairedirect SA on 12 April to win the rights to set up 250 megawatt (MW) of solar plants at Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh and sell power to state-run NTPC Ltd. The tariff is expected to fall below Rs3 a unit during auctions for the Bhadla solar parks in Rajasthan.

Publication: Live Mint

Oil and gas companies across the world are turning out to be the new backers of the clean energy industry, as the transportation sector looks set to move away from fossil fuel guzzlers to electric powered vehicles. Big oil’s diversification of product portfolio is expected to benefit the clean energy industry in India, which is undergoing the largest capacity expansion drive.

Publication: Live Mint

The renewable energy sector reported a record capacity addition of over 11 gigawatt (gw) in fiscal 2017, an increase of around 60% over the previous year. The addition is neck and neck with thermal power capacity addition of 11.5 GW in FY2017, which has declined from the peak capacity addition of 22.5 gw in FY2016.

Publication: DNA

As India pursues its ambitious solar energy plans, the national grid is girding up for a smooth transition to a low carbon economy. It’s a transition that is changing the face of the transmission business at every step, from the drawing board to costs and technology.

Publication: Live Mint