India needs to learn from Intersolar North America show!

Intersolar North America successfully concluded its seventh annual show in the heart of the United States’ largest solar market, California. More than 17,000 visitors from 74 countries visited 530 exhibitors. The show had the latest innovations in the photovoltaic, energy storage, balance of systems, mounting and tracking systems, and solar heating and cooling market sectors.

Spark’s back on Indian electronics!!

Well, well, well! Post the announcements by the Government of India last week of two 300mm fabs in India, there have been a spate of announcements again, this week! Here’s what they are! Yesterday evening, the Indian Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved setting up of Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) near Hyderabad. The

India to allow imports of low-priced Chinese solar cells? Or, is it beaten?

As per reports on the Internet, the Government of India has said that it has no objections to companies importing low-priced Chinese solar cells, so long as the cells imported meet the prescribed quality standards! Oh, well! This is yet another blow to the battling group of the domestic manufacturers. A week before, their plea

Solarcon India 2011 begins with record exhibitors

Presenting the excerpts from the welcome address by Debasish Paul Choudhury, president, SEMI India, at the ongoing Solarcon India 2011, being held in Hyderabad. This year’s show features a larger exhibition, a three-day dual track conference, and will feature three concurrent technical programs. The theme for this year’s exposition, representing the widening solar value chain

Round-up 2010: Best of solar photovoltaics

Solar photovoltaics (PV) constantly reminds me of the early days of the telecom industry. Perhaps, the similarity lies in practically anyone and everyone wants to enter the solar/PV industry as well, just like it happened in telecom — before the industry consolidation started to happen. In India, a lot more talk has happened since the

Unique solution required for grid-tie inverters in India!

According to Venkat Rajaraman, CEO, Su-Kam Power Systems, there is a need for a unique solution for grid-tie inverters in India. The reason being: the grid itself is unstable, and isn’t available most of the time. Also, it does not comply yet, to any of the known specifications. He was speaking during a workshop on

Round-up 2009: Best of solar photovoltaics

Part III in the series ‘Round-up 2009’ features the top posts in solar photovoltaics during the year gone by. Some friends and readers have spent hours searching for blog posts. Hope this list will help them to easily find the blog post they are looking for. Here you go! SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Dramatic price forecast to

Industry reactions on National Solar Mission (NSM)

Observations by India’s semiconductor and solar industry on the National Solar Mission (NSM). Dr. Biswadip (Bobby) Mitra, president and managing director, Texas Instruments India, Bangalore. India is blessed with sunlight for most part of the year and is in a unique position to create multiple opportunities in the solar energy arena. We have a dedicated

Indian government unveils National Solar Mission Plan document!

Right then, here’s what most of the readers interested in the Indian solar photovoltaics industry were waiting to know! The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), government of India has announced the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. Interested folks can download the report from MNRE’s website — http://www.mnes.nic.in/ Let’s take a look at the

Union Cabinet approves National Solar Mission; 20 GW by 2022 (not 2020)!

First, the big news! The Union Cabinet of Ministers, Government of India, has cleared the National Solar Mission! Earlier slated for an announcement on Nov. 14th, the Cabinet approved of the Mission on Thursday! One major change — depends on how you see it — the Mission aims to generate 20,000 MW by 2022, and