Solar installations in India reached 4 GW in 2016, and are expected to surpass 9 GW in 2017, an incredible pace of growth considering our country installed just 883 MW in 2014. With exponential growth in the sector, the Government wants to ramp up domestic manufacturing to decrease the volume of solar module imports which, along with installations, has also increased dramatically. The challenge, like in most markets, has been that of cost competition from Chinese manufacturers. India lost its case at the World Trade organization (WTO) last year which ruled that its Domestic Content requirements (DCR) discriminated against US manufacturers. With this backdrop, Indian policy makers are now looking at various options to support domestic manufacturers without violating global trade agreements.
The Indian solar manufacturing sector was active long before any policy or significant market demand existed in our country. The sector mainly focused on original equipment manufacturing and exporting to European countries. India had exported modules worth almost a billion dollars before the National solar Mission was established. Exports boomed in 2008 with a massive growth in global demand, but the slump in 2009 (due to the global recession) slowed the sector. as manufacturing took off in China, prices dropped to record low levels. From the beginning of 2011 through the end of 2012 module prices fell from $1.80/W to $0.65/W, a 65 percent drop. The state-funded Chinese manufacturers captured most of the global market at the cost of manufacturers elsewhere, including Indian manufacturers.
The installed capacities of domestic solar cells and modules in India were estimated to be 2,815 MW and 8,008 MW, respectively, while their operational capacities were 1,448 MW and 5,246 MW, respectively, as of December 2016, according to the Mercom’s Manufacturing Tracker.
However, the manufacturers paint a different picture. Most of them are of the opinion that the true working module manufacturing capacity was approximately 3 GW at the end of 2016. This huge disparity in the figures is due to old and obsolete manufacturing lines that are still being counted by the manufacturers as “operating capacity”.
As of December 2016, an estimated 9.6 GW of solar capacity has been installed in India. In the seven months from April to October of the 2016-17 financial year, export and import activity totalling USD 1.22 billion (Rs 83.22 billion) was registered in the sector. Out of this, India imported solar material worth more than a billion dollars. This is not just because India lacks manufacturing capacity, but it is mostly because Indian modules are much more expensive compared to Chinese modules.
CHALLENGES
Denne historien er fra March 01-31 2017-utgaven av Bureaucracy Today.
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Denne historien er fra March 01-31 2017-utgaven av Bureaucracy Today.
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has bureaucracy failed modi?
the ambitious swachh bharat abhiyaan, which was officially launched on october 2, 2014 amid much fanfare with prime minister narendra modi himself cleaning the road with a broom at rajghat in new delhi, was seen as a harbinger of change which would influence the behaviour of millions of indians who are notoriously known for dumping their wastes in public places. for months, bureaucrats wielding the broom also continued to dominate the media space. however, over two years since the campaign was launched, the cleanliness zeal, it seems, has taken a backseat. a reality check done by bureaucracy today in shastri bhawan in lutyens’ delhi which houses major central ministries indicates that those in the corridors of power are not readying themselves to become part of a new, clean and swanky india.
can cag audits be more innovative and transformative?
audit, if used properly, can become an effective aid to administration. the thumb rule is that audit must essentially capture the other side of the coin of governance. a responsive, relevant and responsible audit can only complement, supplement, support and strengthen quality governance. right audit themes, analysis and outcome can help administrators conduct a swot analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, providing deeper insights on missing issues to evaluate and take a midcourse corrective and preventive action, and help the government refocus to derive the planned outcome from projects and schemes.
increase import duty on stainless steel flat products: issda
bogged down by an unprecedented surge in imports in the last three years, especially from china, and to remain globally competitive, the indian stainless steel development association (issda) has recommended the government to increase the basic import duty on stainless steel flat products from 7.5% to 15% and to decrease the import duty on key raw materials like ferro nickel, pure nickel, ferro moly and stainless steel scrap to nil.
amritsar's emergence as a real estate hotspot
amritsar, famous for the golden temple, is the second largest city of punjab after ludhiana. it is also the most popular destination for non-resident indians in india. amritsar enjoys a strategic location with good connectivity to the prime cities of india. along with its excellent connectivity through road and rail transport, the city has an airport with a capacity of 150 commercial flights per week, both domestic and international. for the population of approximately 1.21 million in amritsar, a 31-kmlong brt corridor is nearing the completion stage to ease traffic congestion and improve public transportation in the city.
how much protection is available to judges and magistrates?
after the recent supreme court observation that no public servant is entitled for the protective umbrella of section 197 of the code of criminal procedure, it is being debated whether this ruling applies equally to judges of the district courts or other subordinate courts in india.
five trends that will reshape the indian real estate market
among the many different factors influencing the way real estate is developed, transacted and used in india, there are five big major emerging trends that have both real-time and long-term significance.
Is it a Crackdown or Creation of New Lords of Black Money Hoarders?
On the night of november 8 this year, Prime minister narendra modi appeared on national television to declare his Government’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, with a window of 50 days for a smooth transition. no doubt the move has hit those who have accumulated unaccounted black money. the Bureaucracy Today magazine analyses whether the move will stop the hoarding of black money in time to come.
A Paradigm Project for the Future
What makes for a great development project in Morocco? Which qualities imbue an initiative with longevity and sustainability, enabling it to meet a whole range of interconnected material and emotional needs? Is there a single concept applicable to a specific geographical location that exceptionally embodies those qualities?
Minority Shareholders 'Short-Changed' At Bombay House
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has turned down a request from Shapoorji Pallonji Group (SPG) vide its investment outfits, viz, Sterling Investment Corporation and Cyrus Investments, to initiate action against Tata Sons for the “oppression of minority interest and mismanagement”. It was done on the ground that the petitioner does not have the required minimum shareholding of 10%.
Should You Buy Your Dream Home Now?
The RERA or the Real Estate Regulation Act has finally become a reality. Though there are still plenty of hiccups and it will obviously take some time for the industry to absorb all the facets of the Act, it should be kept in mind that the RERA is a process, not an event. Meanwhile, the foremost question in property buyers’ minds is - should they wait until the RERA process is streamlined, or can they go in for home purchase now?
