RENEWCONNECT - All about renewables & power sector

The global electricity landscape is undergoing a structural shift from centralized generation toward decentralized, consumer-led production. Advances in rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV), battery storage, smart meters, and digital grid technologies have enabled households and businesses to evolve from passive consumers into “prosumers.” But what if consumers generated 80% of their own electricity ? Such a scenario would fundamentally reshape power markets, grid economics, infrastructure investment, energy equity, and decarbonization pathways. This article evaluates the systemic implications—strategic, financial, technological, and regulatory—through a consulting lens. 1. The Rise of the Prosumer Economy Distributed generation—electricity produced at or near the point of consumption—has grown rapidly, particularly via rooftop solar. Households, commercial establishments, and farms are increasingly installing solar PV systems to offset grid purchases. Globally, distributed solar alre...

Recycling of Solar Panels: Process, Industry Landscape, and Facility Ecosystem in India Key Summary India’s rapid scale-up of solar energy capacity—driven by decarbonization commitments, energy security priorities, and policy incentives—has created a parallel sustainability imperative: managing photovoltaic (PV) panel waste. Solar panels typically have a lifespan of 20–30 years; however, early replacements, manufacturing defects, and weather damage are already generating end-of-life (EoL) waste streams. As India moves toward its ambitious renewable capacity targets, solar panel recycling is transitioning from a niche environmental activity into a strategic circular-economy industry. This article examines the solar panel recycling process , evaluates the current and emerging recycling facilities in India , and highlights market, regulatory, and technology dynamics shaping the sector. 1. Solar Panel Waste: Scale of the Emerging Challenge India is among the fastest-growing solar ma...

Executive‑Level Overview ISO 55001 is a globally recognized standard that defines the requirements for establishing and operating an effective Asset Management System (AMS) . Part of the broader ISO 55000 family, it provides a disciplined framework for organizations to optimize asset value, strengthen risk resilience, and ensure long‑term sustainability across the asset lifecycle. What Is ISO 55001? ISO 55001 sets out the formal requirements for designing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving an asset management system. It enables organizations to take a systematic, structured, and risk‑informed approach to managing physical and non‑physical assets, ensuring that asset performance, cost, and risk are aligned with strategic objectives. Why ISO 55001 Matters 1. Maximizing Asset Value The standard helps organizations translate asset performance into tangible business value. By aligning asset management activities with enterprise strategy, organizations can enhance opera...

Utility‑scale battery capex clusters around $125/kWh all‑in (global auctions as of Oct’25), translating to LCOS ≈ $65/MWh for 4‑hour systems; standalone LCOS ranges in the US are still triple digits in many cases, although sharply down in 2025. Pack costs average $108/kWh (global) and $70/kWh for stationary storage in China‑linked segments. Long‑duration chemistries (iron‑air) target ~$20/kWh for energy capacity; sodium‑ion could plausibly reach $40/kWh at cell level with scale. Pumped storage is scaling rapidly in India. All of that sets the baseline before we explore a $10/kWh world. If fully installed energy storage (not just cell cost) fell below $10/kWh , the cost of shifting electricity would become negligible relative to generation. Solar and wind could be overbuilt and time‑shifted ubiquitously; thermal peakers and new gas CCGTs would be replaced by solar+storage, wind+storage, and hybrid portfolios; transmission expansion would focus on strategic corridors , while d...

Solar Street Lighting Systems (SSLs) have moved from pilot deployments in rural India to mainstream public infrastructure. India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has codified technical standards—favoring high‑efficacy white LEDs , LiFePO₄ batteries, dusk‑to‑dawn automation—and layered financing via Central Financial Assistance (CFA) and targeted schemes like PM JANMAN for PVTG habitations. State nodal agencies (e.g., ANERT in Kerala, HAREDA in Haryana, PEDA in Punjab) translate MNRE guidance into actionable tenders and rate contracts. Globally, the EU/IEC framework and US UL/ANSI standards converge on high safety and performance baselines, while market momentum—smart controls, lithium batteries, integral PV—drives costs down and reliability up. [mnre.gov.in] , [anert.gov.in] , [anert.gov.in] , [hareda.gov.in] India’s next leap will hinge on decentralized and hybrid models, lifecycle‑driven procurement, and robust field data. This article synthesizes current polic...