Renewable Energy in Asia after Covid-19

INDIA by Huzefa Motiwala, Country Manager

The renewable energy sector in India, already grappling with various issues such as delays to funding and uncertainty over government policy, faces a significant new test with COVID-19. However, despite these challenges, the overall situation is showing signs of improvement.

Green shoots include signs that the government, responding to the economic impact of the pandemic, are considering higher subsidies for renewable projects. Such an investment would help to re-invigorate industry and provide secure energy sources for the future; coupled with past efforts to introduce necessary regulatory support mechanisms, the sector is well placed to weather the current crisis.

According to a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), India is set to achieve 145GW of renewable energy by close of FY 2021/22, a strong indication that the country is on track to meet its ambitious renewable energy goal of 175GW by the end of 2022.

Moving past the lockdown

Before India entered lockdown on the 23rd March 2020, the country had never before experienced a health crisis of the type and scale posed by COVID-19. While the original ‘Phase 1’ lockdown was due to expire on the 14^th April, subsequent extensions mean that restrictions remain in place, albeit with differences around the country and some relaxing of the rules.

As part of its approach to re-opening the economy, the government has defined renewable energy construction projects as a priority, making them some of the first commercial ventures to re-open. With project planning, preparation, and clerical work completed remotely during the lockdown, many new and existing projects stand ready to go.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Natural and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has stated that projects already under-construction before the pandemic and affected by disruptions to the supply chain are considered as having suffered a ‘natural disaster’, which may lead to relaxed timelines and additional support. Deadline extensions, in particular, offer great relief to developers, shielding them from the risk of penalties and encashment of bank guarantees.

For running projects, the MNRE has clarified that the ‘Must Run’ status for renewable projects remains unchanged during Covid-19 lockdown period and should not be curtailed but for grid security reasons.

Open for Business

A rapidly expanding economy before the pandemic, infrastructure and renewable energy projects will remain core to the post-COVID-19 recovery and future growth.

In the short to medium term, I expect that the utility-scale segment of the market will continue to be dominated by commercial and industrial consumers. The growth in rooftop installations also continues to look promising for at least the next few years.

As the country continues to re-open the pace of progress on existing projects will only increase. And with many new projects now in the pipeline, waiting to be finalised and executed, there is ample cause for optimism about the future.

Though we continue to work remotely, EKO India is open for business; ready to support our distributors, partners and customers as we all work towards a brighter, more renewable, future for India.   

Anyone wishing to contact our offices around the world can now book an online video meeting using Calendly and Zoom.

Calendly is a booking tool that allows you to choose the date and time of your meeting. Simply make a selection from the available timeslots, and you will receive an automated email with the details and a Zoom link.

Please click here to access the full list of available meetings with our global team.

Innovation by EKO, since 1927

Weather is often changeable; rain one-minute, blazing sun the next. Climate meanwhile takes a longer view. It’s the weather of a particular place seen over years, decades, maybe even centuries.

EKO Instruments was founded in a spirit of innovation, with a commitment to accuracy, at the heart of what we do. For over 90 years, that commitment has helped to drive the development of industry-leading solar energy sensors, and scientific instruments for environmental research.

Today, many of our customers' study weather and climate, in some cases looking towards the past to help predict the future. At EKO, looking back at our history helps us to look ahead; inspiring ideas for the future.

1955 

EKO Instruments successfully developed Japan's first pyranometer at the request of the ‘Japan Meteorological Agency’.

1985

Working with the Electronic Technology Research Institute (now the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), we successfully developed a new solar cell evaluation system for large outdoor arrays, the ‘IV curve tracer’.

1990

We developed the world’s first UV-B UV Radiometer.

2014

We opened the Ami Solar Park solar power plant, followed a year later by a second site at Inashiki. These plants not only generate electricity but provide a unique facility for comparative verification testing.

2016

We launched a new generation sensor, the MS-80 Class A Pyranometer. A patented design with unmatched zero offset, ultra-fast response, and Quartz diffusor, the MS-80 is an industry leader that we continue to develop with the new variants utilising the latest technologies.

2020

At the turn of the year EKO Instruments announced a global pledge to phase out all possible single-use, and non-recyclable plastics from product packaging by the end of 2022; a major challenge but one made with an eye to the future; reflecting on our shared responsibility and desire to contribute to the preservation and protection of our natural environment. We are also working on the new ‘MS-S’ Series of ‘Smart’ sensors, and the accompanying ‘Hibi’ app. Watch this space!

Looking Ahead

Whether it's developing a new generation of sensors, the next game-changing innovation in accuracy, or the apps and tools to make our instruments easier to use; we continue to look ahead to the future.

Find out more. Join us at events around the world, subscribe, and follow us on social for all of the latest news and exciting announcements from EKO Instruments.

Customer Story

PV Diagnostics (Mumbai, India) specialises in onsite testing services, providing quality control and diagnostics for solar power plants across India. The MP-11 I-V Checker is a portable, all-in-one measurement solution designed to deliver accurate on-site I-V performance measurements of PV modules and arrays.

In 2017, needing a new instrument for on-site measurement, PV Diagnostics decided to launch a comparative study of I-V Curve Checkers. EKO Instruments’ M-11 was chosen to face-off against two competitors, both similar devices, but with some key differences.

Each device was assessed independently, on-site, and in real working conditions. Features ranging from ‘accuracy’, through ‘robustness’, and ‘ergonomics’ were ranked from high to low. ‘Battery time’, ‘sensor range’, ‘sweep time’, and ‘wait time’ was also scored by the engineers testing each device.

The MP-11 scored high in each category. It was accurate; it was robust; it was fast and portable. It also had onboard memory, an in-built display, and supported integration with an external pyranometer; features not all shared by the competition.

“Three years ago, we had a tough choice to make. The volume of on-site tests that we conduct, plus the distances and geography we have to cover, we couldn’t afford to make a mistake” explained Pranav Maheshwari, an Engineer at PV Diagnostics. “Comparing different devices the way we did was a great way to establish beyond doubt that the MP-11 was the best option for us, and we haven’t been disappointed”.

Three years later and PV Diagnostics now operates seven MP-11 units, have measured more than 250k I-V curves, and describe the MP-11 as ‘the most effective device for on-site I-V curve measurement’ and ‘the easiest to use while conducting field measurements in large quantities’.

The MP-11 is distributed in India by Meteoxperts Solutions (Delhi, India). Find out more about EKO I-V Measurement devices and request a quotation at eko-asia.com.

The future of EKO Pyranometers

Regardless of whether your PV solar plant is large or small, hi-tech or low, maximising your energy yield ultimately depends on creating the perfect conditions. Many PV solar plants already have an onsite monitoring system, generating critical operating data about yield and performance-ratio, but with increasing energy demands, and increasing competition, its’ time to consider upgrading to ‘Smart Sensors’.

While there isn’t any single international standard that defines what makes a sensor smart, ‘Smart Sensors’ are typically characterised by onboard intelligence and the ability to communicate via a digital network. As with any new tool or technology, Smart Sensors used for control require trust. Trust that the sensor is accurate, calibrated, reliable, timely, and secure.

At EKO Instruments, we have been working to combine ‘trust’ with ‘smart’, taking our existing range of ISO9060 Class Pyranometers, proven over time and around the world, and adding new ‘smart’ features. Our goal, to launch a new ‘MS-S’ Series of ‘smart’ pyranometers, pyrgeometers, and UV sensors; upgraded ‘smart’ variants of the MS-80, MS-60, MS-40, MS-20, MS-11 and MS-10. 

The ‘MS-S’ Series will add value to any application with advanced performance and diagnostic functions. New features, including the ability to self-monitor tilt angle, temperature and inside humidity monitoring, and onboard diagnostic sensors will help to prevent unplanned sensor and system downtime; and have been designed to help significantly improve yield, efficiency, and performance.

The EKO ‘MS-S’ sensors will also combine efficient digital communications via ‘Modbus 485’ and ‘SDI-12’, with electronic analogue controls. The analogue 4-20 mA and 0-10mA output standards will support communication between sensors and data controllers with an analogue input, while 4-20 mA signals will also be largely immune to electrical noise. Per-point wiring has also been included in the design to ensure that communication is reliable and easy to troubleshoot.

And, with the imminent launch of our new free to download ‘Hibi’ software, we are also making data visualisation easier than ever. ‘Hibi’ means ‘day by day’ in Japanese, and with this programme, users will be able to visualise detection signals, set communication parameters, and rapidly troubleshoot any issues from day one.

The EKO ‘MS-S’ Series of smart sensors will bring together the quality and reliability of EKO solar sensors with our commitment to continuous innovation and are designed to play a key role in improving solar power plant monitoring and control. They will be Industry 4.0 ready, and capable of measuring rapid irradiance variations, with high reliability, stability, and accuracy across a wide operational temperature range.

Email the team at ‘info@eko-eu.com’ to register your interest or to find out more about the ‘MS-S’ Series of Smart Sensors.

This article was featured in EKO/Environment. Click here OR on the 'Subscribe' button below to register for future EKO e-newsletters.

A statement from EKO Instruments President, Toshikazu Hasegawa

On the 26^th of February, EKO Instruments Japan were due to begin exhibiting at Smart Energy Week 2020; a major 3-day local industry event where we had planned to have two booths, one for Wind and another for our PV products.

The whole team were looking forward to this event; with plans to debut new booth designs, a special social media-focused giveaway, and our widest range of products on display. Mainly, however, we enjoy these kinds of events because they...

Keep Reading

EKO Instruments Co., Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) have issued a public pledge to phase out all possible single-use, and non-recyclable plastics from product packaging by the end of 2022. The pledge, made globally via social media on 12/31, covers all of the companies own products, such as environmental sensors and other scientific instruments.

Many everyday items are categorised as single-use or disposable plastics, including plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, water bottles, packing materials, and most food packaging. The majority of these plastics are not recyclable.

Plastic pollution is one part of the wider ‘Climate Emergency’ and a rapidly growing problem. Roughly 300 million tons of plastics are produced each year globally[i], and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use, often ending up in oceans and landfill. It is estimated that the worlds’ oceans already contain more than 150 million tons of plastic[ii]. 

Speaking about the pledge, EKO Instruments President, Toshikazu Hasegawa said “We wanted to set an ambitious, but achievable goal. To take the first step, as a company, in addressing the global challenge of pollution and the climate crisis”. He went on to explain that “this isn’t a Japanese problem, a China, US, or European problem; it is a global problem, a human challenge.”

The pledge commits EKO to the re-design of all product packaging within three years. The initial goal will be to use less and more environmentally friendly alternatives, before finally transitioning to no single-use or non-recyclable plastics.

As EKO produces highly sensitive scientific instruments for use in the renewable energy industry, research, and academia, it is imperative that when products are packaged and shipped, often around the world, that they are safe from sudden drops, vibration, and other potentially damaging events or conditions.

Discussing the origin of the pledge, President Hasegawa explained that “it is an idea based on our corporate philosophy, that we have a responsibility to contribute to the preservation and protection of our natural environment… it was also driven internally by our management team and colleagues; everyone expressed a desire to take action.”

EKO hope to use their experience to help educate other companies about the challenges and potential solutions to plastic pollution, with plans to document and share the lessons they learn, and their progress towards achieving their goal, via social media.

For more information about the pledge, please contact marketing@eko-instruments.com.