NHPC Invites Bids for 1.2 GW Solar Projects in Uttar Pradesh

REMCL Issues RfS for Supply of 1 GW Round-the-Clock Renewable Power

Funding and M&A Roundup: CleanPeak Energy Raises $328 Million

Project Finance Brief: Exus Secures $300 Million for Solar-Wind Portfolio

Odisha Identifies 45 Pumped Storage Project Sites, to Issue Guidelines Soon

APTEL Upholds Ruling Against Wind Developer’s Power Injection Claim

NTPC Floats O&M Tender for 97 MW Ground-Mounted and Floating Solar Projects 

MNRE Says Solar Projects Set Up to Charge ESS Not Exempt from ALMM

Use of ALMM-listed Solar Cells Mandatory a Month After List Publication

Higher Solar Module Sales Drive Waaree Energies’ Income Up 31% in Q1 FY26


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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has clarified that solar projects installed exclusively to charge energy storage systems (ESS) will not be exempted from complying with the requirements under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).</p>
<p>If a solar project is feeding power or charging an ESS, which is directly or indirectly supplying electricity to the grid, then such solar projects do not fall under the category of behind-the-meter projects solely used for captive consumption. They will, therefore, not be eligible for exemption from ALMM for solar modules.</p>
<p>According to MNRE, the behind-the-meter classification applies only to projects meant exclusively for captive use by individual consumers or groups of consumers, without any grid interaction.</p>
<p>It also said that the applicability of ALMM provisions for solar cells in such configurations depends on the exemption status of the ESS project. The solar project will be exempted from complying with ALMM requirements if the ESS is already exempt. However, if the ESS is not exempt, then the solar project linked to it will also not be eligible for exemption.</p>
<p>These clarifications follow queries from stakeholders seeking clarity on whether a private sector entity installing a solar project exclusively to charge a battery energy storage system would be exempted from the ALMM requirement, and whether such solar projects qualify as behind-the-meter installations.</p>
<p>Recently, MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-issues-clarifications-on-almm-mandate-for-behind-the-meter-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clarified</a> that behind-the-meter projects for captive consumption by government entities or public sector enterprises must use solar modules from the ALMM. However, these projects are exempt from using ALMM-compliant cells if they were commissioned before June 1, 2026. Projects commissioned after this deadline must use ALMM-listed modules and cells.</p>
<p>In another notification, MNRE exempted government projects where the ALMM for modules is mandated from complying with the ALMM order for solar cells, if the bid submission deadline is on or before the cut-off date. The cut-off date will be one month after the publication of the first ALMM List for cells.</p>



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					</table><p>With the growing demand for power from data centers in the country, project developers are increasingly recognizing battery energy storage systems (BESS) as a vital component of renewable energy projects in the coming years.</p>
<p>At a discussion on <strong>“How Industries and Commercial (C&amp;I) Units Are Pursuing Green Growth”</strong> held at the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/renewables-summit-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025</a> on July 25, 2025, panelists shared their insights on how AI and data centers will drive demand for renewables.  They also forecast that the demand for renewable energy from the C&amp;I sector will keep increasing.</p>
<p>The panelists were Kartikeya Narain Sharma, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at <a href="https://sunsure-energy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunsure Energy</a>; Vinay Vyas, CEO, EPC Business at <a href="https://enrichenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enrich Energy</a>; Birendra Pandey, Head of Energy Commercialization at <a href="https://enfinity.global/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enfinity Global India</a>; and Divanshu Gupta, BU Head, <a href="https://hartek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartek Group</a>.</p>
<p>Priya Sanjay, Managing Director, Mercom India, moderated the session.</p>
<p>Vinay Vyas said that 56% of the electricity requirement comes from the C&amp;I segment. The rooftop solar segment accounts for more than 65% of the demand from this segment.</p>
<p>Kartikeya Sharma said that the Ministry of Power had requested states to focus on reducing daytime pricing.  Such a move will encourage more project developers to opt for hybrid power projects.</p>
<p>“As more solar is injected into the grid, the daytime pricing will get dampened, and people will move away from banking. We (the company) have moved entirely to hybrid solutions. Except for states with no wind potential, we are considering wind-solar hybrid projects. Our interstate transmission system (ISTS) projects will also be wind-solar hybrid projects,” he said.</p>
<p><strong>Rising Demand from Data Centers</strong></p>
<p>The panelists said demand from data centers would require substantial amounts of renewable energy, especially in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Telangana.</p>
<p>Birendra Pandey said most data centers funded by international investors are required to reduce their carbon footprint. “Before they plan their infrastructure for data centers, they also plan their renewable energy footprint. This will be one of the biggest drivers of demand for renewable energy from data centers.”</p>
<p>The demand from data centers is expected to surpass that of the steel industry. They will be the country’s largest consumers of electricity.</p>
<p>Sharma said the need for data center localization drove the first wave of data centers in India. The next wave will come from AI and the proliferation of the internet.</p>
<p>He also highlighted the challenge of supplying power to these data centers. “Unlike typical C&amp;I customers with a running load, data centers have a ramping upload. Every three months, they will add 5 MW, which translates to at least 10 MW of renewable energy. When you work with data centers, you need to have a running pipeline of power projects to sell power in the short term while waiting for the data centers to ramp up their power.”</p>
<p>He said policy uncertainty can make it difficult for renewable power project developers to operate pipeline projects to meet the demand from data centers.</p>
<p>Sharma said solar developers are increasingly moving away from plain wind-solar projects. “Given the contracted BESS capacity of 40 GWh, only a few of that capacity has become operational. It&#8217;s only a matter of 18-24 months, when you see 25 GWh of BESS in operation across different modes—states, interstate transmission networks, and behind-the-meter projects.”</p>
<p>Coupled with the states’ need to reduce daytime pricing, Sharma said BESS had found a niche to make BESS commercially viable.</p>
<p>Divanshu Gupta talked about demand from power-intensive industries such as steel and textiles in Punjab. He said these companies were shifting to solar energy and were demanding energy storage too. “Consumers are asking us to build 50 MW projects with a minimum of 5-10 MW of energy storage. Companies don’t want to bank their power with distribution companies (DISCOMs) or an additional 20% course in their nighttime.”</p>
<p>He added that companies in Punjab are also choosing off-site captive power projects.</p>
<p>The panelists focused on the inclusion of more aggregators of containerized battery storage solutions in the market, along with ramping up capacities. This will enable operational efficiency and reduce costs.</p>
<p>Gupta spoke about the growing awareness of renewable energy among C&amp;I consumers. They had realized that behind-the-meter projects are more viable.</p>
<p>“Recently, we commissioned an 8 MW project for Coca-Cola in Jammu and Kashmir, and they were not connected to the grid. To assist our customers, we have added energy storage. The stored energy would meet the power needed for construction and would also provide self-reliance to the consumer after construction,” he added.</p>
<p>Gutpa said even the residential sector had come to understand the futility of relying on banking power and the benefits of storing energy and utilizing it.</p>
<p><strong>Slow Adoption of VVPAs</strong></p>
<p>As a differentiator in the market, Vyas added that his company was providing firm power for particular time slots. Virtual power purchase agreements (VPPA) were also gaining traction.</p>
<p>Pandey said that multiple multinational offtakers have shown interest in VPPAs.</p>
<p>“Earlier, there were companies like Amazon that worked out a strike price for green attributes, and the brown power was sold at the exchange. Now, we see a policy coming in for VPPA. It&#8217;s still new, and the policy must be understood. However, some large VPPA deals have already been concluded, and in the future, multinationals will have greater confidence in Indian power project developers&#8217; ability to consistently deliver VPPAs. This will also mature the power trading market, and developers would show more risk in trading,” he said.</p>
<p>Sharma added that sleeved PPAs, popular in European and U.S. markets, are set to enter the Indian power market. “For on-time delivery of power, we develop short-term power projects before we supply the long-term power projects. In this case, the customer wants to ensure power delivery but is willing to cover the costs until the power comes online.”</p>


Data Centers to Become Largest Consumers of Renewable Energy


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					</table><p>The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (<a href="https://www.mahadiscom.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSEDCL</a>) has issued a tender to procure 2,000 MW/4,000 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) under the build, own, and operate model.</p>
<p>The tender includes a viability gap funding provision of up to ₹1.8 million (~$21,690)/MWh, to be disbursed in three stages, 20% at financial closure, 50% on reaching the commercial operation date (COD), and 30% one year post-COD.</p>
<p>The storage systems will be deployed across multiple locations near MSEDCL or the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company substations.</p>
<p>Bids must be submitted by September 15, 2025. Bids will be opened on September 16.</p>
<p>Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹420,000 (~$5,060), a non-refundable document fee of ₹29,500 (~$355), and a processing fee of ₹1.5 million (~$21,320) plus 18% GST per quoted project.</p>
<p>Selected bidders must submit a performance bank guarantee of ₹1.05 million (~$12,650) before signing the battery energy storage purchase agreement (BESPA).</p>
<p>The BESS must be designed for two daily cycles with a discharge duration of two hours.</p>
<p>For standalone BESS, MSEDCL will provide land on a right-of-use basis at a nominal lease of ₹1 (~$0.012)/plot per year. For co-located projects, developers must arrange their own land.</p>
<p>The minimum bid size is 100 MW/200 MWh. The projects must be commissioned within 18 months from the effective date of the BESPA.</p>
<p>A maximum delay of nine months beyond the scheduled commissioning date is allowed, subject to liquidated damages. Any commissioning delays beyond this period will result in the BESPA’s termination and the encashment of the full performance bank guarantee.</p>
<p>Annual BESS availability falling below 95% will attract liquidated damages of twice the capacity charges applicable to the shortfall.</p>
<p>Bidders must be standalone BESS developers or renewable energy generators with an existing, valid intra-state power purchase agreement with MSEDCL. Co-located projects, such as renewable energy generators, can integrate battery storage with their existing solar projects.</p>
<p>Bidders must have a net worth of ₹7.4 million (~$89,190)/MW of the quoted capacity as of the last date of the previous financial year or at least seven days before the bid submission deadline.</p>
<p>Bidders who are registered as SEBI-regulated alternative investment funds can fulfil this requirement by showing cumulative assets under management of ₹7.4 million (~$89,190)/MW.</p>
<p>Last December, MSEDCL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/maharashtra-invites-bids-power-for-2025-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to procure 1,000 MW of round-the-clock power from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028.</p>
<p>In August 2024, MSEDCL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/msedcl-invites-bids-for-300-mw-600-mwh-battery-energy-storage-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a request for selection to set up pilot projects of 300 MW/ 600 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems in Maharashtra.</p>


Maharashtra Floats Tender for 2,000 MW/4,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage


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					</table><p>Data center company <a href="https://www.nxtra.in/service/colocation?utm_source=Google_ads&amp;utm_medium=Tc_ads&amp;utm_campaign=Brand_Conversion&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwoJa2BhBPEiwA0l0ImNoMRZ4c1Fz3gCUPOlyHqxz9WdUOJpzQbWApMZbAxJl9-wTjq7EiABoC20oQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nxtra by Airtel</a> has signed a new power wheeling agreement with independent power producer <a href="https://ampin.energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AMPIN Energy Transition</a> for the supply of 125.65 MW of solar-wind hybrid energy through interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected projects.</p>
<p>The deal will bring the total contracted green energy capacity between the two companies to over 200 MW.</p>
<p>According to Ashish Arora, CEO at Nxtra, the company is now powering its digital infrastructure with over 200 MW of renewable energy in partnership with AMPIN. “This achievement highlights our leadership in using ISTS-backed clean energy to power our facilities sustainably, boosting reliability and ensuring tangible climate impact.”</p>
<p>Under the new agreement, Nxtra will receive an additional 205,167 MWh of renewable power annually. It includes the delivery of energy in two phases through captive ISTS solar-wind hybrid projects in Rajasthan and Karnataka.</p>
<p>Previously, AMPIN Energy Transition had been supplying solar energy to Nxtra via intra-state open access arrangements in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. The new arrangement will extend AMPIN’s services to 11 additional states, introducing a nationwide renewable energy solution for Nxtra using large-scale ISTS-connected infrastructure.</p>
<p>The expanded partnership aims to improve Nxtra’s infrastructural efficiency and strengthen its position as a leader in sustainable data center operations in India.</p>
<p>Nxtra utilizes renewable energy to meet 41% of its data center energy needs and is undertaking other sustainability initiatives, such as building zero-discharge data centers and deploying fuel cell technology.Last August, Nxtra by Airtel <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nxtras-data-centers-meet-38-of-energy-needs-from-renewable-sources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that 38.3% of the total electricity consumed in its core data centers was sourced from renewable energy sources during the financial year 2023-24. The use of renewable energy increased by 41% from the previous year, according to the company&#8217;s environmental, social, and governance report.</p>
<p>In March this year, AMPIN Energy Transition <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ampin-energy-secures-50-million-investment-from-siemens-financial-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> an investment of $50 million (~₹4.28 billion) from Siemens Financial Services, the financing arm of Siemens AG.</p>
<p>In November last year, AMPIN <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ampin-energy-transition-partners-cip-re-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expanded</a> its partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to develop 2 GW of renewable energy projects across India with a joint investment of $300 million.</p>


Nxtra Partners with AMPIN Energy to Expand Renewable Energy Use


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					</table><p><strong>Saudi Arabia</strong>’s <strong>ACWA Power</strong> <a href="https://fastcompanyme.com/news/acwa-power-signs-major-green-hydrogen-clean-energy-export-deals-with-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a series of agreements and MoUs with European energy leaders, <strong>TotalEnergies </strong>(<strong>France</strong>), <strong>Edison</strong> (<strong>Italy</strong>), and <strong>EnBW</strong> (<strong>Germany</strong>), to establish a green hydrogen and renewable energy export corridor between Saudi Arabia and <strong>Europe</strong>. Additional agreements with <strong>Siemens Energy</strong> aim to develop energy transmission infrastructure to enable clean energy exports. These deals were formalized during the Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Export Workshop in Riyadh, organized under the supervision of the <strong>Saudi Ministry of Energy.</strong></p>
<p>The <strong>Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW)</strong> in <strong>Kuwait</strong> has <a href="https://www.zawya.com/en/business/energy/kuwait-renewable-energy-lights-up-south-abdullah-al-mubarak-streets-qdpnwab8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> a renewable energy-powered street lighting project in the South Abdullah Al-Mubarak suburb, marking the first such initiative under its portfolio. PAHW is also supervising the construction of 31 public buildings in the suburbs and 186 buildings in other residential areas.</p>
<p><strong>Union Coop</strong> <a href="https://www.tradearabia.com/News/435005/Union-Coop%2C-Positive-Zero-launch-big-Mideast-retail-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partnered</a> with <strong>Positive Zero</strong> to launch a large-scale solar energy project, covering up to 30 retail locations in <strong>Dubai</strong> and <strong>Umm Al Quwain</strong> by mid-2026. With a total installed capacity of 17.3 MW, the project is expected to generate approximately 29.23 GWh of clean electricity annually. David Auriau, CEO at Union Coop, said, “Our teams are already working together on the first phase, and by this time next year, we expect clean, renewable energy to be powering all agreed sites.”</p>
<p><strong>Crédit Agricole Egypt</strong> has <a href="https://www.ca-egypt.com/en/news/credit-agricole-egypt-and-infinity-join-forces-to-accelerate-transition-to-solar-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> a partnership with <strong>Egypt</strong>-based <strong>Infinity</strong> to make clean-energy solutions more accessible for individual consumers. Through this partnership, Infinity’s consumers can access Crédit Agricole Egypt’s solar loan, which will have repayment terms of up to seven years. The loan will enable individuals to invest in multiple solar products, including solar home solutions for residential clients. Infinity is the largest Egyptian contributor to the 1,465 MW Benban Solar Park. Since 2018, Infinity has installed over 700 electric vehicle charging points across Egypt’s 16 governorates.</p>


MENA Weekly Round-Up: Saudi Arabia Inks Key Pacts on Renewable Energy


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					</table><p><a href="https://sunsure-energy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunsure Energy</a> and Enerica Infra 3 (<a href="https://www.energrid.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EnerGrid</a>) won NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam’s (<a href="https://www.nvvn.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NVVN</a>) auction to set up interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected 250 MW/1,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) under the build-own-operate model.</p>
<p>Sunsure won 125 MW/500 MWh at a tariff of ₹6.64 (~$0.0768)/kWh. Enerica also won 125 MW/500 MWh at a tariff of ₹6.65 (~$ 0.076)/kWh.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/table-BESS-.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-82401 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/table-BESS-.png" alt="" width="743" height="289" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/table-BESS-.png 743w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/table-BESS--300x117.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/table-BESS--650x253.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/table-BESS--624x243.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/table-BESS--600x233.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 743px) 100vw, 743px" /></a></p>
<p>The tender was <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nvvn-issues-tender-for-250-mw-1000-mwh-standalone-bess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> in February this year.</p>
<p>The BESS will be eligible for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support of up to ₹2.7 million (~$31,598)/MWh or 30% of the capital cost, whichever is lower.</p>
<p>The project will provide NVVN with energy on an on-demand basis, as required during the peak and off-peak hours.</p>
<p>Bidders must set up the BESS, including its charging power and single-cycle charging/discharging operation, as well as the project’s interconnection with the ISTS. The charging power should preferably come from renewable sources, with other sources meeting any remaining requirements.</p>
<p>The total 1,000 MWh (250 MW × 4 hours) BESS capacity must be distributed and connected to ISTS substations throughout India.</p>
<p>Sunsure and Enerica will also operate and maintain the project, guaranteeing a minimum monthly system availability of 95%. If NVVN is unable to offtake the power, it will be liable to pay 52.88% of the discovered composite energy tariff to the developer for the difference between the energy generated and the energy scheduled monthly.</p>
<p>Bidders must design the BESS to provide a maximum discharge capacity of four hours. The responsibility of getting ISTS connectivity will vest with the developer.</p>
<p>A shortfall in system availability will result in liquidated damages equal to twice the composite discharge value.</p>
<p>In March, the Ministry of Power had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-enhances-bess-capacity-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directed</a> all states and implementing agencies to award all BESS contracts by June 2025 to enable the VGF program to be completed by May 2027.</p>
<p>Last month, Solar91 Cleantech, Rays Power Experts, Stockwell Solar Services, Oriana Power, and Inox Renewable Solutions <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nvvns-1-gwh-auction-discovers-lowest-ever-bess-tariff-of-%E2%82%B9216000-mw-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> NVVN’s auction to set up 500 MW/1,000 MWh BESS in Rajasthan.</p>


Sunsure and Enerica Bag NVVN’s 250 MW/1,000 MWh BESS Auction


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					</table><p>The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://cercind.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CERC</a>) has directed a phased implementation of market coupling across power exchanges, starting with the day-ahead market (DAM) coupling by January 2026.</p>
<p>The DAM coupling will be executed in round-robin mode, with the role of market coupling operator (MCO) rotating among the three operational power exchanges—Indian Energy Exchange, Power Exchange India, and Hindustan Power Exchange.</p>
<p>Grid-India will serve as the fourth MCO for audit and backup purposes.</p>
<p>CERC’s decision follows a shadow pilot study by Grid-India which revealed that DAM coupling resulted in an overall welfare gain of ₹380 million (~$4.39 million), or 0.3%, and a 52 million units (MU) or 0.2% increase in volume cleared.</p>
<p>The price impact was negligible due to the skewed liquidity distribution, with welfare gains recorded in every market session.</p>
<p>For real-time market (RTM) coupling, the simulation showed a ₹7.2 million (~$83,325.53) welfare gain (0.01%) and a 1.54 MU (0.01%) increase in cleared volume, again with minimal impact on market prices.</p>
<p>For the RTM-security constrained economic dispatch (SCED) coupling, the pilot study demonstrated daily net savings of ₹14 million (~$162,021.86) in cost optimization. However, it also showed a ₹1 (~$0.012)/MWh increase in average cost due to lower demand. The model also led to reduced volatility in the average clearing price.</p>
<p>While DAM coupling is now scheduled for operational rollout, RTM coupling has been deferred and will be revisited after gaining implementation experience from the former. The RTM-SCED coupling has been marked for further stakeholder consultation and regulatory deliberation due to its complexity.</p>
<p>CERC also directed Grid-India to develop software for a shadow pilot for the term-ahead market (TAM), which will include contingency contracts. A three-month pilot will be conducted, followed by a feedback report submission.</p>
<p>The Commission instructed all power exchanges to provide the required data to Grid-India and the regulator to support implementation. CERC staff have also been tasked with initiating regulatory amendments needed to operationalize DAM coupling.</p>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<p>The latest order builds on a previous directive <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cerc-market-coupling-shadow-pilot-power-exchanges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> by the Commission, which initiated a shadow pilot to test the feasibility of market coupling. Grid-India was instructed to develop the necessary software and run the pilot for four months, submitting monthly operational reports and a final feedback report.</p>
<p>The market coupling initiative aims to facilitate uniform price discovery, optimize the use of transmission networks, and increase buyer-seller surplus.</p>
<p>In June this year, CERC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cerc-proposes-expanding-scope-of-over-the-counter-power-markets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> amendments to its Power Market Regulations, 2021, to expand the scope of over-the-counter power markets.</p>


CERC Directs Phased Rollout of Power Market Coupling from January 2026


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					</table><p>The <a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government</a> will soon announce a utility-led program under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to enable households without suitable rooftop space to benefit from the program, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said.</p>
<p>He was speaking before presenting the Mercom India Awards at the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/renewables-summit-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025</a>.</p>
<p>Joshi said 1.72 million rooftop solar systems have been installed under the PM Surya Ghar program as of date. “These numbers reveal the real progress on the ground.”</p>
<p>Listing out India’s achievements in the energy transition, he said the country had already met 50% of the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based renewable energy capacity, five years ahead of schedule. “The 500 GW goal is not merely a slogan, we will achieve it.”</p>
<p>India now has the second-lowest levelized cost of energy globally, he said. He also referred to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, which highlighted the Prime Minister’s vision for renewable energy had saved ₹4 trillion (~$46.3 billion) in monetary value and prevented 400 million tons of carbon emissions, the Minister said.</p>
<p>Joshi said while India had achieved much in the renewable energy sector, there were some challenges for which the government was taking suitable measures. He referred to the need for modernizing the electricity grid to integrate rising solar and wind energy.</p>
<p>“We will do whatever it takes to have a modernized, flexible grid including the use of Artificial Intelligence,” he said.</p>
<p>Joshi said the ministry was having zonal review meetings with chief ministers, energy ministers, and distribution companies. Every state has now been made accountable to meet the Renewable Consumption Obligation.</p>
<p>Work was also going on to augment the capacity of the transmission and distribution network. On energy storage, he said battery energy storage system (BESS) was now a core renewable energy component. A viability gap funding (VGF) for 30 GWh of BESS capacity had been <a href="https://mercomindia.com/government-54-billion-vgf-battery-storage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a>, he said.</p>
<p>Joshi said the government’s goal is make India a global manufacturing hub of clean energy by integrating all components of the solar supply chain from polysilicon to modules. To promote domestic manufacturing further, solar cells will be brought under the ambit of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers from July next year.</p>
<p>The minister said a lot of research and development work was going on in the solar sector, with the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru working on improving the efficiency of perovskite solar cells. “The initial results of the research are good.”</p>
<p>“Enhancing the efficiency levels of perovskite solar cells to 29% and above will reduce the requirement of land for solar projects,” he said.</p>


MNRE to Launch Utility-led Program for Rural Households Under Surya Ghar


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					</table><p><a href="https://sjvn.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SJVN</a> has issued three tenders for setting up 7.82 MW of rooftop solar projects with battery storage on union government buildings across the country’s eastern, southern, and northern regions under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.</p>
<p><strong>Eastern Region</strong></p>
<p>Projects in this region will have a cumulative capacity of 1.5 MW. They will be set up in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.</p>
<p>These solar projects will be installed on the buildings of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.</p>
<p><strong>Southern Region </strong></p>
<p>Projects in this region will have a cumulative capacity of 3.27 MW. They will be set up in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.</p>
<p>These solar projects will be installed on the buildings of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.</p>
<p><strong>Northern Region</strong></p>
<p>Projects in this region will have a cumulative capacity of 3.05 MW. They will be set up in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Chandigarh.</p>
<p>These solar projects will be installed on the buildings of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development</p>
<p>Bids for all regions must be submitted by August 13, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same date.</p>
<p>Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹1,000 (~$11.58)/kW and a document fee of ₹5,900 (~$68.3).</p>
<p>Selected bidders must pay a performance bank guarantee of ₹2,500 (~$28.94/kW).</p>
<p>The scope of work entails the design, supply, storage, erection, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar projects. It also involves providing comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&amp;M) services for 25 years.</p>
<p>Selected bidders must obtain no-objection certificates from state distribution companies for grid connectivity or metering, obtain net metering and grid connectivity, obtain the remaining necessary approvals, and prepare site surveys and feasibility reports. They must also provide a safety line cable during project execution and O&amp;M.</p>
<p>Successful bidders must also provide handrails/guardrails on the rooftops for fall protection if required.</p>
<p>Bidders empaneled with SJVN must have executed similar rooftop projects.</p>
<p>Empaneled vendors for certain northeastern and hilly/remote areas, including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, and Meghalaya, under relaxed eligibility rules must meet the full eligibility criteria for bidding in other states (beyond the ones they are already empaneled for).</p>
<p>Bidding consortium or joint ventures must have designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned rooftop, ground-mounted, floating solar projects in India of a minimum cumulative installed capacity of 500 kW in the last seven years. At least one of the projects must have had a minimum capacity of 100 kW. These projects must have been operational for at least six months.</p>
<p>Bidding consortiums or joint ventures must have a maximum of three members, with one entity as a lead member. The lead member must hold at least 51% of the shares in the consortium or joint venture. Other members must have a minimum of 20% shareholding.</p>
<p>Bidders must have an average annual turnover of ₹15,000 (~$173.63)/kW of the total quoted capacity during the previous three financial years ending March 2025.</p>
<p>All members of the bidding consortium or joint venture must individually fulfill the minimum average annual turnover requirement proportionate to their shareholding.</p>
<p>Recently, SJVN <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-tenders-1-mw-rooftop-solar-project-in-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to set up rooftop solar systems with a cumulative capacity of 1 MW at the Civil Secretariat complex in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, and its adjacent areas under PM Surya Ghar.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> for timely updates on all solar tenders issued by various agencies in India.</p>


SJVN Tenders 7.82 MW Rooftop Solar Projects on Government Buildings


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					</table><p>Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (<a href="https://www.guvnl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GUVNL</a>) has issued a tender to develop a 2,000 MW/4000 MWh standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project across Gujarat under the build-own-operate model. The project falls under Phase VII of GUVNL’s BESS program.</p>
<p>The proposed BESS installations will be connected to Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation, including substations at Charanka, Shapar, and Bhogat, among others.</p>
<p>The project will receive viability gap funding (VGF) of ₹1.8 million (~$20,862)/MWh of awarded capacity. The VGF will be disbursed in three tranches: 20% at financial closure, 50% at commercial operation date (COD), and 30% one year post-COD upon certification. Bids must be submitted by September 11, 2025. Bids will be opened on September 17.</p>
<p>Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹500,000 (~$5,813.95)/MW, a document fee of ₹29,500 (~$337.21), and a bid processing fee of ₹1.5 million (~$17,441.86) plus 18% GST per quoted project capacity.</p>
<p>Successful bidders must submit a performance bank guarantee (PBG) of ₹1.25 million (~$14,534.88)/MW.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes the design, construction, and operation of the storage systems, including all necessary infrastructure up to the delivery point, as well as transmission line construction. It also includes compliance with metering and dispatch protocols issued by the state load dispatch center and GUVNL.</p>
<p>Selected bidders must ensure a system availability of 95% annually. Round-trip efficiency must be at least 85%. Any value below 70% will result in non-payment and liquidated damages at average power purchase cost rates, while 70% to 84.99% will attract damages on excess losses.</p>
<p>Bids must be submitted for a minimum capacity of 100 MWh (50 MW x 2 hours) and in multiples thereof of this capacity. The entire system must be configured to operate with on-demand storage capability, designed for two full cycles per day.</p>
<p>Bidders must have executed either conventional or renewable energy projects, with at least 1 MW of commissioned capacity for every 1 MW of BESS bid, or 10 MWh of commissioned BESS capacity.</p>
<p>Bidders must have a net worth of ₹7.4 million (~$86,046.51)/MW of quoted capacity, with consortiums required to meet equity contribution in proportion.</p>
<p>The battery energy storage purchase agreement (BESPA) will be signed for a 12-year term from the date of full commissioning. The scheduled commissioning date is set at 18 months from the effective BESPA date, with a provision for an additional nine months under liquidated damages.</p>
<p>The liquidated damages for commissioning delays will be calculated on a pro-rata basis by encashing the PBG of ₹1.25 million (~$14,534.88)/MW, with full forfeiture for delays beyond nine months.</p>
<p>In May this year, GUVNL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gujarat-invites-bids-to-purchase-power-from-500-mw-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a request for selection for procuring power from 500 MW solar projects on a build, own, operate basis (GUVNL Phase-XXVII).</p>


Gujarat Floats Tender for 2000 MW/4000 MWh Standalone BESS Project


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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has amended the guidelines for implementing the Model Solar Village under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. This amendment focuses on eligibility and selection processes to ensure more practical and inclusive execution.</p>
<p>The ministry <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pm-surya-ghar-targets-each-in-800-districts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> operational guidelines to set up one model solar village in every district of the country last August.</p>
<p>The eligibility criteria have been expanded. While the original rule mandated that a Model Solar Village be a revenue village with a population above 5,000 (and above 2,000 for Special Category States and UTs), the amendment now includes a provision for flexibility.</p>
<p>In districts where fewer than ten villages meet the population threshold, the District Level Committee (DLC) can select the ten most populous villages for competition. Additionally, the DLC can broaden the scope to encompass a “Model Solar Panchayat” instead of a single village. This change is designed to enhance implementability in demographically sparse districts, particularly in hilly and remote areas.</p>
<p>In another amendment, the selection process has also been refined. Originally, the village with the highest total renewable energy capacity within its revenue boundaries, regardless of government support, was eligible for designation as a Model Solar Village.</p>
<p>Under the amended clause, emphasis is now placed specifically on distributed solar capacity. The revised guideline states that the village with the maximum distributed solar capacity deployed within its boundaries, whether through public or private means, will be selected.</p>
<p>The primary objectives of the model solar villages are to facilitate access to clean and green energy in rural areas through rooftop solar systems and to reduce dependency on utilities. The program will also promote solar-based home lighting, water systems, agricultural pumps, and streetlights.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cabinet-approves-new-rooftop-solar-subsidy-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Launched</a> in February 2024, the PM Surya Ghar program aims to install rooftop solar systems in 10 million households by 2026-27.</p>


MNRE Revises Guidelines for Model Solar Villages under PM Surya Ghar


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					</table><p>U.S.-based microinverter and battery storage supplier <a href="https://enphase.com/en-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enphase Energy</a> reported a revenue of $363.2 million in the second quarter (Q2) of the financial year (FY) 2025, up from $303.5 million in Q2 FY 2024, a 19.6% increase. The company’s U.S. revenue increased by approximately 3% quarter-over-quarter, largely driven by seasonal demand.</p>
<p>Enphase attributed the revenue growth to increased sales of its microinverters and battery shipments.</p>
<p>Badri Kothandaraman, President and CEO at Enphase Energy, said, “We have completed inventory normalization in the U.S. and Europe in Q2.” He added that this clears the way for more predictable, real-time demand fulfillment moving forward.</p>
<p>He also noted signs of improvement in the U.S. residential solar market. “The U.S. residential solar market is gradually recovering. Our sell-through was better than Q1,” said Kothandaraman, suggesting that the worst of the slowdown may be .</p>
<p>In Q2, the company reported a net profit of $37.1 million, a 70.8% increase from $10.8 million in the same quarter last year.</p>
<p>Enphase’s diluted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.28, compared to $0.08 in Q2 2024.</p>
<p>The company’s European revenue increased by approximately 11% due to strong sales of microinverters and batteries, particularly the IQ Battery 5P model, which saw wider deployment through the FlexPhase architecture.</p>
<p>“Europe was strong, particularly the Netherlands, France, and Germany,” said Kothandaraman.</p>
<p>Enphase shipped approximately 1.53 million microinverters in Q2 FY 2025, with a total DC capacity of 675.4 MW. It delivered a record 190.9 MWh of batteries, up from 170.1 MWh in the previous quarter. Of the microinverters shipped, 1.41 million units were produced at U.S. facilities, qualifying for the 45X advanced manufacturing production tax credit under the IRA.</p>
<p>Despite record shipments, battery demand remains ahead of supply. “Our batteries continue to be capacity-constrained. We shipped 190.9 MWh and still could not meet full demand,” Kothandaraman said.</p>
<p>This resulted in a net IRA benefit of $41.5 million for the quarter, although the company excluded approximately $19.5 million in incremental U.S. manufacturing costs.</p>
<p>Product and market expansion were key business highlights in Q2 FY 2025. Globally, it enrolled 210 MWh of batteries in virtual power plant programs.</p>
<p><strong>Outlook</strong></p>
<p>For Q3 FY 2025, Enphase expects to achieve revenues between $330 million and $370 million, with approximately 190 MWh to 210 MWh of battery shipments. The expected net IRA benefit is between $34 million and $38 million, based on 1.2 million units of U.S.-manufactured microinverters.</p>
<p>In April this year, Enphase Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/enphase-lowers-q2-revenue-guidance-fears-adverse-impact-from-china-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> a 35.22% year-over-year rise in revenue to $356.1 million in the first quarter of 2025 from $263.34 million.</p>


Enphase Revenue Up in Q2 FY 2025 on Uptick in European Demand


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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has mandated that all original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) enlisted for the supply of inverters under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana integrate inverter communication devices with the PM Surya Ghar portal.</p>
<p>The move comes in the background of inverter communication devices transmitting data to servers outside India, potentially risking grid disruptions.</p>
<p>The inverters must also be connected to software managed by the MNRE or any other agency designated by it.</p>
<p>The integration of inverter communication devices with the portal will be rolled out for the testing phase from September 1, 2025.</p>
<p>According to the new guidelines, all inverter communication devices/dongles/data loggers must have machine-to-machine SIM communication protocol to enable secure and reliable data transmission.</p>
<p>In another notification, MNRE issued draft guidelines for remote monitoring systems (RMS) and inverter communication devices, such as dongles and data loggers, under the PM Surya Ghar program.</p>
<p><strong>Data Monitoring</strong></p>
<p>The guidelines seek to establish a multi-layered security and communication protocol to ensure that data from rooftop solar installations is reliably captured, transmitted, and monitored. This initiative is considered critical for PM Surya Ghar’s success.</p>
<p>They aim to ensure that all RMS devices, which serve as the digital bridge between solar inverters and central servers, adhere to a secure and structured communication architecture.</p>
<p>Stakeholders can submit their comments and suggestions by July 31, 2025.</p>
<p>Security is a core focus of the document. The communication between RMS devices and the centralized Internet of Things (IoT) platform will be encrypted using AES-256 protocols over Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols. Each RMS must be uniquely identified using its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and will be assigned a digital certificate for secure authentication.</p>
<p>The use of a time-sensitive one-time password in every message exchange will provide transaction-level security, protecting the system against unauthorized access and bots.</p>
<p>RMS registration is mandatory for vendors and suppliers. Each device must be registered with the centralized IoT platform using its IMEI number. Upon registration, a secure Application Programming Interface will return essential credentials, including client certificates, authentication tokens, server URLs, and topic structures. These credentials allow the RMS to communicate with the device management server, where it will receive further configuration instructions. Renewals and updates to certificates will be managed through File Transfer Protocol access.</p>
<p>Communication between RMS devices and the server will follow the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol. The guidelines outline a detailed topic structure, including default information topics, heartbeat signals, periodic data, event-based messages, and on-demand commands. This structure aims to ensure efficient communication for both real-time monitoring and the retrieval of historical data. For instance, if the server detects missing data from a previous interval, it can request indexed records from the RMS.</p>
<p>Multiple communication modes are defined. These include periodic pushes of inverter and sensor data, push-on-event when alarms or faults occur, and on-demand read and write functions that enable remote diagnostics and control. Configurations, such as inverter set points, battery charging parameters, and communication intervals, can be updated remotely using a predefined command structure.</p>
<p>The document also provides a unified message format using the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) language. Parameters are standardized across various devices, including single- and three-phase inverters, hybrid inverters, energy meters, string combiner boxes, and weather monitoring units. Each parameter is tagged using a consistent identifier format, allowing seamless data interpretation at the server end.</p>
<p>In April, MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-mandates-generating-dcr-certificate-number-in-pm-surya-ghar-portal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mandated</a> generating and inputting the 16-digit domestic content requirement certificate number on the PM Surya Ghar portal to prevent duplicate module serial number issues.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates</a> to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.</p>


MNRE Mandates OEMs to Integrate Inverters with PM Surya Ghar Portal


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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has amended the operational guidelines for the &#8220;Innovative Projects&#8221; component under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to provide up to 100% financial assistance for select institutions and startups.</p>
<p>MNRE had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-launches-to-fund-rooftop-solar-innovation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> a ₹5 billion (~$58.14 million) innovative projects component as part of the PM Surya Ghar program. The component focuses on encouraging novel business models and technology solutions for rooftop solar through pilot projects and proof-of-concept deployments.</p>
<p>According to the official memorandum, the MNRE Secretary may now permit full funding up to ₹20 million (~$232,558) for projects submitted by Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), institutes of eminence notified by the Ministry of Education, and startups with exceptionally innovative proposals.</p>
<p>The 60% or ₹300 million (~$3.49 million) cap remains applicable in all other cases.</p>
<p>The amendment aims to increase participation and encourage high-impact innovation by allowing full cost coverage for projects that show significant technical or conceptual originality.</p>
<p>The change has been introduced in response to feedback from implementing agencies seeking more flexibility in supporting early-stage and research-oriented projects.</p>
<p>In addition to the funding clause, the composition of the selection committee for evaluating proposals under the Innovative Projects component has also been modified.</p>
<p>While the committee will continue to be chaired by the MNRE Secretary, it will now include the Mission Director of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, as well as members of the monitoring committee. The updated clause also grants the committee the authority to invite additional official or non-official members to participate in deliberations as needed.</p>
<p>Recently, MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-launches-%E2%82%B923-million-startup-challenge-for-rooftop-solar-innovation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> the Innovative Projects Startup Challenge with a total prize pool of ₹23 million (~$265,650) to encourage innovation in rooftop solar and distributed renewable energy technologies.</p>
<p>In May this year, MNRE, through the National Institute of Solar Energy, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-invites-proposals-for-rooftop-solar-innovation-under-pm-surya-ghar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a call for proposals for innovative project components under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.</p>


MNRE to Provide ₹20 Million to Select Startups for Rooftop Solar Innovation


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					</table><p>For energy-intensive industries, switching to renewable energy sources is no longer considered an option but a business imperative. Many have set clean energy goals as part of their decarbonization strategies. While a reduction in energy bills is an obvious benefit of switching to renewables, the larger goals of operational sustainability and brand image are at the heart of this transition to clean energy.</p>
<p>When Kolkata-based heavy engineering and rail infrastructure company Texmaco Rail &amp; Engineering (<a href="https://www.texmaco.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texmaco</a>) decided to lower its reliance on grid energy by switching to solar, it was not just ticking another box on sustainability. As Indrajit Mookerjee, Vice Chairman and Executive Director at Texmaco, put it, the solar initiative was a “bold and forward-looking step in redefining how Indian industry powers its future.”</p>
<p>Texmaco recently commissioned a 10 MW open access group captive solar project in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, in partnership with <a href="https://ampin.energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AMPIN Energy Transition</a>.</p>
<p>The project will generate over 15 million units of clean energy annually for Texmaco’s Raipur operations. The project is expected to provide the company with greater control over its power supply, reduce grid dependency, and decrease its energy costs by 30% to 40%, or by approximately ₹2.32 (~$0.027)/kWh.</p>
<p>The solar project aligns with its goal of reducing emissions from its operations. In the financial year 2024, Texmaco consumed 171.87 GJ of energy from renewable sources. It also installed a 50 kW rooftop solar system at its corporate office.</p>
<p>Texmaco manufactures rolling stock, including wagons, coaches, electric multiple units, and locomotive shells, hydro-mechanical equipment, steel castings, bridges, and other steel structures. It also provides rail engineering, procurement, and manufacturing services.</p>
<p>At a recent C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet hosted by Mercom India in Mumbai, industry experts <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/savings-in-power-bills-key-motivator-for-ci-clean-energy-transition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> insights on how commercial and industrial (C&amp;I) businesses can save on power bills by switching to solar and choose between open-access and rooftop solar solutions.</p>
<p>Mercom India has been organizing a series of C&amp;I Clean Energy Meets, designed to provide C&amp;I energy buyers with the knowledge and tools they need to adopt clean energy solutions and reduce their power costs.</p>
<p>The next event in the series is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-hyderabad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scheduled</a> to be held in Hyderabad on August 22, 2025.</p>


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