Gujarat Regulator Rejects Captive Solar Project’s Time Extension Plea

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ACME Secures $600 Million from Brookfield for Green Molecule Projects

APTEL Rejects Captive Power Status Over 26% Ownership Requirement

Daily News Wrap-Up: Solar Module Capacity Under ALMM Rises to 225 GW

Alpex Solar Inaugurates 2.2 GW TOPCon Cell Facility in Uttar Pradesh

Vizag Data Center Boom Could Drive Hybrid Renewables, Energy Storage Market

MNRE’s West Asia Advisory Offers More Time, but Developers Say Relief May Fall Short

The Real Cost of Energy Storage Systems Goes Beyond Battery Prices

Solar Module Capacity Under ALMM Rises to 225 GW


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					</table><p>U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring a national emergency over foreign threats involving bulk-power system electric equipment and restricting certain foreign-produced equipment from being purchased or installed in the country.</p>
<p>The order focuses on foreign-produced bulk-power system equipment that may present national security vulnerabilities.</p>
<p>The order generally prohibits purchasing or installing certain foreign-produced bulk-power system electric equipment, including associated critical software and digital capabilities, in the U.S. when it could pose cybersecurity or operational risks. It also allows purchases and installations to be subject to conditions intended to address those risks.</p>
<p>The restrictions focus on transactions involving foreign nationals that pose an undue risk of sabotage, unauthorized access, or other disruption. They also cover transactions presenting an undue risk of catastrophic effects on the security or resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure or an unacceptable risk to U.S. security.</p>
<p>Facilities used for the local distribution of electricity are excluded from the order.</p>
<p>The declaration of national emergency comes weeks after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/us-bars-import-of-foreign-made-power-inverters-over-security-risks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> grid-connected power inverters manufactured in foreign countries to its Covered List, preventing new models from receiving the equipment authorization generally required for their import, marketing, and sale in the country.</p>
<p>The decision followed a national security assessment which concluded that foreign-produced connected power inverters could create supply chain vulnerabilities that could disrupt the U.S. economy and national security and expose critical infrastructure to cybersecurity risks.</p>
<p><strong>Energy Department to Implement Rule</strong></p>
<p>The order authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Energy to impose conditions on the continued use and operation of relevant equipment to address identified concerns.</p>
<p>The Secretary of Energy must also publish rules needed to implement the order. In consultation with Cabinet members, the Secretary must identify bulk-power system electric equipment that may pose the risks covered by the order and prepare recommendations for the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a> said continued reliance on foreign sources of bulk-power system electric equipment creates supply chain vulnerabilities for the U.S. It also said existing restrictions on the acquisition or operation of foreign-produced equipment allow some foreign entities to create and exploit vulnerabilities.</p>
<p>The administration said the bulk-power system supports national defense, emergency services, critical infrastructure, and the economy.</p>
<p><strong>Previous Measures</strong></p>
<p>The White House also cited earlier actions concerning the country&#8217;s electricity system and critical supply chains.</p>
<p>Recently, Trump signed a proclamation addressing drone imports, their components, and the domestic drone supply chain.</p>
<p>In July 2026, he signed another order concerning defense supply chains and critical materials and components used to manufacture defense equipment.</p>
<p>In April last year, Trump signed an executive order to strengthen and secure the U.S. electric grid. According to the White House, the action left 17,000 MW of perfectly good power plants from being forced offline due to weaponization of state and Federal environmental regulations.</p>


Trump Restricts Use of Foreign-made Equipment in US Power Grid


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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has directed original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) listed under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for wind turbines to submit their cybersecurity compliance status by August 31, 2026.</p>
<p>The Ministry has sought evidence demonstrating compliance with requirements introduced through the July 31, 2025, amendment to the procedure for inclusion and updating of wind turbine models in the ALMM.</p>
<p>The amendment requires that data centers and servers handling wind turbine data must be located in India. All data pertaining to wind turbines must also be stored and maintained within the country.</p>
<p>OEMs must provide the name and location of their local data servers and submit documentary evidence supporting compliance.</p>
<p>MNRE has prohibited the transfer of real-time operational data outside India. Operational control of wind turbines must be conducted exclusively from facilities located within the country.</p>
<p>Manufacturers must provide details of their local control centers, including their location, manpower, and equipment. They must also specify measures implemented to prevent wind turbines from being controlled from outside India.</p>
<p>OEMs must also establish research and development (R&amp;D) centers in India within one year of the amendment&#8217;s issuance. Manufacturers must provide details of their local R&amp;D centers and the manpower employed at these facilities.</p>
<p>The compliance submission must include the manufacturer&#8217;s name, wind turbine models listed under ALMM along with their capacities, and manufacturing locations.</p>
<p>For each cybersecurity requirement, manufacturers must state whether they have complied, partially complied, or have not complied.</p>
<p>Recently, the MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-mandates-storing-inverter-data-of-pm-surya-ghar-projects-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directed</a> inverter manufacturers supplying rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to ensure that inverter-level data and associated monitoring and control servers are located exclusively within India.</p>
<p>Last December, MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-mandates-wind-turbine-prototype-testing-in-india-from-2027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amended</a> the standard operating procedure for prototype testing under the ALMM-Wind and wind turbine components.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time <a href="https://www.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 Asks Wind Turbine OEMs to Prove Cybersecurity Compliance by August 31


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					</table><p>Over 30 members of the European Parliament have urged the <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Commission</a> to take immediate action to restrict access of Chinese inverters to the European electricity grid.</p>
<p>In a letter addressed to the Commission’s Executive Vice President and Commissioner, the members referred to the threats associated with high-risk Chinese vendors, particularly since 80% of all new solar inverter capacity installed in Europe in 2024 originated from China.</p>
<p>Huawei, designated as a high-risk vendor by the Commission, accounted for over 115 GW of Europe’s solar inverter market as of 2023. It is one of six Chinese vendors that collectively control more than two-thirds of the European market (219 GW), the letter said.</p>
<p>The members said Lithuania had already banned remote Chinese access to solar and wind devices. More recently, the Czech and German national cybersecurity agencies had warned of the risks posed by Chinese-linked technologies in critical sectors, highlighting Chinese inverters as a high-risk technology for supply chain attacks on the grid.</p>
<p>European inverters are barred from entering the Chinese grid due to concerns about cybersecurity. Europe should adopt a similar approach, the members said.</p>
<p>The letter stated that, although the Commission has highlighted the threats posed by high-risk vendors in Europe’s critical infrastructure, no concrete proposals have materialized.</p>
<p>“When the ongoing studies are completed and potential legislation is tabled, as many as two years may have passed. By that time, Europe risks losing its remaining PV inverter manufacturers. Western companies are drastically losing market share in Europe, though they currently still retain the capacity to meet European demand. If one of them succumbs to unfair competition from China, the Union could soon be left without any non-Chinese alternatives,” the members warned.</p>
<p>The letter called for a temporary framework to be established to restrict risky vendors until binding legislation is in place.</p>
<p>“Without immediate and binding EU action, Europe risks not only its energy security but also the viability of all remaining European manufacturers in this sector. We look forward to your urgent response and a clear timeline for legislative action,” the member said.</p>
<p>The European Solar Manufacturing Council, which in May of this year <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/europe-calls-for-curbing-remote-access-to-china-made-solar-inverters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for imposing restrictions on the unregulated and remote-control capabilities of solar inverters manufactured by Chinese companies, has supported the demand of Commission members.</p>
<p>India has also taken measures to keep rooftop solar telemetry on India-based servers to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-moves-to-secure-rooftop-solar-data-with-stricter-inverter-protocols" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protect</a> against data leakage. The draft framework standardizes how inverter-side devices authenticate and publish data to a centralized platform, aiming to mitigate cybersecurity risk and enhance grid visibility.</p>


EU Lawmakers Want Chinese Solar Inverters Restricted on Security Concerns


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					</table><p>The European Solar Manufacturing Council (<a href="https://esmc.solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESMC</a>) has called for restrictions on unregulated and remote-control capabilities of solar inverters from “high-risk non-European manufacturers,” mostly from China.</p>
<p>Inverters must be connected to the internet to fulfill essential grid functions. These connections also allow for software updates, meaning manufacturers can remotely alter the performance of these devices.</p>
<p>This control increases cybersecurity risks, such as deliberate interference or mass shutdowns.</p>
<p>Christoph Podewils, Secretary General, ESMC, said, “Today, over 200 GW of European capacity is already linked to inverters manufactured in China – the equivalent of more than 200 nuclear power plants.”</p>
<p>He added, “This means Europe has effectively surrendered the remote control of a vast portion of its electricity infrastructure.”</p>
<p>The council said 70% of the inverters installed in 2023 came from Chinese vendors, mainly Huawei and SunGrow. It expects this figure to exceed 400 GW by 2030. The council also noted that one of these vendors (Huawei) is banned from the 5G sector in many countries and is under investigation in Belgium for bribery and corruption.</p>
<p><strong>Inverter Security Toolbox                                                                         </strong></p>
<p>ESMC has suggested developing an “Inverter Security Toolbox,” including a comprehensive risk assessment of inverter manufacturers.</p>
<p>It called for replicating Lithuania’s proactive legislation and banning inverters from China across all European Union member states to ensure security measures for solar systems of all sizes. This legislative replication will also require banning high-risk vendors from maintaining an online connection to European electricity systems.</p>
<p>“Europe must act now to prevent a future energy crisis rivaling the gas dependency on Russia,” said Podewils.</p>
<p>He extended ESMC’s support for the European Commission’s upcoming assessment of cybersecurity risks in the solar value chain.</p>
<p>In 2022, ESMC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/industry-group-proposes-module-manufacturing-europe-35-gw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> policy proposals for building extensive solar module manufacturing capacities with long-term competitiveness in Europe.</p>
<p>India’s Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-ministry-releases-cybersecurity-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> guidelines for cybersecurity in 2021 for the power sector to keep the industry secure from cyber-attacks. The guidelines lay down actions required to ramp up security measures across various utilities to raise preparedness in the power sector. They also include a cyber assurance framework that strengthens the regulatory framework, security threat early warning mechanisms, vulnerability management, and response to security threats.</p>


Europe Calls for Curbing Remote Access to China-made Solar Inverters


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					</table><p><a href="https://polarisgrids.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polaris Smart Metering</a>, a provider of advanced smart metering solutions, has won two contracts valued at over ₹52 billion (~$625.6 million) for the implementation of smart prepaid metering systems in Uttar Pradesh.</p>
<p>The contracts, awarded by Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam (<a href="https://www.mvvnl.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MVVNL</a>), involve installing more than 5.1 million smart meters in key clusters, including Lucknow and Ayodhya/Devipatan, over the next 27 months.</p>
<p>Under the terms of the agreement, Polaris will supply, install, commission, and maintain smart meters across the consumer base in these clusters for the next decade.</p>
<p>The smart meters will facilitate prepaid billing, real-time energy monitoring, accurate metering, and improved grid management capabilities.</p>
<p>The comprehensive initiative falls under a design-build-finance-operate-own-transfer agreement.</p>
<p>Beyond Uttar Pradesh, Polaris has also received letters of award from West Bengal and Manipur, totaling over ₹24 billion (~$288.7 million). These contracts will see the installation of more than 2.3 million smart meters across these two states.</p>
<p>Smart meters help DISCOMs reduce losses and empower consumers by introducing smart prepaid meters, enabling them to exercise better control over their energy consumption.</p>
<p>Through real-time access to energy usage data, consumers can effectively monitor and manage their consumption patterns.</p>
<p>Yashraj Khaitan, CEO, Polaris Smart Metering, said, &#8220;Our smart metering solutions will empower consumers with actionable insights into their energy consumption while simultaneously delivering substantial benefits to the state governments in terms of improved grid efficiency, reduced pilferage, and improved environmental sustainability.”</p>
<p>Bhawani Singh Khangarot, MD of MVVNL, emphasized the integral role of smart metering technology in modernizing energy infrastructure. He said smart metering addresses grid losses, optimizes load management and contributes to environmental conservation.</p>
<p>Last July, GMR Smart Electricity Distribution, a subsidiary of GMR Power and Urban Infra, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gmr-bags-contract-for-smart-meter-uttar-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> the order to install, integrate, and maintain 7.57 million smart meters across different regions in Uttar Pradesh.</p>
<p>In October 2022, Energy Efficiency Services, as part of its Smart Meter National Program, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-eesl-installs-three-million-smart-meters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">installed</a> over three million smart meters in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar, and Andaman. The company signed agreements with the state-designated agencies and utilities in these regions to deploy smart meters on a large scale.</p>


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