SECI Seeks Trading Partner to Sell Renewable Energy

PM Surya Ghar Powers 5 Million Homes, Total Capacity Hits 15 GW

Nextpower Raises Guidance for FY 2027 on Strong Q1 Performance

Avantus Closes $1 Billion Credit Facility to Expand Project Portfolio

Tandem PV Acquires nexTC to Bring Thin-Film Coating Technology In-House

Base Power Raises $1 Billion in Series D Funding Round

TotalEnergies Acquires Shell’s 4 GW European Renewables Portfolio

CERC Rescinds Revocation of Renewable Projects’ Grid Connectivity

Month in a Minute: Top Headlines from the Indian Renewable Sector in July 2026

Solar Module Capacity Under ALMM Grows to 215.5 GW

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					</table>India’s renewable energy industry is expanding rapidly, but the availability of job-ready talent has not kept pace with the sector’s growth, panelists said at the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/mercom-india-renewables-summit-2026/agenda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewables Summit 2026</a>.
Speaking at the session “<a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/mercom-india-renewables-summit-2026/agenda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bridging the Renewable Energy Talent Gap: Aligning Academia with Industry Needs</a>,” panelists said companies across solar manufacturing, project development, rooftop, and renewable energy services continue to face long training cycles, high attrition, and a shortage of practical skills among fresh graduates.
The session featured Raj Prabhu, CEO and Co-founder of Mercom Capital Group; Shishir Garemella, Head of International Business Development at <a href="https://scorecard.pvel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kiwa PVEL</a>; Professor Juzer M. Vasi, Professor Emeritus, Department of Electrical Engineering and <a href="http://ncpre.iitb.ac.in/ncpre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NCPRE</a>, <a href="https://www.iitb.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Bombay</a>; and Avinash Hiranandani, Vice President and Managing Director, <a href="https://www.renewsysworld.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RenewSys India</a>.
Garemella said the discussion should focus on solutions that can be implemented and assessed. “Hopefully next year when we come back, some of the takeaways, let’s see how many of those we have really implemented as an industry,” he noted.
Prabhu mentioned that Mercom’s survey of 102 companies found close to 50% of new hires entering the renewable energy industry are poorly prepared for their roles. Most companies take three to 12 months to train employees before they become productive.
“This is a huge drag on the provider of services because you are paying someone a salary without them actually being ready,” Hiranandani said. “By the time they get ready, they probably leave the job and move somewhere else. So, these are the realities that we are dealing with.”
Panelists said the skill gap varies across segments. Developers need professionals with commercial, grid, and project execution capabilities. Manufacturing companies require workers who understand equipment, process discipline, and production environments. Rooftop EPC companies need practical skills in feasibility assessment, design, installation, and customer service.
Professor Vasi said academic institutions must expose students to practical learning much earlier. He said IIT Bombay has introduced initiatives such as tinkering labs, where students build and experiment before fully developing theoretical depth.
“Students should be much more exposed to the real world, being in the lab for longer durations, seeing things happening, doing things themselves,” Vasi said.
He said IIT Bombay’s first-year undergraduate program now includes a tinkering lab where students make things before they have complete theoretical grounding.
“The students go in, they start making things without the kind of theoretical background,” Vasi said. “This is a good pedagogical point. You learn better if you go theory first and then go to the lab, or the other way around. We are trying this out.”
Vasi said communication and soft skills should also be part of engineering education.
“We do have a communications course where it is not communication in the typical sense of electrical communication, but talking to each other, empathy and all the soft skills,” he said.
Prabhu said it typically takes three months for employees to build a basic understanding, and nearly 12 months for them to truly understand the sector, their roles, and how to service clients effectively.
“Soft skills are very important for us. Basic email writing and communication skills are not something many graduates come prepared with from educational institutions, but they are critical in our work,” Prabhu added.
Hiranandani said manufacturing companies face a particularly acute challenge because workers often lack exposure to photovoltaic production. RenewSys trains new workers through a combination of classroom instruction and shop-floor learning for 30 to 45 days.
“We have a college professor sitting with us and working for us in our company,” Hiranandani said. “Every new worker that comes in or junior engineer that comes in does theoretical classes in the morning, and then they go on to the machine and learn the practical part. We do that for about 30 to 45 days depending on the person.”
“We are putting our syllabus on our website, and we will be offering certification courses for JS1 and JS2,” Hiranandani said. “It will be entirely free for people to learn from different industries around the world. There are videos and testing videos.”
Hiranandani said the lack of trained personnel has operational consequences. “When we commissioned the cell line, there was nobody who could spell cell,” he said.
Photovoltaics is absolutely a new technology. Our people are learning,” he said.
Speaking about startups, Prabhu said, “There is a perception among many startups that having an idea and raising money is enough. But often, the basic research has not been done. They may not know their competitors, the market, or the actual pain points they are trying to solve.”
“There is a lot of enthusiasm among young people to start companies, but experience, research, and a basic understanding of what is needed before getting started are often missing.”
“Startups need to step back, think more deeply, and be better prepared. They must know their competition, understand the market, and identify where the real pain points are,” Prabhu noted.
Hiranandani said RenewSys regularly hosts student visits from IIT Bombay and other institutions. However, he said many students are increasingly interested in startups.
“Many times, the students ask me how much funds can be made available to us where we can start a new startup,” he said. “They are more interested in startups than taking up a job, especially at IITs.”
Garemella said service providers face a different kind of readiness gap. While deep technical expertise may not always be required, employees need time to understand the sector, client expectations, and professional communication.
Panelists agreed that online learning can help, but only when it is integrated into formal coursework and evaluated. Vasi said videos and online content can complement theory, but project-based courses and hands-on learning remain essential.
“Some informational material can be gained online, but it should still be part of the course and therefore evaluated as part of that,” Vasi said.
“When I mentioned self-learning, what I really meant was project-based courses,” he said. “It could be a part of the course, or separate courses which are purely projects.”
The discussion also highlighted the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration in research. Vasi proposed industry-led R&amp;D consortiums to align academic work with near-term industry challenges and India-specific operating conditions, adding that institutions and faculty members are open to such collaboration.
Raj Prabhu said the consortium was a good idea. He said we can work toward a consortium-based approach to help academia better understand industry requirements and align its curriculum and R&amp;D priorities accordingly.
Vasi said institutions and faculty members are willing to collaborate.
Panelists said India also needs standards that reflect local realities such as heat, humidity, pollution, and bird droppings, rather than relying only on benchmarks developed for temperate climates.
The panel also discussed workplace culture and retention. Garemella said India must look beyond salary and recognize how working conditions influence the ability to retain talent.
“Longer working hours, lesser salaries, transportation difficulties, especially in Bombay, reaching office and getting home is a big challenge,” Hiranandani said. “People travel two hours one way to reach office and go back.”
Garemella said many of the applicants that we get are very strictly educated. They have a degree, but knowledge beyond that is very limited.
“Students need to expand beyond what they are learning in college. Many applicants we see have a degree, but their knowledge beyond that is very limited,” Prabhu said.
“Young people today have access to AI and a lot of technology, but the content they consume is not always relevant to their career path. They have access, but they are often looking at the wrong topics. They somehow have to realign and show some curiosity,&#8221; he said.
Speaking on the need for mentors, Hiranandani said, “My advice to students and young professionals is to find a mentor-someone they trust, someone successful in what they do and seek that person’s advice whenever possible.”
Vasi said renewable energy offers students not just a career opportunity but a chance to contribute to society.
“Solar and renewables are not only very exciting areas for you to choose a career, but also transformative not only for you but actually for the whole of society, and perhaps for humanity,” he said.
Garemella said purpose is becoming increasingly important for younger professionals.
“A lot of people are motivated by the purpose of the organization rather than just compensation. Within this country, we&#8217;ve seen organizations that have really inspired trust. People are willing to take a bullet in a hotel because they belong; they feel for the brand,&#8221; he added.
Panelists identified three immediate actions: creating more tinkering labs in industrial environments, exploring an industry-academia consortium, and encouraging mentorship for young professionals entering the renewable energy workforce.

Industry, Academia Must Collaborate to Bridge Renewable Energy Talent Gap

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					</table>Scientists at the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (<a href="https://www.iitb.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Bombay</a>) claimed to have achieved a power conversion efficiency of more than 26% for a 4 terminal (4T)-silicon perovskite tandem solar cell.
To overcome perovskite stability issues, the IIT research team initially fabricated a transparent perovskite cell to near-infrared and low-frequency light.
The work titled Stable and Efficient Large-Area 4T Si/perovskite Tandem Photovoltaics with Sputtered Transparent Contact is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/2367198x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RRL Solar</a>.
A 4T tandem device has four terminals, two for each of the tandem device&#8217;s layers, allowing precise measurements of the solar cell’s performance while also improving the device’s efficiency and lifetime.
While the perovskite solar cell alone in the experiment exhibited a higher efficiency of 16% for a larger area of 0.805cm2, the teams demonstrated a much higher energy conversion efficiency by layering the perovskite cells atop a commercially available PERC (passivated emitter and rear contact) silicon solar cell.
While perovskite solar cells are highly efficient in converting light into electricity and their production is inexpensive, they lag in performance compared to conventional silicon solar cells. Also, perovskites degrade over time when exposed to direct sunlight for longer durations, directly affecting energy production.
The tandem approach has become the go-to solution to many solar cell studies worldwide as it allows combining both the perovskite and silicon solar cells to attain enhanced efficiency.
“Perovskite solar cells are known for their high-power conversion efficiency and lower production cost; however, they are lagging in terms of their stability. However, in our work, we have fabricated a stable 4T (four terminal) Si/perovskite tandem solar cells which provide outstanding stability in the dark as well as continuous heating conditions,” explained the author of the study Dinesh Kabra.
According to Kabra, “In 4T tandem configuration when the top low-cost perovskite solar cells fail, there is a possibility to replace the top cells with a new one because our tandem device is only optically coupled so, it can enhance the lifetime of the overall devices.”
The levelized Cost of Energy is one of the most crucial factors in energy production as it measures the cost of electricity for different methods of electricity generation.
For example, LCOE can be used to calculate how much one can save on the electricity bill by switching to solar power generation. The researchers found that the device developed with perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells also lowered the LCOE for tandem solar cells.
In a similar research, scientists at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology claimed to have <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/efficiency-perovskite-silicon-tandem-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with a record conversion efficiency of 33.2%.
Last December, IIT Roorkee researchers <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/iit-roorkee-claim-17-efficiency-perovskite-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a prototype of a low-cost, high-quality perovskite solar cell that achieved a stable energy conversion efficiency of 17.05%.

IIT Scientists Claim 26% Efficiency for Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cell

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					</table>Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.iitb.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Bombay</a>) have claimed a breakthrough in developing sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries by addressing the challenges of air/water instability and structural-cum-electrochemical instability in cathode materials.
The breakthrough has led to the creation of new air/water-stable cathode materials that exhibit exceptional electrochemical cyclic stability and resilience when exposed to air and water.
These advancements are expected to drive the development of cost-effective and sustainable energy storage systems for various applications, including consumer electronics, grid energy storage, renewable energy storage, and electric vehicles.
As the global demand for battery-driven electric vehicles continues to rise, there is a pressing need to develop a cost-effective, resource-friendly, safe, and sustainable battery system beyond the conventional lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology.
Given the abundance of sodium resources, the upcoming Na-ion battery system holds significant importance in India.
Stability Challenges 
Like other alkali metal-ion battery cells, a Na-ion cell consists of cathode and anode active materials supported on metallic current collector foils.
These materials enable the reversible insertion and removal of the charge carrier, Na-ion, during the cell&#8217;s charge and discharge processes.
The performance of Na-ion batteries depends on the structural/electrochemical stability of the electrodes, Na-transport kinetics, and various dynamic resistances.
Despite the many advantages of Na-ion batteries, the electrochemical behavior and stability of the &#8216;layered&#8217; Na-transition-metal-oxide-based cathode materials, especially in moist environments, require significant improvements for widespread adoption.
The lack of stability poses challenges in handling and storing these materials and adversely affects their electrochemical performance.
Furthermore, the water instability necessitates the use of toxic, hazardous, and expensive chemicals like N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone for electrode preparation instead of more environmentally friendly water-based slurries.
Universal Design Criterion 
To address these challenges, Amartya Mukhopadhyay&#8217;s research group at the institute leveraged materials science and electrochemical principles.
They identified dominant factors and controlling parameters that contribute to the development of high-performance Na-ion batteries.
The researchers have proposed a universal design criterion that offers a path toward the successful design and widespread adoption of environmentally stable and high-performance cathodes for Na-ion batteries and beyond.
Their findings have been published in the journal Chemical Communications.
The conventional &#8216;layered&#8217; Na-transition-metal-oxide structure comprises alternating slabs of NaO2 and transition metal oxide.
Within this structure, the oxygen ions, carrying a net negative charge, are shared by the transition metal ions (TM-ions) and the sodium ions (Na-ions) in their respective layers.
While the TM-O bond is iono-covalent in nature, the Na-O bond is predominantly ionic.
The team discovered that adjusting the degree of covalency (the number of electrons that an atom gains, loses, or even shares during a chemical reaction) in the TM-O bond of the layered Na-transition-metal-oxide structure can have a significant impact on the performance and stability of Na-ion batteries.
Increasing the covalency strengthens the Na-O bond, leading to improved air/water stability and suppressing structural/phase transitions.
This enables the development of high-performance, water-stable cathodes using eco-friendly processing methods. On the other hand, reducing the covalency enhances Na-transport kinetics, increasing the power density of Na-ion batteries.
In October 2022, researchers of IIT Mandi <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/iit-mandi-researchers-claim-eco-friendly-method-to-recycle-wind-turbines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to have successfully used microwaves to recycle polymer composites from old wind turbine blades, using a rapid, sustainable, and comparatively eco-friendly method.
In December 2022, researchers at IIT Roorkee <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/iit-roorkee-claim-17-efficiency-perovskite-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they had successfully developed a prototype of a low-cost, high-quality perovskite solar cell that achieved a stable power conversion efficiency of 17.05%.

IIT Researchers Make Headway in Stabilizing Sodium-ion Batteries

Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:
Tata Motors <a href="https://www.tatamotors.com/press/tata-motors-signs-a-mou-with-lithium-urban-technologies-for-one-of-the-biggest-ev-fleet-deployment-in-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a memorandum of understanding with Lithium Urban Technologies, an EV-based urban transportation service provider, to deploy 5000 XPRES T Electric Sedans, across the country, for employee transportation. Tata Motors will commence deliveries in phases and complete the deployment next year. The new XPRES-T electric sedan comes with two range options – 213km and 165km (ARAI certified range under test conditions). It packs a high energy density battery of 21.5 kWh and 16.5 kWh. It can be charged from 0- 80% in 90 minutes and 110 minutes, respectively, using fast charging, or it can also be normally charged from any 15 A plug point, which is readily available and convenient.
Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T) <a href="https://www.larsentoubro.com/pressreleases/2022-04-26-lt-to-collaborate-with-iit-bombay-for-green-hydrogen-technology-development/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to jointly pursue research and development work in the Green Hydrogen value chain. The two institutions will contribute to developing the Green Hydrogen industry in India and developing next-generation technology in this emerging field. L&amp;T’s engineering expertise, product scale-up, and commercialization know-how, and IIT Bombay’s cutting-edge research in hydrogen technologies will help this partnership accomplish its goal.
Leeward Renewable Energy and First Solar <a href="https://www.leewardenergy.com/leeward-renewable-energy-and-first-solar-announce-1gwmulti-year-solar-module-procurement-agreement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that they have entered into an additional multi-year framework supply agreement, through which First Solar will provide LRE with 1 GW of advanced, ultra-low carbon thin-film photovoltaic solar modules. Leeward will deploy these modules across its 20 GW solar development and construction pipeline in the U.S. between 2023 and 2024. The agreement builds on a long, productive relationship between Leeward and First Solar that is advancing decarbonization through clean solar energy. The agreement expands Leeward’s order book with First Solar to over 3 GW of modules estimated to enable the build of 18 new sites from 2022 to 2024.
The Taiwan External Trade Development Council <a href="https://www.trade.gov.tw/English/Pages/Detail.aspx?nodeID=855&amp;pid=741597" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that electronics manufacturer Foxconn intends to buy 70 million kWh of renewable energy in Taiwan by 2030. The company signed an agreement with Foxwell Power, a subsidiary of solar power provider Shinfox Energy, to purchase 2.36 million kWh of renewable power in 2022. The 70 million kWh of green power is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35,140 metric tons. The company intends to introduce measures to track greenhouse gas emissions from all of its facilities as it works toward net-zero emissions for the entire company by 2050.
Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational electric utility company, <a href="https://www.iberdrola.com/press-room/news/detail/iberdrola-starts-construction-baltic-eagle-offshore-wind-farm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> the green light to begin construction of the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, the company&#8217;s second major offshore project in the Baltic Sea in Germany. With a capacity of 476 MW, Baltic Eagle is expected to be capable of supplying renewable energy to 475,000 homes and prevent the emission of more than 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The construction phase starts after obtaining approvals from the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. The wind farm will be fully operational by the end of 2024.

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