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Rajasthan Invites Bids to Install 4.5 MW Rooftop Solar Systems at Thermal Plants

CPWD Tenders 2.3 MW of Solar Projects in Andhra Pradesh

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					</table>Trade bodies have sharply <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/industry-groups-slam-karnataka-ci-power-tariff-hike-to-fund-farm-subsidy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (KERC) decision to revise electricity tariffs for the financial year (FY) 2025-26, raising charges for commercial and industrial consumers to help bridge a subsidy gap arising from free power for farmers.
The U.S.-Iran war, now into its second week, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/oil-shock-from-us-iran-war-strengthens-case-for-transport-electrification-renewables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">triggered</a> ripple effects on the Indian economy, raising fears of supply chain, shipping, and logistics disruptions across sectors. India’s energy security has been imperilled by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a quarter of global oil passes.
The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rajasthan-approves-%E2%82%B9356-million-aggregate-revenue-requirement-for-sldc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> an aggregate revenue requirement of ₹356.6 million (~$3.9 million) for the State Load Despatch Centre for FY 2026–27. This amount is lower than the ₹477.7 million (~$5.2 million) requested in the petition. The approved charges are ₹1.4426/kW/month for state distribution companies and long- and medium-term open access customers.
The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/aptel-directs-ntpc-to-pay-haryana-utility-transmission-charges-for-solar-power#:~:text=APTEL%20Directs%20NTPC%20to%20Pay%20Haryana%20Utility%20Transmission%20Charges%20for%20Solar%20Power,-It%20held%20that&amp;text=The%20Appellate%20Tribunal%20for%20Electricity,gas%20power%20station%20in%20Haryana." target="_blank" rel="noopener">directed</a> NTPC to pay intra-state transmission charges to Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam for evacuating power from a 5 MW solar project at its Faridabad gas power station in Haryana.
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/tnerc-approves-bidding-process-for-1-gw-velimalai-pumped-storage-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allowed</a> the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation to initiate the tendering process for the development of a 1 GW closed-loop off-river pumped storage project at Velimalai in Kanyakumari district.
The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gerc-proposes-banking-charges-of-%E2%82%B91-5-kwh-for-green-energy-open-access-consumers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> retaining the banking charges of ₹1.5 (~$0.016)/kWh for open access consumers by amending the GERC (Terms &amp; Conditions For Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2026. The proposed banking charges will be applicable until June 30, 2026, or earlier if the Commission revises the charges.
REC Power Development and Consultancy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/recpdcl-tenders-transmission-system-for-2-gw-karnataka-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a request for proposal to set up an intrastate transmission system to evacuate power from a 2,000 MW solar park at Ryapte, in Karnataka’s Tumkur district. Bids must be submitted by April 6, 2026. Bids will be opened on the same day.
Ashok Leyland, the automobile company owned by the Hinduja Group <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ashok-leyland-breaks-ground-on-battery-pack-facility-in-tamil-nadu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broken</a> ground on a greenfield battery pack manufacturing facility in Pillaipakkam, Tamil Nadu, with an investment of ₹4 billion (~$43.34 million) to ₹5 billion (~$54.17 million).
Mahindra Susten, the clean-tech platform of the Mahindra Group, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mahindra-susten-secures-%E2%82%B910-25-billion-for-300-mw-renewable-project-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">achieved</a> financial closure for NHPC’s 300 MW renewable energy project in Rajasthan. The project, developed by Hazel Hybren, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra Susten, secured ₹10.25 billion (~$111.32 million) in financing from HDFC Bank.
U.S.-based global alternative asset manager Apollo Global Management-managed funds, affiliates, and other long-term investors <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/adani-energy-raises-500-million-from-apollo-for-transmission-arm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">purchased</a> $500 million (~₹45.96 billion) in investment-grade-rated senior secured private placement notes from ATSOL Global, a subsidiary of Adani Transmission Step-One under Adani Energy Solutions.
The National Committee on Transmission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nct-revises-timelines-for-interstate-transmission-projects-under-bidding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> revisions to the implementation timelines of several transmission projects currently under bidding with the Central Transmission Utility of India, highlighting delays in many interstate transmission system rojects that were originally planned with shorter implementation schedules.
Engineering, procurement, and construction company Hartek Group <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/hartek-commissions-agrivoltaic-solar-open-access-project-in-punjab" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commissioned</a> Punjab’s first agrivoltaic solar open access project in Kapurthala, Punjab. The project integrates solar power generation with agricultural land use, combining renewable energy development with sustainable farming practices.
Delhi-headquartered Eastman Auto &amp; Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/eastman-commissions-800-mw-solar-module-manufacturing-plant-in-haryana">commissioned</a> an 800 MW solar module manufacturing plant in Sonipat, Haryana, to produce bifacial TOPCon and Mono PERC modules. The facility manufactures modules for DCR and non-DCR markets.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative <a href="https://mercomindia.com/indian-manufacturing-solar-modules-face-us-section-301-probe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">initiated</a> a Section 301 investigation into structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing, with India among the economies under review. The investigation will examine whether policies or practices in these economies are contributing to structural overcapacity in manufacturing sectors that could distort global markets and harm U.S. commerce.
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/dgtr-recommends-extending-cvd-on-malaysian-solar-glass-for-five-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommended</a> continuing countervailing duties for five years on imports of textured toughened solar glass from Malaysia. DGTR ruled that the expiry of the existing measure may lead to continuation or recurrence of subsidization and injury to the domestic industry.
Japan’s Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/japan-awards-79-mw-solar-capacity-at-average-price-of-0-029-kwh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded</a> 79 MW of solar capacity in the 27th solar power auction, the fourth auction held in fiscal year 2025, with a weighted-average winning price of ¥4.61 (~$0.029)/kWh.
The U.S. solar industry <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/us-solar-industry-sees-14-yoy-decline-in-2025-with-43-2-gw-installed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> 43.2 GW of new capacity in 2025, a 14% decline from 2024, according to the U.S. Solar Market Insight 2025 Year in Review report released by Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Global installations of long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/global-long-duration-energy-storage-system-installations-cross-15-gwh-in-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surpassed</a> 15 GWh in 2025, marking a 49% increase compared with the previous year, according to Wood Mackenzie’s Long Duration Energy Storage Trends report. Among LDES technologies deployed in 2025, compressed air energy storage accounted for the largest share at 45%, followed by thermal energy storage at 33% and vanadium redox flow batteries at 21%.

Daily News Wrap-Up: Trade Bodies Slam Karnataka Power Tariff Hike

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://www.gercin.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GERC</a>) has approved a tariff of ₹2.65 (~$0.038)/kWh for a 100 MW solar project under phase VI of the state’s Raghanesda Solar Park. The tariff was quoted by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL) under the competitive bidding process conducted by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL).
The petition was filed by the GUVNL requesting the regulatory commission to approve the tariff and give its consent to continue with the auction process by issuing the Letter of Award (LoA) to GSECL.
The history of tenders and retenders by GUVNL
There is a long history behind the tenders, retenders, and auction of projects at the Raghanesda Solar Park. The GUVNL first <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gujarat-floats-tender-700-mw-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tendered</a> 700 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be set up under Phase III of Raghanesda Solar Park in September 2018. In the auction that <a href="https://mercomindia.com/guvnl-solar-auction-l1-tariff-2-84/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">followed</a> in December 2018, tariffs of ₹2.84 (~$0.0406)/kWh to ₹2.89 (~$0.0413)/kWh was quoted. Since these tariffs were considered as high by GUVNL, it later <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gujarat-cancels-700-mw-solar-auction/">scrapped</a> the auction in January 2019.
Again in March 2019, GUVNL issued a <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gujarat-700-mw-solar-tender/">revised</a> Request for Selection (RfS) for the 700 MW solar and added a tariff cap of ₹2.70 (~$0.038)/kWh. The technical bid for this tender was <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gujarat-700-mw-solar-tender-undersubscribed-100/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">opened</a> in May 2019, and the tender was undersubscribed by 100 MW. In the auction that <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gujarat-auctions-700-mw-of-solar-capacity/">followed</a> during the same month, tariffs ranged from ₹2.65 (~$0.038)/kWh to ₹2.70 (~$0.0387)/kWh to develop 500 MW of solar projects and the remaining 200 MW was left unallocated. The power purchase agreements for this 500 MW was also <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gujarat-ppa-solar-projects/">approved</a> by GERC in July 2019.
To auction the 200 MW that remained unallocated, GUVNL again <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gujarat-solar-parks-tender-950-mw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> an RfS in June 2019, re-tendering 200 MW of solar projects. The ceiling tariff for this bid was set as ₹2.65 (~$0.040)/kWh. The bid submission for this tender closed on July 24, 2019, but since GUVNL did not receive any bids, the deadline was moved to August 7, 2019. Finally, after the third attempt, GUVNL received a bid from GSECL offering to develop100 MW at the tariff of ₹2.65 (~$0.038)/ kWh, which was also the ceiling tariff specified in the tender. Apart from GSECL, no other bidders showed interest in developing the projects due to the challenging conditions of the park, adds the petition. This bid was opened on August 16, 2019.
GUVNL later sought the approval of GERC for continuing with the bidding process as there was only one bid due to a lack of competition, which is a rare occurrence. The hearing was on September 16, 2019. The GUVNL referred to the clause, “To ensure competitiveness, the minimum number of qualified bidders should be two. If the qualified bidders are less than two even after three attempts of bidding and the procurer still wants to continue with the bidding process, the same may be done with the consent of the appropriate commission”.
The commission has now approved the tariff, considering the tariff discovered was the lowest in the particular auction.
The commission has also directed GUVNL, to execute the power purchase agreement with GSECL within the time limit stipulated in the RfS document.

Gujarat Approves Tariff of ₹2.65/kWh for a 100 MW Solar Project in Raghanesda Solar Park

Bringing some respite to the power consumers in Haryana, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced a reduction in electricity tariffs in the state.
Per Press Trust of India (<a href="http://www.ptinews.com/home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PTI</a>), Khattar announced reducing the power tariff on monthly consumption of up to 200 units from ₹4.50 (~$0.061)/unit to ₹2.50 (~$0.0344)/unit. Announcing further relaxation for the people belonging to poor families, Khattar while speaking in the state assembly, added that in case a family limits its monthly electricity consumption of electricity to up to 50 units, the electricity rate would then be ₹2 (~$0.0275)/unit.
Khattar further said that the reduced tariff would ensure consumers savings of up to ₹437 (~$6.012) on a monthly basis. Hailing it as “a historic decision&#8221;, the Haryana chief minister noted that it would benefit 4.153 million domestic consumers in the state.
He also announced that free electricity connections would be provided to those &#8216;dhanis&#8217; (hamlets) in the state which are situated within one kilometer of &#8216;Lal Dora&#8217; of villages. Lal Dora refers to land that is part of the village &#8216;abadi&#8217; (habitation) and is used for non-agricultural purposes only.
Khattar also informed the state assembly of another program which is under the consideration of the state government. Under the program, a cluster of 11 houses within one km radius would be provided free electricity connection. The aim of the government is to ensure that each household in the state has electricity connection.
When contacted, a state government official said, “Looking at the reduced tariff, one may wonder how this will affect the distribution companies or how is the state going to bear the cost of this subsidy? Let me explain. In Haryana, at a point of time the power losses amounted to over 80 percent in certain areas due to defaults, thefts and the like. We have so many villages in this state where people cannot pay beyond ₹4 (~$0.055)/unit or even ₹3 (~$0.0412)/unit for that matter. These people resort to defaulting even if they have a connection and so do those who don’t find it easy to hook on to the grid and go on to use electricity free of cost. This decision is going to change that. It is well-thought out and will result in a greater number of people going for new connections. It will result in huge reduction in power losses, and a steady flow of revenue for DISCOMs, albeit a bit reduced.”
“In the past through ‘Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon Program’, we have been able to reduce power losses as well as provide 24*7 electricity to various areas,” added the government official.
Moreover, with a view to address the problem of air pollution due to burning of agriculture residue and ensure additional income to farmers, the Haryana government has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Limited for the setting up of an ethanol plant with a 100 kiloliter per day capacity at village Bohli in district Panipat.
Per the MoU, the agriculture residue of 50 km area would be collected for producing ethanol. This ethanol would be utilized by mixing it in petroleum. In return, the farmer will get mutually agreed prices for the agriculture residue.
This again is a great move by the state government as it complements the central government’s renewed push for biofuels. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/cabinet-approves-national-policy-biofuels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Recently</a>, the central government cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the National Policy on Biofuels – 2018. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-import-export-biofuel-restrictions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Soon after</a>, the Government of India imposed restrictions on the export and import of biofuels. In such a scenario, selling agricultural residue for ethanol production will be a huge incentive for the farmers in the state of Haryana.

Haryana Reduces Electricity Tariff to Counter Power Loss

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