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					</table>The Gujarat government <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gujarat-announces-top-up-subsidy-for-smaller-pm-surya-ghar-consumers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an additional state subsidy for residential consumers installing rooftop solar systems up to 2.18 kW under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
In an interview with Mercom India, Bernhard Rack, CEO of Agastya Energy, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indias-solar-wafer-expansion-faces-utilization-and-cost-challenges-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discussed</a> the risks of overcapacity in India&#8217;s solar wafer manufacturing industry, cost disadvantages compared with Chinese manufacturers, the implications of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers List-III, and India’s prospects as a solar wafer exporter.
The Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ministry-of-power-unveils-framework-for-secure-electricity-data-sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> the National Electricity Data Sharing Framework, 2026, to enable secure, standardized electricity data sharing. The voluntary framework classifies shareable datasets as public or access-controlled and outlines requirements for access, governance, cybersecurity, and privacy.
Commercial and industrial rooftop solar developers in Tamil Nadu <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/old-industrial-building-structures-limit-rooftop-solar-sizing-in-tamil-nadu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">face</a> structural and electrical infrastructure constraints that limit the capacity they can install at their facilities, even when sufficient rooftop space is available.
India’s solar operations and maintenance segment is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/longer-contracts-higher-expectations-reshape-indias-solar-om-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moving</a> beyond routine equipment servicing as developers and asset owners place greater emphasis on long-term generation performance, equipment availability, and operational reliability.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/china-proposes-stricter-efficiency-standards-for-solar-manufacturers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> stricter manufacturing standards for solar cells and modules, introducing minimum conversion efficiency requirements for different technologies and setting limits on energy consumption, water usage, and module degradation.
Solar power purchase agreement (PPA) prices in North America <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solar-ppa-prices-rise-6-yoy-in-north-america-fall-4-in-europe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> 6% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, while prices in Europe declined 4.1%, according to LevelTen Energy‘s latest PPA Price Index reports.
Power Grid Corporation of India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/powergrid-commissions-project-to-evacuate-renewable-energy-in-karnataka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commissioned</a> a transmission project to evacuate renewable energy in Koppal and Gadag, Karnataka.
Rwanda’s Energy Development Corporation <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rwanda-energy-corporation-tenders-floating-solar-plus-storage-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids from independent power producers to set up a floating solar project with a battery energy storage system at Lake Sake, Ngoma District, in the country’s Eastern Province.
Renewable energy solutions company Fourth Partner Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/fourth-partner-energy-secures-%E2%82%B97-5-billion-to-finance-wind-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> ₹7.5 billion (~$79.27 million) from Tata Capital – Cleantech Finance to develop its ongoing solar-plus-wind project with an integrated battery energy storage system in Maharashtra.
Pivot Energy, a distributed solar and energy storage developer and independent power producer, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pivot-energy-secures-500-million-corporate-credit-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> a $500 million corporate credit facility from Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Capital (Nuveen EIC).
Peak Energy, a sodium-ion battery manufacturer, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/peak-energy-raises-108-million-to-expand-sodium-ion-battery-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> $108 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round led by General Motors Ventures to expand its sodium-ion battery manufacturing operations.
VECKTA, an energy planning and procurement platform, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/veckta-raises-11million-expand-onsite-solar-storage-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> $11 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round led by Origin Ventures. The funding will support expanding the company’s U.S. customer team, product capabilities, partnerships, and supplier network.

Daily News Wrap-Up: Gujarat Announces Top-up Subsidy for Rooftop Solar

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					</table>Rwanda’s Energy Development Corporation (<a href="https://www.reg.rw/about-us/subsidiaries/edcl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDCL</a>) has invited bids from independent power producers to set up a floating solar project with a battery energy storage system at Lake Sake, Ngoma District, in the country’s Eastern Province.
Bids must be submitted by November 12, 2026.
The 200 MW floating solar project comprises an 800-MWh battery storage system.
The scope of work entails the design, installation, testing, and commissioning of the project. It also involves providing operation and maintenance services for 25 years.
The selected bidder must undertake the environmental, social, commercial, and financial feasibility studies for the project.
It must supply the solar modules, floating structures, mooring and anchoring systems; battery systems, power conversion systems, and battery management,  safety systems,  transformers, switchgear, protection, metering, monitoring, and control and communication systems for the project.
If selected, the bidder must integrate the solar-plus-energy storage project with supervisory control and data acquisition. They must provide the transmission facilities and associated grid evacuation infrastructure.
The project must be connected to the nearest 220 kV transmission line.
The project must be commissioned within 18 months.
Bidders must have at least 10 years of experience in designing, constructing, and managing renewable energy projects.
They must have successfully executed solar projects involving design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance since 2016. The evaluation will consider the cumulative capacity of completed floating and ground-mounted solar projects, along with experience in battery energy storage systems.
Bidders must have had a minimum average annual turnover of $300 million during 2023, 2024, and 2025. They must maintain a current ratio above one and have access to financial resources, including liquid assets, unencumbered real assets, and cash flow equivalents, totaling at least $60 million.
They must also have access to a credit line of at least $60 million. Equivalent amounts in other freely convertible currencies are acceptable.
Bidders must fulfil any one of the following experience parameters :
For floating solar or ground-mounted projects:
<ul>
<li>Must have developed three projects with a cumulative capacity of 30 MW to 50 MW and commissioned at least one project of 25 MW or more</li>
<li>Must have developed three projects with a cumulative capacity of 50 MW to 100 MW and commissioned at least one project of 40 MW or more</li>
<li>Must have developed three projects with a cumulative capacity of 100 MW to 200 MW and commissioned at least one project of 80 MW or more</li>
<li>Must have developed three projects with a cumulative capacity exceeding 200 MW and commissioned at least one project of 150 MW or more</li>
</ul>
For battery energy storage, bidders must have completed at least one project with a capacity of 20 MW/40 MWh or more; or 50 MW/100 MWh or more; or 100 MW/200 MWh or more; or 200 MW/400 MWh or more.
Solar capacity additions in Africa are <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/driven-by-chinese-imports-africas-solar-additions-to-reach-17-gw-in-2026?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected</a> to reach 17 GW in 2026, clocking a 45% year-over-year rise amid a surge in Chinese solar panel imports to the continent, according to a report by Ember.
By the end of 2025, the Africa Solar Industry Association <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/afsia-tracks-296-gw-solar-projects-in-africa-with-23-4-gw-operational-as-of-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was</a> tracking more than 42,000 solar projects across Africa. These projects represented a total identified pipeline of 296 GW, of which 23.4 GW was already operational.

Rwanda Energy Corporation Tenders Floating Solar-Plus-Storage Project

The <a href="https://www.brd.rw/brd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Development Bank of Rwanda</a> has issued an expression of interest (EoI) for consulting firms to provide technical and engineering services to the bank for appraisal of pre-feasibility and feasibility studies and loan applications for renewable energy mini-grid investment projects that are submitted to by developers seeking financing from the Renewable Energy Fund. The consultants also have to supervise the implementation of the mini-grid projects financed by the bank and provide related technical assistance for sector strengthening.
The Government of Rwanda has received $48.9 million in funding from the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) to implement the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) project.  The World Bank Board approved the project on June 20, 2017.
The objective of the REF project is to increase electricity access in rural areas through off-grid technologies and facilitate private sector participation in renewable off-grid electrification. Rwanda is taking initiatives to replace diesel, kerosene, dry cell batteries, and other alternative fuels with renewable energy through this program.
The last date to submit bids is December 30, 2021.
With this tender, the government aims to set up mini-grids ranging from 10 kW to 1 MW of peak demand, with most mini-grids under 100 kW of peak demand.
To participate in the competitive bidding process, bidders must have at least ten years of experience in design, engineering, and construction of off-grid solar photovoltaics (PV), micro-and mini-hydro, biomass power, hybrid projects, and low and medium voltage distribution networks.
They should also have expertise and experience in renewable energy resource modeling and forecasting, including solar and hydrogen, related system sizing, and optimizing. Their experience in financial analysis of renewable energy projects would be an advantage.
The bank aims to recruit one or more consulting firms for 24 months to help it undertake technical due diligence of loan applications.
Successful bidders need to undertake the technical appraisal of the project&#8217;s pre-feasibility, feasibility study, and business plan for mini-grid projects submitted by developers for the bank&#8217;s financing. They must also provide supervision and technical assistance services to implement mini-grid projects financed by the bank.
According to International Renewable Energy Agency, Rwanda&#8217;s total power capacity was 259 MW in 2020. Renewable energy accounted for 141 MW, including 110 MW of hydropower and 31 MW of solar power capacity.
The off-grid solar value chain can <a href="https://mercomindia.com/off-grid-solar-could-create-jobs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">create</a> up to 570,000 jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2022, excluding manufacturing, the UCL Engineering for International Development Centre has said in a recent report.
With off-grid solar, rural electrification could enhance business startups and new income generation activities in the region. Around 24% of consumers in East African countries use off-grid connections to boost their existing business or new income-generating activities.
Mercom had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/nots-solar-lamps-invest-solar-systems-rwanda/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that NOTS Solar Lamps, in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, announced a deal to speed up the process of providing power to families with the least incomes. NOTS was expected to invest $70 million (~$4.79 billion) in a manufacturing unit for solar home systems over a five-year duration.
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Rwanda Issues Consultancy Tender for Financing of Off-Grid Solar Projects

<a href="http://www.nots.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NOTS</a> Solar Lamps in collaboration with the <a href="http://www.gov.rw/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Government of Rwanda</a> has announced a deal to speed up the process of providing power to families with least incomes in Rwanda.
NOTS will invest $70 million (~$4.79 billion) over a five-year duration into a manufacturing unit for solar home systems. This facility will be a first of its kind in Africa and will be accompanied with a microloan credit scheme and marketing infrastructure.
“NOTS will make electricity more affordable, more available, and much more reliable than kerosene lamps and phone charging kiosks. That’s how we’ll solve Rwanda’s electricity challenge,” says Bart Hartman, NOTS’ chief executive, and impact entrepreneur.
“Subsequently we’ll use this blueprint to tackle Africa’s electricity crisis which &#8211; despite the efforts of governments and NGOs &#8211; has hardly improved in the last ten years,” he added.
Solar home systems are an important element in rural electrification, poverty eradication, and enhancing the quality of life in developing countries. These systems have been earmarked by the United Nations and the World Bank for this purpose. The factory will build a ‘Multimax’ solar home system at the cost of $56, making it economical for the lowest-income families. In exchange, the Government of Rwanda will buy 100,000 units for $5.6 million.
According to the Rwandan Energy Group, half of the farming households with low wages have little to no access to electricity. NOTS has an agenda to produce and sell 900,000 solar systems in Rwanda in the next four years. This could give access to power to 4.2 million people. Export plans involve one million more units per year to be exported to the rest of Africa.
NOTS is experimenting with a consumer sales and finance model in Rwanda. The microloan system can be availed by these families to buy the systems. Repayment will occur in 100 fixed, weekly payments. The complete cost inclusive of the interest on the loan is $60. Weekly repayment installments are less than how much a family spends on kerosene lighting and mobile phone charging kiosks. Payment options are digital credit checks and automatic payments through mobile phones and mobile money accounts. NOTS has a tie-up with Airtel Money Rwanda for trial in three districts.
In the African continent, 125 million families have no access to electricity.  NOTS has a goal to provide these approximately 600 million people with electricity by 2025.
Earlier, the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/world-bank-off-grid-solar-west-africa-sahel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Bank</a> had provisioned an International Development Association (IDA) fund of $150 million. This, combined with a $74.7 million contingent recovery grant from the Clean Technology Fund, is expected to aid in establishing off-grid electrification for people in West Africa and Sahel region.
The number of people with access to solar power has increased due to deeper market penetration of solar off-grid products. This was reported in the latest Global Off-grid Solar Market Report published by Global Off-grid Lighting Association (<a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-off-grid-solar-gogla/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GOGLA</a>) for the second half of 2018.
Image credit: Bernard Amadei, EWB-I Executive Director [CC BY-SA <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3.0</a>]

NOTS Solar Lamps to Invest $70 Million in Solar Home Systems Manufacturing in Rwanda

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (<a href="https://www.adfd.ae/english/Pages/Home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADFD</a>) will provide a concessional loan worth $25 million for the development of two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in Mauritius and Rwanda.
Both the solar PV projects are beneficiaries of the fifth funding cycle and are being financed through the <a href="http://www.irena.org/ADFD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IRENA/ADFD Project Facility</a>.
The loans cover up to 50 percent of the project costs in the two countries, leveraging additional funding from other sources.
In Mauritius, the ADFD loan of $10 million will help the Central Electricity Board in installations of solar PV systems on rooftops of 10,000 households. This initiative is part of Mauritius government’s  efforts to alleviate poverty while contributing to the national target of increasing the share of renewable electricity in the energy mix of the country to 35% by the year 2025.
In Rwanda, the ADFD loan of $15 million will contribute to the installation of 500,000 off-grid solar PV home systems across the country, providing clean electricity for lighting, mobile phone and radio charging.
“For developing countries, renewable energy is a triple win: it provides a cost-effective means of providing electricity to families, fuels economic growth, and supports energy independence and security,” IRENA’s Director-General Adnan Z. Amin said.
“However, many developing countries have trouble in accessing the financing for renewable energy investment.  We are delighted that our continued partnership with ADFD will provide a stable, low-cost source of financing to help Mauritius and Rwanda achieve a sustainable energy future,” Amin added.
Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said, “Our collaboration with IRENA articulates ADFD&#8217;s core mandate to support sustainable economic and social progress across the developing countries through financing development projects that serve vital economic sectors. ADFD priorities renewable energy as a catalyst for inclusive economic and social development.”
“At ADFD, we believe that through the widespread promotion of sustainable energy projects in countries with immense clean energy potentials, we can contribute to the long term economic prosperity of communities across the word. We are confident that the latest projects selected for funding in Mauritius and Rwanda will deliver sizeable benefits for the economies of local communities,&#8221; added Suwaidi.
Since 2014, ADFD has allocated $214 million to 21 projects, attracting over $420 million in additional co-financing from governments and development funds.
In <a href="https://mercomindia.com/usaid-announces-6-3-million-sub-saharan-africas-off-grid-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">October 2017</a>, Mercom reported that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a total of $6.3 million (~₹398.92 million) to strengthen the off-grid energy sector in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to a <a href="https://mercomindia.com/off-grid-solar-market-buoyant-sales/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA) and Lighting Global, 3.52 million off-grid solar product sales were reported in the first half of 2017.
Image credit: IRENA

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