SECI Floats Tender for Loans to Finance 200 MW Madhya Pradesh Solar Project

Corn Starch Maker Taps Solar to Meet 35% of Power Demand

MNRE Doesn’t Foresee Supply Constraints for Solar Cells and Modules: Interview

MAHAGENCO REL Invites Bids to Procure 700 Acres of Land for 175 MW Solar Projects

Adani Green Inks JV Deal with IHC Arm to Develop Renewable Projects in India

Tata Power, Roofsol, Mahindra Lead India’s Rooftop Solar Market in 2025

Rajasthan High Court Shields Solar Projects from Duty Exemption Rollback

Daily News Wrap-Up: ALMM Expansion to Wafers Raises Capacity Gap Concerns

Uttarakhand Raises Tariffs for Industrial Category Power Consumers in FY 2027

Mahindra to Procure Power from 30 MW Captive Solar Project in Punjab


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/amazon_polly_93204.mp3?version=1775809802">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p>In a significant ruling upholding policy certainty in India’s renewable energy sector, the <a href="https://hcraj.nic.in/hcraj/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rajasthan High Court</a> has held that the state government cannot retrospectively withdraw electricity duty exemptions promised under its Solar Policy 2019.</p>
<p>The Court said that while the government has the power to change policies, such changes cannot operate retrospectively to take away accrued rights. Rejecting the Rajasthan government’s argument that the duty exemptions depend on statutory notifications, it said the policy itself represented an assurance that such benefits would be granted.</p>
<p>Withdrawing the duty exemptions without compelling public interest was arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, the Court said.</p>
<p>The High Court directed that captive solar projects commissioned before the May 10, 2022, amendment to the Solar Policy are entitled to the promised seven-year electricity duty exemption. The withdrawal of the duty exemption will apply prospectively to future projects, it said, directing the authorities to verify the commercial operation date of each project before granting benefits.</p>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<p>The Rajasthan government, in its Solar Policy 2019, announced that captive solar projects would be exempt from electricity duty for seven years to promote investment in such projects.</p>
<p>UltraTech Cement set up solar projects to power its cement units in Rajasthan, investing about ₹890 million (~$9.61 million). In May 2022, the government amended the policy, making the duty exemptions subject to separate statutory notifications. This effectively meant the withdrawal of the duty exemptions.</p>
<p>After the policy change, distribution companies began raising electricity duty bills for power generated from solar projects.</p>
<p>UltraTech Cement petitioned the High Court, challenging the amendment as arbitrary and as a violation of its expectations. It argued that the withdrawal of the electricity duty exemption violated well-established principles of public law.</p>
<p>The petitioner noted that the Solar Policy 2019 made a clear and unequivocal promise of a seven-year exemption from the electricity duty from the date of commissioning. Acting on this assurance, it set up solar projects, securing a vested right in its favor that the government could not later withdraw to its detriment.</p>
<p>The withdrawal of the exemption disrupted the financial viability of projects that were planned based on the promised incentive in the policy.</p>
<p><strong>Court’s Analysis</strong></p>
<p>The High Court observed that the Solar Policy 2019 contained a clear and unequivocal representation intended to attract private investment in renewable energy. In response, UltraTech Cement and others had committed substantial capital to set up the captive solar projects.</p>
<p>The Court emphasized that government policies, even if executive in nature, can create binding obligations when they induce investment.</p>
<p>Rejecting the state government’s argument that electricity duty exemptions must be granted strictly through statutory notifications under the Rajasthan Electricity (Duty) Act, 1962, the High Court held that the policy itself represented an assurance that such powers would be exercised in favor of eligible projects.</p>
<p>The Court also held that the 2022 amendment to the Solar Policy 2019 cannot operate retrospectively to deprive investors of accrued benefits.</p>
<p>While the government had the authority to modify or withdraw fiscal incentives, the Court observed that such changes must be prospective. Vested rights arising from prior assurances cannot be arbitrarily taken away.</p>
<p>On the state government’s contention that evolving economic conditions and financial constraints justified the withdrawal of exemptions, the High Court said this reasoning was insufficient, and no substantive material was presented to demonstrate overriding public interest in withdrawing the electricity duty exemption.</p>
<p>“The material on record indicates that the objectives of the Solar Policy, including the targeted solar capacity, remain unmet. In such circumstances, withdrawal of incentives appears not only unsupported by compelling necessity but also counterproductive to the very policy objectives the State seeks to advance. The invocation of public interest must be real, demonstrable, and proportionate; it cannot be a generic or post facto justification,” the Court observed.</p>
<p>This March, the Supreme Court <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/supreme-court-upholds-generation-based-incentives-for-renewable-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that the generation-based incentive granted to wind power generators must be disbursed in addition to the tariff and cannot be adjusted in a manner that would defeat the program’s purpose. The ruling came while dismissing an appeal filed by the Andhra Pradesh distribution companies against an order of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.</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>



					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/amazon_polly_92118.mp3?version=1773842310">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p><a href="https://www.ultratechcement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UltraTech Cement</a>, an <a href="https://www.adityabirla.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aditya Birla Group</a> company, has signed an energy supply agreement and a share subscription &amp; shareholders&#8217; agreement to procure power from Sunsure Solarpark Seven’s 60 MW captive solar project integrated with a battery energy storage system in Uttar Pradesh.</p>
<p>UltraTech Cement will invest ₹192 million (~$2.07 million) to secure 26.18% stake in the special purpose vehicle of <a href="https://sunsure-energy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunsure Energy</a>. The acquisition is aimed at helping UltraTech Cement meet its green energy requirements, optimize energy costs, and comply with captive power regulations under electricity laws.</p>
<p>The acquisition will be completed within 180 days from the execution of the energy supply agreement and the share subscription &amp; shareholders&#8217; agreement.</p>
<p>UltraTech achieved an installed renewable energy capacity of 1.02 GW in the financial year (FY) 2024-25, becoming one of the first industrial companies in India to cross this milestone. The company’s total green energy capacity stands at 1.37 GW, representing 46% of its energy mix.</p>
<p>UltraTech plans to increase its total green energy share to 85% by 2030.</p>
<p>As part of its decarbonization target to reduce its net Scope 1 carbon intensity by 27% by 2032, the company decreased its net carbon dioxide emissions intensity to 549 kg/ton of cementitious material in FY 2024-25.</p>
<p>Recently, UltraTech Cement <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-procure-solar-power-from-sunsures-14-mw-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> agreements to source power from Sunsure Solarpark Thirty Eight’s 14 MW solar project in Dhule, Maharashtra. UltraTech will invest up to ₹67.2 million (~$727,859) to purchase 26.2% of the shares of Sunsure Solarpark Thirty-Eight, an SPV of Sunsure Energy.</p>
<p>In another development this month, the company <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-to-procure-solar-power-from-ampin-spvs-30-mw-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an agreement to source power from AMPIN C&amp;I Power Forty Four’s 30 MW solar project. UltraTech will invest ₹151.2 million (~$1.64 million) to acquire a 26% stake in AMPIN C&amp;I Power Forty-Four, an SPV of AMPIN Energy.</p>
<p>Earlier, the company announced it would <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-source-wind-solar-hybrid-power-from-clean-max-sapphire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a> renewable energy in captive mode from CleanMax’s SPV, CleanMax Sapphire, which is setting up a 55 MW wind-solar hybrid project in Karnataka.</p>


UltraTech Cement to Source Power from Sunsure Energy’s 60 MW Solar Project


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/amazon_polly_91631.mp3?version=1773055153">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p><a href="https://www.ultratechcement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UltraTech Cement</a>, an <a href="https://www.adityabirla.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aditya Birla Group</a> company, has signed an energy supply agreement, and share subscription and a shareholders agreement to source power from Sunsure Solarpark Thirty Eight’s 14 MW solar project in Dhule, Maharashtra.</p>
<p>UltraTech will invest up to ₹67.2 million (~$727,859) to purchase 26.2% of the shares of Sunsure Solarpark Thirty Eight, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Sunsure Energy incorporated to set up the solar project, which includes a battery energy storage system.</p>
<p>The transaction is expected to be completed within 120 days.</p>
<p>The company will source solar power from the SPV to meet its green energy needs, optimize energy costs, and comply with regulatory requirements on captive power consumption.</p>
<p>According to UltraTech’s 2024-2025 Integrated and Sustainability Report, the company expects to meet its RE100 commitment to source 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.</p>
<p>As of the financial year 2025, UltraTech had a renewable energy capacity of 1.02 GW. Renewable energy currently makes up 27.8% of the company’s energy mix. This is expected to rise to 85% by 2030.</p>
<p>UltraTech consumed 9,568.20 TJ of energy from renewable sources in 2025</p>
<p>Recently, UltraTech <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-to-procure-solar-power-from-ampin-spvs-30-mw-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an energy supply and a share subscription and shareholders agreement to source power from a 30 MW solar project set up by AMPIN Energy Transition’s SPV, AMPIN C&amp;I Power Forty Four.</p>
<p>Last April, the company <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-source-power-from-ampins-75-mw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it would source renewable energy from AMPIN Energy Transition’s SPV AMPIN C&amp;I Power Eight.</p>
<p>Transitioning to renewable energy sources is a key imperative for hard-to-abate industries like cement. Multiple cement companies are increasing the use of renewable energy to meet their power needs, reduce their energy bills, and meet their clean power obligations.</p>
<p>Commercial and industrial businesses across India are increasingly turning to renewable energy solutions as a strategic response to rising electricity tariffs, grid reliability concerns, and sustainability mandates. Mercom India has been hosting the C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet series across Indian cities and will host its next event in Bhopal on March 13, 2026. You can learn more about the event <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2026-bhopal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>


UltraTech Cement to Procure Solar Power from Sunsure’s 14 MW Project


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/amazon_polly_91473.mp3?version=1773046443">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p><a href="https://www.ultratechcement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UltraTech Cement</a>, an <a href="https://www.adityabirla.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aditya Birla Group</a> company, has signed an energy supply and a share subscription and shareholders agreement to source power from AMPIN C&amp;I Power Forty Four’s 30 MW solar project.</p>
<p>UltraTech will invest ₹151.2 million (~$1.64 million) to purchase 26% of the shares of AMPIN C&amp;I Power Forty Four, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of AMPIN Energy Transition incorporated to generate and transmit renewable energy.</p>
<p>The transaction is expected to be completed within 180 days.</p>
<p>The company will source solar power from the SPV to meet its green energy needs, optimize energy costs, and comply with regulatory requirements on captive power consumption.</p>
<p>According to UltraTech’s 2024-2025 Integrated and Sustainability Report, the company expects to meet its RE100 commitment to source 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.</p>
<p>As of the financial year 2025, UltraTech had a renewable energy capacity of 1.02 GW. Renewable energy currently makes up 27.8% of the company’s energy mix. This is expected to rise to 85% by 2030.</p>
<p>UltraTech consumed 9,568.20 TJ of energy from renewable sources.</p>
<p>Last April, the company <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-source-power-from-ampins-75-mw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it would source renewable energy from AMPIN Energy Transition’s SPV AMPIN C&amp;I Power Eight.</p>
<p>In December 2024, UltraTech Cement <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-source-wind-solar-hybrid-power-from-clean-max-sapphire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it would source renewable energy in captive mode from CleanMax’s SPV, Clean Max Sapphire. It would acquire a 26% equity share in Clean Max Sapphire, investing up to ₹457.6 million (~$5.3 million).</p>
<p>In October 2024, UltraTech said it would <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-procure-7-mw-more-power-from-continuum-mp-windfarm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">procure</a> an additional 7 MW of wind-solar hybrid power from Continuum MP Windfarm, raising the total procurement from 14 MW to 21 MW.</p>
<p>Transitioning to renewable energy sources is a key imperative for hard-to-abate industries like cement. Multiple cement companies are increasing the use of renewable energy to meet their power needs, reduce their energy bills, and meet their clean power obligations.</p>


UltraTech to Procure Solar Power from AMPIN SPV’s 30 MW Project


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/amazon_polly_78679.mp3?version=1744868680">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p><a href="https://www.ultratechcement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UltraTech Cement</a>, an <a href="https://www.adityabirla.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aditya Birla Group</a> company, will source renewable energy from <a href="https://ampin.energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AMPIN Energy Transition</a>’s special purpose vehicle (SPV) AMPIN C&amp;I Power Eight.</p>
<p>The company entered energy supply, share subscription, and shareholders agreements to acquire a 26% equity share in AMPIN C&amp;I Power Eight, investing ₹255 million (~$2.98 million).</p>
<p>The SPV was incorporated in January to set up a 75 MW DC/50 MW AC solar power project on a captive basis at the Sindhari village in Rajasthan’s Balotara district.</p>
<p>The acquisition will be completed within 180 days from the agreements’ execution.</p>
<p>Ultratech Cement, in a regulatory filing, disclosed that this acquisition would help the company meet its green energy needs, optimize energy costs, and adhere to India’s regulatory requirements for captive power consumption under electricity laws.</p>
<p>The company said this acquisition is not a related party transaction, and the promoters have no interest in it.</p>
<p>In its Integrated and Sustainability Report-FY24, UltraTech Cement said it increased its renewable energy capacity by 77% from the financial year (FY) 2023. The company has a green energy capacity of 890 MW, including 612 MW of renewable energy. This increase helped Ultratech Cement substitute 22% of its electricity with green power in FY 2024.</p>
<p>The company aims to increase its green energy capacity to 1,000 MW. It also targets an 85% share of green energy in its total energy mix by 2030.</p>
<p>In August last year, UltraTech Cement’s Awarpur Cement unit installed 7,600 floating solar panels covering 3,600 sq m across two water reservoirs within its premises. The solar systems have a capacity of 4.096 MW (3.30 MW AC) and are expected to produce 6,173 MWh of energy annually.</p>
<p>In December last year, Ultratech Cement <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-source-wind-solar-hybrid-power-from-clean-max-sapphire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it would source renewable energy in captive mode from CleanMax’s SPV, Clean Max Sapphire. It would acquire a 26% equity share in Clean Max Sapphire, investing up to ₹457.6 million (~$5.3 million).</p>
<p>In October, the company said it would <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-procure-7-mw-more-power-from-continuum-mp-windfarm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">procure</a> an additional 7 MW of wind-solar hybrid power from Continuum MP Windfarm, raising the total procurement from 14 MW to 21 MW.</p>


UltraTech Cement to Source  Power from AMPIN’s 75 MW Solar Project


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amazon_polly_74467.mp3?version=1735117118">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p><a href="https://www.ultratechcement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UltraTech Cement</a>, an <a href="https://www.adityabirla.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aditya Birla Group</a> company, has announced that it will source renewable energy in captive mode from <a href="https://www.cleanmax.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CleanMax</a>’s special-purpose vehicle (SPV), Clean Max Sapphire.</p>
<p>The company has entered energy supply, share subscription, and shareholders agreements to acquire a 26% equity share in Clean Max Sapphire, investing up to ₹457.6 million (~$5.3 million).</p>
<p>The SPV will set up a 55 MW wind-solar hybrid project on a captive basis in Honawad in Vijayapur district, Karnataka to supply power to UltraTech Cement.</p>
<p>The share acquisition will be completed within 180 days.</p>
<p>UltraTech Cement, in its regulatory filing, disclosed that this acquisition will help the company meet its green energy needs, optimize energy costs, and comply with India’s regulatory requirements for captive power consumption.</p>
<p>In its 2023 Annual Report, UltraTech Cement stated that green energy comprised 19.27% or 650 MW of its total energy usage during the year.</p>
<p>The company added 76 MW of renewable power capacity in 2023, bringing its total renewable power capacity to 345 MW.</p>
<p>UltraTech Cement aims to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050, with the company’s Ratnagiri cement grinding unit in Maharashtra already transitioning to 100% renewable energy.</p>
<p>The company has also set up 345 MW of solar and wind projects in India to meet its energy needs.</p>
<p>In October, UltraTech Cement said it would <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ultratech-cement-to-procure-7-mw-more-power-from-continuum-mp-windfarm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">procure</a> an additional 7 MW of wind-solar hybrid power from Continuum MP Windfarm, raising the total procurement from 14 MW to 21 MW.</p>
<p>Transitioning to renewable energy sources is a key imperative for hard-to-abate industries like cement. According to a World Economic Forum report, global cement manufacturing produced 1.6 billion metric tons of CO2 in 2022 or about 8% of the world&#8217;s total CO2 emissions.</p>
<p>UltraTech is part of the Climate Group’s RE100 initiative as part of its commitment to meet 100% of its electricity requirement through renewables sources by 2050.</p>
<p>According to credit ratings agency ICRA, green power will <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/green-power-cement-companies-power-mix" target="_blank" rel="noopener">account</a> for approximately 40-42% of the total power mix of major cement companies in India by March 2025, up from around 35% as of March 2023.</p>


ultratech-cement

Get the most relevant India solar and clean energy news.

RECENT POSTS