Solar tender issuance in India fell sharply in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025. According to Mercom India Research, just 6.5 GW of solar tenders were announced—down 53.8% quarter-over-quarter from 14.1 GW, and 65.1% lower than the 18.7 GW issued in the same quarter last year. Auction activity followed the same trend. Only 1.6 GW of utility-scale solar projects were auctioned in the quarter, a steep 74.1% drop from 6.4 GW in Q1 2025 and a 75.2% decline compared to Q2 2024. The lack of firm and dispatchable renewable energy tenders contributed to this sharp fall in tendered capacity.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025 held in New Delhi on July 24 and 25, 2025, Venkat Avirneni, Co-Founder and CEO at Vyomaa Energy, shared his insights on India’s rooftop solar trends in the commercial and industrial sector. He also spoke about his company’s operations in India and the U.S., and on the need for India to foster a battery manufacturing ecosystem for energy storage.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025, held in New Delhi on July 24 and 25, 2025, Rounak Muthiyan, Founder and Director of Kalpa Power, discussed how Kalpa Power covers the full energy spectrum from on-site solar and infrastructure management to open access parks and ESG-focused services. He outlined Kalpa Power’s roadmap to commission 200 MW in the short term and achieve a goal of 5 GW within three years. Muthiyan also shared Kalpa’s plans to expand into hybrid renewables, battery storage, and integrated infrastructure solutions to meet India’s growing energy needs.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025 held in New Delhi on July 24 and 25, 2025, Sishir Garemella, Head of International Business Development at Kiwa PVEL, shared his insights into the evolving landscape of solar module reliability and manufacturing quality. He stressed that success in global markets depends not only on high-quality products but also on consistent, well-executed manufacturing processes, automation, and workforce training.

India’s rising solar export sector has been dealt a severe blow with the U.S. imposing 50% import tariffs. The U.S. has been the prime destination for Indian solar cell and module manufacturers, but that could soon change. Taking the cue from global trade and geopolitical developments, Indian exporters appear ready to look at other markets. In the first quarter of 2025, the U.S. accounted for 99.5% of the total exports of solar cells and modules. The quarter saw exports rise 26.1% from the previous three months to touch $267.6 million (~₹23.1 billion).

Gujarat-based solar company, Ahasolar Technologies, secured a project management consultancy contract from Singareni Collieries Company for establishing a 107 MW solar project. The tender was floated in April this year. The projects are to be set up at the following SCCL locations in Telangana: a 5 MW project at the Singareni Thermal Power Plant, a 37 MW project at Ramagundam-3 3 (20 MW OB Dump and 17 MW Ground), and a 5 MW project at Sathupalli in the Kothagudem area. The scope of work for Ahasolar includes the design, engineering, review of the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, site management, inspection and testing, module inspection services, and project performance testing of the solar project.

The Arunachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (APSERC) set the State a target of meeting 43.3% of its energy requirements from renewable sources by the financial year (FY) 2030. The new renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets will remain valid till FY 2030. Earlier, the APSERC had set a RPO target of meeting 20.5% of power requirements from renewable energy, with 12.5% coming from non-solar energy and 8% from solar energy by FY 2025. The last RPO target was issued in 2016.

Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam issued a request for selection to set up 500 MW/2,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) under the build-own-operate model within the state. The project will receive viability gap funding. Bids must be submitted by September 23, 2025. Bids will be opened on September 24. The minimum bid size per bidder is 200 MWh. Bidders can apply for a maximum of 250 MW/1,000 MWh. Apart from setting up the BESS, the scope of work entails making the storage system available to RVUNL for charging/discharging on demand. It also involves providing the BESS’ interconnection with the state transmission utility network and the construction of the bay.

Torrent Power issued a request for selection to procure 200 MW of firm and dispatchable renewable energy with an energy storage system (ESS) and a greenshoe option of 100 MW. Projects can be located anywhere in India, with power to be injected into the Central Transmission Utility/interstate transmission system network at a delivery point specified in the power purchase agreement. Eligible technologies include solar, wind, wind–solar hybrid, or other renewable generation systems with ESS, provided that the ESS is charged solely from renewable energy sources. Bids must be submitted by August 30, 2025. Bids will be opened on September 1, 2025.

PFC Consulting issued a request for proposal to establish an intrastate transmission system to enhance power evacuation capacity by 1.5 to 2 GW from the renewable energy-rich areas of Wagdari, Akkalkot, and South Solapur in Maharashtra. Bids must be submitted by October 13, 2025. The bids will be opened on the same day. The tender will be implemented on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis, with the selected bidder acquiring 100% equity in Wagdari Transmission, a special purpose vehicle set up for the project. The scope of work includes the construction of the AIS Wagdari substation with three 500 MVA, 400/220 kV, one 125 MVAr bus reactor at 400 kV, and associated line bays.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) invited bids to set up 110 MW ground-mounted solar projects in Uttar Pradesh under the captive mode. Bids must be submitted by September 25, 2025. Bids will be opened on September 26. The scope of work entails conceptualizing entire projects from design to commissioning. It also includes identifying the project land, obtaining it on lease or ownership, and developing it. Selected bidders must execute the project through a special-purpose vehicle. Apart from the solar project, they must install the transmission network up to the interconnection/delivery point to supply power to NCRTC.