Daily News Wrap-Up: MNRE Clarifies DCR Rules for KUSUM Projects
HPERC allows tariff-based royalty for all solar projects above 1 MW
October 21, 2025
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The ministry has confirmed that non-DCR modules cannot be used in Component C projects, except where the LoA was issued on or before March 31, 2024. This condition applies even to developers who choose to forgo central financial assistance.The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy clarified that the relaxation allowing the use of non-DCR modules for solar projects under Component C of the PM KUSUM program applies only to projects that had letters of award (LoA) issued on or before March 31, 2024. All LoAs issued after that date, irrespective of the bid submission date, must comply with the domestic content requirement (DCR) norms.
The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) approved the pass-through of a tariff-based royalty of ₹0.05 (~$0.00057)/kWh on all solar power projects above 1 MW. The royalty will be recovered by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board from the power generated by these projects and paid to the state government over and above the approved tariff. The Commission has ruled that this amount will be eligible for pass-through, which means it can be included in the cost structure of the power supplied and consequently reflected in consumer tariffs. The decision corrects earlier omissions in several power purchase approval orders where the royalty clause had not been incorporated.
Textile company, Sangam India, will procure renewable energy from CGE II Hybrid Energy, a special purpose vehicle of Continuum Green Energy, under the captive mode to power its manufacturing units in Rajasthan. Sangam announced that it has acquired 114.2 million shares with a face value of ₹10 (~$0.11) each, corresponding to a 3.86% equity stake in the wind-solar hybrid project. A share purchase and shareholders’ agreement have been executed between Sangam, CGE II Hybrid Energy, and Continuum Green Energy. Sangam aims to increase renewable power consumption to 12 MW for the company’s plants located in the villages of Atun, Sareri, and Billiya Kalan in Bhilwara district.
Jupiter Electric Mobility, a Jupiter Group company, announced the launch of 10-foot (ft) and 20 ft containerized Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), expanding its clean energy portfolio with modular designs tailored for diesel generator replacement, solar storage, and backup power applications. The first 10-ft BESS unit has been supplied in partnership with GMMCO, a CK Birla Group company, to Greenlit, a Mumbai-based subsidiary of Recube working on decarbonization initiatives in the events, entertainment, and hospitality sectors. The first 10-ft BESS unit has been supplied in partnership with GMMCO, a CK Birla Group company, to Greenlit, a Mumbai-based subsidiary of Recube working on decarbonization initiatives in the events, entertainment, and hospitality sectors.
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop over 300 GW of large-scale renewable energy projects across DRDO establishments nationwide. The projects will be set up on a build, own, and operate basis to enhance energy resilience and reliability across critical defense facilities. SECI said it has already initiated preparatory activities for a 100 MW solar project at Chitradurga, Karnataka. The application for the project’s connectivity has been sent to the interstate transmission system. This project will supply power to various DRDO establishments across India once commissioned.
NTPC Green Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, announced the commencement of commercial operations of a 12.5 MW solar capacity at Bhuj, Gujarat. This capacity is part of a total 37.5 MW solar project being developed by Ayana Renewable Power Four, a subsidiary of Ayana Renewable Power. The newly operational capacity commenced commercial operations on October 17, 2025. Ayana Renewable Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of ONGC NTPC Green, a joint venture between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and NTPC. Following this addition, NGEL’s total commercial capacity stands at 7,407.475 MW. Additionally, NGEL Group’s total installed capacity increased to 7,419.975 MW.
Singapore-based renewable energy platform, Blueleaf Energy, and Noida-based Jakson Green announced the financial close of 840 MW ground-mounted solar projects in Bikaner, Rajasthan. This capacity comprises a 280 MW and a 560 MW project. These projects are part of the $400 million 1 GW solar project portfolio in Rajasthan, for which Blueleaf and Jackson had partnered in January this year. This portfolio also includes the under-construction 140 MW solar project in Bhawad, scheduled for commissioning this year. These projects target generating over 1,800 GWh of renewable energy annually. The partnership aims to add over 5 GW of renewable energy capacity to India’s grid by 2030.
Solar module manufacturer Waaree Energies’s total income for the second quarter (Q2) of the financial year (FY) 2026 rose 69.96% year-over-year to ₹62.27 billion (~$708.41 million) from ₹36.63 billion (~$416.80 million). The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization rose 155.29% YoY to ₹15.67 billion (~$178.32 million) from ₹6.14 billion (~$69.85 million) in Q2 FY25. Waaree Energies’ quarterly net profit grew 133.78% to ₹8.78 billion (~$99.92 million) from ₹3.76 billion (~$42.74 million) in the same quarter of the previous year. Its earnings per share came in at ₹29.27 (~$0.33) compared to ₹13.71 (~$0.16) during the same period the preceding year.
Germany added 4.3 GW of solar capacity in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, a 7.8% year-over-year increase from 4 GW, according to data from the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). The country added a total of 11.8 GW in the first nine months of 2025. In Q2 2025, Mercom reported that Germany installed 3 GW of solar power. However, Bundesnetzagentur later revised this figure to 3.3 GW. The country added 1,465 MW of solar capacity in July, 1,936 MW in August, and 920 MW in September. The majority of the installations were located in Ausschließliche Wirtschaftszone, Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, and Brandenburg.