Sunsure Energy and Enerica Infra 3 won NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam’s (NVVN) auction to set up interstate transmission system-connected 250 MW/1,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) under the build-own-operate model. Sunsure won 125 MW/500 MWh at a tariff of ₹6.64 (~$0.0768)/kWh. Enerica also won 125 MW/500 MWh at a tariff of ₹6.65 (~$0.076)/kWh. The tender was floated in February this year. The BESS will be eligible for Viability Gap Funding support of up to ₹2.7 million (~$31,598)/MWh or 30% of the capital cost, whichever is lower.

With the growing demand for power from data centers in the country, project developers are increasingly recognizing BESS as a vital component of renewable energy projects in the coming years. At a discussion on “How Industries and Commercial (C&I) Units Are Pursuing Green Growth” held at the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025 on July 25, 2025, panelists shared their insights on how AI and data centers will drive demand for renewables.

As India aggressively pursues its clean energy goals, the gap between policy ambition and on-ground execution remains a central concern. With a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, the urgency to build infrastructure, resolve regulatory friction, and fast-track deployment is greater than ever. These issues were explored in depth on the second day of the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025 during a panel discussion titled “Scaling Renewable Projects: Overcoming Challenges for Timely Execution.”

India’s clean energy ambitions are entering a critical new phase. While the solar manufacturing ecosystem has made significant strides, particularly in module production, there is now a growing urgency to diversify and deepen domestic manufacturing across the entire value chain. Components such as storage systems, inverters, and other Balance of System equipment still depend on imports. This introduces vulnerabilities in cost, timelines, and supply chain resilience that could impact the success of large-scale renewable energy deployment.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy approved the release of ₹679.5 million (~$7.8 million) as the first tranche of central financial assistance to four Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. A hydrogen valley is a specific geographical region where hydrogen is utilized for multiple applications across various sectors, including industry, energy, and mobility. These clusters are designated areas where the use of hydrogen technology is promoted to drive the adoption of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source.

The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission approved the discovered tariffs ranging from ₹4.64 (~$0.054)/kWh to ₹4.73 (~$0.055)/kWh for Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company’s procurement of 500 MW of interstate transmission system-connected wind-solar hybrid energy. It also approved a trading margin of ₹0.07 (~$0.0008)/kWh. The Solar Energy Corporation of India entered power purchase agreements with four hybrid energy developers for 500 GW of hybrid energy for 25 years.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) issued a tender to procure 2,000 MW/4,000 MWh of battery energy storage systems under the build, own, and operate model. The tender includes a viability gap funding provision of up to ₹1.8 million (~$21,690)/MWh, to be disbursed in three stages: 20% at financial closure, 50% on reaching the commercial operation date (COD), and 30% one year post-COD. The storage systems will be deployed across multiple locations near MSEDCL or the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company substations.

Solar module manufacturer Bluebird Solar announced that it will expand its module manufacturing capacity from 1.2 GW to 2.5 GW at its facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The facility is expected to be operational by October this year. Bluebird Solar said the facility will be equipped with fully automated lines and advanced quality control systems. It will produce Approved List of Models and Manufacturers-compliant products certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards and the International Electrotechnical Commission.

Data center company Nxtra by Airtel signed a new power wheeling agreement with independent power producer AMPIN Energy Transition for the supply of 125.65 MW of solar-wind hybrid energy through interstate transmission system-connected projects. The deal will bring the total contracted green energy capacity between the two companies to over 200 MW. According to Ashish Arora, CEO at Nxtra, the company is now powering its digital infrastructure with over 200 MW of renewable energy in partnership with AMPIN.

U.S.-based power producer NextEra Energy reported a net income of $2.02 billion in the second quarter (Q2) of the financial year (FY) 2025, a 24.98% year-over-year (YoY) increase from $1.62 billion. NextEra’s earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.05, up from $0.96 in Q2 FY 2024. The company exceeded the analysts’ EPS expectations by $0.04. Investment gains drove the 9.4% YoY growth in EPS at subsidiaries NextEra Energy Resources and regulated capital growth at Florida Power and Light.