India’s ambitious bid to lead the global renewable energy transition is running into a significant obstacle: a shortage of skilled workers. Industry leaders say this talent gap is driving up costs, delaying projects, and reducing productivity. Without urgent intervention, the shortfall could undermine the country’s clean energy targets and global climate commitments. A senior executive at a major Indian cell manufacturer said the current situation needs an immediate solution.

Corporate funding for energy storage companies fell sharply in the first half (1H) of 2025 to $9.1 billion across 55 deals, according to Mercom Capital Group’s 1H and Q2 2025 Funding and M&A Report for Energy Storage. This represents a 41% year-over-year (YoY) decline from $15.4 billion, resulting from 64 deals, in the same period of 2024. The downturn was attributed to the uncertainty surrounding multiple policy and tariff changes in the U.S., including proposed cuts to the Investment Tax Credit and several provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025 held in New Delhi on July 24 and 25, 2025, Simarpreet Singh, CEO and Director at Hartek Group, spoke about the challenges faced by engineering, procurement, and construction players, such as transmission infrastructure shortage and supply chain issues. While the renewable energy sector continues to gain momentum in the country, it has also exposed the gap in the skilled workforce required to execute projects with expertise.

Faced with rising electricity costs and a commitment to sustainable manufacturing, Prakasa Spectro Cast transitioned from grid power to installing a 750 kW shed-mounted solar system at its facility in Enikepadu, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, to fully embrace a green energy initiative. High power bills from running energy-intensive foundry operations made renewable energy not just an environmental choice, but a strategic financial decision as well.

In an interview on the sidelines of the  Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025 held in New Delhi on July 24 and 25, 2025, Deepak Ushadevi, MD and CEO at Ciel et Terre Solar, noted that floating solar is set to become a major driver of India’s renewable energy growth and not just a niche segment offering key advantages over ground-mount systems, such as no land acquisition issues, faster scalability, and higher generation.

In an interview at the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025, Debmalya Sen, President of the India Energy Storage Alliance, provided in-depth insights into the evolving dynamics of India’s energy storage sector. Sen discussed recent trends in battery auction pricing and noted that although prices have dropped, further declines are unlikely due to stabilized lithium and metal costs, reduced viability gap funding, and changing policy incentives. He shared perspectives on policy mandates, such as the government’s advisory for storage integration in solar tenders.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) clarified that government solar projects under net metering, behind-the-meter, and open access mechanisms are exempt from using cells under List-II of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) if the bid submission deadlines fall on or before the cutoff date of August 31, 2025. Such projects must only comply with the ALMM List-I mandate for modules.

MNRE issued the second call for proposals (CfP) under the program for “Funding of testing facilities, infrastructure, and institutional support for development of standards and regulatory framework” as part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The proposals must be submitted by September 10, 2025. The first CfP was issued last August. The second CfP invites eligible government organizations, including testing agencies, research and development institutes, academic institutions, public sector undertakings, and autonomous bodies, to set up or upgrade hydrogen testing and certification facilities in India.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries modified the incentives for electric three-wheelers (e-3W) under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement program. The incentives have been modified for two segments. For the first segment (registered e-rickshaws and e-carts), the Ministry reduced the incentives to ₹2,500 (~$28.56)/kWh, capped at ₹12,500 (~$142.79) per vehicle for the financial year (FY) 2026, from ₹5,000 (~$57.12)/kWh, capped at ₹25,000 (~$285.59) per vehicle for FY 2025. Incentives for the second segment (e-3W registered under L5 category) have been reduced to ₹2,500 (~$28.56)/kWh, capped at ₹25,000 (~$285.59) per vehicle for those registered on the government’s Vahan portal from November 8, 2024, to March 31, 2026. The number of such vehicles supported under the program during this period has been increased to 208,263.

The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission issued clarifications to Andhra Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation (APTRANSCO) on the applicability and implementation of its “Regulation on Power Evacuation from Captive Generation, Cogeneration and Renewable Energy Source Power Plants.” The order addressed three specific queries raised by APTRANSCO on whether the regulation applies to non-renewable captive generation and cogeneration, the ownership and maintenance of certain transmission assets, and the applicability of Clause 16(2) on operation and maintenance responsibilities.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India canceled two major offshore wind energy tenders totaling 4.5 GW due to a lack of developer interest. The first tender, floated in February 2024 on behalf of the National Institute of Wind Energy, aimed to allocate seabed lease rights for 4 GW of offshore wind power projects on a build-own-operate basis. The second, issued in September 2024, sought developers for 500 MW of inter-state transmission system-connected offshore wind power projects. MNRE had announced a ₹74.53 billion (~$852.31 million) viability gap funding program for 1 GW offshore wind projects.

Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam issued four requests for price bids for grid-connected solar projects with a total capacity of 354 MW under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan – Component A. Bids must be submitted by August 14, 2025. Bids will be opened on August 18. The projects will be developed with associated 33 kV or 11 kV lines to connect to identified 33/11 kV substations and Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS). The scope of work includes the design, survey, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and 25-year operation and maintenance, along with associated transmission lines and RMS installation.

Renewable energy independent power producer ACME Solar Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary, ACME Hybrid Urja, secured long-term project financing of ₹31.84 billion (~$363.72 million) from REC to develop a 280 MW firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) project. This project has been contracted with NHPC. REC will be the sole lender, providing long-term financing for 18 years. It has financed two other ACME Solar FDRE projects with a cumulative capacity of 570 MW earlier this year. ACME Hybrid Urja signed a power purchase agreement of 25 years with NHPC at a tariff of ₹4.46 (~$0.051)/kWh.

Independent renewable energy producer, Juniper Green Energy, secured ₹17.39 billion (~$198.4 million) in debt financing from the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. The funds will be utilized to execute the company’s large-scale renewable energy projects and strengthen its operational capacity. In February 2025, Juniper had raised $1 billion in debt from Power Finance Corporation, DBS Bank, HSBC Bank, and IREDA. The funding was intended to support its wind-solar hybrid and firm and dispatchable renewable energy projects.

Vodafone Idea entered into a power purchase agreement with Aditya Birla Renewables SPV 3 to procure power from an upcoming 4 MW captive solar power project in Maharashtra. The company also inked a share purchase agreement to acquire 26% paid-up equity share capital by investing ₹15.6 million (~$177,969) in one or more tranches in the next six months. Aditya Birla Renewables SPV 3 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aditya Birla Renewables formed on November 21, 2024, to commission and operate wind and solar projects. It is currently setting up a captive solar project in Maharashtra.