Telangana Approves Procurement of 4 GW Solar Power Under PM-KUSUM

Multi Infrastructure & Engineering Wins SECI’s 4.12 MW Solar Auction

Daily News Wrap-Up: UPNEDA Invites Bids to Set Up 110 MW Solar Projects

Funding and M&A Roundup: Exowatt Closes $70 Million Series A Funding

Project Finance Brief: Zelestra Secures $113 Million for 81 MW Solar Project

Tata Power-D Invites Bids for 250 MW Renewable Energy with Storage

SECI Invites Bids for 260 MW Module Supply for Project in Madhya Pradesh

Government Issues Green Hydrogen Certification Program

ALTÉRRA to Invest $100 Million in Evren

Uttar Pradesh Tenders 110 MW Projects in Two Solar Parks


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					</table><p>As India’s power grid <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/battery-energy-storage-key-to-indias-renewable-energy-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener">becomes</a> increasingly complex due to rising renewable energy penetration, the need for a stable grid has never been more pressing. With the growing share of variable solar and wind power in the energy mix, battery energy storage systems are emerging as a critical enabler, helping bridge the gap between generation and consumption while maintaining grid balance.</p>
<p>Energy banking enables renewable energy developers to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/energy-banking-policies-in-the-top-states-for-solar-open-access-in-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inject</a> surplus power into the grid for withdrawal during periods when needed, thereby optimizing energy utilization. This mechanism ensures flexible energy management for developers and generates additional revenue for DISCOMs through associated banking charges.</p>
<p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-revises-draft-guidelines-for-installation-of-prototype-wind-turbines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> revised draft guidelines setting the validity of the prototype certificate for wind turbine at three years. The draft guidelines include a framework for installing prototype wind turbine models. They will apply to all wind turbine manufacturers in India and will be implemented by the National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai.</p>
<p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-mandates-generating-dcr-certificate-number-in-pm-surya-ghar-portal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mandated</a> generating and inputting the 16-digit Domestic Content Requirement certificate number on the PM Surya Ghar portal to prevent duplicate module serial number issues. Vendors will no longer be allowed to enter the serial numbers manually, and the integrated DCR and PM Surya Ghar portal will auto-generate the module serial numbers. The process will likely remove any possibility of inadvertent errors while entering module serial numbers and remove chances of duplicate serial number issues.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Power (MoP) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/power-ministry-launches-resource-adequacy-model-stellar-for-discoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> an indigenously developed resource adequacy model STELLAR, enabling distribution companies to manage their power resources effectively. The MoP will distribute this software model to all the states/DISCOMs free of cost. The tool was launched in collaboration with the Central Electricity Authority, The Lantau Group, and the Asian Development Bank under the technical assistance program.</p>
<p>The Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/odisha-regulator-retains-existing-power-tariffs-for-fy-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">determined</a> the aggregate revenue requirement, wheeling tariff, and retail supply tariff for the financial year 2025-26, retaining the existing tariff structure across all consumer categories. The order applies to the four private distribution companies in Odisha- TP Central Odisha Distribution, TP Northern Odisha Distribution, TP Western Odisha Distribution, and TP Southern Odisha Distribution.</p>
<p>The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/merc-rules-wheeling-charges-wont-apply-if-discom-does-not-transmit-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directed</a> the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) not to levy wheeling charges and losses on solar open access consumers not using the distribution company’s distribution system or end-to-end dedicated transmission lines. It said MSEDCL must adjust the wheeling losses in the solar project developers’ next billing cycle.</p>
<p>The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/uerc-approves-additional-surcharge-of-%E2%82%B91-14-kwh-for-open-access-consumers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> Uttarakhand Power Corporation’s additional surcharge of ₹1.14 (~$0.013)/kWh for open access power consumers. The additional surcharge will be effective between April 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. The petitioner, UPCL, approached the Commission to approve levying an additional surcharge of ₹1.2 (~$0.013)/kWh from April 2025 to September 2025.</p>
<p>The Maharashtra Energy Development Agency <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/maharashtra-floats-tenders-for-1-4-mw-solar-projects-in-four-districts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for a cumulative capacity of 1.4 MW grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar projects. The projects span the Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Nagpur districts. The scope of work includes the survey, design, fabrication, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the grid-connected solar projects. A 5-year comprehensive maintenance contract is also a standard requirement for the successful bidders.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: BESS Key to India’s Renewable Energy Future


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.kintechsynergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kintech Synergy</a>, <a href="https://www.hginfra.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">H.G Infra Engineering</a>, Bhilwara Energy (<a href="https://www.lnjbhilwara.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LNJ Bhilwara Group</a>) and <a href="https://advaitgroup.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Advait Infratech</a> have won Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam’s (<a href="https://www.guvnl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GUVNL</a>) Phase IV standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) auction.</p>
<p>The project was awarded following the introduction of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support and an increase in capacity to 500 MW/1000 MWh.</p>
<p>The initial tender was <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gujarat-invites-bids-for-400-mw-800-mwh-standalone-bess/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> for 400 MW/800 MWh with a greenshoe option of 400 MW/800 MWh. It was <a href="https://mercomindia.com/guvnl-battery-storage-tender-vgf/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amended</a> in October 2024.</p>
<p>H.G Infra Engineering secured 250 MW with a quoted tariff of ₹225,985 (~$2670.59)/ MW per month</p>
<p>Kintech Synergy and Bhilwara Energy secured 100 MW each at a tariff of ₹225,985 (~$2670.59)/ MW per month and ₹225,993 (~$2670.68)/ MW per month respectively.</p>
<p>Advait Infratech secured 50 MW at a tariff of ₹226,000 (~$2670.76)/ MW per month.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-73242 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TABLE.png" alt="" width="795" height="301" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TABLE.png 795w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TABLE-300x114.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TABLE-768x291.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TABLE-650x246.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TABLE-624x236.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TABLE-600x227.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 795px) 100vw, 795px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Under the revised tender, VGF is capped at ₹2.7 million (~$32,114)/MWh or 30% of the project’s capital cost, whichever is lower. Developers must submit a statutory auditor-certified certificate verifying the capital cost for the allocated project capacity within six months of the Commercial Operation Date (COD).</p>
<p>The VGF will be granted under the state component and allocated separately for each project based on the capacity outlined in the Battery Energy Storage Project Agreement (BESPA).</p>
<p>Disbursements will be milestone-based, divided into five tranches:</p>
<ul>
<li>10% at financial closure, upon submission of a bank guarantee</li>
<li>45% at COD</li>
<li>15% at the end of the first year after COD</li>
<li>15% at the end of the second year</li>
<li>15% at the end of the third year</li>
</ul>
<p>Each milestone must be certified by the Central Electricity Authority before GUVNL releases funds, which will only occur after receiving them from the Government of India and the developer providing a bank guarantee of ₹1.25 million (~$14,867)/MW/project.</p>
<p>If the developer fails to commission the project on time,  GUVNL can recover the disbursed VGF with interest at SBI-MCLR (1 Year) plus 5% from the disbursement date. For reduced capacity, recovery will be proportional.</p>
<p>If the BESPA is terminated within three years post-COD due to developer-related issues, GUVNL can recover pre-COD VGF disbursements with interest. In case of project transfer or sale, the new owner must issue a fresh bank guarantee.</p>
<p>Recently, the GUVNL had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/guvnl-issues-tender-to-procure-500-mw-of-solar-power-with-greenshoe-option" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to purchase power from 500 MW of grid-connected solar power projects (Phase XXV), with a greenshoe option of an additional 500 MW.</p>
<p>In June 2024, Gensol Engineering <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gensol-guvnl-500-mwh-bess-auction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> GUVNL’s auction to set up pilot projects of 250 MW/500 MWh standalone BESS in Gujarat under tariff-based global competitive bidding (Phase III).</p>


Kintech, H.G Infra, Bhilwara and Advait Win GUVNL’s 500 MW/1000 MWh BESS Auction


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					</table><p>Commercial and industrial (C&amp;I) consumers benefit significantly from sourcing renewable energy through open access arrangements. In addition to an assurance of reliable power supply and savings on energy costs, they can also make their operations more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of New and Renewable Energy</a>&#8216;s green energy open access regulations have significantly boosted India&#8217;s solar open access market. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, India achieved 1.8 GW of solar open access capacity, marking a 152% year-over-year increase in installations, according to the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/q1-2024-mercom-india-solar-open-access-market-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Q1 2024 Mercom India Solar Open Access Market Report</a>.</p>
<p>At Mercom India&#8217;s recent C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet in Coimbatore, Santhosh T, Senior Manager-BD, <a href="https://sunsure-energy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunsure</a>, highlighted three key aspects that C&amp;I consumers must consider before opting for solar open access: regulatory alignment, business needs, and a streamlined process facilitated by a renewable energy developer.</p>
<p>Since open access is heavily regulated, consumers must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria in terms of capacity. Consumers are eligible for open access if they have a capacity of 1 MW and above. However, with the introduction of green energy open access regulations, this minimum requirement has been reduced from 1 MW to 100 kW.</p>
<p>Santhosh referred to additional considerations, such as the prerequisites set by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, the need for an availability-based tariff (ABT) meter, and connections to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) and Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO). Moreover, verifying whether any ongoing judicial proceedings might affect the process is important.</p>
<p>Businesses must understand their energy needs. While rooftop solar typically displaces 15%- 20% of an industrial unit&#8217;s consumption, open access can cover 20-60%, depending on the state. In Tamil Nadu, this can extend up to 60%.</p>
<p>Companies must navigate open access regulations, manage the request for proposal (RfP) process, and structure long-term contracts that may last up to 25 years.</p>
<p>Santhosh pointed out that the market potential for C&amp;I open access over the next eight years is projected to reach 80 GW. This represents a significant opportunity for developers, whether through inter-state or intra-state connections, though managing supply constraints remains a challenge.</p>
<p>Addressing the advancements in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Jefry Sahayam, BDM &#8211; South India (DG), <a href="https://www.jinkosolar.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jinko Solar</a> emphasized the importance of enhancing the productivity of existing systems. He noted that batteries have become a cost-effective alternative to diesel generators, offering consumers a reasonable return on investment. &#8220;With a payback period now reduced to 7-8 years, the challenge remains the 25% peak charges. BESS will become even more viable as prices continue to fall, attracting increased investment.&#8221;</p>
<p>For industries such as data centers, where minimizing power disruptions is critical, Sahayam highlighted the adoption of lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) batteries in solar systems with BESS. These batteries help ensure a smooth transition during power cuts. He also mentioned that industries are increasingly shifting from diesel generators to BESS to reduce carbon emissions.</p>
<p>BESS installation costs have dropped significantly this year. Manufacturers are optimistic that further price reductions will attract more customers as the payback period is shortened.</p>
<p>The next Mercom India C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet event will be held in <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2024-pune" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pune</a> on September 20, 2024. You can register <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2024-pune/contact" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="mailto:sales@mercomindia.com?subject=Seeking%20Solar%20Installation%20Guidance%20and%20Vendor%20Recommendations%20for%20Business" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact us</a> if you plan to install solar and need guidance or vendor recommendations.</p>


What C&I Units Should Know Before Choosing Open Access Solar

<p>Amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (<a href="https://seci.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SECI</a>) has extended the bid submission deadline for its tender for 14 MW of solar projects with 42 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at Leh and Kargil. The project will be developed under the Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP).</p>
<p>The date for the submission of bids has now been extended from April 16, 2020, to June 1, 2020. In February 2020, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-isues-tender-solar-with-42-mwh-battery-storage-leh-kargil/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercom</a> reported that the last date for the submission of bids was March 16, 2020, and the pre-bid meeting was scheduled to be held on February 17, 2020.</p>
<p>In its notification, SECI said, “It’s evident that the global outbreak of the pandemic Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, has significantly hampered the functioning of all sectors including institutions, commercial establishments, offices and various manufacturing units are also at a standstill. India is phasing through this crucial time, having a complete lockdown of all the states and union territories (UTs) until April 14, 2020. In such a situation, the site visit for the subject RfS has already been postponed for an indefinite period.”</p>
<p>SECI had initially <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-tenders-14-mw-solar-42-mw-bess/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued an NIT</a> for the tender in March 2019.</p>
<p>The projects should be developed on a build-own-operate basis, and the selected project will be given a viability gap funding (VGF) in line with the terms and conditions of this RfS. The upper limit for the VGF to be quoted by a bidder has been kept at ₹130 million ($1.81 million) for 1 MW solar project with a battery storage of 3 MWh.</p>
<p>SECI will release 50% of the VGF after the supply of the equipment at the project site, and the remaining 50% will be released after the successful commissioning of the project.</p>
<p>The tariff to be paid to the successful solar power developer (SPD) by the buying entity has been set as ₹2.00 ($0.028)/kWh at the interconnection point, which will remain flat for the entire period of the PPA.</p>
<p>The projects should be developed on a build-own-operate basis, and the selected project will be given a viability gap funding (VGF) in line with the terms and conditions of this RfS. The upper limit for the VGF to be quoted by a bidder has been kept at ₹130 million ($1.81 million) for 1 MW solar project with a battery storage of 3 MWh. SECI will release 50% of the VGF after the supply of the equipment at the project site, and the remaining 50% will be released after the successful commissioning of the project.</p>
<p>The land for setting up the solar projects with battery storage will be facilitated and made available to the developer by the Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA) and Kargil Renewable Energy Development Agency (KREDA) separately. The LREDA &amp; KREDA will also provide the required land for the establishment of a substation.  The declared annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) should not be less than 17%.</p>
<p>Owing to the 21-day nationwide lockdown, the government has announced several changes and deviations in the existing policies, including the ones related to renewable energy. Track the latest developments and initiatives taken by the government to fight the economic repercussions of the pandemic in the renewable industry <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mercom-coronavirus-live-updates-clean-energy-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Image credit: Energiaastatcon / CC BY-<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SA</a></p>


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