CERC Approves Tariffs for SECI’s 600 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Projects

MNRE Issues Guidelines for Installation of Prototype Wind Turbines 

Rajasthan Issues Draft Intrastate Transmission System Connectivity Regulations

ANERT Invites Proposals for Green Energy Demonstration Projects

Daily News Wrap-Up: Utility Solar Project Costs Up Slightly in Q1 2025

SECI Tenders 2 GW Solar Projects with 4 GWh Energy Storage Systems

Torrent Green Energy Wins SECI’s 600 MW Wind Auction

Power Ministry Proposes Sale, Lease, Renting of Energy Storage Systems

NHPC Issues Tender for 2.5 MW Rooftop Solar Projects in Nagaland

NTPC Raises $750 Million via External Commercial Borrowing


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					</table><p>After living in different cities, Suhas B Shetty’s homecoming was driven by an urge to use local talent to build something of his own.</p>
<p>Shetty decided to use what was abundantly available to set up his business — his grandmother’s homemade organic ice cream recipes. He started small with a manufacturing unit and a store in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, his hometown. “Our first batch sold out in a few days,” said Shetty, the founder of <a href="https://icebergicecreams.in/pages/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iceberg Organic Ice Creams</a>.</p>
<p>Gradually, the company expanded to over 70 outlets nationwide, resulting in increased electricity consumption. “Expanding to around 6,000 liters of ice cream per day meant bigger cold storage facilities, advanced machinery, and very high power bills,” said Shetty.</p>
<p>In 2021, Shetty decided to switch to solar power to reduce his rising electricity bills.</p>
<p>“It was a huge investment initially, but I knew that in the long run, I would be saving more than what I invested,” he said.</p>
<p>His Nellore factory has a 55 kW rooftop solar system, which cost Shetty ₹4.5 million (~$52,561) to install.</p>
<p>“About 80% of our electricity needs are met through the solar system. We have recovered our initial investment and are now saving nearly ₹100,000 (~$1,169) to ₹150,000 (~$1,753) per month,” he said.</p>
<p>Before switching to solar, Shetty’s power bills would amount to ₹350,000 (~$4,089.55) per month. Now, his monthly bill comes to about ₹250,000 (~$2,921).</p>
<p>“The system has 75 panels, which roughly produce 5,000 units of electricity per month. Our installer was Tata Power,” said Shetty.</p>
<p>Shetty added that while procuring electricity from the grid was not an issue, given the limited power cuts, saving on energy bills was a key motivator for him to switch to solar.</p>
<p>“Apart from savings, I wanted to make my operations more eco-friendly. The ice cream we make is a testament to our belief in living in harmony with nature. We also have a waste treatment plant to cut our carbon footprint.”</p>
<p>Many industries have been switching to solar energy to generate clean power and reduce their electricity bills.</p>
<p>In the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, the industrial and commercial segments <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-adds-1-2-gw-of-rooftop-solar-capacity-in-q1-2025-a-232-yoy-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accounted</a> for over 22% of the rooftop solar installations in India. India added 1.2 GW of rooftop solar capacity during the quarter, up 232% year-over-year from 366.5 MW, according to Mercom India Research’s Rooftop Solar Market Report.</p>
<p>Mercom India hosts <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India C&amp;I Clean Energy Meets</a> across the country to help consumers wanting to make a green switch to network with clean energy solution providers.</p>
<p>The next event in the series will be <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-coimbatore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">held</a> in Coimbatore on June 13, 2025.</p>


Nellore Ice Cream Factory Switches to Solar, Saves ₹150,000 Per Month


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					</table><p>The Commercial and Industrial (C&amp;I) sector can get a 20-25% return on investment (RoI) by investing in rooftop solar.</p>
<p>At the recent <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-mumbai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet</a> hosted by Mercom India in Mumbai, leading open access and rooftop solar developers shed light on the financial savings from shifting to solar.</p>
<p>Representatives from Kalpa Power, Adani Solar, and Soleos Solar Energy participated in the discussion.</p>
<p><strong>Savings</strong></p>
<p>Rounak Muthiyan, Managing Director of <a href="https://kalpapower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kalpa Power</a>, stated that customers must choose between rooftop or open access based on the quantum of savings and charges they are willing to pay.</p>
<p>“In rooftop solar, consumers can replace not more than 55% of energy consumption, and in open-access, they can stretch that to 75-80%. Solar energy allows consumers to offset in real-time when the generation happens. In open access, they can bank the power and compensate it in a particular period. As per the current policy, consumers can offset renewable energy for 20 hours a day in open access, and with rooftop solar, they can get 12-16 hours a day to offset. Under open access, consumers will have to pay a tariff for using the state electricity grid estimated at ₹1 (~$0.011)/kWh-₹4 (~$0.046)/kWh,” said Muthiyan.</p>
<p>He added that every listed company in the U.S. or exporting to the country must submit carbon avoidance plans to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Securities and Exchange Board of India. “Suppliers in developed countries are mandated to set down their scope avoidance plans. Banks have a balance sheet reduction of sustainable behaviors, which mandates all financial institutions to lend to renewables,” added Muthiyan.</p>
<p>Additionally, under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, companies can benefit from a 40% accelerated depreciation and an additional 20% on projects and machinery for micro, small, and medium enterprises. The solar asset’s book value with a project life of ten years can be written off to zero in three to three and a half years.</p>
<p>Experts pointed out that the electricity tariffs for commercial units ranged between ₹14 (~$0.16)/kWh and ₹22 (~$0.25)/kWh, and for industries it was in the ₹9 (~$0.105)/kWh to ₹12 (~$0.14)/kWh range.</p>
<p>With rooftop solar, consumers can save up to six times compared to the grid tariff. This means, against the DISCOM tariff of ₹10 (~$0.117)/kWh, they can avail solar power between ₹1.5 (~$0.017)/kWh and ₹2 (~$0.023)/kWh. Open-access consumers can buy solar power at around ₹4 (~$0.046)/kWh, resulting in 60% savings.</p>
<p>Experts said that customers are looking for payback between two and a half to four years, and solar energy can provide an assured return of 20%.</p>
<p>Animesh Jain, Regional Head- West, <a href="https://www.adanisolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adani Solar</a>, said, “The C&amp;I sector is aiming to achieve 7.5 GW rooftop solar installations by the end of this year. There are multiple forces driving this, but a 20-25% ROI per year makes for an attractive solution.”</p>
<p><strong>Growing Demand for Solar</strong></p>
<p>Experts said the demand for open access is increasing in the C&amp;I sector.</p>
<p>Bhavesh Kumar Rathod, Founder and Director of <a href="https://www.soleosenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soleos Solar Energy</a>, said that with a major policy push, increasing electricity costs, and decreasing costs of solar projects, the demand for solar power from C&amp;I consumers is expected to surge.</p>
<p>Rathod said the demand also comes from companies intending to go green and export-oriented companies who must meet 100% ESG goals.</p>
<p>“India is tripling its solar capacity and will be able to reach five times the capacity within five years,” he said.</p>
<p>Experts said there is sufficient demand for solar capacity additions from existing and strong demand from new consumers. However, consumers are holding back due to a lack of policy clarity on rooftop solar and open-access projects.</p>
<p>At the C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet hosted by Mercom in Chennai on March 7, 2025, industry experts from leading financial institutions also <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/attractive-financing-options-rooftop-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discussed</a> multiple lending options, loan structures, and interest rates available for businesses investing in solar energy.</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-2025-pune" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pune</a> on May 16, 2025.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/lead-generation-form" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact us</a> if you plan to install solar and need guidance or vendor recommendations.</p>


Commercial and Industrial Businesses Can Earn 20-25% ROI by Switching to Solar


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					</table><div>Here are some noteworthy cleantech developments from around the world</div>
<p><a href="https://ampenergyindia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amp Energy India</strong></a><strong> has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 200 MW wind-solar hybrid project with Solar Energy Corporation of India (<a href="https://www.seci.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SECI</a>) under Hybrid Tranche-V.</strong> With the signing of the PPA, the company’s hybrid portfolio now accounts for roughly 600 MW. Amp Energy has a 1 GW+ portfolio of diversified utility-scale projects in solar, hybrid, and floating solar, catering to utility customers on a large scale to help fulfill their renewable purchase obligations.</p>
<p><strong>Renewable energy developer Oriano has </strong><a href="https://www.businesswireindia.com/oriano-commissions-40-mw-captive-solar-power-project-in-jharkhand-and-bihar-for-ms-shree-cement-limited-82525.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>commissioned</strong></a><strong> 40 MW solar power projects for Shree Cement. </strong> A 30 MW project, split into two projects of 15 MW each is located at Banka, Bihar, and was recently commissioned in January 2023. In July 2022, another project of 10 MW located at Seraikela Kharsawan, Jharkhand was commissioned. Oriano executed the projects with the turnkey scope of design, engineering, supply of balance of plant equipment, erection, commissioning, testing, and O&amp;M. Shree Cement supplied the modules and will be responsible for the evacuation of power. The projects are captive power plants of Shree Cement constructed at 11 kV and 33 kV evacuation levels and have the provision of an automatic robotic cleaning system.</p>
<p><strong>NTPC Renewable Energy (NTPC REL) <a href="https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/448d855e-be58-4306-8e76-8ddb7a2077e6.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the </strong><strong>Government of Tripura for the development of floating and ground-mounted renewable energy</strong> projects in the state. The MoU is expected to accelerate the development of renewable energy projects and help the state government meet its clean energy commitments and obligations.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sunsure-energy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sunsure Energy</strong></a><strong> announced the commissioning of its 15 MW open access solar power project in Uttar Pradesh. </strong>The project is expected to provide some of the state’s largest corporations with approximately 23.5 million units of green energy annually at low cost. The company said this would enable savings of over 30% on power expenses. The project is also expected to displace roughly 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The project built using 470 Wp modules and string inverters, is spread across 54 acres and will inject power at the 132/33 kV Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation substation in Kabrai through a 33kV connection.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.citroen.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citroen India</strong></a><strong> has signed a strategic electric vehicle (EV) charging partnership with Jio-bp, a fuel, and mobility joint venture between Reliance Industries and bp. </strong>Under the partnership, Jio-bp will install DC fast chargers across Citroën’s key dealership network and workshops across the country in phases. The partnership will also ensure Jio-bp’s charging infrastructure network is accessible via the My Citroën Connect app. The entire range of Jio-bp pulse offerings can be accessed via its mobile app which helps customers easily locate EV charging stations in their vicinity, and facilitates digital payments.</p>
<p><strong>Ørsted, a Denmark-based renewable energy developer, <a href="https://orsted.com/en/media/newsroom/news/2023/01/20230113618011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it will start the construction of its 471 MW Mockingbird Solar Center in Texas.</strong> The project will cover an area of 4,900 acres and is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power more than 80,000 homes annually, making it the largest solar PV project in Ørsted’s portfolio to date. The completion of the project is expected in 2024.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Amp Energy Signs PPA for 200 MW Hybrid Project with SECI


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					</table><p>The benefits to businesses from adopting solar are so overwhelming that it defies logic for any entity to be in doubt about it. The saving alone can be as high as 30% of the power costs. The recovery of the investment can take a maximum of eight years but usually hovers around five years in most cases.</p>
<p>After the investment is recovered, the solar installations will yield benefits for nearly two decades more – free of cost.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-46941 " src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill.jpg" alt="electricity bill" width="872" height="439" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill.jpg 1430w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill-300x151.jpg 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill-768x387.jpg 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill-650x327.jpg 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill-624x314.jpg 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/electricity-bill-600x302.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px" /></a></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Source: Industry </em></p>
<p><em>Fig: For a 100 kW rooftop solar installation assuming an average generation of 1,400 units per kW and 160,000 units per year. Retail tariff is considered as ₹7.2 (~$0.09)/kWh, with an increase of 4% each year until the 25<sup>th</sup> year.</em></p>
<p>Mercom India analyzed some of the projects executed by a prominent developer across the country for a varied clientele which includes a large textile company and a small spices company. However, the extent of savings on a solar system makes perfect business sense for different types of businesses operating in various geographies.</p>
<p><strong>A large textile company</strong></p>
<p>The company had been incurring ₹37.5 million (~$452,013) per month in energy costs with a grid tariff at about ₹7.5 (~$0.09)/kWh. It decided to install 16.85 MW of solar capacity, split between rooftop and ground-mounted systems.</p>
<p>The company immediately started saving nearly 35% on power costs amounting to nearly ₹13 million (~$156,693) per month.</p>
<p>Given that the capital expenditure for a 1 MW rooftop solar installation is roughly ₹40 million (~$482,047), the company is estimated to have spent ₹674 million (~$8 million) on the infrastructure.</p>
<p>The upside is that it could recover the entire investment in a little over four years based on its monthly savings.</p>
<p>In other details, the annual power requirement for the company is 60-70 million units (kWh), including a seasonal spike in demand.</p>
<p>With rooftop solar installations, the textile company started producing 56,000 units per day, which helped it substitute nearly 20 million units of grid power with solar energy annually. This accounts for nearly a third of its energy needs.</p>
<p>For the installation of the solar systems, the company made available 35,000 square feet of rooftop area and 28 acres for ground-mounted systems.</p>
<p>This enabled the developers to install 4.45 MW rooftop solar and 12.4 MW capacity as on-site ground-mounted installation.</p>
<p><strong>A small manufacturer and supplier of spices</strong></p>
<p>The Pune-based company has an annual requirement of 280,000 units which costs ₹150,000 (~$1,811) per month in energy bills at a tariff of ₹6.4 (~$0.08)/kWh.</p>
<p>The company adopted a 65 kW onsite rooftop solar installation to generate 90,000 units per year, thus replacing about 32% of the energy demand being procured from the grid earlier.</p>
<p>The saving on each solar unit generated was nearly 30%.</p>
<p>The investment in a 65 kW plant is estimated to be around ₹2.6 million (~$31,400). The annual solar energy generation saves the company nearly ₹576,000 (~$6,956) a year, and the investment recovery period is just 4.5 years.</p>
<p>Additionally, the business could also claim <a href="https://mercomindia.com/rooftop-solar-for-ci-sector-can-earn-roi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accelerated depreciation</a> benefits of ₹640,000 (~$7,729) in three years. It allows the owner to declare a portion of installation costs as expenses that help save taxes.</p>
<p><strong>A cotton ginning company</strong></p>
<p>The Madhya Pradesh-based business has an annual power requirement of 1.08 million units with flat demand and a monthly average energy bill of over ₹400,000 (~$4,830) before deploying the solar system.</p>
<p>The firm installed a 250 kW on-site rooftop which started generating 360,000 units per year.</p>
<p>The saving was close to 30% on each solar unit generated. The cost of power for a manufacturing industry is typically 30%, which means a rooftop solar system can immediately start making a positive difference in a manufacturer’s earnings.</p>
<p>The cost of the installation is about ₹10 million (~$120,770), and the energy savings are estimated to be about ₹1.6 million (~$19,323) annually. The recovery of investment would take just over six years.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://mercomindia.com/emi-rooftop-solar-savings-on-power-costs-tata-power/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">savings</a> from the rooftop solar system easily pay for the monthly installments on loans secured for installations. This allows businesses to pay for the asset without incurring any additional expenses from before the installation.</p>
<p>Moreover, the solar system is effectively free for the owners after four-eight years of loan payment.</p>
<p>Mercom India <a href="https://mercomindia.com/event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">holds</a> regular C&amp;I Clean Energy Meets at prominent industrial centers across the country to raise awareness about the benefits of going solar for businesses, especially the MSMEs. To attend, write to us at <a href="mailto:events@mercomindia.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">events@mercomindia.com</a>.</p>


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