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

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

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Uttar Pradesh Tenders 110 MW Projects in Two Solar Parks

REC Raises ₹50 Billion Through Five and Ten-Year Bonds


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					</table><p>The MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-adds-14670-mw-solar-module-capacity-under-almm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">updated</a> the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) by adding 14,670 MW of solar module manufacturing capacity. The cumulative module manufacturing capacity reached 88,905 MW after the latest additions. New entries included Websol Energy System, adding 242 MW; Knack Energy, adding 598 MW; Loom Solar, adding 43 MW; and Rayon Illuminations Solar Solutions, adding 62 MW, increasing the total number of module manufacturers to 99.</p>
<p>Santosh Kumar Sarangi, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Odisha cadre, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/santosh-kumar-sarangi-appointed-as-the-new-mnre-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took</a> over as the new Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). He succeeds Nidhi Khare, a 1992-batch IAS officer who had been holding the additional charge of the post since January 2025. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Sarangi’s appointment.</p>
<p>The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/uperc-approves-tariff-for-5-mw-of-bagasse-based-rtc-power-procurement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> NIDP Developers’ request for a tariff of ₹5.95 (~$0.07)/kWh for procuring 5 MW of bagasse-based round-the-clock power between April 1, 2025, and July 31, 2025. Bagasse is a fibrous by-product of crushed sugarcane. The Commission also approved the power purchase agreement for the electricity purchase. Additionally, it allowed the purchase of energy over 5 MW through the power exchange route via a trading license, with a trading margin of ₹0.02 (~$0.0002)/kWh.</p>
<p>The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/damodar-valley-corporation-invites-bids-for-250-mw-500-mwh-bess-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to set up a 250 MW/500 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Maithon, Jharkhand. The project is part of Phase I of DVC’s plan to install a cumulative 500 MW/1,000 MWh BESS projects in Jharkhand and West Bengal. Bids must be submitted by May 21, 2025. Bids will be opened on May 22. The scope of work entails the design, engineering, installation, testing, and commissioning of the BESS project.</p>
<p>GAIL (India), a central public sector undertaking <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gail-invites-bids-for-17-5-mw-floating-solar-project-in-uttar-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> an engineering, procurement, and construction tender for a 17.5 MW (AC) floating solar project at its facility in Pata, Uttar Pradesh. Bids must be submitted by May 21, 2025. Bids will be opened on May 22. The scope of work includes the design, engineering, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning of the floating solar project and the associated power evacuation infrastructure.</p>
<p>Ohms Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/religious-institutions-are-cutting-electricity-costs-with-solar-installations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">completed</a> solar installations with capacities ranging from 20 kW to 1,100 kW across multiple states. It has installed solar projects at the following religious sites, including Chinmaya Mission, Anoopam Mission, Satyanarayan Goenka Bhavan in Maharashtra, and Sri Satya Sai Trust in Telangana.</p>
<p>The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are quickly <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/top-solar-projects-driving-energy-transition-in-the-gcc-countries#:~:text=This%20move%20has%20led%20to,solar%20projects%20in%20the%20GCC." target="_blank" rel="noopener">expanding</a> their renewable energy portfolios, with utility-scale solar projects leading this transformation. As the region’s power generation comprises nearly half of its carbon emissions, GCC governments are shifting considerably towards clean energy. This move has led to the completion of numerous projects, with many more under construction.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: MNRE Expands Solar Module Capacity Under ALMM by 14,670 MW


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					</table><p>Santosh Kumar Sarangi, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Odisha cadre, has taken over as the new Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>).</p>
<p>He succeeds Nidhi Khare, a 1992-batch IAS officer who had been holding the additional charge of the post since January 2025. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Sarangi&#8217;s appointment.</p>
<p>Before this role, Sarangi served as the Director General in the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. His administrative experience includes positions such as district magistrate in three districts of Odisha and leadership roles in departments related to education, tourism, mining, tribal affairs, and science and technology.</p>
<p>At the central level, he was a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from 2013 to 2019. He also served as Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and the Tea Board of India.</p>
<p>More recently, he was the Additional Secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy and concurrently chaired the National Council for Teacher Education.​</p>
<p>Sarangi holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Delhi and a Master&#8217;s in Public Policy from Duke University in North Carolina, USA.</p>
<p>Sarangi took over as MNRE Secretary when the Indian government set an agenda to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030. India added 25.2 GW of solar capacity in the calendar year 2024, a 204% increase compared to the 8.3 GW added in 2023. According to Mercom India&#8217;s latest <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/q4-2024-india-solar-market-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Q4 and Annual 2024 India Solar Market Update Report</a>, this marks the highest annual capacity addition in the country&#8217;s history.</p>
<p>By the end of 2024, India&#8217;s total installed solar capacity stood at 98.7 GW, with large-scale solar projects making up 86% and rooftop solar installations contributing 14%. Solar energy represented over 21% of India&#8217;s total installed power capacity and nearly 47% of the country&#8217;s total renewable capacity.</p>


Santosh Kumar Sarangi Appointed as the New MNRE Secretary


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					</table><p>Prashant Kumar Singh, an IAS officer of the 1993 batch belonging to the Manipur cadre, has taken over as the new Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>).</p>
<p>Singh was previously the director and CEO of Government e-Marketplace (<a href="https://gem.gov.in/aboutus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GeM</a>), a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Over the last few weeks, he served as the Officer on Special Duty in MNRE before taking up charge as Secretary.</p>
<p>He replaces Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, who ended his tenure on September 30, 2024, having served for about two years in the position.</p>
<p>Singh, who holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Delhi and a gold medal in his Master&#8217;s Degree in Public Policy and Sustainable Development from TERI University, New Delhi, served two terms earlier in the government of India in the ministries of Steel, petroleum, and Natural Gas. He also served as the Managing Director of the National Cooperative Consumers&#8217; Federation of India.</p>
<p>He also held various positions in the Manipur government.</p>
<p>Singh has taken over as MNRE Secretary at a time when the government of India has set an ambitious agenda to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030. According to information shared in Parliament, India’s installed renewable energy capacity <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-on-track-to-energy-capacity-by-2030-joshi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">touched</a> 203 GW. As of June 2024, the installed solar capacity had gone up to 85.47 GW and that of wind to 46.65 GW.</p>
<p>The ministry also oversees the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to install rooftop solar systems in 10 million households by 2027-27.</p>
<p>This year&#8217;s budgetary allocation for renewable energy stands at ₹210 billion (~$2.5 billion).</p>
<p>In June 2024, Pralhad Joshi was <a href="https://mercomindia.com/pralhad-joshi-gets-mnre-portfolio-khattar-is-new-minister-of-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appointed</a> Minister of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in the National Democratic Alliance government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>


Prashant Kumar Singh is New MNRE Secretary; Bhalla Retires

<p>In a recent shuffle of top bureaucrats of India, the central government has appointed Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi as the new secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">(MNRE</a>).</p>
<p>According to the order issued by the Appointment Committee of Cabinet, Chaturvedi will replace Anand Kumar, who will now be the secretary of the <a href="http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ministry of Culture</a>.</p>
<p>Chaturvedi is a 1987 batch Jharkhand cadre officer, while Kumar is a Kerala cadre officer (1984 batch). Kumar was appointed as the MNRE secretary in June 2017.</p>
<p>The government has also appointed Tarun Bajaj, the additional secretary of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), as the secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance.</p>
<p>Arvind Kumar Sharma, who was the additional secretary at the PMO, will now take charge as the secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME).</p>
<p>The reshuffle also saw Aramane Giridhar, the additional secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat as the new secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, while Sanjeev Ranjan has been appointed as the new secretary of the Ministry of Shipping.</p>
<p>The Union Cabinet has also appointed Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, who currently holds the post of the special secretary of NITI Aayog as the secretary of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change after the retirement of the present secretary Chandra Kishore Mishra.</p>
<p>The government has appointed Rajesh Verma, who currently holds the portfolio of the special secretary of the Department of Agriculture Cooperation &amp; Farmers Welfare as the new secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.</p>
<p>With the country in the middle of the Coronavirus crisis, hopefully, the change in leadership will not delay the important policy moves needed to navigate these challenging times.</p>
<p>Recently, the former secretary of the MNRE, Anand Kumar, discussed the ongoing coronavirus situation, its impact on the renewable industry, and the government’s plan of action with Mercom in its <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-seci-address-indian-solar-industry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first webinar session</a>. Speaking about the crisis caused by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Kumar had added that he doesn’t expect a slowdown in the renewable energy sector in India. He also spoke about the ministry’s willingness to promote open access and captive projects.</p>
<p>From the installation target of 175 GW of renewable capacity by the end of 2022, India aims to raise its renewable capacity to <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-renewable-capacity-climate-action-summit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">450 GW</a> by 2030.</p>


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