Sprng Energy, AMPIN, Juniper, ReNew, Avaada Win NTPC’s 1 GW Hybrid Auction

Biofuels Firm GPS Renewables Raises $50 Million in Debt Financing

Solar Auctions Surge by 229% in Q1 2024, Tender Activity Up 122%

Global Wind Installations Reached 1 TW Milestone in 2023

Funding and M&A Roundup: Nexamp Secures $520 Million

Project Finance Brief: Arevon Secures $352 Million for Posey Solar Project

Indian Oil Issues Empanelment Tender for Solar Power Projects

Southern Railway Seeks Bids for 1.2 MW Rooftop Solar Projects in Chennai

Husk Secures $4 Million from Electrifi to Scale up Mini Grids in Rural India

Doubling Transmission Capacity of Existing Grid Through Reconductoring: Report


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/amazon_polly_64810.mp3?version=1711720473">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has amended the guidelines for the implementation of the solar power program for particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) habitations/villages under the Prime Minister&#8217;s Jan Shakti Nidhi (PM JANMAN) initiative.</p>
<p>The government had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-solar-program-tribal-areas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the ₹5.15 billion (~$61.9 million) program in January this year, aiming to provide clean and reliable electricity to underserved PVTG communities by installing solar mini-grids.</p>
<p>The amendments seek to enhance the program&#8217;s effectiveness and reach.</p>
<p><strong>Expansion of Electrification Scope</strong></p>
<p>Previously, the program focused solely on providing solar home lighting systems (SHLS) to individual households within PVTG habitations.</p>
<p>However, recognizing the demand for broader electrification and improved access to power, the amended provision now allows for installing solar mini-grids to electrify clusters of households.</p>
<p>Under the amended provision, a solar mini-grid comprising components such as battery banks, distribution lines, metering, and control equipment can now be deployed instead of individual SHLS installations.</p>
<p>Each unelectrified household covered under the mini-grid will receive financial support of up to ₹50,000 (~$600) from MNRE.</p>
<p><strong>Flexibility in Implementation Modes</strong></p>
<p>Another notable amendment pertains to the mode of implementation for solar mini-grid projects. Previously, only the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode was specified for installing mini-grids, with MNRE providing financial support capped at ₹50,000 (~$600) per household.</p>
<p>However, the revised guidelines now introduce flexibility by allowing both Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and RESCO modes for mini-grid deployment.</p>
<p>In both CAPEX and RESCO modes, MNRE will continue to provide the same financial support to households, ensuring equitable access to subsidized solar power solutions.</p>
<p>Additionally, in the CAPEX mode, implementing agencies can secure additional funding, if necessary, from the respective state governments. This amendment offers more options for implementing agencies, enabling them to choose the most suitable approach based on local conditions and resources.</p>
<p>MNRE recently <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/housing-societies-new-rooftop-solar-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that the President of India has approved the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with a budget of ₹750.21 billion (~$9 billion). The ministry also issued a breakdown of central financial assistance for residential houses, group housing societies, and residential welfare associations.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Gautamee Hazarika</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Picture1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Gautamee,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Gautamee.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="gautamee@mercomindia.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gautamee@mercomindia.com</a></p>
</div>
<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Picture1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" rel="noopener">Gautamee</a> is a reporter at Mercom India. Prior to Mercom, Gautamee was working as a multimedia news journalist at ThePrint in New Delhi. She has received her Bachelors in English Honors and Masters in English Literature from St.Stephen&#8217;s College, University of Delhi.<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" rel="noopener">More articles from Gautamee</a></div>
</div></div><div class="clearfix"></div></div></div>

MNRE Allows Solar Mini Grid Installations for Tribal Habitations


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/amazon_polly_59337.mp3?version=1696843964">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p>A residential complex, <a href="https://myhomeconstructions.com/my-home-vihanga/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Home Vihanga</a>, in Hyderabad, has floated a tender to develop a 500-kW grid-connected rooftop solar power project in Gachibowli.</p>
<p>The project will fall under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) rooftop solar grid-connected program facilitated by the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (<a href="https://tsredco.telangana.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TSREDCO</a>).</p>
<p>The last date for the submission of bids is October 15, 2023. Bids will be opened the next day.</p>
<p>My Home Vihanga Welfare Association said the power generated will primarily be used for internal purposes, with any excess power being supplied to the grid.</p>
<p>The scope of the project includes design, manufacture, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning, including ten years of comprehensive operation and maintenance of the project.</p>
<p>The project involves a rooftop solar project utilizing a net-metering system across 20 buildings, comprising ten blocks with 14 floors each, ten blocks with 17 floors each, and a six-floor clubhouse within its gated community.</p>
<p>Bidders must submit a non-refundable payment of ₹10,000 (~$120) as a bid processing fee. They must also furnish ₹500,000 (~$6,006) as an earnest money deposit.</p>
<p>The successful bidder must provide a performance bank guarantee amounting to 10% of the contract value, which should be submitted after receiving the letter of allocation (LoA).</p>
<p>The anticipated completion date for project commissioning will be 90 days from the date of issuing the LoA.</p>
<p>Bidders must have completed the installation and activation of a grid-connected solar project as part of the MNRE program. This project should have a capacity of one system with 200 kW or two systems with 100 kW each.</p>
<p>These installations should have been completed within the two years leading up to the bid opening date. Ideally, these installations should be in a residential complex located in Telangana.</p>
<p>Bidders must have installed and commissioned a combined capacity of at least 1 MW in grid-connected ground-mounted or rooftop solar projects anywhere in India over the past two years.</p>
<p>They should have been actively engaged in the solar power generation industry for a minimum of 5 years.</p>
<p>Bidders should be on the approved list of suppliers for grid-connected rooftop solar systems with a minimum capacity of 500 kW.</p>
<p>They should have an annual turnover of at least ₹30 million (~$360,406) in two of the three financial years immediately preceding the bid deadline.</p>
<p>Many residential complexes across India have turned to rooftop solar to meet their power needs.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, a condominium in Bengaluru went in for its third phase of rooftop solar by <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/apartment-rooftop-solar-success-expands-capacity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inviting</a> bids to install 105 kW of capacity. The apartment complex claims to be saving ₹350,000 (~$4,262) a month on power bills after opting for rooftop solar.</p>
<p>Mercom recently <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/the-residential-rooftop-in-kerala" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> how Kerala achieved an 18% growth in rooftop solar capacity between the second quarter (Q2) of 2022 and Q2 of 2023, with approximately ~276 MW of capacity installed.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of real-time tender activity.</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Gautamee Hazarika</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Picture1.jpg" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Gautamee,</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Gautamee.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="gautamee@mercomindia.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gautamee@mercomindia.com</a></p>
</div>
<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Picture1.jpg" width="102" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" rel="noopener">Gautamee</a> is a reporter at Mercom India. Prior to Mercom, Gautamee was working as a multimedia news journalist at ThePrint in New Delhi. She has received her Bachelors in English Honors and Masters in English Literature from St.Stephen&#8217;s College, University of Delhi.<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/gautamee-hazarika/" rel="noopener">More articles from Gautamee</a></div>
</div></div><div class="clearfix"></div></div></div>

Hyderabad’s Housing Complex Invites Bids for 500 kW Rooftop Solar Project

solar-program

Get the most relevant India solar and clean energy news.

RECENT POSTS