Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulator Issues Draft Amendment to RPO Rules

RECPDCL Tenders 765 kV Intrastate Transmission Project in Maharashtra

Kshema Power Bags Transmission Project for Oyster’s 350 MW Wind-Solar Project

Krishna Milk Union to Halve Energy Bills with 650 kW Rooftop Solar System

Energy Efficiency Solutions Firm Smart Joules Raises $10 Million

NLC India Secures $100 Million Green Loan from Sumitomo Mitsui

SJVN Invites Bids to Set Up 2 GW ESS Capacity from Pumped Storage Projects

Andhra Pradesh Issues EPC Tender for 233 MW Rooftop Solar Projects

Daily News Wrap-Up: Regulatory Changes Hit Maharashtra Solar Open Access

Solar accounted for 40% of Job Additions in the Power Sector in 2024: IEA


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					</table><p>Solar solutions company <a href="https://onixsolarenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Onix Solar Energy</a>, a subsidiary of <a href="https://onixrenewable.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Onix Renewable</a>, has received an order worth ₹1.48 billion (~$16.54 million), from <a href="https://www.vikrangroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vikran Engineering</a> to supply 193,550 of 620 Wp non-Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) TOPCon solar modules.</p>
<p>Onix Solar will execute the order within three months of the receipt of the date of manufacturing clearance from Vikran Engineering.</p>
<p>In June this year, Onix Renewable <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/onix-renewable-makes-open-offers-in-onix-solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offered</a> ₹264 (~$3) per share to acquire 1.6 million equity shares of Onix Solar Energy for approximately ₹429 million (~$5 million).</p>
<p>Onix Renewable has delivered over 500 MW of projects, including wind, solar, storage, and hybrid systems. The company currently has a solar module capacity of 100 MW.</p>
<p>Many developers are <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-added-2-8-gw-of-rooftop-solar-capacity-in-1h-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opting</a> for non-DCR components, stating that they will need the same amount of investment, or sometimes, even less, when compared to DCR modules.</p>
<p>As of May 2025, solar installers <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/urgent-measures-dcr-module-shortage-slows-surya-ghar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that DCR modules carry a premium of up to ₹12 (~$0.14) per watt over non-DCR modules. Many choose to proceed with non-DCR systems instead, accepting the loss of subsidy in exchange for quicker installations.</p>
<p>The average system cost of large-scale solar projects <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/q3-2025-sees-cost-drop-in-large-scale-solar-systems-across-module-types" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remained</a> low in the third quarter of 2025, with cost reductions seen across all module technologies. Projects equipped with mono PERC DCR modules required roughly 24% more capital than those using non-DCR mono PERC modules.</p>
<p>In March this year, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-updates-domestic-content-norms-for-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> the updated DCR norms for solar cells.</p>
<p>According to the revised guidelines, a solar cell based on crystalline-silicon technology will be considered domestically manufactured only if produced in India using an undiffused silicon wafer, commonly known as a black wafer. These wafers fall under Customs Tariff Head 3818, and all manufacturing processes used to convert them into solar cells must be carried out in India.</p>
<p>However, cells manufactured in India from an imported diffused silicon wafer, commonly called a blue wafer, will not qualify as domestically manufactured under MNRE programs.</p>


Onix Secures Order for 620 Wp TOPCon Modules from Vikran Engineering


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					</table><p>Mercom India’s flagship Renewables Summit <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mercom-renewables-summit-returns-for-its-sixth-edition-in-july-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">returns</a> for its sixth edition on July 9–10, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi, reaffirming its premier position in the country’s clean energy events calendar. Each year, the Summit convenes policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and technology providers to discuss ways to translate policy ambition into tangible outcomes. The 2026 Summit advances that mission with a fresh agenda designed to drive execution and scale.</p>
<p>Maharashtra-based Vikran Engineering <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/vikran-engineering-bags-epc-contract-for-505-mw-solar-project-in-maharashtra" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> a letter of award worth ₹16.4 billion (~$185.32 million) from Carbonminus Maharashtra One for the engineering, procurement and construction of 505 MW ground-mounted solar projects in Maharashtra. The contract to Vikran Engineering is part of a tender floated by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company for the procurement of power on a long-term basis from 1,052 MW of grid-connected solar projects to be set up on lands of the Water Resources Department of Maharashtra for lift irrigation programs. The tender was floated in March 2024.</p>
<p>The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/uttarakhand-commission-orders-termination-of-ppas-of-laggard-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directed</a> the Uttarakhand Power Corporation to initiate termination of power purchase agreements for 12 solar power projects that have not made any progress or statutory clearances are pending. The case involved the scheduled commercial operation dates of several renewable energy projects that had been delayed due to land and forest clearance, as well as other statutory bottlenecks.</p>
<p>Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/kel-invites-bids-for-137-mw-solar-projects-in-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a tender to set up 137 MW of rooftop or ground-mounted, grid-connected solar projects at government buildings across Andhra Pradesh. The solar systems will range from 1 kW to 5 MW. Bids must be submitted by November 26, 2025. Bids will be opened on November 27. The scope of work entails the design, engineering, supply, installation, testing, synchronization, and commissioning of the solar projects. It also entails providing operation and maintenance services for 25 years.</p>
<p>The Adani Group <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/adani-group-enters-bess-sector-with-1126-mw-3530-mwh-project-at-khavda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> its entry into the battery energy storage system (BESS) sector with a 1,126 MW/3,530 MWh project at the Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Gujarat. The project, which is in the advanced stage of deployment, is expected to be commissioned by March 2026. The BESS will be able to supply 1,126 MW of power into the grid for around three hours. The project will entail the deployment of more than 700 BESS containers. The BESS will play a critical role in easing peak load pressures, reducing transmission congestion, and mitigating solar curtailment. It will also improve grid stability by ensuring round-the-clock availability of renewable power.</p>
<p>Independent power producer JSW Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/jsw-commissions-3800-tpa-green-hydrogen-facility-in-karnataka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commissioned</a> a green hydrogen production plant at the JSW Steel facility in Karnataka’s Vijayanagar. The plant will supply 3,800 tons per annum (TPA) of green hydrogen and 30,000 TPA of green oxygen to JSW Steel for low-carbon steel production under a seven-year offtake agreement. This commissioning is part of the company’s 6,800 TPA allocation under the Solar Energy Corporation of India’s Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition program. JSW has also signed a memorandum of understanding with JSW Steel to progressively supply between 85,000 TPA and 90,000 TPA of green hydrogen and 720,000 TPA of green oxygen by 2030.</p>
<p>NTPC Green Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-green-energy-issues-debentures-worth-%E2%82%B915-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> unsecured non-convertible debentures of ₹15 billion (~$169.47 million) through private placement at a coupon of 7.01% per annum for a 10-year and one-day tenor, maturing on November 12, 2035. The debenture issue was approved by the company’s board of directors on April 29, 2025. This is the first debenture issue after the board’s approval.</p>
<p>Australia’s government is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/australia-to-supply-three-hours-of-free-power-midday-from-july-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introducing</a> a new regulated electricity offer called Solar Sharer, mandating solar electricity retailers to offer free electricity to households for a minimum of three hours in the middle of the day during peak generation. The government is introducing this offer in July 2026 as part of its retail energy market reforms through the Default Market Offer (DMO). DMO is a maximum price cap on electricity for customers in some regions of Australia who are on a standard or standing offer. The offer will initially be available to all households in DMO-regulated states, including New South Wales, South East Queensland, and South Australia.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Mercom India to Host Sixth Edition of Renewables Summit


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					</table><p>Maharashtra-based <a href="https://www.vikrangroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vikran Engineering</a> has received a letter of award (LoA) worth ₹16.4 billion (~$185.32 million) from Carbonminus Maharashtra One for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of 505 MW ground-mounted solar projects in Maharashtra.</p>
<p>The contract to Vikran Engineering is part of a tender <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/msedcl-invites-bids-power-for-irrigation-programs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company for the procurement of power on a long-term basis from 1,052 MW of grid-connected solar projects to be set up on lands of the Water Resources Department of Maharashtra for lift irrigation programs. The tender was floated in March 2024.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes design, engineering, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of solar projects using crystalline ground-mounted solar technology. The execution period for the project is 11 months from the date of award.</p>
<p>The company clarified that neither the promoters nor any members of the promoter group or group companies have any interest in the awarding entity. It also confirmed that the contract does not fall within the purview of related party transactions and has been secured at arm’s length.</p>
<p>Vikran Engineering delivers end-to-end solutions for solar projects. It has also delivered turnkey transmission projects of up to 400 kV across the country. The company undertakes turnkey projects for solar systems of up to 100 MW and executes balance-of-systems for solar projects of up to 300 MW.</p>
<p>Its expertise also includes underground high-tension and extra-high-voltage cabling systems, designed for urban and industrial power distribution networks, ensuring reliability and efficiency in power delivery.</p>
<p>In October this year, Vikran Engineering <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/vikran-engineering-bags-epc-contract-from-ellume-for-100-mw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> a letter of award from Ellume Energy MH SolarOne, valued at ₹3.54 billion (~$40.21 million), for the engineering, procurement, and construction of a 100 MW grid-connected solar power project in Maharashtra. The company won the bid with a tariff of ₹2.97 (~$0.034)/kWh on a public-private partnership model to supply power to agricultural feeders.</p>


Vikran Engineering Bags EPC Contract for 505 MW Solar Projects in Maharashtra


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.vikrangroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vikran Engineering</a> has received a letter of award from Ellume Energy MH SolarOne, valued at ₹3.54 billion (~$40.21 million), for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of a 100 MW grid-connected solar power project in Maharashtra.</p>
<p>The work must be completed within 12 months of receiving the letter of award.</p>
<p>In March last year, Ellume Solar <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ellume-letter-of-award-solar-project-maharashtra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> a letter of award from Maharashtra State Power Generation Company to develop a 100 MW grid-connected solar project in Aurangabad under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojna (MSKVY).</p>
<p>The company won the bid with a tariff of ₹2.97 (~$0.034)/kWh on a public-private partnership model to supply power to agricultural feeders.</p>
<p>The tender, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/bids-invited-for-600-mw-of-solar-projects-in-maharashtra" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> in August 2022, aimed to develop 600 MW across Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad, Konkan, Nashik, and Pune. Developers were required to secure land near 11 kV substations of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company and ensure grid connectivity. Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) approved a tariff of ₹3.04 (~$0.035)/kWh, including a ₹0.07 ($0.0008) trading margin.</p>
<p>While another company’s bids for 100 MW were disqualified after refusing to match Ellume’s lower tariff, Ellume proposed adding 400 MW more at the same rate. However, MERC rejected this expansion to uphold the tender’s integrity, suggesting Ellume participate in the MSKVY 2.0 program instead.</p>
<p>Vikran Engineering is an EPC company providing end-to-end services from conceptualization, design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning on a turnkey basis, and has a presence across multiple sectors, including power distribution, railways, and water works.</p>
<p>India added solar projects totaling 18 GW in the first half (1H) of 2025, a 31% year-over-year (YoY) increase from the same period last year, according to Mercom India Research’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/q2-2025-india-solar-market-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Q2 2025 India Solar Market Update</a>.</p>
<p>In the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, India added 11.3 GW of solar capacity, a 145.4% YoY increase from 4.6 GW and a 66.9% increase from Q1 2025.</p>
<p>Solar accounted for 64% of new power capacity additions in Q2 2025.</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 tender activity in real time.</p>


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