Page 5 - Solar Energy

Vikram Solar to set up 1 GWh solid-state battery plant, expand to 5 GWh

The integrated solid-state battery manufacturing facility plans to scale up to 5 GWh, reinforcing India's push for energy storage and self-reliance

Hindustan Power to invest Rs 620 cr in solar, battery projects in Assam

Hindustan Power has signed an agreement with the Assam government to invest Rs 620 crore to set up solar and battery storage projects. The investment will drive the development of a 100 MW solar power plant alongside a battery energy storage system, the company said in a statement on Monday. The company said it will invest Rs 500 crore for the solar plant and another Rs 120 crore for the battery storage facility. "Hindustan Power was the first company to develop a large solar power plant in Assam in 2016, and the company remains committed to driving the state's journey of growth in the new era of renewable energy," the company's chairman Ratul Puri said. Hindustan Power is an independent power producer with a global portfolio of renewable and transitional electricity generation assets.

Adani Green raises $1.06 bn for debt refinance, first since US indictment

Adani Green Energy Ltd had earlier shelved its planned $600 million bond offering in November 2024 following the US indictment of key executives, including Chairman Gautam Adani

TP Solar bags Rs 632 cr order to supply 292.5 MWp solar modules from Seci

Tata Power on Thursday said that its solar manufacturing arm TP Solar has secured an order worth Rs 632 crore for the supply of 292.5 MWp solar modules from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The project is awarded under the CPSU Scheme Tranche-III, a Tata Power statement said. The contract, valued at approximately Rs 632 crore, entails the delivery of high-quality DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) modules to the designated site in Ramagiri, Andhra Pradesh, it added. The project is part of SECI's larger 400 MWp tender, which underwent a competitive bid submission process followed by an e-Reverse Auction. The contract includes a total scope of 400 MWp DCR Modules, of which TP Solar has secured 292.5 MWp. The preferred delivery timeline for the project is set from October 2025 to January 2026, spanning a duration of four months.

THDC enters thermal energy sector, begins ops of 660-MW unit at UP plant

THDC India has started commercial operations of a 660-MW unit at its Khurja Power Plant, marking an entry into the domestic thermal energy sector, the company's CMD R K Vishnoi said. Until now, the company was generating 1,424 MW from hydro, 113 MW wind and 50 MW solar energy. THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) is setting up a 1,320 megawatt (2X660 MW) super thermal power project (STPP) at Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh (UP) at an investment of around Rs 13,000 crore, Vishnoi told PTI. "We have achieved a monumental milestone in our commitment to strengthening India's power generation capacity. Unit 1 of 660-MW has started commercial operations from the midnight of January 25, 2025," he said. The second unit will also be operational soon. The date is being worked out, after which the whole project will be operational, the official said. Sharing the details of the greenfield project, he said the foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 9, 2019.

Best of BS Opinion: How India's renewable energy success turned sour

Today's pieces cover diverse topics: our editorials examine how India's renewable energy sector is now a victim of its own success, and ponder the government's inexplicable pause on privatisation.

Captain Polyplast Q3 results: PAT grows to Rs 6.7 cr, income at Rs 90.9 cr

Solar solutions provider Captain Polyplast on Thursday a consolidated net profit of Rs 6.72 crore in the December quarter. It had posted Rs 4.96 crore net profit in October-December of 2023-24 financial year, the company said in a statement. The company's total income rose to Rs 90.89 crore from Rs 83.46 crore in the year-ago quarter. Expenses stood at Rs 82.01 crore as against Rs 77.22 crore a year earlier. Captain Polyplast is into manufacturing of solar water pumps, solar heaters besides irrigation solutions.

Motilal Oswal says 'Buy' ACME Solar for 59% upside, initiates coverage

ACME Solar share rose after Motilal Oswal initiated coverage with 'Buy' rating for a target price of Rs 330, which reflects an upside potential of 58.95% from the previous close (Feb 4) of Rs 207.60

Welspun New Energy to invest Rs 13.5k cr in clean energy projects in Odisha

Welspun New Energy has signed a pact with the Odisha government to invest Rs 13,500 crore for the development of two clean energy projects in the state, a statement said on Tuesday. Under this agreement, Welspun New Energy has committed investments worth Rs 13,500 crore to develop a 1,200 MW pumped hydro project and a 1,000 MW floating solar power project in Odisha, its parent firm Welspun World said in the statement. These projects are expected to enhance the state's energy storage capacity, support the integration of renewable energy into the grid, and contribute to India's overall target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, it added. "The projects, backed by our Rs 13,500 crore investment in green technologies, mark a key milestone in our mission to accelerate renewable energy adoption in the state, highlighting our unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability," Kapil Maheshwari, Executive Director & CEO of Welspun New Energy, said. Welspun World .

Premier Energies stock tanks 12% from day's high on profit booking after Q3

Along with its financial results, Premier Energies' board of directors declared an interim dividend of 50 per cent, or Rs 0.50 per share, on the face value of Re 1 per paid-up equity share for FY25

Wind industry seeks policy parity, infra support to meet energy goals

As the Union Budget approaches, industry leaders hope for measures that will align policy, infrastructure, and investment to further strengthen India's renewable energy sector

Andhra Pradesh investment board approves projects worth Rs 44,776 crore

Andhra Pradesh investment board has approved projects worth Rs 44,776 crore this month, largely in the clean energy space, which will generate 19,580 jobs, the state government said. Of the projects approved, Rs 42,932 crore worth of projects are in the energy sector, mostly solar energy. The energy projects cleared include Rs 14,328 crore investment by Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd and Rs 10,300 crore investment by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. Other companies whose projects were cleared include Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (RS 2,000 crore), Ayana Renewable Power Pvt Ltd (Rs 4,435 crore), Ampin Energy Transition Pvt Ltd (Rs 3,142 crore), SAEL Solar MHP1 Pvt Ltd (Rs 1,728 crore), SAEL Solar MHP2 Pvt Ltd (Rs 1,728 crore), Cuddapah Renewables Pvt Ltd (Rs 1,163 crore) and Ecoren Energy India Pvt Ltd (Rs 1,651 crore). According to the state government, Rs 1,844 crore worth of projects in other sectors were also approved. Since July 2024, the State Investment Promotio

Govt revises quality control order to promote high-quality PV products

The government has notified a revised Quality Control Order (QCO) to promote high-quality and efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) products, an official statement said on Wednesday. The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified the Solar Systems, Devices, and Components Goods Order, 2025, which revises and supersedes the existing Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices, and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017. "The order aligns with the government's commitment to promoting high-quality and efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) products for sustainable energy development. It aims to enhance product reliability, ensure safety, and support India's ambitious renewable energy targets," the MNRE statement said. The revised order will come into effect 180 days from the date of publication. The order covers Solar PV modules, Inverters to be used in solar PV applications and storage batteries.

Sembcorp launches first greenfield largest utility-scale solar farm in Oman

Sembcorp Industries, headquartered in Singapore, launched its 588 MW solar power project in Oman on Friday. Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said of the Royal Family and the second son of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, inaugurated the project, the company said. The plant is Sembcorp's first greenfield renewables development project in the Middle East and also the 'largest utility-scale solar farm' in the global renewables portfolio of the company. "The inauguration of Manah 2 Solar Power Plant marks a key milestone in Sembcorp's commitment to Oman's transition to a sustainable future, and strengthening (its) partnership with Nama Power and Water Procurement Company. As Sembcorp's largest utility-scale solar plant globally, it supports Oman's Vision 2040 by advancing the nation's renewable energy targets," said Sembcorp Industries, CEO of Middle East and Chairman, South Asia, Vipul Tuli. The plant would provide clean energy to approximately 60,000 households, reducing carbon emissions, he said in

India, US, West Asia to add 100 GW solar capacity in 2025: Wood Mac report

India, the US and Middle East are together expected to add 100 GW of solar capacity in 2025, while China will remain a dominant player in the sector, Wood Mackenzie has said. According to its latest research, the module prices will also increase this year, after two years of low solar panel prices due to global overcapacity. This will compensate for the significant losses in profits that manufacturers experienced, it said. "Emerging hubs in India, the US and the Middle East are expected to add at least 100 GW to the global solar manufacturing capacity," Wood Mackenzie said. China will remain the dominant manufacturing hub. China will continue to be the world's solar manufacturing centre with 75 per cent (1.2 TW (terawatts) of the global operational capacity for major module components, the report said. Wood Mackenzie said that coordination by Chinese manufacturers, supported by the Chinese government, will be the key to bringing about rationalisation of the industry. In 2025, adv

Indian Railways to receive 170 MW of solar energy from Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh government plans to increase the production capacity of renewable energy to 20,000 MW by the year 2030

Work in progress to power up Rajasthan govt's solar energy capacity

"The day is not far off when the state will not only fulfil its own needs but also supply electricity to other areas of the country," Rajasthan Minister of State for Energy Heeralal Nagar said

Govt approves 2 new payment methods for rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has come out with new guidelines, allowing two more payment methods for the installation of rooftop solar system under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The move will ensure payment security as well as the grant of subsidy to households in case of payments through Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) and utility-led aggregation models. The ministry has notified scheme guidelines for implementation of 'Payment Security Mechanism' component and 'Central Financial Assistance' component for RESCO models/ utility-led aggregation models under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, an official statement said. Under this scheme, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for payment security mechanism (PSM) for de-risking investments in RESCO-based grid-connected rooftop solar models in residential sectors, which may be supplemented through other grants, funds and sources after due approval, the statement said. Under the RESCO model, third-party entities invest .

India must lead in sunrise sectors to reach $32 trn economy by 2047: Kant

India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Friday said the country needs to become a global champion in sunrise sectors to achieve the target of becoming a developed nation and USD 32 trillion economy by 2047. Addressing the 'Bharat Climate Forum 2025', Kant further said the US, Europe and India have lost the art of manufacturing, and this will have huge implications for the global economy. "My belief is that without India becoming a global champion in sunrise sectors, we would not be able to achieve the target of becoming a developed nation by 2047, we will never be able to become a USD 32 trillion economy," he said. Kant pointed out that in solar panel manufacturing, Indian industries are 5-7 years behind the curve. Noting that India's industry is persistently focusing on fossil fuel vehicles, he said, "If you do not become a manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs), then you will lose the EV market globally". The former Niti Aayog CEO said if India does not make a major radical shift ..

India adds record 24 GW solar power capacity in 2024: JMK Research

In a recent report, JMK said: "In 2024 (January to December), India added about 24.5 GW of solar and 3.4 GW of wind capacity