According to Mercom India’s Q1 2024 Solar Open Access Market Report, India added 1.8 GW of solar open access capacity in Q1 2024, with Rajasthan leading with almost 28% of the quarter’s installations. Rajasthan’s capacity additions were up 154.1% quarter-over-quarter, making it one of the top five states for solar open access. The state’s cumulative installed solar open access capacity rose 65.9% between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. In Q1 2024, about 13.7% of the large-scale solar installations in the state were in the open access model. Open access solar installations in Rajasthan accounted for 8.8% of India’s cumulative capacity.

With over 880 million internet users and a thriving tech sector, India’s data center industry has seen explosive growth in recent years and is poised to accelerate with the advent of artificial intelligence. This expansion, however, comes with a significant electricity demand, straining the country’s already stressed power grid. Power demand from data centers in India grew at 4.4% year-on-year to reach 139 billion kWh in June 2023, according to Rohan Sheth, Vice President, Colocation & DC Build at data center company Yotta. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2030, data centers alone will consume about 8% of total energy globally. Data centers currently consume about 1-1.5% of global energy and contribute to 0.3% of global emissions.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has approved two pumped hydro storage projects (PSPs) with a cumulative capacity of 2,600 MW. The Power Ministry said the CEA approved the two projects in record time. The approved PSPs were the 600 MW Upper Indravati project in Odisha, which is being developed by the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation, and the 2,000 MW Sharavathy project in Karnataka, which Karnataka Power Corporation is developing. The Power Ministry said that the CEA had received proposals for PSPs with a total capacity of 60 GW to prepare detailed project reports.

CEA has released a draft amendment to the “Manual on Transmission Planning Criteria, 2023.” The document, effective from April 1, 2023, outlines the planning procedures and criteria for developing the electricity transmission system in India. The amendment introduces a new chapter detailing the procedures for planning electric power transmission systems and updates parameters for certain conductors. The amendment aims to enhance the planning and development of India’s electricity transmission system. The amendment seeks to ensure a reliable, efficient, and economical transmission network that meets the power sector’s growing demands.

A residential apartment complex in Bengaluru is saving up to ₹4 million (~$47,768) annually by installing a rooftop solar system. By switching to clean energy, the condominium with 1,030 flats has reduced its electricity expenses by 33%. Leveraging the power of solar energy, the SNN Raj Greenbay apartment complex in Electronic City Phase 2 has set up a 342 kW residential rooftop system, which it claims is the second-largest in the city. Before installing the rooftop solar systems, residents were collectively incurring ₹1 million (~$11,942) in electricity expenses and an estimated ₹12 million (~$143,305) annually.

REC Limited has invited bids to engage lenders’ legal counsel to carry out the land due diligence of 603 acres of land offered by Adani Solar Energy RJ Two as security to finance its project. REC has approved financial assistance of ₹6.81 billion (~$81.32 million) to Adani Solar Energy RJ Two to commission a 150 MW solar power project in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Adani Solar must create a mortgage over the project lands to secure this loan. The last day to submit the bids is August 7, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day. The duration of the assignment is two months from the date of award or an extended period at the sole discretion of REC.

Shakti Pumps has received a letter of intent from the Uttar Pradesh Department of Agriculture to supply, install, and commission 12,537 pumps under Component B of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Program (Phase-III). Shakti Pumps must execute the work by March 31, 2025. The total work order value is approximately ₹5.58 billion (~$66.62 million).