The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a final levelized tariff of ₹2.68 (~$0.031)/kWh for NTPC’s 92 MW floating solar projects at Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project in Kayamkulam, Kerala. The Commission also approved a capital cost of ₹4.57 billion (~$54.87 million) for NTPC. However, it dismissed NTPC’s additional cost claim for a 7 km motorable road, as it was not constructed.

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission approved tariffs between ₹2.12 (~$0.024)/kWh and ₹3 (~$0.034)/kWh for Uttar Gujarat Vij Company’s 154 MW solar power projects under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan program. The Commission also allowed UGVCL to sign the power purchase agreements at the approved tariffs.

NTPC Renewable Energy invited bids for a land and power evacuation package to develop 230 MW interstate transmission system-connected solar projects with a battery energy storage system near the 230 MW Ettayapuram solar project in Tamil Nadu. Bids must be submitted by May 13, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same day. Selected bidders must commission a 230 kV air-insulated pooling substation, which includes installing 230 kV/33 kV tie transformers with appropriate ratings in compliance with CEA standards.

Indian Oil Corporation, through its Digboi Refinery under the Assam Oil Division, floated a tender for the comprehensive annual maintenance of solar projects with capacities of 1,000 kW, 100 kW, and 50 kW. Bids must be submitted by April 22, 2025. Bids will be opened on April 24. The scope of work entails operating and maintaining the solar panels, measuring string currents weekly, cleaning solar modules fortnightly, and maintaining the supervisory control and data acquisition system. Selected bidders will be responsible for the safety of workers and adherence to safety regulations.

Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency floated three tenders for engineering, procurement, and construction of 8.5 MW ground-mounted solar projects in Himachal Pradesh. Bids must be submitted by April 26, 2025. Bids will be opened on April 28. The scope of work for all tenders entails the design, engineering, installation, performance testing, and commissioning of the projects. It also involves conducting site feasibility assessments, procurement, logistics operations, and erection of the projects.

The Maharashtra Energy Development Agency invited bids to commission 1,100 kW of grid-connected ground-mounted and rooftop solar projects with net metering at 49 government and semi-government buildings in Parbhani, Maharashtra. Bids must be submitted by April 24, 2025. Bids will be opened on April 25. Selected bidders must commission the project within 120 days of the work order and oversee its operation and maintenance for five years. They must provide after-sale services, including necessary repair and maintenance, in the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Division of Maharashtra.

Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company in India, has taken a step towards sustainability by installing a 600 kW rooftop solar power system at one of its facilities in Uttarakhand. The rooftop solar system is spread across 56,000 sq ft and connected to the grid. It is designed to supply a significant portion of the daily electricity requirements. Akums estimates an annual savings of over ₹5 million (~$58,055) in electricity bills from the solar installation. This projection is based on an average of five hours of daily sunlight.

Gujarat-based solar module manufacturer Solex Energy announced an expansion of its 1.5 GW module manufacturing plant in Tadkeshwar, Gujarat, with a new 2.2 GW solar module production line. The company invested ₹2 billion (~$23.2 million) towards this expansion. After the production line becomes operational, its total manufacturing capacity is expected to reach nearly 4 GW, with commercial production targeted for September.

Kundan Green Energy, a Kundan Group subsidiary, acquired a waste-to-energy project of Jabalpur MSW, which has an installed capacity of 11.5 MW. Kundan Green Energy invested nearly ₹650 million (~$7.5 million) in the project. It expects to generate a revenue of ₹350 million (~$4 million) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of over ₹ $200 million (~$2.3 million).

The Middle East has long struggled to establish a competitive solar manufacturing sector despite receiving abundant sunshine and increasing commitments to clean energy. However, recent developments suggest a rapid shift is underway. Governments are ramping up local content requirements, new factories are breaking ground, and regional players are positioning themselves as serious global solar supply chain contenders.