Daily News Wrap-Up: Import Duties on Solar Glass May Increase Module Prices
Andhra Pradesh issues integrated clean energy policy guidelines
March 17, 2025
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Solar project developers anticipate a rise in module prices to drive up overall project costs following the recent import duties on solar glass. Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry imposed anti-dumping duty from $658/MT to $664/MT for imports from China and $570/MT to $664/MT from Vietnam. The Ministry also imposed countervailing duties ranging from $539/MT to $664/MT. Glass manufacturer Borosil Renewable initiated the investigation into the alleged dumping of solar glass from China and Vietnam into the domestic market.
The Andhra Pradesh Energy Department issued operational guidelines on resource allocation, land allotment, grid connectivity, open access, banking facility, project migration, fees, and incentives under the Integrated Clean Energy Policy, 2024. The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) will develop a unified portal for granting approvals, allocating resources and implementing clean energy projects and renewable manufacturing plants. Applications and approvals for clean energy projects and renewable manufacturing plants must be completed online via the unified portal.
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission approved the tariff for Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Company’s (MSEDCL) procurement of 5,008 MW of solar power from projects under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY) – 2.0. The approved tariff ranges between ₹2.82 (~$0.032) and ₹3.10 (~$0.036)/kWh. The petitioner, MSEDCL, followed a cluster-wise and individual substation-wise tendering approach. The Commission approved bid documents and deviations for the solarization of agricultural feeders of 7,000 MW in 2023.
Utilizing solar energy to provide clean drinking water to remote villages in India, Boon, a Gurugram-based water tech startup, has been installing solar-powered and AI-enabled water ATMs that dispense clean drinking water at a minimal price. The company has installed over 1,000 solar-powered water ATMs in over 100 villages spread across the country, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Ahmedabad-based Amrut Energy, a solar water pumps manufacturer and renewable energy solutions provider, secured ₹1 billion (~$11.49 million) funding from private equity investors. The company aims to utilize the investment to expand manufacturing capabilities, drive research and development, and scale operations across underserved regions. It will also use the new investment to accelerate innovation in solar technology, improve production efficiency, and extend its market reach to regions with limited access to reliable irrigation solutions.
JSW Neo Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of JSW Energy, acquired a 100% stake in Virya Infrapower for ₹75.4 million (~$866,000) in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition was completed on March 12, 2025, the same day the share purchase agreement (SPA) was signed. This purchase makes Virya Infrapower a step-down subsidiary of JSW Energy. The acquisition enables JSW Neo access to a ready power site with the necessary infrastructure for accelerated project development in the renewable energy sector. After the post-closing adjustments outlined in the SPA, the acquisition will be finalized with full cash payment.
Renewable energy engineering, procurement and construction company Gensol Engineering decided to raise ₹6 billion (~$68.9 million) by issuing ₹4 billion (~$45.9 million) worth of foreign currency convertible bonds and ₹2 billion (~$22.9 million) from warrants to promoters. Through this fundraising, the company aims to reduce debt, and maximize value for its stakeholders. Currently, the company is under a debt of ₹11.46 billion (~$131.6 million) against reserves of ₹5.89 billion (~$67.6 million). After achieving the targeted fundraise, the company’s reserves are expected to reach ₹12 billion (~$137.8 million), improving its current debt-equity ratio from 1.95 to 0.44.
The Agricultural Department of Ratnagiri Zilla Parishad invited bids to set up a 1 MW solar project at Kapadgaon village, Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra. The project will have a ground-mounted, unipolar-tracked, and seasonal-tilt arrangement. Bids must be submitted by March 26, 2025. Bids will be opened on March 28. Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹500,000 (~$5,734) and a tender document fee of ₹50,000 (~$573). The scope of work entails the design, supply, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning of the project. It also includes providing operations and maintenance (O&M) services for five years.
The United States installed a record 50 GW of new solar capacity in 2024, a 21% year-over-year rise, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s U.S. Solar Market Insight 2024 Year in Review report. The capacity addition in 2024 is the highest added to the grid by any energy technology in over two decades, according to the report. The U.S. solar capacity is expected to reach 739 GW by 2035. However, sudden shifts in federal tax credits, supply chain access, and permitting policies can lead to uncertainty for investors, raise costs for developers and manufacturers, and slow down solar deployment.