India added 14.9 GW of solar capacity in the first half (1H) of calendar year 2024, a 282% year-over-year (YoY) increase, according to Mercom India Research’s latest Q2 2024 India Solar Market Update. The installations topped all previous half-yearly and annual installations. The commissioning of several previously delayed projects contributed to capacity additions in the year’s first half. Solar capacity added in Q2 of 2024 stood at 5 GW, up 170% YoY from 1.8 GW. However, installations fell 49% quarter-over-quarter from 9.9 GW. During the quarter, 4.3 GW of large-scale solar projects were commissioned, including nearly 1.8 GW of open-access projects.

The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has approved a tripartite Power Supply Agreement allowing the Andhra Pradesh Green Energy Corporation (APGECL), now known as AP Rural Agriculture Power Supply Company (APRAPSCOM), to draw 7 GW of solar power from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The APERC also weighed in on concerns that state power distribution companies raised about potential challenges in securing a complete waiver of inter-state transmission system charges provided to renewable energy suppliers.

Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries has commenced work on a green ammonia project in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The company intends to export 200,000 MTPA green ammonia to Japan in the first phase. The company has started front-end engineering and design work for the plant. The project has the involvement of India, Singapore, and Japan. A heads-of-terms agreement was signed between Sembcorp Green Hydrogen, Kyushu Electric Power, Sojitz Corporation, and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha to facilitate a cross-border green ammonia offtake from India to Japan. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi chaired the agreement signing ceremony.

REC Power Development and Consultancy has invited bids to select a transmission service provider to establish an inter-state transmission system to evacuate 3.5 GW of renewable energy from Rajasthan’s renewable energy zones REZ PH-IV. Bids must be submitted by October 4, 2024. Bids will be opened the same day. Bidders must pay ₹500,000 (~$5,958) plus GST 18% as a tender document fee. The design, construction, and testing of all equipment, facilities, components, and systems related to the project must comply with the Transmission Service Agreement and any relevant rules, regulations, orders, and guidelines issued by the central government.

The Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation (TNGECL) has imposed a resource charge of ₹5 million (~$59,594)/MW on all Central Transmission Utility (CTU)-connected wind power projects that are awaiting in-principle or location clearance approvals. The levy aims to encourage the development of State Transmission Utility-connected wind projects, which will contribute to Tamil Nadu’s Renewable Power Obligations. A note by TNGECL said that from 2018, around 1,700 MW of CTU-connected wind power projects have been commissioned in Tamil Nadu.

Nxtra by Airtel has said 38.3% of the total electricity consumed in its core data centers was sourced from renewable energy sources in the financial year 2023-24. The use of renewable energy went up 41% from the previous year, the company said in its environmental, social, and governance report. Nxtra claimed that 220,541 MWh of its energy requirements were met with green power wheeling arrangements and captive rooftop solar installations, a 166% increase from the 2020-21 baseline.