India added 1.2 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, up 232% year-over-year from 366.5 MW. Installations in Q1 saw a decline of 6.2% from 1.3 GW in Q4 2024, according to Mercom India Research’s newly released Q1 2025 India Rooftop Solar Market Report. Rooftop solar accounted for over 18% of the country’s total solar installations during the quarter. The quarter’s installations were driven by the residential segment under the PM Surya Ghar program, which made up nearly 77% of the capacity additions.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the European Union’s (EU) Trade and Technology Council (TTC) invited bids to generate renewable hydrogen from agricultural, forest, and industrial biogenic waste. The last date to submit proposals is September 5, 2025. MNRE and the TTC will provide joint funding of ₹900 million (~$10.57 million). A maximum of two projects can be funded under this proposal. Selected bidders must complete the project between 36 and 48 months.

The Forum of Regulators recommended exempting electricity duty and cess on input energy for pumping to reduce costs and promote investments in pumped storage projects (PSP). Input energy for pumping in PSPs should not be treated as ‘consumption,’ and therefore, electricity duty should not be levied on these projects, it has been said. The forum also suggested extending the waiver of Interstate Transmission System charges for new PSPs and hydropower projects beyond June 30, 2025.

Jaipur-based solar module manufacturer Insolation Energy reported a 58.35% year-over-year growth in revenue to ₹7.3 billion (~$85.56 million) in the second half of the financial year 2025 from ₹4.61 billion (~$54.03 million). Insolation Energy attributed the revenue growth to its expanding footprint in the Central and South India markets. The company also reported growth in all its revenue segments. Its net profit rose by 60.5% to ₹649.25 million (~$7.6 million) from ₹404.37 million (~$4.73 million) in the corresponding period of last year.

Rajasthan-based solar power company Bhaskar Jyoti won a contract from the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, a subsidiary of Coal India, to install a grid-connected 1.3 MW rooftop solar power project for Northern Coalfields (NCL). The contract’s value is ₹75.9 million (~$889,485). The systems will be deployed across several sites, including the integrated water supply system and the Khadia, Kakri, and Bina mines in the NCL area of Uttar Pradesh. The tender for this project was issued in February this year.

China was the key supplier of battery metals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite, in 2024, according to the Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 report by the International Energy Agency. Demand for key energy minerals continued to grow strongly, with lithium demand rising by 30% and nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths growing by 6% to 8% in 2024. The average market share of the top three refining nations of key energy minerals rose from around 82% in 2020 to 86% in 2024. Approximately 90% of supply growth came from the top supplier nations: Indonesia for nickel and China for cobalt, graphite, and rare earths.