AM Green Energy, Serentica Renewables, Amplus Solar, Fourth Partner Energy, and Brookfield Renewable Partners were the top solar open access developers in the first half (1H) of the calendar year (CY) 2024, according to Mercom’s recently released India Solar Market Leaderboard 1H 2024. In 1H 2024, India added 3.6 GW of solar open access capacity, a 153% increase from the 1.4 GW installed in 1H 2023, according to Mercom’s Q2 2024 India Solar Open Access Market Report. The capacity added in the first half of this year surpassed the total annual installations of any previous year. India’s cumulative installed solar open access capacity was 16.3 GW as of June 2024.

Rajasthan-based herding and farming community, Raika increased their camel milk sales fourfold by harnessing solar power. Using solar power, the community powers milk chillers in remote areas inaccessible by conventional power. The chillers can cool up to 500 litters of milk every day. The cost of setting up the solar-powered chillers is ₹650,000 (~$7,731.77). Nearly 200 farmers use these solar-powered chillers to further their livelihood.

The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued regulations to determine the tariff for the sale of renewable energy to distribution licensees effective April 1, 2025. The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and conditions for determination of tariff for Renewable Energy sources) Regulations, 2024 will apply to new renewable energy projects achieving commercial operation from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2030. For existing renewable energy projects with long-term power purchase agreements with distribution licensees for 20 years or more and commissioned before March 31, 2025, the tariff will be governed by respective tariff orders.

The Power Grid Corporation of India and Dineshchandra R. Agarwal Infracon have won Parts A and B of REC Power Development and Consultancy’s transmission project to evacuate 3.5 GW of power from Rajasthan’s renewable energy zone. PGCIL and DRAIPL were declared as the successful bidders under tariff-based competitive bidding to set up an inter-state transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ Ph-IV (Part-4: 3.5 GW): Part A and B, respectively, on a build, own, operate and transfer basis. The tender was issued on July, 2024.

REC has released a guidance framework for vendor operations under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna to ensure smooth implementation of the rooftop solar program. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy appointed REC as the national registering authority and the program’s lead implementing agency. Vendors must provide accurate and complete details during the registration process. Furnishing any false information will lead to the rejection of the application. Vendors must ensure all rooftop solar systems installed under the program adhere to the minimum technical specifications and quality standards set by MNRE. The distribution companies will check them at the time of inspection.

The Ranchi Division of the South Eastern Railway has invited bids to install 3,029 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems atop service buildings and residential quarters in Jharkhand. The contract value is ₹126.66 million (~$1.5 million). The last date to submit the bids is December 16, 2024.

Utility-scale energy storage firm Fluence Energy recorded a revenue of $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2024, up 82% year-over-year (YoY), on the back of an uptick in order intake and expanding market presence. A strong order intake added approximately $1.2 billion during the quarter, increasing the company’s total backlog to $4.5 billion—a 55% YoY increase. Demand for energy storage solutions resulted in Fluence’s order intake doubling from 6.3 GWh in 2023 to 14.6 GWh in 2024.

Solar solutions provider TOYO Corporation has acquired Solar Plus Technology Texas, a module manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. TOYO Solar, a subsidiary of TOYO, will oversee the facility’s operations, with a $19.96 million capital contribution earmarked for Phase 1 construction. The move will enable TOYO to accelerate its “made-in-America” solar module production plans, with an initial capacity of 2.5 GW and a roadmap to expand to 6.5 GW by 2029. The newly leased facility spans 567,140 square feet, with equipment expected to arrive by early 2025. The first gigawatt of production is slated to commence by mid-2025, with the facility reaching its 2.5 GW capacity by the end of the year.