The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana completed one year of significant progress in promoting rooftop solar adoption nationwide. As of January 27, 2025, 846,000 households have installed rooftop solar systems under the program. The rate of installations has increased significantly, reaching approximately 70,000 per month, compared to much lower numbers before the program’s launch. “The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has seen unprecedented growth, with more residential rooftop solar systems installed in just the last three quarters of 2024 than in the past six years combined,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy released draft guidelines on “design, specifications, performance, and testing procedure for solar cold storage with thermal energy storage (TES) backup.” The guidelines will serve as a standard reference for all stakeholders, providing the basis for design specifications, performance, and testing standards for 2 MT, 5 MT, 10 MT, and 20 MT capacity solar cold storage with TES. They cover minimum cold storage temperatures of -5ºC, 1ºC, and 4ºC.

The Military Engineer Services invited bids to repair and maintain a 1 MW solar power project at Bambolim, Goa. The last date to submit bids is March 1, 2025. Bids will be opened on March 3. The project must be completed within 12 months. The estimated project cost is ₹2.5 million (~$28,777.5). The scope of work involves the supply of materials, repair and maintenance works, testing, replacement of spare parts, and painting.

Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments invited bids to design, supply, install, test, and commission a 1 MW solar power project in Hyderabad. The scope of work includes five years of comprehensive operations and maintenance. Bids must be submitted by February 21, 2025. Bids will be opened the next day. The scope of work includes a survey of the site, preparation of a detailed project report and array layout, obtaining necessary certification and permissions, supply of materials (except for modules), installation, and commissioning with net metering.

Malabar Cements, a Government of Kerala undertaking, invited bids for a 1 MW solar project at its Walayar facility in Palakkad, Kerala. The site is approximately 25 km from Coimbatore and Palakkad on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Bids must be submitted by February 25, 2025. Bids will be opened on February 27. The scope of work includes supplying and installing the solar power project, carrying out the civil and structural work, preparing a detailed project report, and ensuring synchronization with MCL’s existing power infrastructure.

The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission estimated an investment of ₹522.38 billion (~$6.01 billion) would be required by 2030 to upgrade energy infrastructure and integrate renewable energy sources effectively in the state. In a discussion paper, KSERC made recommendations to help the state transition to 100% renewable energy by 2040 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The state currently leads in rooftop solar installations with a capacity of 946.9 MW, comprising 72% of its total solar capacity.

Battery manufacturer Amara Raja Energy & Mobility recorded a profit after tax of ₹2.98 billion (~$34.3 million) during the third quarter of the financial year 2025, an 11.4% year-over-year (YoY) increase. Significant growth in battery sales in the automotive and industrial sectors helped drive the profit. The company’s revenue from lead-acid batteries was ₹31.55 billion (~$363.2 million), an 8.9% YoY increase from ₹28.97 billion (~$333.5 million). During the quarter, the company’s revenue from operations grew to ₹31.64 billion (~$364.5 million), a 10% YoY increase.

Small Industries Development Bank of India and France-based Agence Française de Développement have signed a $100 million (~₹1.15 million) credit facility agreement to scale green finance solutions for Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises investing in renewable energy solutions. The agreement aims to support sustainable growth and drive the transition towards a low-carbon economy.