ACME Solar Holdings and Ceigall India have won Rewa Ultra Mega Solar’s auction to develop a 600 MW grid-connected, ground-mounted solar power project with a battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Morena Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh. ACME and Ceigall won 220 MW each at a tariff of ₹2.76 (~$0.0313)/kWh and ₹2.7 (~$0.0306)/kWh, respectively. The tariffs are the lowest ever for a firm and a dispatchable renewable energy project. The tender was floated in September 2024. Winners must develop, operate, and maintain two units each of up to 300 MW of grid-connected ground-mounted solar projects, with BESS, for the supply of 220 MW at any time block and supply of up to 440 MWh during the peak supply period.

The Ministry of Power notified the Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2025, introducing changes in the regulatory framework governing the energy storage systems (ESS) usage. In June this year, the Ministry proposed the amendment to permit the sale, lease, and renting of ESS. The rules amend provisions of Rule 18 of the Electricity Rules, 2005, with a focus on broadening the scope of energy storage utilization and ownership. The revised sub-rule (2) states that an ESS can be used either as an independent storage facility or as part of generation, transmission, or distribution.

The Ministry of Power is constituting a steering committee and a sub-working group of domain experts to standardize training modules and create standard operating procedures/guidelines for data utilization, standards-based regime adoption, and cybersecurity practices on smart meter data analytics for distribution companies (DISCOMs). The National Data Analytics and Reporting Centre at the National Power Training Institute, Faridabad, will conduct training programs for DISCOM officials and handhold DISCOMs for customizing use case analytics according to their requirements. It also plans a training program on “Leadership and Strategic Management” for senior management to effectively implement data analytics.

The cost of four-hour lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery systems could decline from $334/kWh in 2024 to as low as $108/kWh or remain as high as $307/kWh by 2050, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The update focuses on four-hour Li-ion systems as they have become the benchmark for grid-scale storage. The report notes that the analysis was completed in January and February 2025, meaning that subsequent tariff changes are not reflected in it. NREL calculated the prices using a bottom-up cost model that dissects every part of a utility-scale project with 2024’s benchmark of $334/kWh. This figure represents the overnight capital cost for a complete system.

The Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) won PFC Consulting’s auction to augment the existing interstate transmission system capacity by 4.5 GW and construct line bays at the Mandsaur substation in Madhya Pradesh. The project will be executed to evacuate 2,998 MW of renewable energy from the Mandsaur power substation and an additional 1,500 MW, comprising 600 MW from Sprng Energy and 900 MW from NTPC Renewable Energy. The tender was floated in March 2025. Apart from POWERGRID, KCC Buildcon, and Techno Electric and Engineering Company, qualified in the technical bidding round.

The Military Engineer Services invited bids for the comprehensive maintenance of a 2 MW solar project at the military station in Kapurthala, Punjab, under the jurisdiction of the city’s Garrison Engineer. Bids must be submitted by October 2, 2025. Bids will be opened on October 4. Successful bidders must not execute the work by subletting or through a power of attorney to a third party/another firm on their behalf. The project covers guarantees of the schedule of services committed within the operation and maintenance period. Successful bidders must guarantee a minimum project availability of up to 99%.

Renewable energy company Avaada Group commissioned 11 solar power projects totaling 35 MW in the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY). The projects include a 4 MW project in Kinhi village, 3 MW in Baldi, another 3 MW in Dongarkharda, 2 MW in Bansi, 2 MW in Patan, 5 MW in Mhasola, 2 MW in Galwa, 4 MW in Pathrad, 4 MW in Parjana, 3 MW at Sawargaon, and 3 MW at Sarfali. A total of around 14,893 farmers will benefit from these solar projects for their agricultural activities across nearly 167 villages. Avaada Group is executing over 1,132 MW of solar power projects across key districts, including Nashik, Pune, Sangli, Yavatmal, Ahmednagar, and Beed under MSKVY.

Renewable energy solutions provider Sunsure Energy commissioned an 82.5 MW group captive solar project in Erach, Jhansi, in Uttar Pradesh. The project will supply solar power to Haldiram’s, APL Apollo, and to one of the country’s largest data centers. The captive power project is expected to generate 128 million units of power annually. The project is Sunsure’s 10th open access project in Uttar Pradesh. With the completion of the captive project in Jhansi, Sunsure has an operational capacity of 260 MW open access projects in Uttar Pradesh across Agra, Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot.

Indian solar manufacturers can expect some relief, as the European Union (EU) agreed to deduct the carbon price paid by exporters in India from the price they would have to pay under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). “A carbon price effectively paid in India will be deducted under the EU CBAM financial adjustment, which, being based on carbon content, will favour Indian exporters decarbonizing their CBAM goods. This mechanism is also being simplified to benefit small businesses,” the EU told the European Parliament in a communication on the New Strategic EU-India Agenda. It said the EU and India have an opportunity to cooperate on developing a domestic carbon market to cut emissions and generate funds for the clean transition.