India imported more silver in the first four months of 2024 than it did in the whole of last year, and according to data from Silver Academy, it is set to double again. The country imported 4,172 metric tons of silver between January and April 2024, surpassing 3,625 metric tons for all of 2023. This increase is driven by rising solar cell and module manufacturing, tightening global supply, and investor interest.

Indian solar ancillary component manufacturers have urged the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to mandate the use of domestically manufactured solar components in government projects to create a robust local supply chain and reduce the reliance on imports. To promote local manufacturing of solar components in the face of ‘rampant dumping’ of components originating from China and Vietnam routed through FTA countries, the Solar Ancillary Manufacturers’ Association (SAMA) has suggested an ALMM-type mandate for solar components.

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has issued separate additional surcharge rates for full and partial open access power consumers. The Commission set ₹1.29(~$0.015)/kWh as an additional surcharge payable by full open access consumers and partial open access consumers, including green energy open access consumers, for availing open access beyond the contract demand maintained with the distribution licensee. It also set ₹0.89(~$0.010)/kWh as the additional surcharge payable by partial open access consumers, excluding green energy open access consumers for availing open access up to the contract demand maintained with the distribution license

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the Battery Energy Storage Sale Agreement signed by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL) with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to procure 150 MW/300 MWh energy storage capacity. The Commission directed GUVNL to publicly disclose the name of the successful bidder, the tariff quotes, and the breakup received on its website for 30 days.

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved tariffs ranging from ₹3.11 (~$0.037)/kWh to ₹3.17 (~$0.038)/kWh for 240 MW of wind power projects. The tariffs were discovered through competitive bidding conducted by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam  (GUVNL). GUVNL filed a petition under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, for adopting tariffs discovered through competitive bidding for 500 MW of grid-connected wind power projects (Phase V), with an additional allocation of up to 500 MW under a greenshoe option.

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission has set an additional surcharge of ₹0.93 (~$0.011)/kWh for the consumers of four state-owned distribution companies (DISCOM) — DGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL, and UGVCL — who avail power through open access from any source other than their DISCOMs. The additional surcharge will apply to purchased power from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. GUVNL and the four DISCOMs filed an appeal before the Appellate Tribunal For Electricity against an order that decided the applicability and methodology of additional surcharges to open-access consumers in 2018.

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission has adopted a weighted average tariff of ₹4.08 (~$0.049)/kWh for Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company’s composite tender to procure 1,600 MW of thermal power and 5,000 MW of solar power. The Commission has finalized a tariff of ₹5.39 (~$0.065)/kWh for thermal power, which includes a fixed charge of ₹3.67(~$0.044)/kWh and a fuel charge of ₹1.72 (~$0.021)/kWh. The tariff for solar power is set at ₹2.70 (~$0.033)/kWh.

Coal India has issued a tender for the balance work on a risk and cost basis for a 100 MW  grid-connected solar photovoltaic power project in Gujarat. The project is located at Bhadramali and Jabadia Village, Banaskata District. The last date to submit the bids is October 24, 2024. Bids will be opened on October 27. The scope of the work includes completing the balance work on an “as is where is” basis, utilizing supplied materials and executed work, and supplying and erecting the remaining components.