Over three and a half years after the government launched a program to install 250 million electricity consumer smart meters by the end of the financial year 2026, the results are dismal. According to the latest National Smart Grid Mission data, only 20.85 million smart meters have been installed under various programs. In all, 222.35 million smart meters were approved, and 38.02 million were awarded. The deployment is less than 10% of the target. The target date for the Smart Meter National Program under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme is March 31, 2026.

The Madhya Pradesh government’s New and Renewable Energy Department issued the Madhya Pradesh Renewable Energy Policy 2025, targeting 50% of annual power consumption from renewable energy resources by 2030. The policy will be valid for five years and applies to all renewable energy projects of at least 500 kW. Decentralized renewable energy systems will not come under the purview of the policy. The state government will form district-level implementation committees to operationalize the policy

Renew Solar Power, EG Energy Development, Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon, Serentica Renewables India, and Tata Power Renewable Energy won SJVN’s auction to develop 1,200 MW interstate transmission systems-connected projects to supply firm and dispatchable renewable energy. The total capacity auctioned by SJVN was 448 MW. Renew Solar won 100 MW at a tariff of ₹4.82 (~$0.0532)/kWh, EG Energy 60 MW at ₹4.83 (~$0.0553)/kWh, Dineshchandra 100 MW at ₹4.86 (~$0.0556)/kWh, Serentica Renewables 100 MW at ₹4.89 (~$0.0560)/kWh, and Tata Power Renewable Energy 88 MW at ₹4.91 (~$0.0562)/kWh.

Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam issued an expression of interest for the design, survey, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of cumulative 101.15 MW solar projects under Component A of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM). The scope of work includes comprehensive operations and maintenance of the projects for 25 years. The projects will be associated with an 11 kV line connecting the solar projects with various 33/11 KV sub-stations and a remote monitoring system. Bids must be submitted by March 26, 2025. Bids will be opened on March 28.

NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam issued a request for selection to set up 500 MW/1,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Rajasthan under a build, own, and operate model. Bids must be submitted by March 31, 2025. Bids will be opened on April 1. The project’s scope of work entails setting up the BESS and its interconnection with the state transmission utilities network. It also includes constructing the substation bay.

The Ministry of Power released the thirteenth annual integrated ratings and rankings report for the financial year 2024, which assessed the financial and operational performance of 52 power distribution companies. The evaluation was based on parameters such as Average Cost of Supply– Average Realizable Revenue gap, Aggregate Technical and Commercial loss, billing efficiency, collection efficiency, governance, subsidy realized, and adherence to tariff cycle timelines.

For Maharashtra-based SG Heavy Engineering, deciding to go for a rooftop solar system was a no-brainer. The engineering and fabrication company realized there was a substantial saving on energy costs and an opportunity to cut its emissions by opting to adopt solar. The 400-kW rooftop solar installation at its 200,000 sq ft facility in Wada will yield savings of up to ₹5 million (~$57,659.60) on energy costs annually. After assessing that it would make economic sense to put up a rooftop solar system, it turned to Ohms Energy to make it possible.

The U.S. is expected to add 63 GW of new utility-scale power capacity in 2025, a nearly 30% increase from 48.6 GW in 2024, the largest annual capacity installation since 2002, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory report. EIA’s analysis found that solar energy and battery storage will comprise 81% of the projected capacity additions, with solar accounting for over 50% of the growth.

U.S.-based solar module manufacturer First Solar reported a revenue of $1.51 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, a 31% year-over-year increase from $1.16 billion. The revenue also beat analysts’ expectations by $33.54 million. The company’s earnings per share came in at $3.65 compared to $3.25 in the same quarter the previous year. The EPS missed expectations by $1.08. First Solar’s net income for the quarter was $393.12 million, a 12.5% growth compared to $349.24 million in Q4 2023.