The recent recommendation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) to impose an antidumping duty of up to 30% on Chinese solar cells is likely to boost the domestic solar cell manufacturing sector. The antidumping duty recommendation also applies to modules using solar cells, originating in or exported from China. The DGTR has proposed to impose the duty for three years. Despite the challenges of cell supply crunches and rising module costs, both module and cell manufacturers have welcomed the move toward developing a more resilient domestic solar industry.

Importers of solar and wind energy components must register the items with the Renewable Energy Equipment Import Monitoring System before bringing them into the country and declare the intended end-use of the imported products. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has released amendments to the import policy condition for specific solar and wind components covered under ITC (I-IS) 2022, Schedule I, for registration under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s equipment import monitoring system. The amended list will be effective from November 1, 2025.

The Punjab Electricity Regulatory Commission issued the draft Deviation Settlement Mechanism and Related Matters Regulations, 2025, to establish a commercial mechanism to ensure grid users’ adherence to scheduled electricity drawal and injection and maintain grid security and stability. Stakeholders can submit their feedback by October 23, 2025. The regulations apply to all sellers with installed capacity of 5 MW and above connected to the intrastate transmission system, including renewable energy, except wind and solar open access generators and captive generators, except in situ captive.

Northeast Frontier Railway floated two tenders for setting up 5 MW of ground-mounted solar projects in Alipurduar, West Bengal, under a public-private partnership. The projects will be set up at the Kanchan View colony (3 MW), Alipurduar junction, and near the junction’s powerhouse (2 MW). Bids must be submitted by November 5, 2025. The scope of work entails the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar projects. It also involves providing operation and maintenance services for 25 years. The projects must consist of at least 550 MW of bi-facial monocrystalline or N-type TOPCon solar modules that have been certified under the International Electrotechnical Commission.

NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam invited bids to set up a 250 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Kerala. The BESS installation will be at the 220 kV Brahmapuram substation in Kochi, Kerala, with an interconnection at the 220 kV voltage level within the jurisdiction of Kerala State Electricity Board. The project will be supported by viability gap funding at a rate of ₹1.8 million (~$20,286)/MWh, amounting to ₹900 million (~$10.14 million) for the total project capacity. The project’s total storage capacity will be 500 MWh with a power rating of 250 MW, designed for a two-hour discharge duration. Bids must be submitted by November 11, 2025. Bids will be opened on November 12. The scope of work includes the design, engineering, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and operation of the BESS. The developer must also construct an interconnection bay at the 220 kV state transmission utility substation, along with the required control, protection, metering, and cybersecurity systems.

West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) invited bids to set up 250 MW/1,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems with an additional 250 MW/1,000 MWh under the greenshoe option at Goaltore substation, Paschim Midnapore. Bids must be submitted by November 14, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same day. The BESS should be designed for interconnection with the WBSEDCL network at the 132 kV bus at the Goaltore substation. Developers must guarantee AC to AC round-trip efficiency of 90% on a monthly basis. Developers must use only commercially established and operational technologies to minimize the technology risk and to achieve timely commissioning.

Companies in India’s hard-to-abate cement sector are increasingly turning to solar and other renewable energy sources as part of their decarbonization and net-zero initiatives. Recently, JK Lakshmi Cement announced that it will procure power from a 9.9 MW solar project from a special purpose vehicle of AMPIN Energy Transition. The cement company entered into a power purchase, share purchase, and shareholders’ agreement with Ampin C&I Power Four, and invested ₹40 million (~$451,024) to acquire 26% equity in the special purpose vehicle. In its annual report for the financial year 2025, JK Lakshmi Cement stated that 49% of its power was sourced from renewable sources.

Envision Energy India signed an agreement with Evren to supply around 152 wind turbine generators of its EN 156/3.3 MW turbine platform, totaling 501.6 MW. Evren will deploy these wind turbines in Andhra Pradesh. Envision’s wind turbines have a 156-meter rotor diameter and a 140-meter hub height. This 3.3 MW turbine platform has been deployed in markets of the Middle East and North Africa region, Southeast Asia, and China, besides 2.5 GW operational in India. Evren, backed by Brookfield Global Transition Fund, aims to develop over 10 GW of renewable energy assets across solar, wind, and battery storage in key states like Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

Tire manufacturer MRF signed a power purchase agreement with Serentica Renewables to procure clean energy from a 170 MW hybrid renewable energy project under development. The captive arrangement will allow MRF to meet its substantial electricity requirements, supporting its ongoing sustainability and net-zero ambitions. A special purpose vehicle, Serentica Renewables India 26, was created to supply renewable power to MRF. MRF has invested ₹990 million (~$11.15 million) to acquire a 26% equity stake in the special purpose vehicle.

Optimized electrolytes and manufacturing processes increase the energy storage capacity of the latest electron-conducting carbon-cement-based materials (EC3) supercapacitors significantly, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. EC³ supercapacitors are energy storage devices made from concrete. These devices can power electronics, store energy from renewable sources, and offer real-time structural health monitoring for buildings and roads. The study, published on PNAS, states that storing energy adequate to meet an average home’s daily requirements would have needed approximately 43 m³ of EC3 in 2023. However, after the recent discovery, approximately 5 m³ of concrete can achieve the same task.

China announced new export control measures on multiple components used in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries and cathode materials, according to the country’s Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs. Exporters aiming to export the listed items must apply for a license under the relevant provisions of China’s Export Control Law and regulations on export control of dual-use items. The export control measures will take effect on November 8, 2025. Rechargeable and dischargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries (including cells and battery packs) with a minimum weight-energy density of 300 Wh/kg.