Chhattisgarh, which has traditionally relied on coal sources for its energy requirements, has recently seen a surge in solar capacity additions, accounting for about 5% of the 13.6 GW installed capacity in the state as of September 2023. The state has witnessed a dramatic increase in open access solar from 3 MW in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023 to 28 MW in Q3 2023, according to Q3 2023 Mercom India Solar Open Access Market Report. By the end of September 2023, Chhattisgarh’s cumulative open access solar capacity reached 380.7 MW, making it the ninth highest in the country, accounting for 3.5% of the country’s total. The state’s recent policy adjustments, particularly certain exemptions for open access, have decisively boosted Chhattisgarh’s overall solar capacity.

Military Engineer Services has floated a tender to complete the balance work of 1 MW rooftop solar systems at the Air Force Station in Nagpur. The project should be completed within two months of receiving the work order. Selected bidders must also oversee the project’s comprehensive maintenance for five years. The project’s estimated cost is ₹9.7 million (~$117,026). The last day to submit the bids is February 1, 2024. Bids will be opened on February 8. Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹170,500 (~$2,057).

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has invited bids from project developers to set up a 5 MW ground-mounted solar power project at its Ranipur facility in Haridwar on a build, own, operate, and maintain basis. The scope of work includes developing, constructing, synchronizing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining the solar project. It also includes setting up the evacuation network up to the BHEL substation. The selected bidder must sign a 25-year power purchase agreement with BHEL.

Uttar Pradesh New & Renewable Energy Development Agency has invited bids for a five-year operation and maintenance contract for 2.921 MW of mini-grid and decentralized distributed generation (DDG) solar power projects installed on a revenue model basis. The projects include 16 mini-grids with a combined capacity of 2.332 MW and 30 DDG solar projects of 580 kW. The last day to submit the bids is January 29, 2024. Bids will be opened the next day. Bidders must submit a tender fee of ₹11,800 (~$142) and an earnest money deposit of ₹25,000 (~$300).

Khanij Bidesh India has signed an agreement with the Argentina-based mining company Catamarca Minera Y Energetica Sociedad Del Estado for the exploration and development of five lithium brine blocks as the South Asian nation looks to secure a supply of the soft metal used in batteries of everything from electric vehicles to smartphones. The government claimed this to be the first-ever lithium exploration and mining project by a government company of India and aims to bring in technical & operational experience for brine-type lithium exploration, exploitation, and extraction.

Sonpur Division of East Central Railway has invited bids for state-wise empanelment of agencies to implement 1.24 MW grid-connected rooftop solar power projects at its electric loco shed in Barauni Junction through public-private partnership and on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis. The projects would be developed in two capacity ranges— (i) above 10 kW and up to 100 kW for a total of 140 kW, and (ii) above 100 kW and up to 500 kW, totaling 1,100 kW. Bidders can quote for one or all the capacities.

The Delhi Transport Department has issued a request for proposals to select service providers to deploy 1,000 high-speed and 2,000 low-speed public electric scooters to bridge the last-mile connectivity issue for public transport in the Dwarka sub-city. The last date to submit the bids is February 15, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day. Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹4 million (~$48,216). The first successful bidder (L1) must submit a performance bank guarantee of ₹6 million (~$72,307), whereas the second successful bidder (L2) must submit ₹4 million (~$48,216).

State Bank of India has issued $250 million senior, unsecured, green floating rate notes through private placement facilitated by its London branch, set to mature on December 29, 2028. The bond, issued on a floating rate of 1.20% above the secured overnight financing rate, was listed on the Global Securities Market of the India International Exchange. The bond issuance is part of SBI’s $10 billion medium-term note program. The proceeds of the issuance will be allocated towards eligible green projects in accordance with the bank’s environmental, social, and governance financing framework.

Mahindra Group and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board have announced an Infrastructure Investment Trust, dubbed Sustainable Energy Infra Trust (SEIT), with an initial capital raise of ₹13.65 billion ($165 million) to advance the renewable energy sector in India. The initial offer was subscribed by global and Indian investors, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, as SEIT made its debut on the National Stock Exchange of India. The companies claimed the trust is the largest of its kind, holding about 1.54 GW of operational renewable power assets.