As India aggressively pursues its clean energy goals, the gap between policy ambition and on-ground execution remains a central concern. With a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, the urgency to build infrastructure, resolve regulatory friction, and fast-track deployment is greater than ever.

These issues were explored in depth on the second day of the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025 during a panel discussion titled “Scaling Renewable Projects: Overcoming Challenges for Timely Execution.” The panel featured  Vaibhav Roongta, Chief Business Officer at Rays Power Infra, Purnendu Chaubey, Senior VP at ReNew, Ajay Kumar Sinha, General Manager at Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and Deepak Ushadevi, MD and CEO at Ciel et Terre Solar.

Priya Sanjay, Managing Director, Mercom India, moderated the discussion.

Kicking off the discussion, Roongta highlighted that while solar module and inverter availability have improved, transmission infrastructure remains the largest constraint. He explained that the lead times for critical high-voltage equipment such as 220 kV and 400 kV switchyards, transformers, and isolators have now reached almost 20 months, making them one of the top reasons for project delays.

He added that developers are now required to secure increasingly larger parcels of land, up to 1,500 acres, for utility-scale solar projects, which has further complicated the land aggregation and registration process. While earlier developers could assemble smaller plots over a few months, the process now takes more than a year in many cases.

Roongta suggested that digitizing the land registration and conversion process could help speed up development timelines. He noted that the current process requires landowners to be physically present for documentation. He proposed that an online registration model, similar to those used in urban real estate for rental agreements, could reduce delays.

Ushadevi emphasized that floating solar remains one of India’s most promising solutions to land constraints, but it continues to face policy and perception hurdles. He explained that while floating solar installations were previously 40% to 50% more expensive than ground-mounted projects, design improvements and economies of scale have now brought the cost difference down to approximately 9% to 12%.

Despite these advances, Ushadevi noted that floating solar still faces challenges related to a lack of regulatory clarity and risk perception. Developers are concerned about long-term sustainability and operations, given that the infrastructure is deployed on water. He highlighted that anchoring systems, flotation stability, and safety mechanisms, which are required to last over 25 years, necessitate different engineering capabilities.

Ushadevi said that most engineering graduates lack the specialized training needed to work on floating solar projects, and companies have had to develop internal training programs to bridge the skill gap.

He also noted that floating solar has advantages beyond land savings, including higher energy output due to natural cooling and significant water conservation. According to him, these benefits are not yet fully captured in current policy frameworks, and stronger incentives and mandates are needed to scale adoption.

Chaubey discussed the increasing importance of storage in renewable energy development. He stated that ReNew’s early investments in hybrid projects, which integrate solar, wind, and battery storage, had proven successful, particularly in meeting peak-hour demand obligations. One of the company’s recent projects in Karnataka includes 150 MWh of battery storage and supplies electricity during morning and evening peak hours under a high-penalty regime.

He also explained that battery costs have declined, making storage financially viable in more projects. Storage is no longer an optional enhancement but a central part of project financial modeling, especially in firm power contracts. According to Chaubey, storage has overtaken wind in importance when designing hybrid solutions.

Chaubey also noted that solar curtailment in Rajasthan has reached 25% to 30% in some areas due to transmission delays and demand-supply mismatches. In such cases, storage could help preserve generation value and grid stability. He welcomed recent policy developments in energy storage but noted that long-term storage procurement frameworks and improved incentives are necessary to accelerate its adoption.

Sinha echoed the importance of storage and explained how SECI is integrating it into a wide range of tenders. He said that most upcoming tender designs now assume a minimum of two hours of energy storage, either through batteries or other mechanisms, to meet dispatch requirements.

He added that SECI has introduced new tender frameworks that use empirical formulas to enable fair competition across multiple technologies. These frameworks aim to prevent tenders from being unintentionally biased toward specific technologies, allowing greater participation and innovation. He said the recent module supply tender was well-received, and SECI would continue refining its approach to make future tenders more inclusive and competitive.

Sinha pointed out that the ability of developers to meet commissioning deadlines is directly tied to timely transmission connectivity. He said that developers are making genuine efforts to meet timelines, but they are often delayed due to the grid infrastructure not being ready.

He added that the commissioning process itself has become more complex, with multiple layers of compliance, testing, and approvals, particularly for hybrid projects.

Sinha also highlighted SECI’s role in providing payment security and stated that it has been instrumental in building investor confidence. While SECI is not currently involved in direct project financing, Sinha said the agency is exploring ways to further reduce the risk for developers through coordination and policy support.

Chaubey emphasized the importance of execution over expansion in the years to come. He said that while many companies have announced large order books and ambitious plans, few have consistently delivered projects. According to him, the sector must shift focus from signing MoUs to completing high-quality, on-time installations. He added that developers should be held to higher accountability standards if the sector wants to sustain investor interest and public trust.

Roongta noted that module manufacturing is scaling rapidly in India, but solar cells remain a weak link. He said that while module manufacturing is relatively simple and cost-effective, cell production is more complex and capital-intensive. As a result, many developers are now backward integrating into cell manufacturing to ensure supply reliability. He added that developers aiming for 2 GW to 3 GW annually cannot afford to be constrained by limited cell availability and must invest in securing their supply chains.

Ushadevi said that as floating solar matures, Indian companies should focus on technology innovation and global market competitiveness. He said that India has already developed industry-leading designs in pontoon structures and anchoring mechanisms and should now position itself as a global exporter of floating solar solutions. He called for more investment in research and development, as well as stronger branding and quality control, to differentiate Indian products in international markets.

The panel also discussed workforce challenges. Chaubey and Ushadevi agreed that most engineering graduates are not job-ready for large-scale renewable projects. While classroom education covers the basics, practical skills required for execution, such as structural design, hydrodynamic modeling, and project logistics, are largely absent. They called for joint training initiatives between industry and government to bridge this talent gap and prepare a new generation of clean energy professionals.

Looking ahead, panelists said that grid integration, project execution, and storage adoption will be the defining factors for India’s energy future. While policy and ambition are aligned, delivering projects at scale, on time, and with reliability will determine whether India reaches its clean energy goals.

In closing remarks, Sinha reiterated that SECI is committed to supporting the sector’s transition from ambition to action. He said that with better coordination, risk-sharing, and long-term planning, India’s renewable sector can not only meet but exceed its 2030 targets.