Here is a collection of the most-read news stories and in-depth articles of 2024. Many of the top stories this year related to the residential rooftop solar program PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana program. Other themes that became popular with readers included articles on renewable energy policy changes, and solar and wind-solar hybrid energy project auctions.

MNRE Issues Clarification on Residential Rooftop Solar Subsidy

Residential rooftop solar applications submitted before February 13, 2024, will not be applicable for central financial assistance) under the new PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has said. Under the new program, a subsidy of ₹30,000 (~$361)/kW will be provided for residential rooftop solar systems up to 2 kW for applications submitted after February 13, 2024. An additional ₹18,000 (~$217)/kW will be available for systems of over 2 kW and up to 3 kW capacity, while for projects exceeding 3 kW, depending on the average monthly power consumption of the household, the total subsidy will be capped at ₹78,000 (~$939).

Greenko, ACME, Reliance Among Winners of SECI’s Green Hydrogen Manufacturing Auction

Reliance Green Hydrogen and Green Chemicals (Reliance), ACME Cleantech Solutions, Greenko ZeroC (Greenko), HHP Two (Hygenco), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation were among the winners of Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) tender to set up 450,000 metric tons (MT)/annum production facilities for green hydrogen, according to Mercom sources. The tender floated in July invited proposals under the Technology Agnostic Pathways bucket (Bucket I) and Biomass-based Pathways bucket (Bucket II). The total capacity under Bucket-I is 410,000 MT/annum of green hydrogen, and the total capacity under Bucket-II is 40,000 MT/annum.

Shortage of Power Transformers Threatens India’s Solar Expansion

Solar developers are facing longer lead times for power transformers as manufacturing capacity for this key component in large-scale solar projects has failed to keep pace with demand, slowing solar deployment in India. With approximately 143 GW of large-scale solar projects under various stages of development and another 96 GW of solar projects tendered and pending auction, the demand for transformers is exploding, according to the Q1 2024 India Solar Market Update from Mercom India Research.

MNRE Sets Guidelines for Solar Modules and Inverters under PM Surya Ghar

The MNRE has released a framework for the enlistment of solar photovoltaic modules and inverters under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to assist consumers in making informed choices when selecting high-efficiency products with better warranties for their rooftop solar installations. The ministry said it has prescribed minimum technical standards for various components of rooftop solar installations to ensure quality.

Government Issues Operational Guidelines for PM Surya Ghar Program

The MNRE has issued the operational guidelines to implement the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for the component “Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to residential consumers.” These guidelines pertain to implementing CFA to residential consumers under the capex mode for eligible consumer categories only. The guidelines for other components of the program will be issued separately. The guidelines will be applicable for all applications received on the national portal from February 13, 2024. The implementation period of the program will be until March 31, 2027.

ENGIE, NHPC, JSW, SJVN and NTPC Win GUVNL’s 1,125 MW Solar Auction

Solairedirect (ENGIE), NHPC, JSW Neo Energy, SJVN, and NTPC Renewable Energy were winners in Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam’s auction to supply power from 1,125 MW grid-connected solar projects to be set up in Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL)’s renewable energy park at Khavda (GSECL Stage-3). Solairedirect secured 200 MW at a quoted tariff of ₹2.62 (~$0.031), while NHPC and SJVN obtained the same capacity each at ₹2.66 (~$0.032). JSW Neo Energy secured the highest capacity of 300 MW at a tariff of ₹2.66 (~$0.032). NTPC Renewable Energy won 225 MW at a tariff of ₹2.67 (~$0.032). The tender was floated in January 2024.

REC Limited to Lead National Rooftop Solar Program

Public infrastructure finance company REC Limited has been designated as the overall implementing agency for the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Program, which aims to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity by March 2026. REC will be responsible for executing the program prepared by the MNRE and coordinating with all stakeholders nationwide for its effective implementation.

ALMM Reimposed from April, No Exemptions for Open Access Solar Projects

The MNRE has notified the implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulation effective April 1, 2024. The new notification, however, eliminates the exemptions for projects under open access and rooftop solar by private parties, announced in the February order. While MNRE did not provide any clarifications on the exemptions, it mentioned that the ALMM order 2019, which was held in abeyance for a year, i.e., the financial year 2023-24, will come into effect on April 1, 2024. For projects where the solar modules have been received at the project site by March 31, 2024, and are not able to be commissioned by that day due to reasons beyond the control of the project developer, the ministry will examine it separately.

Jupiter to Set Up 1.2 GW Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility in Odisha

Kolkata-headquartered solar cell and module manufacturer Jupiter International is setting up a 1.2 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Odisha. Work on the plant, to be located in Khurda, will begin in the next quarter of the year. The facility will manufacture TopCon solar cells exclusively. Commissioning of the plant is expected by March 2025, Dhruv Sharma, CEO of Jupiter International, told Mercom. Jupiter’s ₹2.5 billion (~$30.2 million) solar cell project is among the 27 industrial projects that were approved by the Odisha State Level Single Window Clearance Authority.

KPI Green, Juniper, Hinduja, JSW Win GUVNL’s 500 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Auction

KPI Green Energy, Juniper Green Energy, Hinduja Renewables Energy, and JSW Neo Energy (JSW Energy) were winners in Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam’s  auction to supply power from 500 MW grid-connected wind-solar hybrid projects with a 500 MW greenshoe option. KPI Green quoted ₹3.33 (~$0.0399)/ KWh for 50 MW. Juniper won 120 MW at ₹3.34 (~$0.04) /kWh. Hinduja quoted ₹3.39 (~$0.0406)/ KWh for 150 MW. JSW won 180 MW out of the quoted capacity of 200 MW at 3.39 (~$0.0406)/ KWh under the bucket filling method. The tender was floated in February this year.