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					</table><p>At a time when the government is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/free-electricity-programs-disincentive-for-rooftop-solar-adoption" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing</a> for greater adoption of solar through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to make households energy-independent, free electricity programs have proved to be an impediment to rooftop solar in some states. When consumers receive up to 300 free units per month in some states, they see little reason to invest in rooftop solar systems. These programs also put severe financial strain on power distribution companies, many of which are already struggling with debt.</p>
<p>Transmission and distribution company Adani Energy Solutions <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/adani-energy-wins-transmission-project-3-gw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> a power transmission project from PFC Consulting to supply 3 GW of renewable energy to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia in Mundra, Gujarat. This project involves upgrading the Navinal (Mundra) electrical substation by adding two large 765/400kV transformers. A 75 km long 765 kV double-circuit line will also be constructed to connect this substation to the Bhuj substation.</p>
<p>The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/central-regulator-sets-tariff-for-50-mw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">determined</a> a generic tariff of ₹7.87 (~$0.091)/kWh for NTPC Green Energy’s 50 MW Rajgarh solar project. Although the petitioner, NTPC Green, argued for higher tariffs based on different commissioning phases, the Commission held that the project was commissioned in the financial year 2014-15. However, in the interest of fairness, it decided to apply the tariff for the financial year 2013-14 rather than the lower tariff for 2014-15.</p>
<p>The CERC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cerc-approves-tariff-for-nhpcs-3-gw-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the adoption of tariffs ranging from ₹2.52 (~$0.0292)/kWh to ₹2.53 (~$0.0294)/kWh for NHPC’s 3 GW grid-connected solar projects. The Commission also approved a trading margin of ₹0.07 (~$0.0008)/kWh. The petitioner, NHPC, floated a tender for setting up 3 GW interstate transmission system-connected solar projects. Sixteen bids were received, and letters of award were issued to eight successful bidders on December 7, 2023.</p>
<p>The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/kerc-proposes-tariff-of-%E2%82%B92-93-kwh-for-pm-surya-ghar-projects-above-3-kw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> a tariff of ₹2.3 (~$0.026)/kWh for rooftop solar projects under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana with a maximum capacity of 2 kW, ₹2.48 (~$0.028)/KWh for projects between 2 kW and 3 kW, and ₹2.93 (~$0.033)/kWh for projects above 3 kW. The Commission has also invited stakeholders’ comments on the proposed tariff by April 15, 2025.</p>
<p>NTPC Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-invites-bids-for-land-and-power-evacuation-for-240-mw-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for land and power evacuation packages for NTPC Green Energy’s 240 MW solar projects with battery energy storage systems in Devikot, Rajasthan. The last date to submit bids is April 29, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same day. The scope of work involves land arrangement, securing the approach road until the pooling substation, topography survey for land parcels, geotech investigation for pooling substation and transmission system, land-fencing, and lease management for private land.</p>
<p>Hero MotoCorp <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/hero-motocorp-acquires-32-5-stake-in-euler-motors-for-%E2%82%B95-25-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an investment of ₹5.25 billion (~$61.06 million) in Euler Motors to expand into the electric three-wheeler market. The investment will be made in one or more tranches for Hero MotoCorp to acquire a 32.5% stake on a fully diluted basis. It will be made through a mix of primary and secondary acquisitions and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2025. Euler Motors specializes in designing, manufacturing, selling, and servicing electric three- and four-wheeler electric vehicles.</p>
<p>The U.S. energy storage market <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/us-energy-storage-market-hit-new-record-with-12-3-gw-installations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">achieved</a> a new record with 12.3 GW installations across all segments in 2024, according to the latest U.S. Energy Storage Monitor report from the American Clean Power Association and Wood Mackenzie. The country’s annual energy storage installations increased 33% year-over-year. In the year’s fourth quarter (Q4), grid-scale energy storage deployments reduced by 20% compared to Q4 2023.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Free Electricity Programs Impeding PM Surya Ghar Growth


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					</table><p>Adani Energy Solutions (<a href="https://www.adanienergysolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AESL</a>) has commissioned the 765 kV Warora-Kurnool Transmission line (WKTL), spanning 1,756 circuit kilometers across Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The line is expected to ensure a seamless flow of 4,500 MW of power between the western and southern regions and support the large-scale integration of generation from renewable energy sources.</p>
<p>The project has installed mid-stream towers of 102m height on the Krishna River.</p>
<p>In 2015, WKTL was incorporated to establish an additional inter-regional link for the import of power into the southern region.</p>
<p>The 765 kV tariff-based competitive bidding was awarded to Essel InfraProjects in early 2016 and subsequently acquired by AESL in 2021.</p>
<p>Part of the Adani Group, AESL is present across 14 states with a cumulative transmission network of 20,000 ckm and 53,000 MVA transformation capacity.</p>
<p>The company said the erection of towers and the stringing of lines crossing six major power lines, railway-electrified tracks, and national highways was challenging. A total of 103,000 metric tons of steel was used for erecting the towers.</p>
<p>In August, Adani Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/adani-acquire-transmission-project-gujarat">signed</a> an agreement to acquire KPS1 transmission at Khavda in Gujarat. The company will buy 100% equity shares of KPS 1 at a face value of ₹10 (~$0.12) per share.</p>
<p>In the same month, the company <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/adani-attains-financial-transmission-link-in-mumbai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> financial closure for its $1 billion Green High Voltage Direct Current link project in Mumbai. It said the link would help enhance grid stability in Mumbai, where the electricity demand is projected to touch 5,000 MW by 2025, compared to the current peak demand of 4,000 MW.</p>
<p>Last December, Adani Transmission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-adani-bags" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> the letter of intent to acquire Karur Transmission, which involved establishing a 2×500 MVA, 400/230 kV pooling station line in line out of both circuits of the Pugalur—Pugalur 400 kV DC line. The line will help evacuate renewable energy from the Karur-Tiruppur region.</p>


Adani Commissions 1,756 km-Long 765 kV Warora-Kurnool Transmission Line

<p>Adani Electric Mumbai Limited (<a href="https://www.adanielectricity.com/About" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AEML</a>) has issued a tender to implement a smart metering solution in its power distribution area of 700,000 consumers in the east division in Mumbai.</p>
<p>Interested bidders are expected to make an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹25 million (~$0.33 million). The last date for bid submission is September 14, 2020. The tender stated that bids would only be accepted in electronic format.</p>
<p>Adani is planning to implement an automatic metering infrastructure (AMI) solution for 700,000 meters to smart group metering by setting up RF (radio frequency) communication canopy network across its distribution area spanning over 99 square kilometers.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes the implementation of smart group metering. The bidders need to supply, install, test, commission and provide training of RF communication canopy network elements, RF nodes, group, and standalone smart meters, group smart meter cabin and field maintenance services, head-end system, meter data management system, customer portal and its integrations with the existing AEML systems along with IT infrastructure on the cloud. Bidders have to maintain the entire solution for ten years, and it must be scalable up to 3 million.</p>
<p>To be eligible to take part in the competitive bidding process, the annual turnover of prospective bidders should be at least ₹4 billion (~$53.38 million) for domestic bidders and $55 million (~₹4.12 billion) for an international bidder.</p>
<p>Prospective bidders should be in the business of manufacturing and supplying of electricity meters and other electrical instruments and metering accessories (at least three years for the domestic bidder and five years of the international bidder as on tender date).</p>
<p>Bidders should also have successfully deployed a minimum of 500,000 units for AMI in power distribution utilities in India or overseas during the last five years.</p>
<p>Smart meters are slowly coming into vogue with numerous states initiating the process of replacing the conventional meters to become more energy efficient.</p>
<p>For instance, earlier in 2019, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/uttar-prdesh-smart-meter-tenderelectricity-consumers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Uttar Pradesh</a> had issued a tender to set up bi-directional smart meters in the state. The bi-directional smart meters will be set up for each state-owned power distribution company in the state of Uttar Pradesh.</p>
<p>Mercom recently <a href="https://mercomindia.com/now-time-smart-meters-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> on how the infrastructure overhaul required for smart metering systems will also serve to bring the country one step closer to a digital ecosystem.</p>


Adani Invites Bids to Implement Smart Group Metering for Its Power Consumers in Mumbai

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