DP Cocoa Eyes ₹11 Million Power Bill Savings with Rooftop Solar Project

NLC India Invites Bids to Lease 1,500 Acres in Gujarat for Solar Projects

Odisha Proposes Ancillary Services Framework for Grid Security

IPX Power Closes $4.95 Billion Financing for Solar and Storage Projects

Energy Trading Startup Shatterdome Energy Raises $3.5M Pre-Seed Funding

Veda Solar Begins Commercial Production of Modules at 1.5 GW Surat Plant

Fujiyama to Set Up 1.2 GW Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant in Madhya Pradesh

I Squared Capital Launches $1 Billion Power Transmission Platform in India

MSMEs Gain Easier Access to Clean Energy Financing as Banks Expand Offerings

Daily News Wrap-Up: India Installs 2.7 GW Solar Open Access in Q1 2026

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					</table>India’s push to expand solar manufacturing is exposing a persistent gap between academic training and industry requirements, contributing to a <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/trained-workforce-shortage-imperils-indias-renewable-energy-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growing</a> shortage of skilled workforce, according to industry leaders.
The widening skills gap has increasingly affected project costs, execution timelines, and overall productivity across the sector.
The challenge extends beyond curriculum design to include infrastructure limitations, insufficient faculty exposure, and limited industry integration. As India scales its solar manufacturing ecosystem, academic institutions are reassessing how engineers are trained for manufacturing-focused roles.
Theory-Heavy Learning
One of the most widely acknowledged challenges in solar education is the imbalance between theoretical knowledge and practical skill development.
Most academic programs continue to fall short in preparing students for real-world industry roles.
“Courses are largely technical in nature and cover technologies and some aspects of manufacturing,” said Nikhil Tambe, Chief Executive Officer, The Energy Consortium at the Indian Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT</a>) Madras. “But they stop there. They do not necessarily cover what somebody on the ground needs, like installation skills or practical deployment.”
This lack of hands-on exposure is particularly critical in solar manufacturing, where operational efficiency and precision on the factory floor play a decisive role.
Training in installation, equipment handling, and system troubleshooting, essential for workforce readiness, is still not systematically embedded in most academic programs.
Acknowledging the gap, institutions have begun offering new courses specifically focused on skills development for working professionals and students entering the solar installation and manufacturing segment.
Curriculum Revamp
According to Balachander Krishnan, Chief Operating Officer at <a href="https://indosolsolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indosol Solar</a>, addressing the skills gap must begin with a fundamental overhaul of how solar manufacturing is taught.
“Curriculum revamp is not optional. It has to be co-designed with industry,” he said. “We need to move beyond legacy content and introduce specializations in next-generation technologies like TOPCon, HJT, and even emerging areas like perovskites.”
Beyond theoretical updates, he highlighted the role of digital tools in accelerating learning. Technologies such as virtual and augmented reality can simulate real manufacturing environments, enabling students to train on complex processes safely and efficiently before entering the factory floor.
Industry Collaborations
To bridge the disconnect between academia and industry, many institutions are increasingly relying on industry partnerships to make learning more relevant and application-oriented. Industry-funded research projects, consultancy assignments, and collaborative programs are exposing students to real-world challenges early in their academic journey.
At IIT Madras, for instance, industry-funded projects now constitute a significant portion of academic work. Students involved in these projects gain valuable insights into industry operations, including project timelines, deliverables, and problem-solving in live environments.
“When students work on industry projects, they understand how to plan for 12 to 24 months, unlike pure research, they get tuned to industry needs,” Tambe explained.
Short-term technical consultancy has also seen a rise, with industries approaching academic institutions to address specific operational challenges. Although shorter in duration, these assignments provide highly focused and practical learning opportunities.
A standout initiative is the Industrial Energy Assessment Cell at IIT Madras. Under the program, student teams visit industrial units, especially MSMEs, to measure energy consumption, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements.
Over time, the initiative has evolved into a hub-and-spoke model involving around 10 IITs, supported by approximately 50 full-time members and several student participants.
At the doctoral level, industry integration has become even more prominent. Industry-funded PhD programs and research consortia allow students to work on long-term, forward-looking challenges defined by companies.
Infrastructure a Key Differentiator
While industry collaborations remain important, access to real-world infrastructure is emerging as a decisive factor in addressing the skills gap. While many institutions continue to rely on partnerships, Pandit Deendayal Energy University (<a href="https://pdeu.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PDEU</a>) has adopted a more infrastructure-driven approach to solving the skills gap.
The Department of Solar Energy at PDEU offers a comprehensive curriculum covering the entire solar value chain, from semiconductor physics and cell design to module manufacturing, power electronics, and policy frameworks. This curriculum is continuously updated through active research and industry feedback.
The university operates a 1 MW multi-technology, grid-connected solar park that has been active since 2011, providing students with exposure to real-time solar performance. It also commissioned a 45 MW solar module manufacturing line in 2024 that replicates an industrial production environment and offers hands-on training on equipment such as stringer machines, lamination presses, and electroluminescence testers.
Pankaj Yadav, Associate Professor at the Department of Solar Energy, explains, “Students here don’t just learn about solar manufacturing, they work directly on production-grade systems.”
Echoing this view, Abhijit Ray, Professor in the Department of Solar Energy, said such infrastructure ensures students are exposed simultaneously to both systems-level and manufacturing-level challenges, a combination rarely available in academic settings.
Krishnan also emphasized the need for embedded infrastructure. “We need ‘labs-on-campus’ where industry brings in actual manufacturing equipment. Training cannot happen in abstraction. It has to mirror real production environments,” he added.
Faculty Gaps
Another challenge is the shortage of faculty with direct industry experience. Even leading institutions continue to face significant staffing gaps. “There is a large shortage of faculty, even at IIT Madras. We would like to have significantly more,” Tambe said.
To address this, new roles such as “Professor of Practice” have been introduced, enabling industry professionals to teach for short durations and bring practical insights into academic programs. The relatively short tenures are designed to ensure a continuous influx of industry expertise into classrooms.
At PDEU, faculty recruitment places strong emphasis on international research exposure and applied industry expertise.
Joint R&amp;D and Innovation Ecosystems
Looking ahead, deeper collaboration in research and innovation could play a transformative role in strengthening India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem.
“Joint research and development (R&amp;D) projects between academia and industry are critical,” said Krishnan. “Students should work on real manufacturing challenges, including improving yield, reducing material consumption, and minimizing defects in crystal growth.”
Such collaborations not only enhance practical learning but also contribute directly to industry competitiveness and manufacturing efficiency.
Standardization and Certification
Another gap is the absence of standardized skill benchmarks across the solar sector.
“India needs national-level certification frameworks for solar technicians. This ensures consistency in quality across the sector,” Krishnan noted.
He also recommended aligning academic programs with national skill frameworks and working closely with the Skills Council for Green Jobs to ensure that training programs meet industry-defined qualification standards.
No Feedback Mechanism 
Evaluating whether graduates are truly industry-ready remains a complex challenge. Most institutions rely on placement statistics as the primary indicator of success. “There is no systemic feedback mechanism from industry after students graduate,” Tambe admitted.
However, PDEU adopts a broader and more outcome-oriented approach. Beyond placements, the university evaluates success through entrepreneurship, innovation, and research output.
The department notes that more than 15 companies have been founded by alumni, while over 200 startups have been incubated through the university ecosystem. Placement rates exceed 85%, with graduates joining companies such as Adani Solar, Waaree Energies, and Tata Power Solar.
“The most credible proof is not placement, it is company formation,” according to the university.
During a panel discussion at the Mercom Renewables Summit 2025, Raj Prabhu, CEO and Co-Founder of <a href="https://mercomcapital.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom Capital Group</a>, highlighted the growing talent gap as one of the biggest challenges facing India’s clean energy sector.
“India’s solar industry is scaling rapidly, but the talent pipeline has not kept pace with the market’s evolution. We regularly interview candidates across the industry, and many are still being taught technologies and business models that became irrelevant years ago. Companies are spending significant time and resources retraining graduates because the education system has not evolved alongside industry. Many students have told me they learned more about the market from reading Mercom India publications than from their college curriculum,” Prabhu said.
Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>), also <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-sets-target-of-1-8-tw-of-renewable-energy-capacity-by-2047" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acknowledged</a> the need to modernize training programs. “Traditional approaches aren’t enough. We need to introduce renewable energy modules in engineering colleges, industrial training institutes, and vocational schools. Industry involvement is key to building effective curricula,” he said.
As India works towards its ambitious target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, demand for a skilled workforce in solar manufacturing is expected to surge. Engineering colleges must quickly align their curricula with the evolving requirements of the solar manufacturing ecosystem, particularly as the government increases its focus on domestic manufacturing across the value chain, from ingots and wafers to cells and modules.

Bridging the Solar Skills Gap as Academia Races to Catch Up

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					</table>Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Madras</a>) have said that all-organic redox flow batteries (NORFBs) could achieve enhanced energy density, stability, and solubility by introducing pyrylium salt into the mix.
This development could pave the way for cleaner and more efficient grid energy storage systems.
The team’s research focuses on non-aqueous all-organic redox flow batteries (NORFBs), which have gained significant interest due to their environmental friendliness and higher energy density than aqueous batteries.
The prototype NORFB developed by the researchers exhibited promising results, operating at a high current density of 40 mA cm-2.
It also demonstrated stability with 60 stable galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) cycles and an average coulombic efficiency of 97%.
The key component of a redox flow battery is the redox-active organic molecule (ROM), which stores and releases energy.
However, conventional ROMs often have limitations such as low solubility and poor mass and charge transfer kinetics, leading to low current and energy densities.
To address these challenges, the researchers introduced the use of pyrylium salt in NORFBs for the first time.
Pyrylium salts are widely employed in synthetic organic chemistry as photocatalysts and precursors for various applications. By utilizing two different chemical components – 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate (TPT), as the anolyte and N-decyl phenothiazine (DPTZ) as the catholyte, the researchers constructed the NORFB.
The study demonstrated that TPT offers high solubility, reversibility, and improved stability, which are crucial factors for achieving high energy density and cyclability in redox flow batteries.
The researchers also noted that the 2nd, 4th, and 6th positions of pyrylium salt provide a versatile platform for tailoring the electrochemical activity and stability of the ROMs.
Ragupathy, an associate professor and principal scientist at the Redox Flow Battery Research Group, <a href="https://cecri.res.in/Default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CSIR</a>-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, emphasized that the use of non-aqueous solvents with a wider electrochemical potential window, along with low-cost and abundant redox-active organic materials, makes NORFBs an attractive option for grid energy storage applications.
The successful implementation of TPT as the anolyte also highlights its solubility, reversibility, and improved stability, which are crucial for achieving high energy density and cyclability in redox flow batteries.
Furthermore, the study showed that by modifying substituents at different positions of pyrylium salts, it is possible to fine-tune the redox behavior and stability of ROMs, providing a versatile platform for further exploration in this field.
Last year, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-claim-aqueous-redox-flow-battery-for-renewable-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to have built a stable kilowatt-scale aqueous redox flow battery with high-performance organic redox-active molecules for renewable storage.
In the same month, researchers at the University of Sydney <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-claim-sodium-sulfur-battery-potent-than-lithium-ion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to have developed a new, low-cost sodium-sulfur battery with four times the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries.

IIT Madras Finds Pyrylium Salt Enhances Redox Flow Batteries’ Capabilities

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					</table>Researchers at <a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Madras</a> claimed to have developed an energy converter that can generate electricity from sea waves. Trials were completed successfully in the second week of November.
The test was conducted in partnership with an Andhra Pradesh-based startup Virya Paramita Energy (<a href="https://www.viryaparamita.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VPE</a>), and Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (<a href="http://www.mnnit.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNNIT</a>) Allahabad.
IIT Madras and VPE have an agreement to commercialize the technology.
The energy converter system, dubbed Sindhuja-I, meaning  &#8216;generated from the ocean,&#8217; was deployed about six kilometers from the coast of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, at 20 meters depth in the sea.
Waterfront Engineering and Infrastructure assisted in deploying the system, which aims to produce 1 MW of power from ocean waves in the next three years.
The device will aim to provide reliable electricity and communication in remote offshore locations.
Highlighting the impact of this project, lead author Abdus Samad, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “India has a 7,500 km long coastline capable of producing 54 GW of power, satisfying a substantial amount of the country&#8217;s energy requirement. Seawater stores tidal, wave, and ocean thermal energy. Among them, the harnessing of 40 GW wave energy is possible in India.”
“The vision is to make India sustainable by tapping the marine energy and net zero carbon emission to mitigate climate impact,&#8221; he added.
The electrical storage system for the device was designed by the <a href="https://www.gkciet.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GKC Institute of Engineering and Technology</a> and <a href="https://www.mckvie.edu.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MCKV Institute of Engineering</a>, West Bengal.
The researcher said that a single device at different locations along the Indian coastline could generate large quantities of clean power.
Currently, the team is considering placing multiple devices in an array configuration for maximum wave power extraction from the location.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-45962 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pressrelease05_12_2022_12_08.jpg" alt="" width="571" height="428" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pressrelease05_12_2022_12_08.jpg 571w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pressrelease05_12_2022_12_08-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 571px) 100vw, 571px" />
How Does it Work
The generator has three main elements: a floating buoy, a spar, and an electrical module.
The buoy moves up and down as the wave hits. In the present design, a balloon-like system called a &#8216;buoy&#8217; has a central hole that allows a long rod or the spar to pass through it. The spar floats while a mooring chain keeps the system in place.
The spar can be fixed to the seabed and is not affected by passing waves, while the buoy moves up and down to produce relative motion between them. The relative motion results in rotation within the electric generator to produce power.
The team said the success of the project could fulfill the U.N. Ocean Decade and Sustainable Development Goals and India&#8217;s goals, including deep water missions.
It can advance clean energy initiatives, achieve a blue economy, and help the country meet its climate goals of generating 500 GW of electricity by 2030 through renewable energy.
The project was jointly funded through the Innovative Research Project Program of IIT Madras and the Australian Alumni Grant Program 2022 by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government.
It was also partly funded by the <a href="http://tbi-kiet.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TBI-KIET</a> under the Department of Science and Technology Nidhi-Prayas program.
Currently, the lab is also researching other applications for this technology, such as producing power for smaller devices for the ocean, navigational buoys, and data buoys.
In October, Ashok Leyland and researchers of IIT Madras National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) <a href="https://www.ashokleyland.com/in/en/customers/press-release/ashok-leyland-and-iit-madras-researchers-join-forces-to-develop-hybrid-electrical-vehicles-using-turbine-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partnered</a> to develop hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) using turbine technology.
Researchers at IIT Mandi recently <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iit-mandi-researchers-claim-eco-friendly-method-to-recycle-wind-turbines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to have successfully used microwaves to recycle polymer composites from old wind turbine blades, using a rapid, sustainable, and comparatively eco-friendly method.

IIT Madras Deploys Wave Energy Generator off Tamil Nadu Coast

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					</table>Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:
Ashok Leyland and researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) at the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) have <a href="https://www.ashokleyland.com/in/en/customers/press-release/ashok-leyland-and-iit-madras-researchers-join-forces-to-develop-hybrid-electrical-vehicles-using-turbine-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partnered</a> to develop hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) using turbine technology. The collaboration will see the development and commercialization of the ‘Swirl Mesh Lean Direct Injection (LDI) system’ technology to develop a series of hybrid EVs using turbine technology. The IIT Madras researchers are developing an indigenously designed Micro Gas Turbine, which will replace the large battery. As part of the collaboration, Ashok Leyland handed over to NCCRD a nine-meter passenger electric bus.
Enercon, a Germany-based wind turbine manufacturer, and Enerjisa Üretim, a Turkey-based renewable energy company, have <a href="https://www.enercon.de/en/news/news-detail/cc_news/show/News/enercon-und-enerjisa-ueretim-buendeln-kraefte-fuer-wind-onshore-in-der-tuerkei/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreed</a> to develop a 1 GW YEKA RES 2 wind project in Turkey. Enercon will supply the wind energy converter (WEC) technology and deliver 240 E-138 EP3 E2 WECs within the next four years. In the YEKA RES 2 tender held in 2019, the 1,000 MW capacity was won by Enercon and Enerjisa Üretim – each company with a share of 500 MW. Enercon’s role as ‘technology supplier’ and Enerjisa Üretim’s part as ‘investor and operator’ were part of a cooperation agreement.
Statkraft <a href="https://www.statkraft.co.uk/newsroom/news-and-stories/archive/2022/statkraft-announces-first-uk-green-hydrogen-project-pembrokeshire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> its first UK green hydrogen project &#8211; Trecwn Green Energy Hub &#8211;  in Pembrokeshire, which would generate approximately three tons of green hydrogen a day. The green hydrogen generated at Trecwn would be used to power trains running on railway lines west of Swansea and also power Pembrokeshire Council’s fleet of heavy goods vehicles and local buses, with the site able to produce enough green hydrogen to run around 170 buses every day, when operational.
GAUSSIN, a France-based automobile company, and Lhyfe, a green hydrogen solutions provider, <a href="https://www.lhyfe.com/press/gaussin-and-lhyfe-form-a-strategic-partnership-aimed-at-accelerating-the-development-of-hydrogen-mobility-at-port-airport-and-logistics-sites/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of hydrogen mobility at the port, airport, and logistics sites. According to the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed by GAUSSIN and Lhyfe, the two operators will study the possibility of developing a comprehensive renewable mobility solution combining the hydrogen vehicles of GAUSSIN and the green and renewable hydrogen produced by Lhyfe. The partnership also includes a commercial component aimed at identifying potential customers in France and abroad, likely to be interested in such an all-around renewable mobility solution for logistics, port, and airport sites.
Wärtsilä <a href="https://www.wartsila.com/media/news/07-10-2022-wartsila-reaching-final-commissioning-for-netherland-s-largest-energy-storage-system-3166346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it would commission its first energy storage project in the Netherlands, which is the country’s largest system to date, called the GIGA Buffalo battery, a 24 MW/ 48 MWh energy storage system. It consists of Wärtsilä’s Gridsolv Quantum and GEMS Digital Energy Platform. The GIGA Buffalo battery is co-located with wind and solar assets at Lelystad&#8217;s Wageningen University &amp; Research test center. It is expected to provide Eneco, the Netherlands-based energy provider, with the energy capacity necessary to alleviate intermittency from renewables and regulate energy frequency while adding reliability to the grid. It would also improve revenues by optimizing the value of the renewable assets and providing capacity that can be dispatched during peak demand.

Daily News Wrap-Up: Ashok Leyland and IIT Madras to Develop Hybrid EVs

Hitachi ABB Power Grids has signed a memorandum of understanding  (MoU) with Ashok Leyland and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) for an e-mobility pilot project.
Under the tripartite agreement, the trio will run an electric bus (e-bus) pilot to support sustainable in-campus commuting by <a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IITM</a>&#8216;s students and staff. The e-bus will be provided by <a href="https://www.ashokleyland.com/en/web/ashokleyland/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ashok Leyland</a>, incorporating <a href="https://www.hitachiabb-powergrids.com/in/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hitachi ABB Power Grids</a>&#8216; flash-charging technology – Grid-eMotionTM Flash.
IITM will host the infrastructure required to operate the flash-charging system for the e-bus. Recently, the IITM had also developed an <a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/happenings/press-releases-and-coverages/iit-madras-develops-autonomous-solar-vehicle-survey-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">autonomous solar vehicle</a> to survey water-bodies and provide real-time data.
According to the press statement, smart e-mobility is at a nascent stage in India. The switch to electric vehicles had previously presented challenges for bus operators because it is difficult for battery-operated buses to maximize passenger load carrying capacity and running time while making the whole operation economically viable. An e-bus with flash-charging technology can solve that problem while improving the quality of air by reducing pollution in densely populated urban areas.
In January this year, Ashok Leyland <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ashok-leyland-abb-power-grids-fast-charging-electric-buses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">partnered</a> with ABB Power Grids to develop fast charging for electric buses.
&#8220;We need to have all hands-on deck – industry, academia, and policymakers to develop a strong and reliable local ecosystem to support the Indian electric vehicle (EV) revolution. We are delighted to be partnering with Ashok Leyland and IITM to provide a zero-emissions mass public transportation bus system through our award-winning technology, localized for the Indian market,&#8221; said N Venu, managing director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India.
&#8220;This latest alliance will further help us stay at the forefront of embedding innovative and indigenous technologies to nurture the smart e-mobility ecosystem in India,&#8221; said Dr. N Saravanan, chief technology officer, Ashok Leyland.
&#8220;We hope to study and understand how the right technology can enable an efficient transport system without damaging the environment. We are delighted to have partnered with the best in the industry for this endeavor,&#8221; said Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras.
Last year, the Ministry of Science &amp; Technology <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ministry-of-science-solar-harnessing-center-iit-madras/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">set up</a> a solar energy harnessing center at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Several IITs across the country are taking exemplary steps to promote sustainability on their campuses. Previously, to encourage smart mobility, the Indian Institute of Technology Patna <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iit-e-cycle-patna-campus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">floated</a> an expression of interest for providing electric cycles on a use and pay basis for the staff and students at the university campus.
Ashok Leyland also announced that Optare  Group, its majority-owned UK subsidiary is renamed Switch Mobility as part of its drive towards electrification and new mobility services. Switch (Optare) is a leading player in electric buses with more than 150 of them currently operating in its home market. It has <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ashok-leyland-subsidiary-31-ev-buses-london/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">delivered</a> 30 Electric Double Decker buses to Metroline in London. The company is currently fulfilling orders for operators including Tower Transit, London, and First York.

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