Punjab Commission Dismisses Solar Company’s Compensation Plea

NVVN Invites Bids for 8 MW Solar Projects at DRDO Hyderabad

MERC Orders Refund of Excess Wheeling Charges to Wind Power Generator

NextEra Energy’s Q4 2024 Revenue Drops 21.69%

Blueleaf Energy, Jakson Partner on 1 GW Rajasthan Solar Projects

Haryana Invites Bids to Procure 500 MW from Solar Power Projects

Adyant Enersol and UPC Renewables Win SJVN’s 600 MW Wind Auction

Daily News Wrap-Up: Solar Power Reaches 21% in India’s Power Mix

NTPC Floats Tenders for 4 MW Solar Projects at DRDO Delhi and Bengaluru

Assam Issues Draft Intra-State Transmission System Connectivity Regulations


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amazon_polly_74742.mp3?version=1735624550">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p>The year 2024 marked a transformative period for the wind energy sector in India, with significant growth and regulatory advancements.</p>
<p>India’s cumulative wind power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indias-wind-energy-installations-rise-72-yoy-in-q3-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">installations</a>  as of September 2024 was 47.3 GW. The capacity additions in 2024 have been driven by increased demand for wind energy by state distribution companies and other obligated entities to fulfill their renewable purchase obligations.</p>
<p><strong>Here are some of the top developments in the wind energy sector in 2024:</strong></p>
<p>The Union Cabinet <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/vgf-program-offshore-wind-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> a VGF program of ₹74.53 billion (~$893.34 million) in June to support offshore wind projects, with ₹68.53 billion allocated for 1 GW of capacity across Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. This initiative also includes ₹6 billion (~$71.92 million) for port upgrades to aid in logistics.</p>
<p>Later in the year, MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-issues-vgf-guidelines-for-1-gw-offshore-wind-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> guidelines for the VGF implementation for 1 GW offshore wind projects. The VGF program is for projects to be commissioned until the financial year 2031-2032. The VGF will be disbursed in a phased manner: 25% will be released after the completion of foundation works, 35% after commissioning 50% of project capacity, 35% after commissioning the total project capacity accepted under the PPA, and 5% after one year of operation of the project. The first installment of VGF will only be released after the developer submits an equal amount of equity/debt or both.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://niwe.res.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Institute of Wind Energy</a> <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-issues-vgf-guidelines-for-1-gw-offshore-wind-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identified</a> a 500 MW offshore project site off Gujarat, with another 500 MW site off Tamil Nadu still under review.</p>
<p>In September, the Tamil Nadu government <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/tamil-nadu-issues-wind-repowering-and-refurbishment-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> new regulations to repower old wind turbines to improve the state&#8217;s wind power capacity and generation potential. The policy will be valid until March 31, 2030, or until a new repowering policy is announced. Generators will be allowed a maximum of 1.5 years for repowering and one year for refurbishment from the approval date.</p>
<p><strong>Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects</strong></p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Research</a>, the operational wind-solar hybrid project capacity as of September 2024 stood at 7,705 MW, with about 30 GW of projects in the pipeline.</p>
<p>Early in the year, the Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/central-pool-commence-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> that the central pools for solar power and solar-wind hybrid power have begun operations from February 15, 2024. Any interstate transmission system-connected solar and solar-wind hybrid capacity bid after this date will fall under their corresponding pools. The operation of these pools will follow a first-in, first-out approach. This means that projects receiving their letter of award first will be included and sold first within their respective pools.</p>
<p>In February, the <a href="http://www.tnerc.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission</a> <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/tamil-nadu-regulator-wind-and-solar-integration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> the forecasting, scheduling, and deviation settlement regulations for wind and solar generation. These regulations aim to support the integration of wind and solar energy into the state grid to ensure stability and security as per the state grid code and related laws.</p>
<p>In November, KERC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/karnataka-clarifies-transmission-charges-for-co-located-wind-solar-hybrid-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clarified</a> that additional wind or solar capacity added to existing co-located wind-solar hybrid projects would not incur transmission charges beyond the contracted capacity if the total installed capacity remains within the contracted limits. If the additional capacity exceeds the contracted transmission capacity, the charges will be based on the higher of the two capacities, pending evacuation approval for the added capacity.</p>


Top Developments that Influenced Wind and Hybrid Power Market in 2024


					<table id="amazon-polly-audio-table">
						<tr>
						<td id="amazon-polly-audio-tab">
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-label">Listen to this article</div>
							<div id="amazon-ai-player-container">
			<audio class="amazon-ai-player" id="amazon-ai-player" preload="none" controls   controlsList="nodownload" >
				<source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amazon_polly_74509.mp3?version=1735533598">
			</audio>
		</div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-subscribe-tab"></div>
							<div id="amazon-polly-by-tab"></div>
						</td>
						</tr>
					</table><p>India added 16.4 GW of solar capacity in the first nine months (9M) of 2024, a 167% year-over-year (YoY) increase from 6.2 GW in 9M 2023, according to Mercom India Research’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/q3-2024-india-solar-market-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Q3 2024 India Solar Market Update</a>. These installations surpassed all previous nine-month and annual records, driven by the commissioning of several delayed projects.</p>
<p>India’s cumulative installed solar capacity stood at 89.1 GW as of September 2024, with utility-scale projects accounting for 86% and rooftop solar comprising 14%. Solar energy now constitutes 20% of India’s total installed power capacity and 44% of its renewable energy capacity.</p>
<p>Here is a list of developments that significantly impacted the Indian solar sector in 2024.</p>
<p><strong>PM Surya Ghar</strong></p>
<p>PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pm-surya-ghar-to-offer-%E2%82%B978000-for-3-kw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, 2024 with a target of installing rooftop solar systems in 10 million households. The program has an outlay of ₹750 billion (~$9.04 billion). Under the program, households will be provided with a subsidy to install solar panels on their roofs. A subsidy of ₹30,000 (~$361)/kW will be provided for residential rooftop solar systems up to 2 kW. An additional ₹18,000 (~$217)/kW will be available for systems of over 2 kW and up to 3 kW capacity, while for installations exceeding 3 kW, the total subsidy will be capped at ₹78,000 (~$939).</p>
<p><strong>ALMM Reimposition</strong></p>
<p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/almm-reimposed-april-no-exemptions-open-access-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">notified</a> the reimposition of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulation effective April 1, 2024. The notification, however, eliminates the exemptions for projects under open access and rooftop solar by private parties, announced in the February order. MNRE clarified that the ALMM  List I (Modules) applies only to solar projects with bid submission deadlines on or after April 10, 2021. Projects with bid submissions before this date are exempt from the ALMM mandate.</p>
<p><strong>ALMM for Solar Cells</strong></p>
<p>The MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/list-ii-for-solar-cells-into-force-from-june-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> an amendment to include solar cells in the ALMM order effective June 2026. The amendment aims to establish a separate list for solar cells (List-II) as domestic manufacturing capacity expands. Solar projects will be required to use modules listed in ALMM List-I, made with cells from List-II.</p>
<p><strong>Anti-Dumping Duty on Solar Glass </strong></p>
<p>The Ministry of Finance <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-slaps-anti-glass-from-china-and-vietnam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">imposed</a> provisional anti-dumping duties on textured, tempered, coated, and uncoated solar glass imported from China and Vietnam. This decision follows a preliminary investigation opened by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) in February 2024, which found evidence of dumping practices. The preliminary findings concluded that the subject goods were being exported to India from China and Vietnam at dumped prices. The dumping led to a significant increase in imports of these goods from these countries, both in absolute terms and in relation to domestic production and consumption, causing material injury to the domestic industry.</p>
<p><strong>Unverified DCR Solar Modules Won’t be Accepted in Government Programs</strong></p>
<p>The government <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/unverified-dcr-solar-modules-wont-be-accepted-in-government-programs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mandated</a> that all domestic solar cell and module manufacturers file all data on the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) portal from January 1, 2024.</p>
<p>From December 1, 2024, any solar module whose DCR credentials cannot be verified through the DCR verification portal will not be accepted under MNRE’s CPSU Program Phase-II, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM KUSUM. The National Institute of Solar Energy operates the portal.</p>
<p>To ensure better traceability of domestically produced solar cells and modules, the ministry has amended the ALMM order to include the new provision about DCR verification.</p>
<p><strong>Supreme Court Relooks GIB Order </strong></p>
<p>The Supreme Court <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/supreme-court-relooks-gib-order/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considered</a> limiting the undergrounding of power transmission lines to the Priority Area of 3,163 sq km of the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also constituted an expert committee to determine the scope, feasibility, and extent of overhead and underground electric lines in the area identified as a Priority Area by the Wildlife Institute of India in Rajasthan and Gujarat.</p>
<p>However, the easing of restrictions in the Potential Area is subject to the condition that the expert committee lay down parameters covering Priority and Potential areas. The committee would also have to make recommendations for installing bird diverters.</p>
<p>In an effort to balance the conservation imperative of conserving the bird species and the interests of renewable energy development, the court said recalibrating its April 2021 directions relating to undergrounding of high and low-voltage power lines was required. Its earlier order covered an area of 80,000 sq km, which included both the Priority Area and Potential Area of the GIB habitat.</p>
<p><strong>CBIC Revokes Warehousing of Imported Solar Goods</strong></p>
<p>The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cbic-revokes-warehousing-imported-solar-goods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revoked</a> the permission granted to solar developers to warehouse imported solar modules effective from December 17, 2024. CBIC ruled that goods imported for solar power generation will not be allowed to undergo any manufacturing processes or operations in a warehouse. Any value addition, assembly, or process within bonded warehouses under Section 65 of the Customs Act that ultimately produces electricity is now prohibited.</p>
<p><strong>Large Consumers, Captive Projects Exempted from Transmission License</strong></p>
<p>The Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/large-consumers-exempted-transmission-license" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amended</a> the Electricity Rules to allow entities commissioning captive power projects or energy storage systems or a consumer, with a load of at least 25 MW for interstate transmission systems or 10 MW for intra-state transmission systems to be exempted from obtaining a license to establish, operate, or maintain a dedicated transmission line to connect to the grid. However, this exemption is contingent upon the company, individual, or consumer adhering to the regulations, technical standards, guidelines, and procedures specified under the provisions of the Act.</p>


Major Events that Impacted the Indian Solar Sector in 2024

major-developments

Get the most relevant India solar and clean energy news.

RECENT POSTS