The Centre has not cancelled any renewable energy project awards, nor has it prepared a list of potential future cancellations, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Pralhad Joshi informed Parliament in a written reply. The clarification comes amid discussions on India’s renewable energy expansion and evolving procurement trends.
Joshi highlighted that Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs), including SECI, NTPC, NHPC, and SJVN, have issued Letters of Award (LoAs) for a cumulative 67,554 MW under renewable power procurement tenders since April 2023. These awards demonstrate the government’s continued commitment to renewable energy capacity addition across the country.
The minister noted that states are also issuing renewable power procurement tenders, while capacity is growing in commercial and industrial sectors through green energy open access or captive routes. “Capacity addition of renewable energy is progressing through multiple pathways and not necessarily only through REIA-led bids,” Joshi added, emphasizing the diversified approach to energy expansion.
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A key trend driving this shift is the declining cost of solar-plus-storage and other dispatchable renewable power solutions. Distribution companies and end procurers are increasingly preferring solar-plus-storage configurations over plain solar projects, as they offer the ability to supply power during peak demand hours, making them more commercially attractive and reliable.
Joshi explained that solar-plus-storage is also being favored over wind-solar hybrid projects. The government has advised REIAs to prioritize tenders for solar with energy storage or configurations capable of supplying firm and dispatchable renewable power, ensuring energy availability during critical peak hours.
India currently has an installed non-fossil fuel-based power generation capacity of 259 GW, with 31.2 GW added in the current financial year up to October. To facilitate further execution of power purchase agreements (PPAs), the government is urging states to comply with Renewable Consumption Obligations (RCO) under the Energy Conservation Act, ensuring continued momentum in the country’s green energy transition.
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