In a significant move to strengthen India’s domestic energy storage ecosystem, the Ministry of Power (MoP) has issued a new directive mandating a minimum 20% local content  in all Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects implemented under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme , supported through the Power System Development Fund (PSDF) . The order, addressed to major renewable‑energy‑rich States and NTPC, responds to multiple requests from States seeking exemption from

The data center industry has experienced unprecedented growth in 2025, driven primarily by the exponential rise in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and digital transformation initiatives. Globally, the sector is witnessing accelerated investments, technological innovations, and sustainability efforts to meet surging demand. In India, the market is emerging as a key player in Asia, fueled by government policies, foreign investments, and the need for data localiza

A new analysis from Ember reveals that utility-scale battery storage has entered a new era of affordability, with capital expenditure (capex) for long-duration Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) now averaging $125/kWh  outside China and the United States. This translates into a Levelised Cost of Storage (LCOS) of just $65/MWh , reshaping the economics of dispatchable renewable energy. Sharp Decline in Costs According to auction results in Saudi Arabia, Italy, and India , a

The digital revolution has positioned data centers as a pivotal asset class, driven by the surge in cloud computing and artificial intelligence demands. In the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, which hosts 60% of the global population and rapidly digitalizing economies, data center growth is accelerating, with projections indicating a need for 1.7 times the capital investment compared to the United States to meet pipeline requirements. Regulatory frameworks in APAC vary significant

India’s data center industry in 2025 is at a critical inflection point: rapid growth is being matched by equally strong sustainability imperatives. The sector, valued at USD 10.48 billion, is projected to nearly triple by 2032, but its environmental footprint is forcing a pivot toward renewable energy, advanced cooling, and water conservation. Market Growth and Environmental Challenges The Indian data center market is projected to reach USD 27.2 billion by 2032, growing at a

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has approved Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Ltd. (TNGECL)’s plan to procure 1,000 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS), marking one of India’s largest state-led storage deployments. The decision, issued on December 4, 2025, authorizes long-term procurement under a 12-year build–own–operate framework, supported by the Union Government’s Viability Gap Funding (VGF) program. Project Overview Capacity: 500 MW a

Uttarakhand’s amendment formally brings Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) into renewable tariff rules, setting useful life at 12 years, a net BESS tariff of ₹5.78/kWh, and new commissioning, depreciation, and metering norms—effective from 27 November 2025. The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) issued the second amendment to its renewable tariff regulations to explicitly include BESS alongside solar and small hydro, renaming the principal regulation and

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has released the Draft Terms and Conditions of Tariff (Second Amendment), 2025 , marking a significant evolution in India’s transmission tariff framework. Building on the 2019 regulations and the 2023 first amendment, the new draft introduces provisions that mainstream energy storage systems (ESS) into tariff determination, particularly when linked to thermal Inter-State Transmission Systems (ISTS). Earlier regulations had

The Supreme Court has remanded the Maharashtra MYT review back to MERC and ordered a fresh decision within 12 weeks, keeping existing tariffs in force while mandating stakeholder consultation — a move that could reshape developer economics, consumer bills, and the pace of storage and renewable integration in the state. The dispute centers on MERC’s Multi‑Year Tariff (MYT) order  and a subsequent review order that was challenged in court. The Supreme Court’s November ruling re

CERC’s staff paper proposes converting, substituting, or auctioning idle LOA‑based grid connectivity to ensure efficient transmission use. These reforms aim to accelerate India’s 500 GW green energy integration and support the net‑zero pathway by enforcing discipline, transparency, and locational efficiency. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) staff paper (SP‑251125) addresses a critical bottleneck in India’s Renewable Energy (RE) integration: connectivity gr

Editor’s Call for Papers The Renewable Energy Society of India (RESI) Journal  — Title:   Renewable Energy Chronicles: The Power Saga  (ISBN: 978‑81‑993949‑6‑4), duly registered with the Ministry of Education, Government of India — invites contributions from the research community, policy makers, industry leaders, investors, and academia. The Journal is published on a quarterly basis  and is accessible to all stakeholders in the renewable energy ecosystem. We welcome submissi