India’s renewable energy sector delivered a transformative performance in FY 2025-26, marking one of the strongest years of capacity addition on record. As on 31 March 2026, total renewable energy installed capacity (excluding large hydro) stood at 223.27 GW, up from 172.37 GW a year earlier — a 29.5% year-on-year jump. Including large hydro and nuclear, the non-fossil base reached 283.47 GW. The year saw 55.29 GW of non-fossil addition (50.91 GW from renewables excluding lar

Renewable Energy Society of India, Renewable Energy Chronicles: The Power Saga, Vol 12. ISBN 978‑81‑993949‑6‑4. New Delhi, March 2026 — India is preparing for one of the most consequential decades in its power sector history. The Central Electricity Authority’s National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026‑27 to 2035‑36) —released this month—lays out a detailed roadmap for how the country will meet rapidly rising electricity demand while accelerating its shift toward clean energy.

On 12 March 2026, the Ministry of Power issued a draft notification amending the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, inviting stakeholder comments by 11 April 2026. These changes mark a significant evolution in India's power sector governance, driven by the Group of Ministers' deliberations on DISCOM financial viability, the sharp decline in Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) costs, and the accelerating integration of renewable energy. The amendments introduce de

In a significant step toward advancing India's sustainable energy agenda, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified new standards for Green Methanol and Green Ammonia. These standards, issued via Office Memorandums dated today, align with the National Green Hydrogen Mission approved by the Government of India. They aim to promote the production and use of low-emission derivatives of Green Hydrogen, fostering innovation in renewable energy sectors and suppor

India’s latest price discovery under SIGHT Mode 2B has delivered one of the lowest green hydrogen prices globally, with bids reaching as low as Rs 279 per kg. At a time when comparable international prices in Europe remain in the €5–8 per kg range and even advanced markets like the United States hover around $3–6 per kg, India’s ability to achieve sub‑$3.1 per kg firmly establishes its cost leadership. This achievement reflects the strength of India’s renewable energy ecosyst

Budget 2026–27 provides a clear and confident push to India’s clean‑energy transition. The targeted support for solar manufacturing, battery storage, critical minerals, CCUS, and clean power infrastructure strengthens the entire renewable energy value chain. These measures will accelerate deployment, reduce system costs, and enhance energy security—creating a strong foundation for India’s green hydrogen ambitions and a resilient, future‑ready power sector. - Ajay Mishra, Dire

Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) represent a mature and proven technology for large-scale energy storage, functioning essentially as giant batteries that store excess electricity by pumping water uphill and release it to generate power during peak demand. In the context of India's ambitious renewable energy goals, PSPs are indispensable for grid stability, integrating variable renewables like solar and wind, and ensuring reliable power supply. The Central Electricity Auth

In a pivotal move for India's burgeoning energy storage sector, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has approved the tariff adoption for a 375MW/1500MWh standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, marking a significant step toward grid stability and renewable integration in one of the country's most power-hungry states. The project, facilitated by SJVN Limited as the intermediary procurer, features competitive tariffs discovered through a

India's data center sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by the surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and digital infrastructure demands. As of 2025, the market is valued at approximately USD 9.79 billion, with projections estimating it to reach USD 21.03 billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.59%. This expansion positions India as an emerging hub in Asia, attracting massive foreign and domestic investments amid

A groundbreaking new policy research paper, Reconfiguring Global Climate Governance: U.S. Withdrawal, Emerging Leadership, and the Adaptive Resilience of the Paris Agreement (2015–2025) , has been released by a team of policy and industry experts. Published in Renewable Energy Chronicles: The Power Saga (Vol. 12, December 2025; ISBN 978‑81‑993949‑6‑4), the study is already drawing international attention for its sharp analysis and timely insights. Authored by Dr. Aravindh M.

Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited (RSDCL) has issued India’s largest solar‑plus‑storage tender to date, inviting bids for 2450 MW of solar PV capacity integrated with 1600 MW/6400 MWh of energy storage at Pugal Solar Park in Bikaner. Released on January 9 under RfS No. RSDCL/TN‑03/2025‑26, the tender marks a major step in India’s push toward firm, dispatchable renewable energy as the country targets 500 GW of non‑fossil capacity by 2030. The launch comes on the

In a significant push towards sustainable electric mobility, the Indian government has released draft guidelines for the "Battery Pack Aadhaar System," an innovative digital identification framework aimed at tracking batteries from cradle to grave. Modeled after the country's Aadhaar biometric ID for citizens, this system assigns a unique 21-character Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN) to each battery pack, enabling end-to-end traceability, efficient recycling, and regulatory

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 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

Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Ltd (TNGECL) has announced a major tender for 1.5 GWh (1,500 MWh) of standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) across seven substations in the state. The initiative, aimed at strengthening grid reliability and supporting renewable energy integration, will be implemented under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model and is eligible for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) through the Power System Development Fund. The tender allows for a minimum bid