India Solar Energy Market Highlights – April 2025

As India is on its path to achieve energy security, April 2025 witnessed some metamorphosis in thesolar energy sectorin the country. These include new partnership deals, favourable regulatory approvals, and significant fund investment towards renewable energy projects, which places the country strategically on the map of renewable energy. Here are the recent trends that are already in place as India moves towards realizing its solar vision.

Key Developments in Solar Energy

1. Rising Rooftop Solar Installations in Varanasi

On April 29, 2025, NER Varanasi Division established energy conservation activities and achieved the installation of 2,253 kW of rooftop solar panels. These panels produced 394,000 units of solar energy, 2.59% more than that of the same period last year, and cut the railway’s revenue loss to the tune of ₹21.3 lakh in the process.

• Solar is well installed in stations, offices, hospitals, and level crossings that are major infrastructural developments. These stations have been recorded to have maximum capacities of 141 kW at Banaras, 146 kW at Ballia, and a total of several other capacities of 519 kW.

• The same division also informed that the use of energy-efficient equipment is common and agreed that the rooftop solar projects of 2025-26 are ongoing as per the guidelines of the NGT.

2. UPNEDA Invites Bids for 110 MW Solar Projects

The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) tendered 110 MW of solar capacity in two different districts of Uttar Pradesh on a build-own-operate-maintain basis on 29 April 2025 regarding a 35 MW solar plant at Kanpur Nagar and 75 MW at Kanpur Dehat.

• The bid submission is on May 27, 2025, and bids shall be opened on May 28. The bidders have to submit ₹800,000/MW as earnest money deposit, ₹2 million/MW as performance bank guarantee, a cover document, and processing fees.

• Some items listed under scope are plant setups, internal road lighting, drainage works, and even weather stations, among others. In terms of the power purchase agreement, a 25-year PPA will be signed with UP Power Corporation, and the bidder must utilize solar modules of the CUF of not less than 17%. The duration for the completion of the project is 24 months.

3. 1,000 MW Floating Solar Project Planned in Odisha

The government of Odisha plans to incorporate projects for generation of about 1000 MW of floating solar energy from its reservoirs on April 15, 2025. The state’s reservoir committee have made arrangement for preparation of integrated GIS maps of Hirakud, Rengali, and Upper Indravati reservoirs and exploration of other favourable sites in Upper Kolab and Balimela to implement the project.

This plan comes at a time when the eastern state has envisioned the generation of 10 GW of renewable energy by 2030, out of which about 7,5 MW is expected to come from solar power sources.

Corporate Initiatives: Industry Partnerships and Expansions

4. Tata Motors and Tata Power’s Hybrid Wind-Solar Project

On April 21, 2025, Tata Motors and Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) signed the power purchase agreement (PPA) to set up a 131 MW Wind-Solar hybrid power plant with the purpose of generating clean energy of 300 million units per year while avoiding 2 lakh tons of CO₂ emissions.

• It will help the company to provide power to six manufacturing units in Maharashtra and Gujarat for the production of commercial and passenger vehicles.

• The initiative aligns with the company’s RE-100 strategy and net-zero plan, advancing its environmental sustainability and climate obligation agenda.

5. Uttar Pradesh Government Signs MoUs to Accelerate Solar Expansion, Sets 500 GW Green Energy Target by 2030

On April 29, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government continues to accelerate the creation of solar power through the signing of MoUs with the Smart Energy Council of Australia and the Hinduja Group. The state aims to install 500 GW solar capacity by 2030, where it is targeting to develop Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions into a center for solar energy.

• This effort is not only related to the generation of electricity but also promotes employment within Africa during construction, installation, during the interconnection process, and through maintenance.

• The Solar Mitra Yojana, launched for this purpose, also felicitates this mission of creating a skilled workforce for the solar ecosystem.

6. Evren’s 300 MW Dispatchable Renewable Energy Project with NTPC

On the 21st of April, 2025, Evren, a Brookfield platform in India, signed a power purchase agreement with the largest power producer in India, NTPC. This is to obtain 300MW of renewable power generation. These are the Wind, Solar, and Battery Storage. The project will generate nearly 1 GW of clean energy generation capacity. Thus, it will also assist the distribution companies in addressing the renewable energy requirements. It is Evren’s goal to make a major dent in achieving the energy transformation in India, particularly to renewable sources.

Noteworthy Solar Inaugurations

7. ReNew Power’s 1.3 GW Solar Project in Rajasthan

For instance, on April 17, 2025, ReNew commissioned a 1.3 GWp solar project in Rajasthan, India, with the use of mainly the solar panels developed by the company, and began electricity sales at INR 2.18 ($0.026) per kWh. With a size of 3,500 acres, the project targets to produce 2,490 million kilowatt units of electricity per year.

This is set to generate electricity for about 50000 households in Rajasthan and reduce carbon emissions by about 2.3 million tons annually. Other demographics of land that are unused are to be leased out for 25 years, with fixed incomes going to local communities.

8. Adani Green’s Solar Project in Andhra Pradesh Gets Regulatory Approval

Adani Green Energy Ltd’s (AGEL) 7 GW manufacturing-linked solar power project in Andhra Pradesh received regulatory clearance for the transfer of 2.3 GW capacity from Azure Power on April 20, 2025.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) declined to intervene in the agreement substitution issue, stating it falls outside its tariff regulation jurisdiction under the Electricity Act 2003. The CERC affirmed that the asset transfer authority lies with the awarding body—Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)—providing AGEL the go-ahead to proceed with the project reallocation.

Upcoming Solar Projects and Strategic Outlook

9. Hindustan Power’s 425 MW Solar Project

On April 3, 2025, Ratul Puri’s Hindustan Power won the 425 MWp (Megawatt peak) solar power project in Uttar Pradesh through the tariffs-based bidding under Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited’s (UPPCL) 2000 MWac (megawatt alternating current) grid-connected solar PV procurement scheme.

• The Letter of Award (LoA) was tendered and awarded following a transparent eReverse Auction exercise. It is a part of Hindustan power system which intends to achieve a total of 5 GW of gross renewable capacity additions by 2028 and will interconnect with UPPCL through the STU–UP substation.

• The PPA was entered into for 25 Years with fixed tariff rate and the project will be completed within twenty-four months from the signed PPA.

10. SECI’s 4.55 MW Rooftop Solar Initiative for Educational Institutions Under RESCO Model

On April 9, 2025, SECI released a tender for the selection of solar power developers to undertake the development of 4.55 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic applications under the RESCO model based on tariff-based competitive bidding.

Proposals are due by April 30, 2025. Based on the project activities, SECI, working for ten client institutions including IIT, Patna, IIM, Raipur, and Sikkim Manipal University, will select the developers, and they will implement the desired projects through the Building Own Operation mode.

India’s Solar Energy Momentum in April 2025

April 2025 has been another active month for the Indian solar energy market because of notable projects, regulatory decisions, and cooperative agreements that brought India to progress in the attainment of the target for renewable energy consumption. It has implemented floating solar projects in Odisha, added solar power capacities at a massive scale in Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. One has seen multiple examples in the Infra section, such as Tata Motors ‘s tie-up with Tata Power as well as Evren Power Solution’s tie-up with NTPC to fast forward the extent of clean energy integration in India.

With the help of ongoing social policies, investment in renewable energy, and advanced technology, the solar energy industry is set to embrace India as one of the largest solar manufacturing hubs in the world.